Saturday, July 27, 2024

A small bouquet of blessings

Cone Flowers, July 2024


                    
                    May you pause and admire beauty wherever it appears.
                    May you see what comes with warming sun and quenching rain.
                    May you be surrounded by vibrant and true companions.
                    May your heart burst with love given and received.     
                    May you discover the loveliness of your own backyard.




Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Blessing

Hibiscus, July 2024





May every corner of your heart be filled with the brightness of love.




Monday, July 22, 2024

The day begins

Swamp Rose Mallow, July 2024



 
Color your morning
with the softness of rose pink
and the lush of green






Sunday, July 21, 2024

The blue dayflowers

Asiatic Dayflower, July 2024




The blue dayflowers
have claimed their place in the sun
and in July's heart





Saturday, July 20, 2024

Peace

Swallowtail Caterpillars on Fennel, July 2024


 
Quietly the day
rolls on hour by hour
and I know its peace




Friday, July 19, 2024

From the heart

Sunset, July 2024




Light shines from the heart
into every shadowed place  
in you and in me








Thursday, July 18, 2024

Everything you are

Cat's Whiskers, July 2024


 

Welcome the daylight
with everything you have and 
everything you are






Wednesday, July 17, 2024

A festive parade

Portulaca, July 2024



A festive parade
of July's own abundance
calling out your name








Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Small Delights

Bracted Fanpetals, July 2024


 

When autumn arrives
will you remember the small
delights of summer?




Monday, July 15, 2024

Undeniable

Curcuma, July 2024



Undeniable 
the beauty of your true self
see what love can do



Sunday, July 14, 2024

Letting you know


Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar, July 2024


 

All creatures have ways 
of letting you know when there's 
been a transgression


* I admire the swallowtail caterpillar for her warning system - stay back! She looks fierce and ready for a fight. 




Saturday, July 13, 2024

Glorious

Sunset, July 2024
Photo by Riley Anderson 




If you could watch this sunset with anyone, who would it be?



* My son Riley sent this breathtaking photo on his drive from Houston to San Antonio. At the same time I was watching it at the end of our street. I was good to share the sunset with him. 



 

Friday, July 12, 2024

A free gift

Figs, July 2024 



 Figs for the finding
bird, possum, insect, racoon
a gift, a free gift



* One day a lady was walking down the hallway at church. She was holding a tray with small cuttings from her fig tree and offered me one. The mother tree was more than 80 years old and had belonged to her parents in San Antonio. She told me the figs would be as red as strawberries and the best I ever tasted. She was right. Sad to say, these last few got water-logged and split from all the rain, so I'm sharing them with the creatures who visit the backyard. I bet they will be gone by tomorrow morning

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Irresistible

 

Hackberry Emperor Butterfly, July 2024
Photo by Bryan Jody, College Station


Suspended in grace
you are irresistible
with light in your wings 




Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Your Song

Windchimes, July 2024


 


When your song grows still
trust that the music will rise
once more from within











Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Sing

Gulf Coast Frog, July 2024


 

When you've got a song
sing until your friends learn it
and learn their songs too










Monday, July 8, 2024

Confession

Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp, July 2024


 

Seeking shelter from 
the storm - even those of us
who sting now and then




Sunday, July 7, 2024

Effortless

Rain droplets on crepe myrtle, July 2024
 

 

Like straw into gold
the raindrops become silver
without the spinning



* a reference to the children's fairytale, "Rumpelstiltskin" - who spins straw into gold. I am stuck by how the small drops cling to the edges of branches and leaves - and hold so much light. 



Saturday, July 6, 2024

Question Mark Butterfly




 



Folded, unfolding
according to a rhythm
I'm learning by heart


*A question mark butterfly has been making her home on my front porch. Today I spotted her resting on a leopard plant leaf as I brought in the groceries. Question marks are notoriously darting and fluttery, so it was a great surprise to see her resting for several minutes, even when my camera was clicking away. When her wings are closed, she looks just like a leaf - and then she opens to glorious golden orange. 

Friday, July 5, 2024

Seeds

Texas Star Hibiscus, July 2024



When we give a seed
there is no calculation
for the blooms to come



* Many years ago, I was at a pool party with the youth group from my church at a family's house. Around the pool were giant pots of Texas Star hibiscus - the first time I ever saw them. When I asked what they were, the mother went into the kitchen and got a baggie to collect some seeds for me. More than 20 years later, I am still excited when it blooms for the first time each summer. I still think of that pool party, those kids, and that mom. Neither of us had any idea that that bag of seeds would lead to decades of beautiful red blooms. And so it goes. Cheers to summer, bright blooms, generous hands, and seeds that grow. 

Thursday, July 4, 2024

A prayer for freedom

Antique postcard, July 2024



Lord, set us all free
set us free to love this world
set us free to love

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Still

Dragonfly, July 2024


 

Practice being still
still as a blue dragonfly
still as the warm air




Tuesday, July 2, 2024

One second, maybe two

Brazilian Skipper, June 2024


 

We meet eye to eye
for one second, maybe two
in the golden hour 







Monday, July 1, 2024

Simple Pleasures

Weekly Bouquet, July 2024


 
My simple pleasure - 
a mid-summer bouquet for
the kitchen table