Do you want to dance?

When I came across this photograph and quote, I knew it was a keeper. There is no need for You Tube; I can hear the music. The woman dancing is a young Maya Angelou.

Chester Higgins Jr./NY Times

There is no giving up.

Even though we are expected to get yet another snow storm early this week, I am standing firm, and setting my sights on Spring. My daffodils are starting to peep their tiny heads up through the soil, as are some of my early blooming tulips. So, I cannot give up...and I won't. Tonight before I fall asleep, I will continue to look through my "Fine Gardening" magazine (it's a great one) and tomorrow I plan to visit one of my favorite Garden Centers and walk through their greenhouses. They have a beautiful selection of orchids. I need to feel warmth and see bright colors. So if Mother Nature is not done with winter, I will find another way to see and feel Spring. 
Below are flowers from last year's garden.

Happy Daffy's

Juliet Rose with our little girl

Knock-out roses, poppies and clematis

Those were the days my friend...

"Those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end. We'd sing and dance for ever and a day."
Did Peggy Lee sing that song? It describes my Uncle Dan perfectly. He was a man who enjoyed his Italian family heritage. Cooking, eating and singing were a big part of his life. Today I went to his funeral. No cooking, no eating and no singing. Today his family laid him to his eternal resting place. 

However, we acknowledged the man. My uncle had a great sense of humor; he knew how to make people laugh. And that is a fine legacy. He would always greet me with a big "Kathleeeeeeeeen!" I will always remember his voice and the way he called my name.

When we had a funeral service for my Father years ago, My Uncle Dan looked around the room and said "It is a short walk from there (where the casket was) to here" (where people were sitting.) It is indeed a short walk, a brief ride or however you wish to think or say it. I believe each of us has our own path in life. My Uncle's path was to "live it up." And he did...and I am glad. 
To make people smile, to welcome them into our homes, to feed them silly; it is what we are about as a family. It is how we live our lives. When it was my turn to say my final goodbyes to my Uncle, I quietly thanked him for his life gifts and also to tell my Father "hi" for me.

A Parable

A 92-year-old man was moving into a nursing home. He waited in the lobby for his room to be ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, the Nurse provided a visual description of his room. “I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old. “Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.”

“That doesn't have anything to do with it,” he replied.“Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. As long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away for this time in my life.

Remember five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Be kind.

Author Unknown

A little Irish...

I love different shades of green (almost as much as purple.) Aren't these delicate clovers just delightful to look at? Very sweet. Although my ancestor lineage is not Irish, I am happy about my name being "Kathleen." Thanks Mom & Dad! 
This is my Mother's favorite poem. I hope you like it too.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sunshine warm up on your face,
And rain falls soft upon your fields. And until
we meet again, my God hold you in the 
palm of his hand. 
Irish Words of Encouragement

On another note, a Happy Birthday to Patrica of PVE. http://www.pvedesign.com/ Patricia is one of my dear blog friends and the Artist who created my banner. Stop over and wish her a Happy B-Day.

Theresa

My sweet friend Theresa

I am blessed to have a friend by the name of Theresa. We did not meet by chance; I believe we met by divine intervention. When Allen and I moved into this neighborhood, I knew I wanted to plant a garden. Theresa was already settled and an avid gardener. She quickly took me under her green thumb and set me to work on my flower garden. For years now we exchange plants, read each others garden magazines and anything else that has to do with mixing one's hands in Mother Earth. 
We also like to go out together. Sometimes I will take her to appointments, so she doesn't have to muddle her way through highway traffic. She's a native New Yorker and only began driving when she moved to the suburbs. One of our favorite things to do with is to have long conversations. Even though we are years apart, age does not matter. This photo of her was taken at my wedding as she watched our ceremony. I love her Irish blue eyes and the way she winks when she smiles. I am so very happy to be able to call her my friend. Every year I give her an Angelonia flower plant. It is a tradition and a token of how I feel about my friend.

Angelonia plant

Happy Visions!

The snow is just about melted in our front yard, and I can begin to see a few green sprouts popping up from last year's plantings. One of life's simple pleasures which makes me smile...a lot. Today's weather forecast called for a light weight jacket sans scarf and gloves. I squealed with delight just opening my front door to see if the local Meterologist had the correct address. I along with most people I know am thrilled that Spring is on its way to the Northeast. Yippee Yahoo!

I leave you with a few photos of last year's garden, along with a rather cozy Victorian house that I would love to play in.

Long-Horn Daffy's that smile in the wind

Key West Tulips

 

A most charming cottage

March 8th -International Women's Day

§   “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” – Moliere

Oxfam (Oxford Committee for Famine Relief) is an global organization working in approximately ninety countries worldwide to find long-term solutions to poverty and campaign for social change. Their goal is to fight hunger and injustice with a particular focus on empowering women worldwide. Every March 8th, Oxfam celebrates International Women's Day. This specific day highlights women who are acting locally and helping globally. Showing that actions do matter sends a powerful message about the role of women as a force for change. 

Helping to feed a village-Southern Sudan

Woman Farmer - Peru

Farmer Volunteer - Iowa

Woman testing quality of water- El Salvador

Beauty

My very dear friend Sandy and I have known each other for a very long time...think Kindergarten. Even though we live 3,000 miles from each other; we still connect. I visited with her last December in Sausalito CA , which is where she calls home. It was at a French Bistro in San Francisco that Sandy told me of her travel plans to visit the country of Peru. When she speaks of traveling, her pretty green eyes twinkle. 
Sandy arrived in Peru yesterday, and already she e-mailed her Father, sister and I a most beautiful photo. Here it is; this is Peru. Isn't this photo gorgeous? I don't think many words are needed to describe this everyday scene that Sandy captured. 
Think globally.