Tag Archives: Spring

Embracing Change: Seasonal Reflections in Florida

14 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Time. Where does it go?

In January I wrote about the hard freeze in Florida. The usual vibrant landscape was shriveled and brown.

To our new Florida residents, the landscape could be depressing, but to veteran Floridians, we know spring would bring new beautiful growth to most plants.

January

March

January Dead Shrubbery

March New Growth

Subdivision Landscape

These plants aren’t coming back

DEAD AMARYLLIS AND TREE

The amaryllis looked dreadful and the browning continued for weeks. Then one day in late March the bulbs put out new green leaves. The plants are family heirlooms, brought to Florida when my parents moved to Florida in the 1950s. I had been feeling sad that they might be gone forever.( I forgot to take a picture of the new growth.)

Moving forward- Valentines Day

We aren’t big on the trappings of Valentines celebrations. Crowded restaurants, kind of ruin the romance vibe. Two years ago Culver’s restaurant opened in our town. They specialize in ice cream with the Flavor of the Day rotating through out the month. If the restaurant doesn’t sell out of the flavor of the day, they pack it into pint containers and place them in a glass front freezer for sale.

Thus was born our Valentine’s day tradition. We include our daughter in the fun. Each of us chooses a flavor of a pint of ice cream. Then we share them among us. It may seem weird, but for us it is fun.

March-Spring Craft Fair

Our town has a spring and fall craft fair. This is the third year our daughter has participated. My husband has taken up carving walking sticks.and this year he joined our daughter to sell them.

The event is held at a large park on the Indian river. The day was absolutely gorgeous, a cool morning breeze and blue skies. As I walked the grounds, checking out the wares, I marveled at the beauty we were blessed with.

April Fool’s Day

Launch day for Artemis 2. To be honest, we thought choosing to launch on April Fool’s Day was not a wise choice. We were wrong.

As the count down marched toward 5 minutes and counting, several neighbors walked outside to watch as I did, from our front yards. It was a flawless day and a flawless launch. My husband, recuperating from surgery said the launch rocked the windows. There’s nothing like the rumble that penetrates the body.

And now comes May

The next two weeks of April with be busy with visits from Physical and Occupational therapies, working to get my husband strong enough to return the our beloved North Carolina mountains. Our cameras show the greening up of the dormant plants, my peonies are coming up and I can’t wait to see them.

I would like to say that I will be blogging more regularly once we are back in the mountains, but the days fly by so darn fast! We installed a bird camera over Christmas, maybe I will share pictures of our feathered visitors.

These are from January.

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My Two Minute Drill

10 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We spent last week packing up for our return to the mountains. Our winter in Florida sped by and we enjoyed catching up with long time friends. There is something comfortable and warm being able to pick up the threads of friendship. Of course, we keep it touch over the summer but in person complete with hugs is priceless.

The Florida winter weather was delightful with cool nights and mild days. We savored it. The last two weeks we were there, warmer weather moved in and we knew it was time to return to the mountains. The day we left, it was a beautiful . The sky so blue and clear.

I am continually amazed that a mere 600 miles can make such a difference in the seasons. Florida was wrapped in full green when we left.

Spring is my favorite season in the mountains. I marvel each year at the appearance of tender green leaves on the trees. Our hydrangea bushes are sporting green shoots and I am joyfully awaiting the blooms.

Our front yard.

Our grass (weeds) is in need of a good mowing but we’ve had several rainstorms this week and the clay soil is mucky.

We made a grocery run into town and signs of spring were everywhere.

After the warm Florida temperatures, the cold mornings in the mountains are making me reluctant to leave the warmth of my comfy bedclothes. I am becoming a big fan of the snooze button on my phone.

To justify my snoozing, I whisper prayers for the day. Always I pray for Israel and the surrounding countries. It is such a mess and beyond my understanding. Then other concerns float into my consciousness.

This morning I snoozed until I only had two minutes before I needed to move it. This particular morning, I wanted to pray differently. I felt a prompt in my spirit, “pray for the lost.” Not for a specific person, but for those who need Jesus across the globe.

The times we are living through are chaotic and even frantic. I have watched a lot of football in the past. and as I prayed this morning, I felt as if I was in a two minute drill. No time outs, just execute what has been practiced.

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I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

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Lunch with Friends with a Side Order of Covid

3 Apr

Florida weather is beginning to fully behave like Florida weather. The winter was very pleasant with a nice mix of chilly nights and mild days. Now that spring has arrived the chilly nights are history and the air conditioner is running 24/7. The weather forecast for the next seven days are predicted to be in the mid 80s.

As the saying goes, “the mountains are calling and I must go.”

Soon we will be packing and heading out. I checked the weather forecast for our first week home and lows will be in the 30s with highs in the 60s. I plan to soak up the last of the cold.

We can see on our security cameras that our daffodils are blooming and the Japanese maple trees are shedding their winter brown and will soon be flush in reddish purple.

Two deer visited a few nights ago. I think they were checking out my husband’s grape vines. He is convinced the deer believe he grows grapes just for them. Our hosta plants haven’t awoke from their winter sleep but they will any day now. I suspect the deer were checking them out as well.

For several weeks I have been trying to arrange a lunch with a life long friend. She had been dealing with dental issues and eating was a chore for her. Finally last week she called to say her dental issues were almost resolved and we could meet. Almost as an after thought she mentioned she had seen a mutual friend, T, in a store, who moved away several years ago. She asked if I would like to include her in our lunch. I said, absolutely.

The three of us met up in a newly opened Buffett restaurant. We talked and laughed and it was almost like we were those young women of long ago.

As part of reconnecting, we discussed where we were living. T knew of our plans to move the the North Carolina mountains and I knew that when she left Florida she moved to eastern North Carolina. I told her we divide our time between Florida and the mountains. To my surprise she said we do too! Turns out that our homes in the mountains are about 50 miles apart and I go to their town frequently.

In the course of conversations, I asked T where she was staying in Florida. When she named the street she has a condo, my mouth dropped open. Her condo is on the same street where we stay in the winter. She had been there five years! How could this be?

I was delighted to know she was a neighbor and we decided to get together again before we left for that mountains. That was on Thursday.

Saturday morning I received a text asking if I was feeling alright. My first thought was oh no, food poisoning. I told her I was fine. She wasn’t and neither was T. Both of them began feeling ill on Friday and woke up during Friday night with fever and chills. Turns out they both had Covid and feeling pretty miserable. Since both my friends are single ladies, I’ve been texting every day to see if they need anything. So far they have everything they need and thankfully they are on the mend.

We have been wondering why I haven’t come down with Covid. Our best theory is the Buffett may have been contaminated. They both ate peel and eat shrimp and I didn’t, so maybe that was the source.

We definitely are planning to meet up when we are both back in Western NC. And I suspect we won’t be lunching at a buffet.

We enjoyed our time in Florida with our daughter. We will miss her and grand dog Ollie.

Ollie enjoys sitting at the window watching the birds.

I will miss her fast internet. Our mountain internet delivers a whopping 6 mbps on a good day. Rumor has it that fiber is coming this year. Fingers crossed. Until then, I learn a lot of patience waiting for downloads.

PS Today is our 54th wedding anniversary.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Spring Unfurling

9 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

  We left Florida earlier than usual this year and arrived in North Carolina before spring. Our daffodils greeted us with their beautiful faces and the Bradford Pear trees were spectacular but everything else was brown. Temperatures continued to drop into the upper twenties and lower thirties and it seemed spring might forget to arrive.IMG_2476   Each day we searched for signs our plants were waking up. The first to awaken were the forsythia. We seldomsee them in their bright yellow coat and they are a treat to our eyes. Don’t you think it is cool the way God staggers the arrival of spring so each plant gets it own time to shine? IMG_2486   The weather warmed this week and it seems the rest of nature is anxious to share its beauty. While the forsythia is shedding its yellow coat and daffodils are beginning to fade the blueberries and apple buds are swelling. Plants that had lain hidden all winter are sending out new shoots.   I am especially thrilled with one of our peony plants. You see, it came from the yard of a precious friend who passed away. One day, as I sat with her I asked if I might have a root from one of her beautiful plants and she said yes. We had spent many hours rocking on her porch and admiring them and I wanted something special to keep those memories close. Sadly, at the end of the summer it seemed to die. Imagine my joy this morning when my husband told me the plant was coming back to life! IMG_2490   So far, we have late daffodils, one tulip, bleeding heart and a fat bee on a dandelion!

On Wednesay we drove down to Clayton, Georgia to see the cherry blossoms. We had gone the week before and they were bare sticks but this week they were glorious.

The weather today is warm bordering on hot so I know spring will be fully unfurled in a few more days. My husband decided today was a good time to erect a handrail for the stairs down to his workshop. I sneeked a picutre thorugh the screeon of him and our porch dog gus. Mike and gus copy 3   I’m not sure why, but I kind of like the texture the screen adds to the picture.

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Even Nature Worships

3 Apr

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

I look through my kitchen window each day,

seeking as I always do-

All the signs of God’s presence

in the soul-stirring scene that I view.

 

It never ceases to amaze me

that His presence is everywhere.

The Easter Llilies are radiant-

postural, as though in prayer.

 

They are programmed to bloom at Easter,

then close for another year.

Their role is to glorify the Savior-

then silently disappear.

 

Springtime is a season

of new life with a goal.

New leaves are forming,flowers are budding-

there is a stirring in my soul.

 

I read an interesting quote this week by Max Lucado

that I would like to share with you.

‘”The next time a sunrise steals your breath, or a meadow of

flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way

and say nothing, and listen as Heaven whispers, “Do you

like. it?  I did it just for You.”

Sunlight lillies

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Ah………Springtime

27 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

I  have a hard time deciding which is my favorite season of the year. I really love Spring. All the trees leafing out……..those with blossoms..blossoming …..all the flowers popping up their heads, full of color and fragrance. Just knowing the earth is coming back to life. The temperatures are mild with very low humidity – I really like that, since I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the humidity is practically non-existent. There are so many days here where we can open up the windows and doors and let all that fresh air flow through the house.

However, I also enjoy the Fall. Here in Florida, Fall seems to take a bit longer than in other places, but it does get here eventually. Once again, the humidity takes a dip, we can open up the house, and the living is great. I almost enjoy Fall more than Spring, simply because I know it will be months and months before the humidity hits us in the face again.

But Spring brings its own neat stuff. One of our favorite things to do – especially at Disney and especially at EPCOT, is to be on the lookout for new baby ducks. We’ve seen them swimming in the ponds quite often, so we look there. Occasionally we see them following-the-leader (momma duck) along some of the walkways.

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They are just so CUTE! Just the other day we saw cars stopped along the roadway, to let the momma duck and her little ducklings make it safely across the street. So I guess we aren’t the only ones who enjoy that sight.

 

We were at SeaWorld recently, and we saw three sets of Spoonbill wading birds in their respective nests in one tree. We assumed there were either eggs or newly hatched babies in the nests, but the nests were too high in the tree for us to see.

Another favorite thing is for us to see the Sandhill Cranes with their babies. Those little fuzzballs really aren’t so little! And we especially get excited when we see mom, dad, and TWIN fuzzballs! Adorable!

As I said, Springtime is just the time for the earth – and life – to come back into its own. It’s such a joy to watch.

They (Your blessings) are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:23

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God’s Creation Carries On

6 Apr

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

I’m sitting here in my backyard on Holy Saturday morning recalling the shocking events of Good Friday. I imagine what was going through the minds of Jesus’ followers…  the let down, the unbelief, the grief and pain.  After suffering through the crucifixion and death of their Saviour, the followers of Jesus are devastated and confused, as are all of us. Is there any hope?  What lies in the future? What are they to do?
The sun is shining brightly today. Nature is still intact. My yard is showing signs of new life as the grass is beginning to green up and a few plants are peeking through the brown earth.  I listen to the sounds of the birds. While the doves are still mourning and proclaiming the loss of the Lord, the robins, red finches, blue jays and sparrows are loudly singing joyously… in anticipation of what is coming.  There is a cacophony of song, along with the staccato of the woodpecker chiming in with the chorus. The birds are totally focused on serving their Creator in the only way they know how.  Do they, in some strange way, instinctively understand and anticipate the resurrection and its significance? 
Then suddenly it is quiet, as they all go back to their silent vigil of waiting… only the mourning sound of the doves continues.  All at once a little red finch lights on a branch close by. He begins quietly chirping, as though speaking to me and explaining that everything will be ok. Then a song sparrow chimes in. Together they are proclaiming to me and to the world that there is hope! In spite of all that has happened, God’s Creation carries on.

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