Joy and beauty are where you find them.  One person’s joy is terror to another.  In bragging about his wife, the old German farmer is said to have said, “She ain’t much to look at but she’s hell for stout.”

It rained last night and this morning’s sky is cloudy.  I’ve been saving two pics for a day like this.

Love that rich color

I remember teaching my sister how to make a doll from two hollyhock blossoms.  Did you ever do that?

Beauty like this should be shared

We’ll be meeting with our son for lunch today.  Lot’s of joy in that.

I’m having mixed feelings today.  This is the second day that I can’t get to Facebook.  I don’t know whether to be joyful or sad . . .  Perhaps it’s a thing of beauty?

Here are some things that brighten my day.  They are beautiful joy bringers.

Yes, even that clover blossom adds to the glory of creation.

What brightens your dull, rainy days?

Two in one

When we bought this house.  We found the rhododendron bush, but it had an azalea planted tight beside it.  They were too close to separate and so the two continue to grow, each in the others embrace.

The azalea blooms in early spring.  Later, the rhododendron takes its turn setting out blossoms.  And so we have life within life.  Look again.  It is life within life within life.

Rolling in the treasure

Sylvia and I are enjoying this time of year.  The weather is perfect for having windows open to let in fresh air.  Better yet, we love to go outside.  Sometimes we go out just to feel the fresh breeze on our face and to see and to smell.  Everywhere we look, life goes on.

Today’s post title (Quo Vadis) comes from Latin.  It means “where are you going?”

Lately I’ve been on a blooming flower frenzy.  That continues, just because I like it.

I’ve been eagerly waiting for these

First one red tulip opened.  A couple of days later, there were two red tulip.  Shortly after, we have all the tulips, red, yellow, and the combination of those decorating our flower beds.  Aren’t these yellow tulips with red veins particularly attractive?

Between our garage and barn there is a peculiar shrubbery growing.  I believe that the original occupants “heeled in” an azalea and a rhododendron.  That would have been a temporary measure.  Life, or cessation of the same, intervened and the two shrubs remained in their [supposed to be] temporary home.  By the time we moved here, fifteen years ago, the roots were so intertwined that I couldn’t separate them.  (Yes, there is a parable in this.)

Now we have early azalea blossoms and later, rhododendron blossoms will grace this impossible shrub.  We’ve come to appreciate it.

Azalea blooms first

Today the cherry trees are in blossom.  I have no pictures to show you on this damp and dreary day.  Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow.

We’ve been enjoying the daffodils this spring.  We know that winter is done when we see that bright splash of color.  The blossoms last longer than crocus or hyacinth.

I’ve recently posted pictures of the three main variations that we have in our flower beds.  Most of our daffodils are all dark yellow (petals and cup).  Those come in standard size and miniature sizes.  We also have them with white petals and yellow cup.  Another features white petals with a yellow cup and red (or orange) rim.

This year I’m seeing some with lighter yellow petals and dark yellow cup.

The blossom in the foreground is all dark yellow.  Notice the lighter petals on the flowers in the background.  (Everyday I watch that tulip bud in hope of seeing it open.)

The eye shows the contrast between the yellows better than the camera does.