Simple Pleasures. . .

The weather is much cooler today, and I wore my blue knitted wool ruana for the first time this fall.  Being Sunday, the Lord's Day, of course, I attended church.  It is always very busy, very holy, and very inspirational in the ministers, the music, the Bible readings, and the people, most of whom I recognize/know/or are friends.  New folks are always encouraged to stand up, be recognized, and tell from where they came. They all receive a special gift, a bottle opener shaped like a horse in the color U.K. blue, to remind them of our church and Kentucky when they return home.

Today was special because there was an infant Baptism after the sermon.  Elliott, the baby, looked to be about three months old and was a perfect little gentleman.  Father Gino, the celebrant, invited all Elliott's family to gather around the baptismal area "if you want to take pictures or see better."  Then he added a personal touch, "and please watch that the children don't go swimming in the Baptismal Pool!"  (The area for infants is a small basin.)  After the ceremony, Father held up Elliott in his new white garment for all the church to see.

Last week was really busy for me.  Every day I actually had to go somewhere, out-of-town on two days.  I was very tired and sleepy after lunch and wasn't surprised that I fell asleep in the chair watching TV.

The sunshine in the back yard seemed to beckon me.  I found it very pleasant outside.  I felt I needed to soak up the beauty of each and every flower, the sun, the cool breeze, everything.  I want to remember all the beauty after the leaves drop and the trees are bare.

Sunshine filtering through the trees.  All the plants are still perfectly green even though it is the middle of September!

The Birdbath: shadows are long even though it's only 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

I want to remember each and every beautiful flower, all the bright colors.

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea is in all its glory!

Only one large hydrangea bloom peeps over the fence to be visible from the street (I live on a corner).

My new yellow mum can be seen from inside and is colorfully reflected in the window. I won this Friday as a door prize at the Nephrology Conference.  What a lovely bonus!

There are still quite a few cherry tomatoes on the plant. I wonder if they'll get ripe enough to eat.  I'll bring them inside before the first freeze and put them in a sunny window and watch!  They've been a good crop this summer.

These yellow daisies are what my gardening friend, Florence, calls "volunteers."  I didn't plant them and there they are!

I'll have to bring my garden angels and the St. Francis Statue inside for the winter.  This little fellow has seen many summers in the back yard!

These are probably the last of the ever-blooming roses of the season.  The ones in the front of the house and these on the side have been beautiful all summer.  Sadly, the oldest and largest two in the back yard died over last winter and got chopped down to the ground.

These bright red berries are from a "volunteer" tree weed next to the white birch tree.  I'll probably have to cut it down.  My problem over the summer has been too many weeds and "volunteers!"

Slowly strolling around the backyard today, I wanted to appreciate even the tiniest of flowers.  These are in the ivy in front of the birdbath, barely visible unless you're right in front of them.  These also are "volunteers," but I won't yank them out!

I also wanted to touch and smell the plants.  I crushed a couple of leaves on these basil and lemon balm plants - very fresh!  Before it freezes, I'll harvest these and freeze them inside for the winter.

See the pink puff in the middle of the photo?  It's the very last bloom on my mimosa tree.  This is my prize!!  Day by day, I've been watching the number of blooms diminish.  I am so blessed this year, having this one this late in the season!  Usually, before the end of August, all the blooms are dried up.  This one is only visible from my second story sewing room window.  I can't see it from underneath the tree.  I'll remember to look at this photo again when it's snowing and frozen outside!

It doesn't take much to make me happy! - smiling people, lively children, beautiful plants - what, in God's wonderful creation, could be better!  I encourage you, even if you don't have a yard, to get a plant and learn to take care of it.  It's fun and will provide a spot of color and freshness for the cold weather ahead.

Lord, today I am almost overwhelmed by your magnificent flowers and green plants!  I would have enjoyed the flitting birds and scittering squirrels but when I opened the back door, they all ran away!
Thank you for all of nature, everywhere, for all of the earth!