Creative Mind by Nancy Ann

 Prior to my Mother's passing 30 years on this date 6/23 in 1980 she would always tell us that when she dies she will come back to us in the form of a butterfly. She may not have come back in the form of a butterfly but whenever I see one I get a comforting feeling and am reminded of her beauty through theirs.

Yesterday in the early evening I was walking out to my garage.  I stopped dead in my tracks and ran inside for my camera.  Isn't there something so captivating and mysterious about the moon?  Speaking of captivating......I think seeing a rainbow is a true gift of life.   Our lives get so busy and hectic with everyday survival that sometimes we don't have time to enjoy the beauty around us.  Things like the moon and rainbows are a reminder to slow down, meditate and enjoy all that life has to offer!

HONEYSUCKLE 'HALLS' / 1 gallon Potted Here is something that everyone should plant in their yard for so many reasons.  Doesn't the fragrant sweet smell remind you of your Summers as a child?  Many of the species have sweetly-scented, bell-shaped flowers that produce a sweet, edible nectar. Breaking of the Honeysuckle's stem will release this powerful sweet odor. A must in your yard if you want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies!

Ames 1941600 Long Handled Dandelion Weeder

Isn't it funny how something like a dandelion is so much fun and so facinating as a child but as an adult you don't want to see them in your yard and will do anything to destroy them?

There is nothing more thrilling than to sit and observe hummingbirds. They are so fasinating. Year after year I would hang hummingbird feeders and sit and wait and nothing. One year a friend gave me a bag of canna lilly rhizomes. Living on the east coast you have to plant the rhizomes after the threat of any frost. Before I knew it these tall gorgeous green leafy tropical looking plants grew with bright red flowers and......along came the hummingbirds!! I would get my coffee and arm myself with my digital camera and just wait. It became quite a challenge trying to capture images of them. At the end of the season when the hummingbirds leave and before the threat of frost you have to dig out all the rhizomes and store them for the winter but let me tell you it is well worth all the effort~

These old relics were saved from becoming trash. If these old trucks could only talk I bet they would have a story to tell. What year were they from? How many people played with them over the years? How many adventures have they gone on? How did they lose their wheels? How sad to end up in a landfil. I guess now they will become a part of my backyard.

So I set out with camera in hand to see what was going on in my backyard the other day when I came across this..........Isn't nature amazing?

Whenever I am feeling the stresses of life I handle it by grabbing my digital camera and head to my backyard. If you really look you can find so many things that we just don't really take the time to appreciate. Like the saying goes..."take time to smell the roses". Grab your camera and see what you can find.