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Monday, March 29, 2021

The Flower of the Family

My father used to have a joke he liked to tell. He would say that I was "the flower of the family -- the bloomin' idiot."

My family was exceptionally intelligent, except the baby of the family -- me -- lagged far behind them. In my family, the intellect was the be-all, end-all. My siblings had extraordinary intelligence, as did my parents, especially in the areas of mathematics and music. I have no real talent for either one, although I tried very hard to do well in those subjects and please my loved ones. But I never pleased them!

I do feel I have a special gift, however: I am transported by beauty. Sometimes I feel like my heart will burst when I see certain flowers or hillsides or paintings; or the way the light goes through a vase at sundown or a leaf at sunrise, or through Champie the Chiweenie's ears anytime, making him look like a dog with bright pink petals growing from his head. Note to Champie: You are a handsome, handsome lad, my fat and faithful friend, and you wear those petals well.

Here are a few more "purloined pictures" (thank you, Joanne from Cup on the Bus) from the little park I "accidentally" found myself in after accidentally scaling a rock wall (at MY age!) and accidentally avoiding detection by sneaking about. I was NOT the only one to enter this off-limits park, however; a well-known ne'er-do-well character wearing a black mask (over its eyes, not its nose and mouth) was there before me! Yes, the paths were covered with paw prints of raccoons! 

Hope you enjoy. Three kinds of crabapples and some other pretty plants like quince and redbuds were also blooming. Some are not in sharp focus; I was too busy trying to sneak to concentrate.
















Kind regards,

Olde Dame Holly

34 comments :

  1. Yay you!!! Fantastically beautiful blooms and photos. And LOL about the other trespassers. So, you all have trash pandas in the desert too, eh?? And if you do not consider yourself exceptionally intelligent, I don't think I want to meet the rest of your family. 😉 ~Robin~

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    1. Oh, you and my family would have spoken of elevated things in an elegant and wordly way, while I sat confused, frogging some ill-fated cross-stitch design, ha ha. Yes! We have "trash pandas" here, ha ha. What a cute term!

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  2. The Lord blessed you richly with the heart to see, hear and understand things, that the mind may never comprehend, dear friend! I know how "jokes" from childhood linger and try to define you. Your blooms that you captured are gorgeous! Ah spring... with all its beauty... such pure delight! Glad that you enjoyed the beauty in such a fun adventurous way :) Many blessings to you!

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    1. In my case, I think the jokes that had the sting of truth are the ones hardest to overcome! But I am at peace that I was not as bright as they. I am truly blessed by our Lord!

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  3. No "trash pandas" (LOVE that!) here in the UK, but we do have Badgers, and in our new home a little triangle of spare land I had ear-marked as the veg plot is now in doubt as it is dug up at night by Badgers looking for worms! At least it serves a purpose as well as being beautiful with Beech trees around it.

    An eye for beauty is something to be grateful for. When I look out of the windows here, onto the wild hills around us, I feel I will burst sometimes. Who can't see the beauty in a million Bluebells on a hillside, or an orchard of apple trees in blossom, or even just one tiny Harebell dancing in the breeze?

    Love your photos - A Quince is something I've always wanted . . . best not leave it too long!

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    1. What a beautiful paragraph about having an eye for beauty! I can just see the single Harebell dancing in the breeze! Sorry the badgers are badgering that plot of land! I hear they are fearsome creatures.

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    2. P.S. I love your blog, I am putting it on the sidebar, hope that's okay!

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  4. We are patiently waiting for our crab apple to bloom here. I see signs of activity but it will be awhile yet. Intelligence is measured in many different ways, to bad the math wiz did not have the intelligence to know that.
    Cathy

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    1. Oh, I hope you will get some CLEAR pics unlike mine and put them up on your blog! I just love the little fat buds before the actual blooms; they look so festive! And then the whole tree looks like lace!

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  5. Those blossoms are beautiful! I love seeing animal tracks, too. I enjoy raccoons, but in the wild, rather than at my home. They can be very destructive. I can go on and on about the beauty of a peony flower, or the smell of a lilac tree, or the leaves in the autumn. I understand. -Jenn

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    1. It is very soothing to encounter someone you admire who understands what you mean! I was excited to see the raccoon tracks but my gosh they can grow really big, and I do not want them near the house, either!

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  6. I am transported by beauty! Oh what a wonderful way to live your life! I have been surrounded by brilliant people as an adult and sometimes get tongue tied trying to express myself. But you make sense of it all! I've put your blog on my sidebar under 'fun to visit'! I don't want to miss any more posts! Enjoy your day!

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    1. Well, that is an honor. I love your blog so very much and rush to visit when I get home from work!

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  7. The pink blossom trees are so pretty, and I hope I see some this Spring way up here in the mountains. Having a sense of wonder and noticing all the beauty around you is special, indeed, and it's not a trait that everyone has. Please know that, Holly. I am the youngest also, so I get where you're coming from.

    ~Sheri

    **I wanted to tell you that it was so strange because you mentioned that my new Header was lovely. I've actually had that Header up for so long, and I was just telling the girls it was time to change it. I asked for help from a blog friend, cause it's really the only thing that I haven't learned yet to do with the blog. But hopefully soon I can figure it out and will have a new Header up, but it was funny to me that you mentioned our new Header when I have been longing for a new one. : )

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    1. I think I need my eyes checked! I really thought your header was brand new, because it just struck me when I popped onto your blog, the beauty of the nodding rose! I will be looking for the REAL new header! And thank you for your kind words.

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  8. You are talented with the music of sight. I can't believe your family did not notice this.

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    1. I think my family, despite their acute intelligence, had their various burdens. I loved them and I pray to see them again in Heaven!

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  9. Each of us has his or her qualities and it's good that we're all different. Having said that I feel so envious of those who can knit or crochet. Or sing...how I wish I could hold a tune. Oh well, no use wishing, right? No one is going to love me one bit more if I suddenly can crochet or sing or...

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  10. I am shocked! That your father said such a thing, about one of his children!

    Doing so, did not show much of the intelligence, of which he was so proud.

    In fact, it showed how unintelligent he was.

    And what of your mother? She allowed him to pick on his youngest daughter?????? To make you feel small and stupid and...

    Oh good grief! What parents you had. Just awful!!!!

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    1. No no, do not be shocked. I loved them very much. We are all flawed! But thank you for the spirited defense. They just did not care for me. It happens! Who can know the mind of God?

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  11. Beautiful, stunning, blossoms!!
    You have your own talents to show off (writing is a good example of your expertise).

    A chiweenie (Our neighbor just got one....Named Dixie, and the cutest ever!!)

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    1. Well, thank you, Anni. Our chiweenie is a rescue. Maybe I will put up a post about him; from a very unhappy start to being the Emperor of the House.

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  12. I hated Math too. Tried to lay the guitar and failed there too. We all have a talent though. Mine I found out was art and design. Love all of the flowers pics! Janice

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    1. Your sense of design is ASTOUNDING! I love visiting your blog to see what you have done!

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  13. I believe if you just said to the flower, May I take your picture?, all would be well.

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  14. Beautiful blossoms! And I love that saying :-)

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    1. LL, it is wonderful to see you out and about on the blogs. I think it was on your blog that I saw the book, The Country Kitchen? By Della Lutes. I love it - got my lovely second-hand copy and treasure it.

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  15. If you are not talented for music you are talented to find beauty around you that is important and it is a gift. And your are very good at writing !
    I love your blossom pictures.

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    1. Thank you! I love taking pictures of flowers and the season for that is right at hand!

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  16. My secret that I rarely share, is in 12th grade, Business math had slayed me. My teacher said he was giving me a D+ so I could graduate because he saw how hard I struggled with math. I simply can not do anything other than the R's we learned in grade school. i wanted to be a nurse, alas math is a big part. The good news is my brother was smart in math, in fact a straight A student in highschool and college. I barely got out of highschool alive. The one thing I have that he doesn't is COMMON SENSE and the ability to Figure Things Out, to look at a situation and KNOW what to do to fix it. I am like you, seeing the things you describe make me happy. when the sun touches any and everything I am amaze and must take a photo. I am good at photography and practical and a gifted teacher.. who needs math

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    1. I admire your attitude of acceptance and your strength in knowing Common Sense is a wonderful commodity as valuable as any educational attainment! Thank you for sharing your anecdote from Business Math!

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  17. Your blooms are beautiful and I do not believe for one second you were ever a bloomin' idiot!

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