Wordless Wednesday - Hot Mustard

 Hot Mustard!

Ruby Tuesday Too - Final Rose

Final Rose of Summer

 

I mowed the yard recently and then decided to photograph a few of the final summer blooms in the planters.  This is a variety of knockout rose and while it is supposed to bloom for a few more weeks, I believe these will be some of the final attractive blossoms of the season.  I love roses, but they are usually pretty high maintenance.  Knockout roses are easy to care for.  The really just require that you prune them a couple of times during the growing season.  They are relatively insect and disease free, tolerate full sun, and will even tolerate my inconsistent watering habits.  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - Strolling

Color

Yes, the flowers are real!  I found them at a local grocery store.  They have a floral department and there were several bundles of these colorful blooms to choose from.  I chose to photograph them, but not purchase.

 

View

Few places offer a better view than the balcony on a cruise ship in Alaska.  The landscape is ever changing and always stunning.

 



Stroll

Two of my favorite places to stroll.  There is a trail on either side of this creek.  It is a part of Compton Gardens in Bentonville, Arkansas.  That structure in the background is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  I love to stroll through the galleries there.  The trail connects downtown Bentonville to the museum.  A new exhibit opens in a couple of weeks.  I am already making plans to attend.

 

Outfit

At least one evening on every cruise, dress for dinner requires that you wear a formal outfit.  Very few tuxes are seen, but your best "Sunday-go-to-meetin" clothes will work.

 



Blocks

The decorative concrete masonry units (blocks) were very popular during the late 50's and mid-60's.  Some were made of clay, others in concrete.  I don't believe anyone manufactures them any longer, so if you're restoring a mid-century home and need some of these...good luck.

 

Well that's it for this week's Scavenger Hunt.  Stop by anytime this week for additonal posts.  Have a blessed day.

Skywatch Friday

It's that time of year.  The weather is still very warm, but the promise of autumn and cooler temps is just around the corner.  Football season is here and we will soon be trading our summer shorts for our sweat pants and a fire in the fire place.  It's my favorite time of the year.  What's yours?

Inspiration Thursday - Eye on the Sparrow

Have you ever faced a situation where you felt all alone.  It seemed like you against the world and the world was winning.  If you had faith, it was being tested to the breaking point and you were ready to just give up.  If you placed your faith in God, you may have even asked yourself, where is God when I really need Him.  In a way, you may have been accusing God of not caring enough about you to intervene in your situation.
First of all Christians are not immune to life difficulties.  We are not immune to terminal illnesses.  We are not immune to losing loved ones in tragic accidents and we are not immune to family or financial troubles.  We are however, immune to desertion.  God will never desert His children, ever!
Joshua 1:9 tells us "...Be strong and courageous!  Do not trermble or dismayed, for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go."  Psalm 23:4 says, "Even though I walk through the valleyt of the shado of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;..."  Even in the gospel of Matthew, Christ tell us, "...I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  It can be very difficult to remember these promises when life seems to be crashing down around us and nothing is going our way.  Remember God never promised us a life free from pain or difficulty, He promised to be there and walk with us through it all.  Remember, we are the "crown jewel" of God's creation.  We are made in His image.  He breathed life into us and gave us an eternal soul, unique among all creatures.  He has provided us a means of spending eternity with Him through the gift of salvation.  God loves you, cares about you, and watches over you.  As a Christian, you are most valuable to the Creator.  His eye is upon the sparrow.



Regardless of the depth of the valley that we must travel, when we look up, God is on the mountain.

Wordless Wednesday - Cruise Critters

Cruise Critters

 



 

 

Ruby Tuesday Too - Peter Max

I don't know the title of this painting, but the artist is Peter Max.  Max became famous in the 60's for his style of pop art.  Many people consider him to be the father of psychedelic art.  He produced ad campaign artwork, album covers, posters, paintings, fabric designs, etc.  I really like this piece, and if I could afford a Peter Max painting, this just might be the one that I would choose.  He did a series based on the Statue of Liberty which is also pretty cool.

Here are a few more examples of Peter Max's artwork.  If they don't say 60's Flower Power, I don't know what does.  Have a groovy Ruby Tuesday Too.