My One Word for 2019

Beaming light: photo by Pellini of MorgueFile

My guiding word for the year is "light." I'm aiming for a lightening up in spirit, mind, body and home and hopefully lighting a bit of our world with acts of kindness. I'm praying that God's light and love will shine through me to all those He puts in my path.

Traveling sunset with visible beams: photo by me

Do you have a guiding word for the year? Please share if you do!

May God bless you in this new year and always!


Related posts:
New Year prayer haiku poems: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-prayer-haikus.html
New Year blessing and poems: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/12/happy-new-year-blessing-update-and.html
New Year poems: https://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-new-year-haikus-inspired-by-god-and.html

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Green Orchid Photos and Haiku Poems

Irish Blessing Plaque: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2017

Happy St. Patrick's Day and floral Friday! The plaque in the photo above has this Irish blessing:

"May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

The rains fall gently upon your fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand"

This plaque hangs, year round, in our bedroom. I am a wee bit Irish, after all.

Green Orchid "cymbodium goeringii" : Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2017

I thought green orchids would be perfect for this St. Patrick's day post. The photos were taken at the U.S. National Arboretum in their Bonsai Museum. It's a great place to visit, any time of the year.

Green orchids rising: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2017

Back to St. Patrick's day. While praying and walking today, God gave me these two haiku poems.

St. Patrick's Day Haiku Poem I:

Saint Patrick was real!

He spread the gospel message

and loved our Lord God!

St. Patrick's Day Haiku Poem II:
He used shamrock leaves

to explain the Trinity:

Father, Son, Spirit.

Saint Patrick was a devoted Christian and I'm glad to celebrate his life by wearing green but I think loving God and serving others honor him best. 

Green orchids in pretty pot: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2017

The photo above is an overview of the green "cymbodium goeringii" orchids in their pretty pot. When I first saw the pot, I thought it was a pot of grass! But when I looked more closely I could see the orchid flowers.

Kittens love an unmade bed: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2017

Just in case you wondered what our kittens were doing on St. Patrick's day - they were relaxing. Every time I went to make the bed, a cat was on it. It's late afternoon and I still haven't made the bed,  but the day isn't over. But their kittenhood almost is - they will be a year old a week from today!

May God bless you and all you love!

How do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day? 

Related posts:
My Favorite Funny Cat St. Patrick's Post: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/hilarious-happy-st-patricks-day-cat.html
More funny Irish cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/funny-st-patricks-day-photos-of-moose.html
Cute cats wearing the green: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/funny-st-patricks-day-cat-photos.html

Note:
This is not a sponsored or paid post. All opinions are my own.

First Day of Spring Home Blessing Prayer Party (Online)

Photo source: Facebook theme

It's almost officially spring! You are cordially invited to celebrate with me via my online First Day of Spring Home Blessing Prayer Party! It will be held on Facebook on Monday, March 20th from 11 am to 7 pm Eastern time.

I envision us celebrating the first day of spring together with lots of praying for each other and our homes, and actual home blessing activities. This means not just sitting at the computer but getting up and doing some good in our homes (acts of kindness, cleaning, organizing, clutter busting, tidying etc.)! Home blessing prayers, prayer requests, home blessing tips and before / after photos are welcome!

I pray this will be an event that uplifts, encourages and blesses all who participate.

May God bless you and all who join!

Related posts: 
12 Spring Celebration Ideas: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-spring-haiku-poems-and-12.html
Daffodils, Pansies and Cyclamen: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/daffodil-pansy-and-cyclamen-flower.html
Spring Flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/02/first-flowers-of-spring-2016.html

Notes:
Full event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1830213920577559/
Not a sponsored or affiliate post; all opinions are my own.

Happy New Year Blessing, Update and Haiku Poems

This lovely New Year image was custom made for me by my dear friend,
graphic artist Jackie Peeler. You can see more of her work at http://designexcellence.me/

Happiest New Year wishes to you and yours! I pray that this year will bring you closer to our Lord, to those you love and to the goals you hold most dearly.

Happy New Year 2017 Haiku Poems

Happy New Year to

you and yours! I hope that you

have your best year yet! 

May you always feel

treasured, loved, blessed and sure of 

God's great love for you

I'm still praying for direction and for the first time in ages, have no concrete plan for the year ahead. Maybe that's what God is telling me. Be still and listen. Be more open to His spontaneous direction. I don't know for sure. But I do know He loves me and He loves you! May He bless you beyond your wildest dreams!

Related posts:
2015 New Year blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/01/happy-new-year-free-gift-for-you.html
2014 New Year butterflies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-blessings-butterflies.html
2013 New Year blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-new-year-haiku-and-blessing.html
2012 New Year blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-new-year-haikus-inspired-by-god-and.html
2011 New Year poems: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-prayer-haikus.html

Cool Flowers from the U.S. National Arboretum's Asian Collection

Pretty anemone flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy floral Friday! This week features flowers from the U.S. National Arboretum's Asian gardens. It's a favorite place of mine to walk in the summer because it's mostly shady.

Purple flowers and buds: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I'm guessing that these purple flowers are a type of aster. I liked both the open flowers and the unfurling buds. So did the bees and a few moths.

Delicate pink rose with white center: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 This little pink rose was a pleasant surprise.

Unusual daisies: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 These neat daisy like flowers appeared to have hollow petals.

Yellow day lily in front of variegated bush: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The yellow day lily looked especially striking against the variegated shrub's leaves.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Secret shady gazebo: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-gazebo-photos-haikus-short-poems.html
National Arboretum flowers & bugs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/national-arboretum-flowers-insects.html
Amazing day lily colletction: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/beautiful-day-lilies-and-day-lily-haiku.html

Lavender, Spirea, Double Day Lily, Mexican Blanket Flower and Vinca for Floral Friday

Lavender garden: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy July, floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The bees love our lavender. I have five hardy lavender plants in this bed and think of it as my mini lavender field.

Hot pink spirea: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Our spirea bush has been in a medium pot for years and the roots have grown through the drain holes into the soil so we decided to leave it in the pot.

Double orange day lily: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The double flowering orange day lilies started blooming this week and I think they might be our most vigorous day lilies, growing larger clumps and spreading more each year.

Red Mexican blanket flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I thought our red Mexican blanket flower didn't make it through the winter but was pleasantly surprised to see its leaves appear a few weeks ago and its flowering start this week.

Deep rose and white vinca flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The vinca is holding up nicely in the heat. It's a lovely time for a Maryland flower garden.

Thank you for visiting! That's all for this week's mini garden tour. May God bless you!

Related posts:
Funky lavender and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/05/funky-lavender-thyme-allium-marigold.html
Red, white and blue flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/09/red-white-and-blue-flowers-and-haiku.html
Bicolor day lily and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/07/morning-glory-bicolor-day-lily-magic.html

Summer Wildlife at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Wild deer foraging for food: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy wild Wednesday! My husband and I recently visited Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens and were thrilled to see so much wildlife, especially because we visited on a hot afternoon. The first three photos are by me and the last two were generously shared by my talented husband. We hope you enjoy them all.

Tiny red-headed reptile: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

The deer in the top photo was eating leaves and definitely knew we were there as she kept looking right at us. The red headed little reptile didn't appear to see me until I took its photo.

Strategic spider on magnolia flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Can you see the tiny spider? She's camouflaged well on one of the magnolia leaves.

Wild butterfly: Copyright © Ben Wheeler, 2016, used with permission

 I saw two of these pretty butterflies but my husband got the best photo.

Stripey: Copyright © Ben Wheeler, 2016, used with permission

And this little striped reptile was too fast for me but my husband photographed it dashing for cover.

Hearty thanks to my dear husband for sharing his photos with us! May God bless him and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
Kenilworth overview photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/kenilworth-park-aquatic-gardens-photos.html
Amazing lotus flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/06/lotus-flower-photos-haiku-poem.html
Kenilworth flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/flowers-at-kenilworth-aquatic-gardens.html

Black Squirrel Close Up Photos

Black squirrel on fence: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy wild Wednesday! This female black squirrel let me get fairly close to her and didn't run away even when my camera beeped and all the other wild squirrels fled. 

Black squirrel on fence: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 It was a real treat to have plenty of time to photograph her.

Black squirrel on fence: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 Wildlife is rarely this cooperative so I'm guessing someone feeds her.

Black squirrel on fence: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

This black squirrel, I'm pretty sure, is different from the one I posted a few weeks ago. 

Black squirrel on fence: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I found her in a different neighborhood and she's certainly more friendly.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Original black squirrel: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/02/black-squirrel-photos-haiku-poem.html
Wild raccoon: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/wild-raccoon-in-national-arboretum.html
Cute critters on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/cute-critters-on-flowers.html

White Lilies for Good Friday

Easter Lily Rising: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NIV

A blessed Good Friday to you! I wanted to do something special this floral Friday and was thrilled to find these white Easter lilies to photograph for you in place of my normal garden photos (which, God willing, will resume next week). 

Easter Lily Macro: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I like how the background lily is facing in a similar diagonal direction as the front one here.

Pretty Lily Macro: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 The white background makes the green centers really stand out.

Releasing Lily Macro: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

This lily is just starting to show its age but is still beautiful.

Cluster of Easter Lilies: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

And this group of lilies has both buds and open flowers. I think the buds are pretty too.

God loves you! May He bless and keep you this Easter season and always!

Related posts:
Multicolored lilies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/04/lilies-for-good-friday.html
Good Friday haiku poem: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/national-cathedral-photos-and-good.html
Resurrection Chapel: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/happy-easter-resurrection-chapel-photos.html

Beautiful Swans at Thomas Point Park

So many beautiful swans: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy wild Wednesday! This week I was treated to the amazing sight of a huge group of wild swans at Thomas Point Park in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. 

Graceful wild swans: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I think this was my third visit to this hidden gem of a park and it was the first time I saw the swans.

Flapping swan wings: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

It seemed like they were aware of me watching them and the closer swans spent most of their time with their heads in the water so I felt really blessed to get this photo of a swan with its wings partially extended and body mostly out of the water.

Feeding swans: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I love their graceful necks.

Gorgeous group of swans: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

It's amazing how much wildlife we can find even near large cities. I'm not sure if the swans are still there, and if they are, how long they'll remain but if you're a local, it might be worth a trip to see them. My understanding is that permits are required starting April 1st, they will cost $5 each and are limited to a certain number per day so March is a great time to visit. That's all for this wild Wednesday. May God bless you and yours!

Related posts:
Wild raccoon photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/wild-raccoon-in-national-arboretum.html
Black squirrel photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/02/black-squirrel-photos-haiku-poem.html
Cute critters on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/cute-critters-on-flowers.html

First Flowers of Spring 2016!

Yellow spring flowers: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy floral Friday! It's exciting to see the first signs of spring, even though it's still winter here in Maryland. These pretty yellow flowers were popping up through fallen leaves in the woods. 

White and green spring flowers: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

I think these are called snowdrops. I've only ever seen them facing downward (like the two on the left) so seeing one facing upward was an extra treat.  

Pale purple crocus: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

These pale lavendar crocuses were sprouting up in tiny bunches here and there too.

Honeybee on yellow spring flower: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

It was great to see a honeybee feasting on the fresh flowers.

Yellow flowers peeping from leaves: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

These two yellow flowers haven't managed to throw off the top leaf yet but I thought it looked like a cozy flower cave. We've got more cold coming before it's truly spring but it's nice to see flowers already blooming in nature.

I hope, wherever you are, that you are safe and warm. Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
First flowers of spring 2015: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/03/first-flowers-of-spring-and-floral.html
Happy spring poem: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-spring-haiku-poems-and-12.html
Daffodils and pansies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/daffodil-pansy-and-cyclamen-flower.html

Lily & Iris Bouquet for Floral Friday

White lily and blue iris bouquet: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

Happy floral Friday! My dear husband gave me these beautiful flowers and I thought sharing them here would be a good way to preserve the memory and hopefully bring a smile to your face.

White lily macro: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 This super close up of a white lily was my favorite photo of the session.

Blue irises with yellow and white: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 But I love the yellow and white accents on the blue irises.

Pretty blue irises: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

 From the angle above you can see more of the blue irises.

Iris and lily bouquet overview: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2016

And this is an overall shot of the bouquet. The flowers have passed but thanks to photography, they live on in images. Hearty thanks to my husband for the flowers and to you for visiting!

May God bless you this Friday and always!

Related posts:
Blue poppies: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/02/rare-blue-poppies-for-floral-friday.html
Blue and yellow irises: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/05/yellow-blue-purple-and-white-irises.html
Red, white and blue flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/09/red-white-and-blue-flowers-and-haiku.html