Cherish is my favorite word, and I cherish the ability of turning the routine into a beautiful moment.
Nature creates in me, a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance, into an otherwise ordinary day~
Mary Howell Cromer







Saturday, May 9, 2015

Starview...Who Knew, and Mother's Day Greetings~


It is absolutely glorious everywhere you look these days.  The white Dogwoods are some of my favorites.  
Below are images that I cherish of my mother and one with the two of us.  She has been gone for 22 years and I still miss her and love her forever.

~Happy Mother's Days to all mothers~


Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slide show presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

&

Stewart for:
   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/


We lost so much this past Winter in our front yard, especially.  In the 34 years of living here, I do not ever remember this kind of thing happening.  It took a toll on trees, and even coniferous bushes.  I have worked myself into the ground all week, lopping off dead branches, digging up roots and planting new growth, where the old ones passed.   While at the nursery, I selected not only new trees and bushes, but some hanging baskets. 


Wildflowers along the country lane~


Last week was our Kentucky Derby, which is my only sports activity, other than when the grands play games.  The twins had a little Derby at their school and each made their own race horse.  I happened to arrive one afternoon, when my grandson Kerrick and classmates were practicing~



My three daughters, Hillary, Brittany and Ashleigh.  
They are such a huge blessing in my life~




We live in the heart of horse country~



My pupcubs look like they are in jail, but honestly they are not ;)  We had our first snake and I had to coral them while I got rid of it.  It got away...which means it will show up again and be much larger~


I was driving down the lane the other day and spotted a cat with a collar and bell on.  I am thinking it may not catch much, but then again~





My friend Sandy invited me to go to Starview Greenhouse and Nursery last week.  That was kind of interesting in that another friend mentioned it too.  We have lived in this county since 1978, and I had never even heard of it, even though it has been here for over 50 years.  It is not even 10 miles from home...goodness was I in for a treat.  They have a huge greenhouse for perennials, one for annuals, one for sun loving plants and another for shade.  Then there is the outside for standing trees and shrubs, not to mention several rooms of gift shops.  Well I was delighted and have gone back twice~ 


Very well camouflaged Red-tailed Hawk~



The Forget-Me-Nots were gifted to me as seeds some 12 years ago and now they have become naturalized on the land here~


Happy, happy when Swallows return and the Tree Swallows are always such a treat~


More from the greenhouses~


A beautiful Eastern Meadowlark~



Yellow-rumped Warbler~


I got a bunch of the Caladiums, so gorgeous~








27 comments:

  1. Loved the post. Your family look delightful and what fun to make a hobby horse to race.

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  2. glad you're enjoying the blooms - wild and otherwise. :) lovely girls and grands you have. :) happy mother's day weekend!

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  3. What a great collection of daughters, flowers and birds! A fine and proud post.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  4. What a great week you've had full of beauty, you live in a stunning corner of the world!
    bon dimanche
    Maggie

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  5. Great photos! Happy Mother's Day! Your daughters have grown into lovely women. I sustained a lot of damage in my yard (Connecticut) this past Winter also! Last weekend I was clearing out a bunch of trees and bushes that had died. I too have never seen it this bad.

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  6. So beautiful Mary, I love all the bright colors from the nursery and your yard, but it is the dogwood that gives me the greatest joy ... And best memories. You have a lovely f

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  7. Happy Mother's Day to you, Mary! Lovely images of your family and all the lovely blossoms. And I love the Meadowlark! Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  8. Beautiful Mosaics - love them one and all.

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  9. Caring type of job for all three of your daughters. Love the countryside around you Mary.

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  10. So much variety in this lovely post....I really enjoyed seeing the children with their stick horses! so darn cute!

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  11. That hawk, Mary - what a shot. I had to really look hard, it was so beautifully camouflaged!
    It's too bad about all the winter loss, but it gave you a chance to find something new in your neighbourhood - the nursery will be a treat to visit and re-visit.
    You mother is lovely - the old black and white photos are really the best, aren't they?

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  12. Gorgeous mosaics, Mary. The white dogwood is one of my favorites, too. What a lovely family you have, and how fun to see the grands at their very own Kentucky Derby. The hawk is well camouflaged - great shot. Your garden will be looking beautiful after all the work you are putting in. Sorry you lost so many plants. It was a harsh winter in the eastern part of the continent. Have a great week.

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  13. Gosh Mary, I would have sniffed out that nursery long ago :-) They seem to have a good array of plants to choose from so now you'll know where to go when you need something else. I can't believe how many dead branches are in our oak leaf mountain ash after this winter - dieback on quite a few shrubs too.
    Your daughters have turned into beautiful young women and I hope you all were able to get together for Mother's Day.
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

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  14. Oh my Mary - Your mosaics are lovely, the flowers are gorgeous, and I loved seeing your daughters "then and "now" and reading about them. You outdid yourself in this post!!

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  15. I never know where to start with your posts! Everything is always so beautiful. Your daughters are all lovely. Have a lovely week.

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  16. Beautiful Mary!
    I love the children's racehorses for their Kentucky Derby!!!
    Seeing Spring in your neck of the woods has lifted my spirits enormously on a very dull and rainy day in the Southern Hemisphere of our World - thank you!
    Shane x

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  17. So much here to see Mary...I love the mosaics of the kids and the Derby antics...of course the flowers are amazing!

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  18. What a gorgeous, summery and happy blog post - I love all your beautiful flowers, especially forget-me-nots, which look so stunning when they run riot and re-seed themselves each year. The Easter Meadowlark is a stunner - I've never seen anything like him before - what a striking little bib he wears! Lovely to see your beautiful family, and see the children having such fun - you've captured wonderful memories for the future.

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  19. A fantastic post and a fine tribute to your family. It was lovely seeing all those that you hold dear. Your other photos of flowers, birds and that beautiful horse was also a real treat to see.

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  20. Beautiful post. I love the caladium mosaic, the colors are arranged perfectly and I'd forgotten about this lovely plant. Love the kids having Ky Derby fun... Makes me realize what a big deal this race is in my mothers native state. No wonder she missed it so much all her life!

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  21. Wonderful photos of your beautiful family, the animal friends, and of course the flowers!
    Lovely post, as always. Have a great week, Mary!

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  22. What a feast of beautiful mosaics! I love the 'then and now' of your family. They're wonderful! And then I got down to the German Shepherd and it made me miss mine so much (not your fault, it happens whenever I see a German Shepherd or Turverin.) :-)) Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing it.

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  23. The Eastern Meadowlark is s new bird for me. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Great photos especially of all the beautiful flowers and birds. Good to remember family like this!

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  25. This post is overwhelmingly beautiful. I love seeing all your wonderful family photos and flowers.

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  26. What a wonderful tribute to your Mom! And to your darling daughters! I bet you had a wonderful Mother's Day! Love the wildlife and flower photos!!!

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  27. Hello Mary. I'm back from holiday now and catching up as best I can. Thank you for visiting me in Menorca. You have a fine selection of pictures here with a lovely reminder of what Mother's day is all about. Your pictures of Tree Swallows and the Meadowlark are quite stunning, and it's good to see that Summer is on its way to you too.

    Some great family shots too, especially those of your three lovely daughters of whom you are so rightly proud.

    Catch up with you soon.

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