Love, Joy and Peas: June 2016

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Take Back Your Time Challenge - Unplugging in July

Image source: lauramusikanski on morguefile.com

Starting tomorrow (July 1, 2016), I'm joining Move Your Body Better's "Take Back Your Time" challenge. The idea is to quit social media for the month and make better use of your time. There are tips, instructions and information on prizes on the challenge's Facebook event page if you're interested in joining.

For me, this means that in July I will not use the following apps/websites:

Facebook**
Instagram
Periscope
Twitter
Linked In*
Tumblr*
Snapchat*

What I'm hoping to accomplish with my extra time:

Finish a big research/writing project with a July 14 deadline
Read to at least page 100 of Franklin Graham's All for Jesus book
Read to at least page 100 of Gary Smalley's Change Your Heart, Change Your Life book
Finish reading Fay Wolfe's New Order clutter busting book
Add more movement to my life
Become more mindful about my internet usage

It will be hardest to stay off Facebook because I'm used to posting a Bible verse in a group each morning and wishing my friends happy birthday, catching up with people and playing games each evening. I only recently joined Instagram so that will be a little easier, although I really do enjoy the app. I can't even remember the last time I logged into Twitter and haven't used Periscope in over a month so the rest should be super easy.

I consider Google Plus an extension of my email and spend less than 5 minutes a day there so I'm not including that in my social media ban. I'm also not including Pinterest, even though I rarely use it, and may not use it during the month of July, because when I do use it, it's for a practical project or visionary/planning session.

What are you doing to have positive time management skills this summer? May God bless you and your efforts to better your life!

Related posts:
Simplifying home challenge: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-simplifying-home-8-week-journey-week.html
Unplugged Sundays: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/unplugged-sundays.html
Sugar free September: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/09/sugar-free-september-day-1.html

Notes:
* = Really easy to stay off this site because I don't even have an account
** = Because I entered a tournament before I accepted the challenge, I'm making one quasi-exception and that is to allow myself to play Prolific (a Boggle-like word game, which I find very fun) by using a direct link (technically, it's on Facebook but by using the direct link I can quickly play my games and go and that's what I'm committing to do - no clicking any other links, checking Facebook messages or notifications; play and go).

Disclaimer:
I wasn't asked or paid to write this post and am not affiliated with Move Your Body Better or the Take Back Your Time Challenge except as a participant/fan. All opinions are my own

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Cute Kittens Yawning and Cuddling

Happy wild Wednesday! Our cute feral born kittens continue to delight us. I took these photos two days after their spay/neuter surgeries. I love the first photo because it looks like Braveheart is sticking her tongue out at us but really she's just yawning.

Here both kittens give a hearty yawn.

The Sandman quickly went back to sleep but Braveheart liked watching the camera.

This is one relaxed kitten.

He loves sleeping on his back, paws up. Both kittens do, but the Sandman does it more often. If you'd like to see more kitten photos, please comment below.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you!

Related posts:
Our new kittens: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2016/05/braveheart-and-sandman-our-new-kittens.html
Fishing cat kittens: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/fishing-cat-kitten-photos.html
Baby cheetahs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/cute-cheetah-cubs-and-wild-wednesdays.html
Baby lions: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/cute-little-lion-cub-photos.html

Friday, June 24, 2016

Bicolor Marigold, Day Lily, Coreopsis, Golden Sundrop and Gladiola Flowers

Happy Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" I took these photos just after a heavy rain and the flowers almost seemed to glow. The marigolds are starting to fill out nicely and I love the color combo of the bicolor red/orange and gold marigold in the top photo.

Our El Dorado day lilies started blooming this week. I love their deep red detailing.

The red coreopsis featured last week has new blooms but the older ones' petals are fading to white. I like how they look both ways. If I stay on top of deadheading the spent flowers we can have blooms through frost on these amazing plants.

The golden sundrops are already providing food and entertainment for our native golden finches. The birds love the seedy centers of these pretty flowers.

Last year's gladiola photo was nicer but I wanted to include this one to mark their first week blooming in our Maryland garden this year. The sweet peas and echinacea are starting to crowd them out so I was pleasantly surprised to see the gladiola flowers.

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

Related posts:
A year ago in my flower garden: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/dahlias-day-lilies-daisies-and-more.html
Golden finches on black eyed Susans: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/yellow-finch-feeding-on-black-eyed.html
Yellow finches feeding: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/06/yellow-finches-feeding.html

Friday, June 17, 2016

Bee Balm, Sedum, Sunset Dahlia, Coreopsis, and Pansy Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The pretty bee balm above started blooming this week. It's a miraculous survivor. Kind neighbors gave it to me three years ago. It bloomed just a tiny bit before something ate it down to the ground. Then last year a well meaning helper thought it was a weed and did his best to kill it. What little remained was eaten down to the ground. This year the foliage looks fantastic and the flowers are robust. Hopefully whatever ate it in previous years has moved on.

This yellow sedum is frommy kind friend Mary. Last year she let me take three tip cuttings from her beautiful plants and, by God's grace, they rooted and spread and now I have a little group of these beautiful plants. Hopefully they'll continue to spread and flower each year.

I thought the sunset dahlia had died but there's one nice flower on it and some buds forming.

The red coreopsis started blooming this week (that's a pink dahlia in the background) and they have made a few babies. Surprisingly, the babies have yellow flowers.

I found this tiny volunteer pansy plant hiding behind a bigger plant. I guess the shade from the large plant is keeping it alive despite the heat. I consider that another plant miracle.

In addition to what was already mentioned, our golden sundrops, lavender, butterfly bush (lavender and black knight) and snow on the mountain also started blooming this week. It's a fun time in my Maryland garden. Thank you to my kind friends and neighbors who share their garden abundance and thank you for visiting! May God bless them and you!

Related posts:
Mary's garden retreat: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/marys-amazing-garden-retreat.html
Little bees, big flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/little-bees-and-big-flowers-this-week.html
Missy's amazing garden: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/missys-marvelous-gardens.html

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Summer Wildlife at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

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.

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.

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

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

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

Friday, June 10, 2016

Rose, Purple Coneflower, Shasta Daisy, Sweet Pea and Zinnia Flowers

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The roses are at peak glory with beautiful flowers covering the bushes.

The echinacea (also known as purple coneflower) is just beginning it's season.

This is the very first shasta daisy flower of the year here in my Maryland garden.

I'm not sure if this is year two or three for our sweet peas but from two surviving plants we now have about an eight foot diameter spread of their vines.

Last week I finally planted my giant red zinnia seeds but my kind husband bought these mini zinnias for me while I wait for the giants to grow. It's nice to have color in the zinnia areas already.

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

Which was your favorite photo? What is your favorite flower scent?

Related posts:
Bees on flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/08/busy-bees-on-beautiful-blooms-zinnia.html
Giant zinnia and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/zinnias-roses-joe-pye-weed-day-lilies.html
Butterflies on coneflowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2015/07/butterflies-and-bees-love-purple.html

Friday, June 3, 2016

Bright Yellow and Brilliant Pink Flower Photos

Happy floral Friday and welcome to "this week in my Maryland garden!" The yellow coreopsis started blooming this week and the little plant is full of sunny flowers.

The pink evening primrose plants have spread even more and are filling out the space under our two dwarf lilac bushes. From a distance it looks like a mini hedge of pink flowers.

The Stella d'oro yellow reblooming day lilies started flowering this week too.

As did the yellow primrose. Apparently the high temperatures are good for starting flowers.

I planted this little calibrachoa in early spring. It hasn't grown much so maybe I was too early but at least it's still putting out some pretty flowers.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you enjoyed this week's photos. May God bless you!

Related posts:
Big flowers, little bees: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/little-bees-and-big-flowers-this-week.html
Day lilies and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/06/day-lily-primrose-echinacea-petunia-and.html
Hydrangeas and more: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/06/hydrangeas-cosmos-primrose-and-day.html