Dear Reader:

Yesterday I was in the garden with my “clippers” fighting the endless (and futile) battle against bamboo shoots popping up in my backyard from the neighbor’s yard where it grows wild.

I know I am just buying some time before it pops up again…but I have to keep doing it or else I would be tripping over bamboo shoots every time I went out to my garden.

I had taken a rest from my ‘battle’ and plopped down on the bench when a wonderful breeze swept over me…it felt delicious! I closed my eyes and just listened to the babbling fountain, the chirping of birds and the buzzing of bees. I was in my little slice of heaven.

When I opened my eyes one flower arrangement (a gift last year from Dianne) was glowing in the sun’s rays filtering through the trees. It looked like it was lit from within. Just beautiful!

All the different colors of green were vibrant and beautiful in themselves!

I, idly, started following the sun’s rays as it fell on different sections of the garden …this “game” helped me make a fun discovery. A little Gerber Daisy had come up, all by itself this year, and was just popping its head open …feeling the sun on its face for the first time in its young life. Adorable!

However, the most beautiful of all was when the sun hit the Bottlebrush tree and it looked like a fire was burning on the tips of the branches. The Bottlebrush plant is indigenous to Australia and is symbolic of laughter, joy, and abundance.*

It thrives in direct sun and once established, is drought-resistant…exactly what my garden needs. It, also, attracts birds and butterflies to one’s garden…a big bonus for me!

The indigenous peoples of Australia also used them for health purposes:

Indigenous people of Australia used the bottle brush flowers as a natural energy drink, ingeniously taking full advantage of their natural surroundings. Soaking the flowers in water essentially drinking all the natural goodness.  Bottle brush essential oil is used to harmonize a room or house bringing tranquil healing vibrations.

As I thought about the process of the sun falling on different parts of life on a daily basis I remembered the expression I  heard growing up on special occasions: “Congratulations, it was your time to bask in the sun.”

I remember reading somewhere that most people will see their names in print at least three times in their lives: birth notice, marriage announcement, and obituary. I think today…as far as newspaper announcements go…probably only two because marriage announcements are quite expensive.

This saying was definitely invented before internet and Facebook came into existence…but still we use the expressions “basking in the sun” or “our time in the sun” to recognize benchmarks in our lives…graduations, awards of all kind, engagements, marriages, new homes, promotions, etc.

Very soon, in fact two weeks to the day, Tommy and Kaitlyn will be sharing their “time, their moment in the sun” with family and we can all hardly wait!  It is their time for the sun’s rays to land on them and spotlight this wonderful union of happiness.

So until tomorrow:

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough “Hello’s” to outshine “Good-byes.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I would like to take a moment and thank all of you for your sweet comments/cards concerning my latest little health slip…with sinus infection… But after just a few days on antibiotics I feel much better already.

The biggest thing is getting rid of that annoying little tickle in your throat that sets off a coughing spree. Murphy’s Law…it only happens in quiet surroundings which makes it even more embarrassing. But the episodes are getting farther apart thank goodness!!!

I had to share this funny card that Mike and Dee Lesko sent….it did send me into a laughing/coughing combo reaction! Too cute! (Inside the card concludes with “Get well soon…or I’ll make up another song!”