We are rapidly approaching the half way mark of the year, and it just doesn't seem possible, does it? Today is the last day of May...I remember that on this day many many moons ago I walked down the aisle to graduate from high school...I'm sitting here trying to calculate how many years ago that was, and it's hard to believe that it was 57 years ago!
Where has the time flown? Well, let's see, do you really want to know my whole life story? LOL. Not today...that would take up way too much space and time and I am not sure anyone really wants to read all of that. So let's just skip over the past 57 years and that will bring us to today. 57 years later and I'm sitting here in my "Room with a View" watching the sunset in the west over Still Waters Pond,
It's not anything too spectacular tonight, but someone seems to be enjoying laying down in the grass beside the pond and watching the sunset...or watching for frogs or other little critters...
While Blackie came down in the yard and followed me around.
This was Blackie earlier enjoying some porch sitting time too...
Oh, and I keep forgetting to share pictures of the hummingbirds ...
Here's a few of the flowers that are blooming in the butterfly garden right now...
These zinnia plants are loaded with buds, so hopefully they will be blessing us with blossoms very soon:
This is a large-flowered tickseed plant, and it looks like a tiny little moth is enjoying getting some nectar from it!
Moving right along...tomorrow is the first day of June, and we all know what that means! It's Calendar Roll Call day! Since tomorrow is Sunday and I don't know that I will have time to write a post, I decided to give a sneak preview tonight of the June calendars. Probably most of you won't see this until tomorrow anyway, so it will be right on time for you.
This is a good place to start, with the Thomas Kinkade calendar and a beautiful church along the shore. And since June is the month we celebrate Father's Day, this verse from Jeremiah 17:7 is very appropriate:
And here is another verse that is one of my favorites...Deuteronomy 31:6
Can you read it okay? It's kind of hard to read...
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
It's a verse that we need to always remember, no matter what or where our life has taken us.
This is the Teapot Calendar for June...looks like a lovely tea setting for an outdoor picnic...
Maybe this is the setting for our little garden tea party...look at those lilacs!! Oh wow!! For those of you who live where the lilacs are blooming, will you please go pick some and smell them for me? I'd love to see some pictures of your lilacs! We can't grow them here in Florida, and it's such a shame!!
Hey, it looks like these people don't pull their weeds much either! LOL. This might be a little too much grass around our ankles for a tea party, don't you think? Still, it looks pretty lovely to me...
Jane Austen says to "Run mad as often as you 'chuse', but do not faint..." Okay...I guess...LOL.
I saved the best for last...the John Sloane Country Seasons calendar for June:
Oh, I love what the Susan Branch calendar has for June...perfect for our outdoor tea party/picnic, don't you agree?
"Bring along a jar of water for just-picked wildflowers"....what a fun idea!
Perfect! She's carrying the picnic basket loaded with the tea things and the fresh home made bread and real butter and honey...and maybe a jar of water for the fresh picked wildflowers...and some other delightful goodies for our tea party picnic! What a beautiful setting...and so nice to have a sweet old doggy for our companion!
This certainly makes me want to go outside and have a tea party picnic sometime soon...if the weather will just not get too hot too fast...it actually was a tad bit cooler today...stayed in the 80's and didn't reach 90, and it wasn't quite a humid...would've been a perfect day for a picnic! I don't have a doggy companion, but I know a couple of kitties who just might want to come along and join us. What do you think? Let's go!
Well, friends, it's already almost bedtime, so I'd best close the calendar for May and get ready for June. Praying that June will be a month of hope fulfilled and promises kept and days of beauty and joy.
What a lovely post, Pam. Your Zinnias are the prettiest Zinnias I've ever seen...so delicate looking! And I loved all of the calendars! Now I want to have a picnic with all of the tea things. We did that one summer when our granddaughters were visiting...they were probably 8 and 10. We had so much fun, and they soaked it all up. Have a lovely June.
ReplyDeleteHow old are your granddaughters now, Dianna? I know your sweet family has grown up just like all the rest of us. Perhaps they would still love to have a tea party picnic with Grandma some day. Do they still live in Maine? Summers in Maine are perfect for outdoor activities. Thank you for visiting here. It's so good to see you again after a long break. (((hugs)))
DeleteWe cut our lilac bush down a few years ago as it was getting too big and out of control. It was lovely when in bloom though. I always enjoy your calendar posts and the girl with the picnic basket is a lovely one. Winter has arrived this week, as well as the wind it has become very cold, there's snow around somewhere so nor good for picnics. But spring is coming...
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard for me to imagine that you are just entering winter when we are having summer! Wow! I guess we are on opposite ends of the earth, but still connected by the same wonderful God, Who is watching over us wherever we are! Have a blessed and beautiful June "winter" day!
DeleteGreat grad photo. I have one also. We held ours at the football field in Titusville. Sad to think I wouldn't even have that photo if my step-mom hadn't shown up and snapped one. Dad never cared. Anyway, it's been 51 years since I graduated (1974). Where did the time go??
ReplyDeleteAll the photos look great. It's so dry here I'm having to run the sprinklers almost every day to keep the flowers alive. Oh well. At least we have access to clean water. I thank the Lord for that.
Have a great Sunday. Love from Georgia.
Our graduation was in the gym, but our class was probably much smaller than yours...only 50 in my class! And this photo was taken by a dear lady in our community who was always everywhere taking pictures of us kids growing up and then she'd develop them and give them to us. She did our wedding photos too, which are all in black and white as well. She never did anything in color! But, that was the way it was then. Yes, the time has flown in some ways, and it doesn't seem possible that we both graduated over 50 years ago, and here we are talking about it via "cyberspace" with friends we've never even met in person! Times sure have changed. Oh, it's been dry here most of the time too, but we had a few showers this past week, and I am hoping we are getting into our summer rainy season soon...but hopefully no hurricanes!
DeleteI hope you have a lovely Sunday too. (((hugs))) from Florida.
You know Pamela, you haven't changed in the 57 years, just saying, smiles. Beautiful as ever.
ReplyDeleteOH Linda, you are SO sweet to say that...maybe a little blind too, LOL, but still so sweet. Thank you for your very kind words. Love you.
DeleteI think you're the only soul I know who looks beautiful with a mortar board on her head! I don't think there's any photographic evidence of mine; at least I hope not!
ReplyDeleteAs ever, I'm enjoying your latest parade of calendars. My favorites? It's still a dead heat between Kinkade and Branch. I'm not a picnic kind of person, but this hamper and thermos make me want to be one.
Cross fingers, I think our rain is over and done with for a few days. That said, I need to get out with my handy weed whacker before it gets too hot.
Have a very blessed day!
Thank you, Myra. You are very kind. And as for picnics, living here in the south, if you want to take a picnic, you'd best do it in the fall or spring, but don't wait for summer...it's too hot, the bugs are bad, and you might get an afternoon thunderstorm! Other than that, it's perfect! LOL. Still, I love the "idea" of it and pretend we can just go out there and enjoy a tea party picnic in the shade...It's a nice dream.
DeleteHappy June 1st to you too.
ReplyDeleteI love that graduation photo, you were and are one lovely lady.
We have another very hot day coming today and its windy besides. Not a good combination for wildfires.
The squirrels are running all over our roof and up and down the fence and trees.
Tis mating time and its in full swing. Never a dull moment in our Wild Kingdom too.
Sue
You are very kind. Thank you. Oh, be careful of the windy and heat and possible wildfires. That's not a good combination. Praying they don't start up again. And squirrels are a fun bunch to watch, aren't they? We have them in our trees and they try to get at my bird feeders, but I've managed to keep them baffled so they can't eat the bird's food. They sure do try hard, however. They have plenty of natural stuff to eat, so I don't feel sorry for them. I'm already feeding enough of the critters!! Did your fox and skunk go away? Those were a couple of interesting creatures to be in your yard. Hope all is well.
DeleteBeauty, Beauty everywhere - In June's warm and gently air. Blossoms burst in sweet perfume, Petals dancing into bloom. Kitties stretch in sunny spots, Purring peace in tiny lots. The world feels kissed by something kind, A lovely hush, a softened mind. It's June the first.....let joy begin, With blooming hearts and whiskered grins. Beauty, Beauty, all around, In every scent, and sight and sound. These are the words that came to mind in reading your post today..... Lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteYou created that poem???That's amazing! What a gift! I have no poetic talent at all, and I am always blown away by those who have such a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us. Perfect!!
DeleteI graduated in 1962, I think that makes it 63 years and a yikes. June is a lovely month on all your calendars, I like the tea pots best of all. and your sweet kitties make me smile. always. happy june 1st, we finally got rain, twice. sun is hot now. welcome june
ReplyDeleteI think that makes you the same age as my brother Cliff. so you're still young in my eyes and could be my older sister! Glad you stopped by for a little tea party with the kitties. Rain is good. The sun is hot, but it's not quite as hot as it was, so we rejoice in every tiny bit of cooler.
DeleteZinnias, I used to grow them successfully in Colorado. I have not tried here but enjoy those of others. They are such a hardy flower, lasting for a long time. Pretty, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. I am not a gardener, so I am very happy these are doing so well without my help. I do water them, but that's it. I wish I could get down and pull weeds more regularly, but it takes a lot of energy out of me that lets me know about it for several days afterwards...wish I could hire a kid to pull weeds! Hmm, that gives me an idea...there's a young boy across the street who's been looking for something to do...bingo!! I may just have to call him back over! :) Have a lovely day my friend.
DeleteHi Pamela! Those Hibiscus flowers are beautiful. I love Zinnias too and have planted some Zinnia seeds in my garden. They are coming up and I hope to have some of the beautiful flowers soon. I love your high school graduation picture! I hope June is a good month for you! See you again soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb! I am really enjoying these flowers. I never tried growing hibiscus or zinnias before, and I am very happy they are doing so well in spite of my lack of gardening skills! I hope yours will also blossom and flourish. I hope June is a happy and good month for you as well. I know you are happy to be "free" for the summer!! Enjoy your vacation months!
DeleteAww! I love how Sunshine and Blackie have truly taken a shine to you, Pamela. Such sweet, sweet kitties! I always look forward to your calendar calls, too - always lovely paintings and inspiring words to live by. My question is, "Where did May go?" And what a precious photo of you at your graduation 57 years ago. I can see that young lady's spirit and love in your face today. Hope that you have an blessed week!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha! Yes, Sunshine and Blackie seem quite grateful to be here, and the feeling is mutual. I am enjoying their sweet companionship. Yes, I wonder where May went also, but in some ways I'm happy to get it gone and on to the next month, although I don't like that hurricane season is now beginning. Praying they don't get too revved up this year. Thank you for the kidn words about my photo. That young lady had no clue what was about to unfold in her life, but God was right there, leading and guiding and preparing the way. I just didn't realize it at the time. I'm so thankful that He took charge and didn't let me go my own way. So very thankful indeed. I hope you have an awesome and blessed week as well.
DeleteLove your pretty graduation picture! Wow, you don't even look FIFTY SEVEN, much less graduated 57 years ago! Yes, I think all those plants you asked about we planted in pots.Love the egret pictures. Yep, June sure did sneak in fast! Oh!....your Old Maids are growing and blooming beautifully! Our hummingbirds are back and very active, love watching them. Our bluebirds are acting just like yours......very strange! No nests, no laying eggs. Weird. Gosh, yes, lilacs smell SO GOOD and we cant grow them here either. I do have some lilac cologne, it smells good. As always, enjoyed seeing your calendars and hope you're having a nice peaceful restful Sunday! Hugs debbi at debbisfrontporch, not anonymous, LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, you are SO sweet. Thank you. Oh, what do you call "old maids"? The zinnias? I never hear that before. I wonder what the bluebirds are doing. Maybe they went on strike for this year. LOL. Lily Grace sends her love to you and Tracie and Amybelle and Tansy. Hope you are all staying cool. Would be fun to take our "girls" on a picnic, wouldn't it? Maybe some day. (((hugs)))
DeletePS...yes I do give away my magazines to whoever enjoys them, after I read them they are still practically brand new and in good shape. I do donate them to the doctors offices and yes, they do still take them here. I'm glad because I love to share them instead of just throwing them away or recycling and I subscribe to many because I get the Senior citizen discount! LOl debbi at debbisfront porch, not anonymous LOL
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea about sharing the magazines...I need to do that. You are so amazing dear friend. I'm glad you're not "anonymous", but the real deal! LOL.
DeleteI am late getting here but always enjoy my visits with you through your blogs!! I love your graduation photo!! Fifty-five years for me, but we graduated in May. I am so happy for Blackie and Sunshine that they adopted you!! Happy for you too!! Cat moms are amazing!! Sending a hug and wishes for a blessed week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri. Did we ever dream we'd be here doing this when we graduated over 50 years ago? NO, we had no clue this could ever happen, but I'm so glad it did and that we have become friends in person as well as here in blogland. Blackie and Sunshine send their love to you and your sweet cats, Casper and Vinnie (right?). LOL.
DeleteI'm going to have to dig through old photos and show you our golden boy and black girl--your photos remind me of them every time. Love you flowers!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see them! Thank you for your visits. I hope you are doing well.
DeleteHi Pamela, firstly, you look beautiful! I love Thomas Kinkade's art! Your photos of the cats and flowers are absolutely gorgeous! I love all the art, quotations and Bible verses as well. What an amazing post, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Linda. I appreciate your kind words. I'm so glad we've become "friends" here in blogland! You are a blessing to us!
DeleteGood memories of your high school graduation 57 years ago. Mine was 52 years ago. Nice cats you have and flipping calendars are fun as well. I need to turn two more over. Good bible verses 🙏 have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Becky! Time sure flies when we are so busy living life...it's hard to believe it's been so long! Those calendars just keep flipping! Have a blessed week my friend.
DeleteSunshine and Blackie are such pretty cats. The memorial hibiscus is so beautiful and I'm glad that it has bloomed so much for you to enjoy. Last but not least, you look gorgeous on your graduation day. Happy graduation anniversary.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am enjoying these kitties more than I ever thought I would. God knew what I needed. And thank you for the kind comments on my graduation photo. That was such a LONG time ago...that girl had no clue what was about to happen in her life! It's been a long journey, but it's all be covered and blessed by God's almighty hands. I am very thankful indeed.
DeleteYour flowers are beautiful and I love watching things grow and bloom and yes, mine have weeds too. That is the downer part of it, but the blooms shine through anyway. I also am a big fan of those kitties. I thin they are growing on you too. An unexpected blessing I say.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think both of those kitties have officially adopted you. They are both so precious.
ReplyDeleteI loved the graduation photo. You still look the same with such a beautiful smile.
It's been an exhausting weekend. The last of the family staying with us left about an hour ago and now I have lots of laundry to do before we leave Wednesday morning. Dennis is at the grocery store. We're trying the divide and conquer routine today to get more done. ha!
Take care my dear friend.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
Pam, I so love your posts, and I am hoping to check in on you here more regularly...such a magical place you have where you live, and the comfort of your many pictures - the cats are sweet. The welcoming tea/coffee displays...I just want to visit. Your graduation picture_ wow beautiful...and look at you now! Still full of beauty - still full of hope! Sending love to you and gratitude for you, as always, Dawn
ReplyDeletePlease come! Would so love to have you!!!! Of course, someday you and I both need to go visit our mutual friend Susie in Texas! I wonder when we will ever do that? We can always dream! (((Hugs))) to you dear friend. I would love to have you visit.
DeleteBeautiful hibiscus. One of my very favorite flowers. Your garden is lovely. Those two cats are sweet. I love your Dolls too. You are my kind of gal. Have a wonderful week what is left of it. Time flies by.
ReplyDelete