A Beautiful Beginning

"How dare you let January pass just like that, Jo-Ann?" grumped Master Rufus.

(I have always wanted a pet goose and if I had one, I would have named it Rufus!!!)
No point crying over split milk...a common saying but hard to do as our minds always beat us up more than anything or anyone does. I am not going to blame it on being busy and having no time...but I choose to say "Thank goodness it's February and not November already!!!"


This blog entry features a bunch of beautiful flowers and plants covered with ice, taken in Parc Guell, Barcelona, Spain.
I just came home after a crazy whirlwind 2 weeks in UK & Europe. Extremely thankful for a chance to see some beautiful parts of Europe. Happy to see frosted flowers again and being a kid again in the snow.

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour. (John Boswell)



What a marvelous creation, mother earth...

Such calmness and happiness in my heart...

Colorful flowers in all seasons birth...

Love of beauty is taste...the creation of beauty is art

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)


Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle...a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream. (Barbara Winkler)

I love the photo that I took below...it was a mistake actually (blurred) but somehow I fell in love with it. Perfect picture that symbolizes our future, don't you think so? I like to believe my future is colourful and bright and happy...and no matter how much hard work I have to put in now...I know a miracle will happen for me. And for you too...if you believe...:)

The future belongs to those who believes in the beauty of their dreams. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Gerbera Daisies

WOW...2011 certainly zipped past me! Still unbelievable to me that today is my last working day for this year and after a 3-day break, a whole new year will start again.
I am choosing these vibrant beauties to end this year in this blog of mine because the flowers represent cheerfulness and innocence...PERFECT way to start a new year!
These flowers started blooming in my garden on Christmas eve and they are so beautiful up close...bright and merry for the end of the year celebrations, with family and friends.
Be inspired by life...
A simple 'Thank you' from my heart for being such loyal friends of this blog, thank you for always being there for me and bringing joy into my life...
Hope we all have learned much of life's philosophy from my flowers...
My wishes for all of you...

A great start of 2012

Love for Feb, peace for March,

No worries for April, fun for May,

Joy for June to Nov, and happiness for Dec :)))))))

White Mistflower

Happy December everyone!! Could not believe that November whizzed past me without me realizing it...was soooooo busy with work and life but I am happy that I have a chance to share with you once again a unique flower, at least to me...
Hehe...not even sure that this looks at all like a 'flower'... more like a hairy ball!

Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.

...Love is in the mist...
"... Take my hand...take my whole life too...for I can't help falling in love with you" (Elvis Presley)

This flower is incredibly surprising. Not attractive in colours and image, yet, it attracts butterflies from all around by its fragrance. Beauty lies deep in its soul... This is one flower I have shot with 3 different butterflies enjoying its pollen whilst I was there!

So I would like to sum this post up with the word "Love"...

November was a month of Thanksgiving and December is when we celebrate Christmas. Both celebrations bring families together, in love. This is the favourite time of the year for me. Somehow this is the time that I reflect on the days that have passed this year...the good and the not-so-good ones...and I always end up being very grateful for what I have today.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. (Thornton Wilder)

Cockscomb

Cock-a-doodle-doooooooo....

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween :))))
May Jack - o - lanterns burning bright of soft and golden hue

Pierce through the future's veil and show

What fate now holds for you...
I was thinking about what flower I should choose to share in this Halloween month... couldn't find a black and orange flower!
Then I realized my row of Cockscombs are blooming. Watching them grow was quite miraculous. They looked bright pink when they were babies but look at how magnificent their color changed when they grew up!
The Cockscomb Flower or usually known as the Brain Celosia is quite an unusual flower. The tightly clustered blooms resemble a rooster's comb! It symbolizes affection and I can't figure out why.....;)
Caresses, expressions of one sort or another, are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves are to the life of a tree. If they are wholly restrained, love will die at the roots. (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Hehe....an adult cockscomb look exactly like a gory brain...muahahaha perfect for Halloween!! Red for Halloween - fake blood, fire, devilish, anger, power -

Eat, drink and be scary....!!!!!!!

Cockscombs are red, violets are blue

now the boo is gonna scare you!

Cockscombs are red, wishes are true

now the crow is gonna eat you!

Cockscomb are red, I have no clue

why creepy spiders are crawling all over you!

Cockscombs are red, oh my goodness look at all that glue

might get to play a trick on bats that are creeping up to you!!! LOL...
Look at how amazing this flower looks like up close and personal....
Almost velvet-like...

So? What is Affection? Affection is warmth, love, intimacy, and joy. Oh yeahhh...I can see it now!!! The warmth of being cooked in a witch's cauldron! The love of being scared half to death by ghosts wannabes! The intimacy of spirits roaming around humans! And the joy of children (and adults) gorging in never-ending supply of candy and chocolates!!!! YUPP!!! THAT'S DEFINITELY THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN :)))
I miss the Halloween spirit. It's been a good 16 years since I last enjoyed my last Halloween in Oklahoma, USA, together with my dearest friends. All that's left in me now are fond memories; grateful that I had a chance to experience all that years ago. I wasn't much into the gory stuff, but I made sure my place was well stocked-up with candies and chocolates bought from good ole Wal-Mart :)) and I enjoyed opening doors to children dressed up in their costumes who were most enthusiastic about collecting candy!!

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." (Hans Christian Anderson)

..... And a fond memory now and then to keep one smiling always .....(Jo-Ann)