Today's Flowers

It’s so hard to find someone who doesn’t like flowers. Flowers represent all our best feelings.
To see other flowers from around the world, visit the virtual flower shop at Today’s Flowers, created by Luiz Santilli, Jr.

This is what is currently blooming in our backyard in Musashi's Garden. We have loads of beautiful Ixora blooms in gold and red. Ixora are native to India and Sri Lanka. Ixora is too tender to grow outside of the tropics and subtropics. It prefers a warm, humid climate with temperatures rarely dipping below 50F. They need protection during the winter months in the Houston area.

A fairly small, bushy shrub, usually only 5-10ft tall. There are dwarf varieties that are much smaller. Ixora will flower when only a few inches high. It is commonly used a hedge or small garden plant. They prefer to grow in full sun. Plants have only moderate drought tolerance. We have drought conditions here and water every day.

The plant is mainly grown as an ornamental, but its flowers also have some medicinal uses.
I hope you enjoyed seeing what is blooming in Musashi's Garden.

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make our world.

~ Buddhist Saying

Joy to You!

Camera Critters 66

This week for Camera Critters I'm going to take you to our back yard
and another visit to Musashi's Garden.
We've had several bird families visit to feed and enjoy the bird bath.
Here's one of those families - a father and his babe.

Where's the food dad?

Quick! Go into the song and dance routine.
She's watching!

Can we eat NOW?

Where did Dad go?

(Click on the photos to make them larger.)

Have a wonderful weekend.

Joy to You!

Security Blanket

Julie over at Moments of Perfect Clarity (an outlet for the madness with occasional flashes of insight) and some of her blogging friends are telling a secret about themselves every day for 30 days. Her first secret was - she still has her security blanket. She's told other secrets about hitchhiking, being deported, going on a friends honeymoon - all delightfully written, but it was the security blanket that I kept thinking about.

I don't remember having had a security blanket as a child. Did you? I do remember a couple of stuffed toys that I carried with me everywhere - or tried to. Each one had a music box in them (love of music came early with their help). One was a little brown dog with large floppy ears. I remember that to wind the music box I had to twist his tail (do not try this on a real dog). He played Rock a Bye Baby. The other was a brown teddy bear. He had white paws and a white muzzle and he played Rock a Bye Baby, too. I don't know what happened to the little dog, but I do remember that the poor teddy was falling apart. He had been repaired so many times. One of his legs was hanging by threads. He disappeared one day. So sad.

One day before Mr. Dragon and I left New Mexico for Texas, I went shopping (junking) with a dear friend. I found this:



Oh my goodness. I'm sure the whole world heard my cries of delight. White paws and muzzle, big head and a music box in his belly that plays Rock a Bye Baby. No major damage. Just a little dirty. He looked so lonely and unloved. I took care of that. He was my only purchase of the day. Guess I was looking for a security blanket to take with me on our big move. New Mexico had been home for 23 years. We were leaving a life we knew for one we had no idea about.

Soon he wasn't the only teddy that came to live with us.

I found this little guy soon after coming to Texas. He's smaller, newer and plays (thank goodness) the Teddy Bear Picnic. These two bears started my bear collection. I really don't have that many. I've given some of my bears away. These two bears remind me so much of that little girl who loved animals and who loved her security bear. They'll always be my favorites. I'll share more of my bears some other day.

Did you have a security blanket?

My security blanket today?
Easy.
Mr. Dragon and myself.

Joy to You!

My World Tuesday

Go visit the My World site to see more of our world - or participate yourself!

Today I'm taking you to the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. The last time we visited, the local bonsai club was having an exhibition.

An important part of making the park sparkle is the meticulous landscaping and gardens found there. An exquisite Japanese Garden redefines beauty Japanese style. The Daimyo garden, with its gentle waterfalls, lanterns, and teahouse provides a place for quiet contemplation a universe away from the bustle of the City.

Ducks and turtle (all of the pictures can be made larger by clicking on the photo).

The teahouse, built in Japan and carefully reconstructed on site by Japanese craftsmen, is a uniquely Japanese structure. Japan’s former Prime Minister Kaifu is responsible for bringing the Teahouse to Houston.

Located on nearly five-hundred acres just south of Downtown, the park is home to an excellent zoo (see Camera Critters posts for short visits to the zoo), outstanding Science Museum, gardens, family attractions and plenty of wide open spaces, Houston Garden Center, McGovern Lake, a railroad for the kids, Miller Outdoor Theater, a golf course -- lots of fun!

Hermann Park isn’t just IN the heart of the city, it IS the HEART of the city. For the past couple of decades it has also been the focus of a concentrated effort to make it one of the finest city parks in the nation.

There is a lot more to see in Hermann Park. This is just our first visit.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...July 6, 2009

Outside my window... the sun is shinning brightly. There are a few wispy clouds in the sky.

I am thinking... yikes! Half the year is gone. How time flies as you get older (have more fun, are busier -- take your pick).

I am thankful for...another day on Mother Earth.

From the kitchen... I am going to make one of Mr. Dragon’s favorite meals, Red Curry Beef stew. We don’t eat a lot of meat and this will be a special treat for him.

I am wearing... gym clothes - red shorts, gray Planet Hollywood Paris T-shirt, tennis shoes.

I am reading... The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz. Marie at A Year from Oak Cottage mentioned this book in her Daybook post last week. It looked like something I would enjoy and I put it in my amazon stack. Lo and behold (some things are just meant to be), I found a much cheaper copy at Costco. No waiting for shipping. I’m really enjoying it. There will be a short review when I’m finished.

I am hoping...the weathermen are correct and we get a little rain to break this heat cycle for a few days.

I am creating... I finished the counted cross-stitch and should have the pig done this week (crochet).

I am praying... for Anne Marie and Cydney Marie, Debbie, Jean

Around the house... I can hear the water running. Mr. Dragon is outside watering the plants in pots.

One of my favorite things...seeing what the postman has left for us! This came in the mail from Kelley at Dragonfly Reflections. Isn’t the card fun?! I do love birds and this is just perfect. I also enjoy the list of easy ways to move from autopilot to mindfulness. Thank you Kelley for all my goodies!

A few plans for the rest of the week...staying cool is big on the list. Mr. Dragon starts a color pencil workshop this week. Staying cool. We have a baseball game on Wednesday (good thing that Minute Maid stadium has a roof that closes and air conditioning). Hair cuts. Staying cool. Off to Hobby Lobby with a coupon to look at color pencils and rubber stamps. Staying cool. Sending off a few packages. Staying cool.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


Isn't he a little doll? This photo and a few more came in an email - one of those emails that gets sent to everyone on your list type emails. I couldn't resist sharing!


To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook. While Peggy is on summer vacation, more Daybook posts can be found at Grandmother Wren’s.

Joy to You!