Birthday Girl!

Birthday Girl 152/365
Well here she is folks "the mother-in-law." She is 84 years young today and would be proud to tell you that herself! This photo was taken at the sand sculpting competition on Fort Myers Beach last Saturday. She is wearing her newly purchased YA YA Hat and was very excited to experience the event.
She is extremely healthy, takes hardly any medication and can run rings around me when it comes to cooking and cleaning. Her memory amazes us everyday. She can give you every detail of her wedding day and what gifts were received and who they were from. She and PePe will be married 65 years in June of this year. WOW!
Memere is a true grandma in every sense of the word. Her nine grandchildren adore her and her four great-grandchildren, just love her energy! Another is due in June. She indulges them with love and always has a little bag of candy upon their departure.
She absolutely never has anything negative to say about anyone, goes above and beyond to be fair to her four children and is devoted to her rosary and the Blessed Mother. A wonderful role model for all that know her!
Walking the beach with her was an interesting experience. She commented that she was overdressed and would be wearing a micro bikini on her next visit. Hmm, I never know what to buy her, that would be an interesting gift! Gold lame would go nicely with her new Ya Ya Hat. The scary thing is that she would probably wear it!!! It's in the genes kids, yes it's in the genes and hopefully you all have it floating around on your DNA!!! 
Happy Birthday, Memere, we love you much!

The Sharing of Bread!

Charity 151/365
"Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them, he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?"  God said, "I did do something. I made you."~Author Unknown~
This quote, be very powerful and since the lily symbolizes charity, hope and faith, I thought it fitting to recognize the people in our community.
We have an organization here called 'Wake Up America.' It is staffed by volunteers who on a daily basis drive to local supermarkets, pick up day old bread and bakery products and deliver them to the needy. It has come to the attention of the community that between the price of fuel and maintenance on the trucks, these noble deeds have been greatly burdened. 
Thus the idea was born! A fund raising dinner will be held on Saturday evening to support this cause. It is wonderful to see that the event has sold out and clubs within the community are donating their time and resources. Giving, it just seems to be contagious when humans rally round for the sharing of bread.
Somehow I got volunteered to work in the kitchen, now that's where the faith and hope come in! So honored to be a small part of this charitable event!

A Milestone in My Journey!

150/365
The above photo, along with the numbers signify a great milestone in my commitment of 365! One hundred and fifty down and two hundred and fifteen to go. I would like to welcome all of my new readers and I am honored that you have chosen to follow my blog! It amazes me everyday that the more positive thoughts I put out there the more positive energy comes back my way!
If anyone wishes to view weekly posts you can click on the Home Page in the upper left on the black bar, once you reach this page you will see the last fourteen days in descending sequence by scrolling down. Older posts can be viewed by going to the right hand column, scroll down until you see Blog Archives. Here you can go back to November 10th 2010, when my journey began, click on a ascending month to view posts for that month. The, You May Also Like feature, is a random pick of five older posts on a daily basis so don't let that confuse you.
In the beginning you will notice that the posts are more about the photos and at some point it became more about the writing. Hopefully now, I have found a better balance.
Each of you continue to be my inspiration and it is my honor to brighten your day!

As always feel free to email these posts to anyone you think might enjoy! At any point if you wish to be taken off the list just let me know.

Flowers in photo courtesy of Lowe's Garden Department. Now if you want to know what that is all about go to yesterday's post and read my confession. Home Page, Home Page, scroll down, there you go!

The Rose!

How to Plan a Garden
"Rose is a rose, is a rose, is a rose."~Gertrude Stein~
Doesn't this rose just look delicious? Do you think anyone call it by any other name? Or not recognize it's beauty for what it is? The rose grows in many different colors but the rose, rose is my favorite. Maybe because it does not signify the passion of the red rose or the purity of the white! Both quite beautiful, however, in their own rite. I guess I'm just a neutral kind of person. Now that's as far as I'm going to go with that one folks.

I have a confession to make! I went to one of those tool and garden mega-centers with my camera to shoot a series of photos. Lacking color in my own yard, one resorts to any level. In the past I have been left on my own with very little guidance from the staff and figured I would be safe for a long while. "Lowes" and behold they came out of the woodwork to help me! Any questions, can I show you something madame, etc. etc.? So my advice to you when planning a garden is to bring your camera. I guarantee the worker bees will assist you in any way that they can.  

A Welcomed Visitor!

Great White Egret
"You must not know too much, or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and water-craft; a certain free margin, and even vagueness - perhaps ignorance, credulity, helps your enjoyment of these things."~Walt Whitman~
I agree with you Walt! By the time I get out the book they have usually flown away and I miss the show! Yesterday my husband yelled bring your camera quickly. Out the door I went right into the path of this beautiful, Great White Egret. He had to be at least three feet tall, a little lean, I thought and maybe injured. Round the house he went peeking everywhere  and oblivious to me and my camera. So graceful and ever so slow were his movements. Too good to be true...snap, snap, snap!!! I had to have been less than a few feet away when I snapped this photo of him peeking into my side door. He was uninjured and hungry upon further investigation! A little geico lizard dropped from a window ledge right into the waiting birds beak. Gulp and down it went. Talk about eating on the run! He did not like the bread my husband tried to feed him, however.
In many cultures birds have symbolic meanings, below are just a few:
Most Native American tribes took note of the egret or heron’s inquisitiveness, curiosity and determination.  As such this set the egret as a symbol of wisdom in that this creature seemed to have good judgement skills. Specifically, the Iroquois tribe held the egret as a very good omen, a very lucky sign. They recongnized the egret as an expert fisher/hunter.  As such, they believed that sighting a heron before a hunt was a sign that the hunt would be a good one. As a water creature the egret is also a symbol of going with the flow, and working with the elements of Mother nature rather than struggling against her.The egret is a beautiful creature, exhibiting grace, and noble stature. It’s no wonder the Native Indians and ancients honored the egret throughout the centuries.~google search~
Love them all! I especially like the good omen part, he brought such a peaceful feeling. So glad I got this magical visit from this magnificent creature! Hope to see him again soon!

A Story Unfolding!

Pure Genius
Back to the ocean and you know how happy that makes me!
Yesterday was a rose quartz kind of day! We laughed the entire day! The climate could not have been more perfect and the beaches were very well attended. We brought my husband's parents to see the magnificent sand sculptures at Fort Myers Beach. It was the local competition which will be followed by the world competition later in November. My mother-in-law and I bought ourselves YA YA hats from one of the many venders and off to the viewing we went.
If you have never been to one before, I must say the sculptures are captivating. There size alone can hold one's attention for quite some time. The pure genius of these artists, able to sculpt a story right out of a massive mountain of sand is a concept my brain can not seem to comprehend. I am not sure of the title of this sculpture but you can see the story unfolding. The sculptors have until seven this evening to accomplish their task.
The day was finished off with some dinner and dancing with friends, which is a blog for another time. Let's just say I have ice packs on my cheek bones from the intense laughter. It is amazing to me that my husband can do the chicken dance to the electric slide when in doubt, clear the dance floor and remain oblivious! Just gotta love him!

Smiley Faces for Heaven!

The Yellow Rose
"The yellow rose is purely a symbol for friendship. Yellow Roses can send the perfect message of appreciation. They can represent feelings of joy and delight, and are an ideal way to brighten someone's day who may be feeling down. There is perhaps no other flower that is able to bring out a smile in quite the way that a Yellow Rose can."~google search~

Do you think it wonderful, upon judgement day, we each be handed a yellow rose? What better way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  
Now I'm not applying for this job anytime soon but I think in about 30 years or so I would like to become a 
Soul-Mart Greeter. Instead of a smily face I would like to hand each new entrant a, Yellow Rose. Bizarre as this may sound to some, to others just a sweet sentiment and if you have been extra special good, I'll bet I can get you a blue light special! Heaven, the super center, where bargains no longer matter, but good deeds on earth add up really fast at check out time!

The Beauty of Your Dreams!

Dreams
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."~Eleanor Roosevelt~
 Eleanor Anna Roosevelt (1884–1962), U.S. humanitarian and diplomat. Involved in a wide range of liberal causes, she served as chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, where she helped to draft the Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.~google search~
This precious little card was hand made by Aunt Pauline. She wrote that after reading my post on 3/19/2011 http://rosemaryaubut.blogspot.com/2011/03/colors-of-spring.html, Colors of Spring, she was inspired to create with her own box of crayons. She used a stamping technique and added a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, above. My goose bump rating was that of a ten or maybe even off the charts. I will frame it and place it in a special spot where I can enjoy it on a daily basis.
Like, Eleanor you are a champion of human rights. Your journey incredibly challenging, you and Uncle Ron have handled your fate with grace and dignity. You believe only in the beauty of your dreams. You speak in defense of all that are "intellectually disabled." Humans need role models and you truly are the angels that walk among us! 
Thank You!

Levity!

Levity
"My method is to take the utmost trouble to find the right thing to say, and then to say it with the utmost levity."~George Bernard Shaw~
"Derived from the Greek word “delphis,” meaning dolphin, delphinium are also commonly known as larkspur. These lush, dolphin-shaped flowers symbolize an open heart and ardent attachment and convey a feeling of lightness and levity."~google search~
I had always loved these gorgeous flowers in my garden up north. They can grow very tall and in groups surely become the focal point of any space.
Little did I realize their symbolism. Along with the quote I have chosen for today they help to convey an important point: 
So many of you reading this blog have many pressing issues in your lives and I truly understand that, having been there before. At this interval in my life, however, I am in a peaceful place and have chosen happiness. Grateful for that fact, I realize the importance of my words, know that they do not always come easy. My goal here is to make you smile and forget for a brief moment, trusting that everything will be OK. Keep an open heart, be ardent, try to find lightness and levity in any situation, it just might be the remedy to get you thru. Think I'm going to plant some delphinium today, hope they like sandy soil. Always looking for new inspiration to bring your way. Keep on smiling, yes keep on smiling until we meet again!

The Fountain of Youth!

Have You Heard
"We have found the Fountain of Youth." Recently we visited a warm mineral spring here in Florida. Hearing of it's existence several months ago, it has been on our bucket list of places to go. 
Entering the spring was at first a bit ominous, the water is dark yet clear at the same time. There was a distinct smell of sulphur which seemed to disappear after a while. The buoyancy in the water was also quite noticeable. I almost didn't need my noodle. My friend Judy and I then noticed that no one around us was speaking English. Maybe German, Polish or Italian? We later discovered they spoke Russian and that there are a large population of Russian people who live nearby. A very hearty people they laughed much and enjoyed the beautiful day along with us. They came with canes and walkers, skin aliments etc. looking for relief and possibly a cure. A staff member explained that it is very European, to try this type of treatment first, before seeing a doctor.
Two beautiful ladies, deep in conversation, meandered by wearing these colorful hats which added to the flavor of the experience!
Not to shower that evening was the order, to let the minerals sink into the skin overnight for the most benefit. Well I can't say I'll be running laps anytime soon but I feel great, my well earned wrinkles and all!
I was overwhelmed with gratitude that we had the opportunity to visit here. A beautiful day great friends, much laughter and a new experience! How good does it get? 
I couldn't help thinking that we were in the movie Cocoon where a group of trespassing seniors swim into a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor. I think I may have just lived it! Can't wait to go back!
Go to http://www.warmmineral springs.com for more information.

Yes You Can!

Yes You Can
"Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they're yours."~Richard Bach~
This beautiful photo was taken by my friend Joan! She attached it to an email and wrote that she was not a Rose, when it came to taking pictures and that these orchids grew in her yard in spite of her! With a little photoshop magic, presto, you have instant art. So yes you can, Joan, you have a great big heart and are always willing to share your time and talents. You live by good example while others silently watch. You set the standard high! Now go get a tissue and start taking more pictures! Argue not, for your limitations, dear one, for they lie only in a misconceived perception of your reality! 

Information Superhighway!

Information Superhighway
Alexander Graham Bell's, "electrical speech machine" paved the way for the "Information Superhighway."      ~google search~
Now days do you know any one who does not own a cellphone? I just happen to know such a person. My beloved husband!
The saga all began when his 87 year old father decided to bring his 63 year old son up to speed. Dad has been an enormous advocate for the free cell phone that you have probably seen advertised! I say the company get rid of the TV ads and hire him! He ordered it, tracked it and told us to look in our mailbox because it should be there and low and behold it was!
On "Opening Day" the husband struggled with all of the new and obscure options, display etc. The manual was his alone. How else does one learn!!! Upon returning, from my pool hiatus, he declared that it was all set, let's give it a try. And so we did!
Our land line rang and caller ID came up as, Ethel McArtor. Who the heck was that? After exhausting all of our options, It was time to call out the big guns and relent to the "dreaded tech support." You know the people you yell at because you don't think they understand you! Three continents later, Ethel is still calling.
Now we are not sure if someone simply mixed up the phones and Ethel has his, or if Ethel has met the "Grand Master" of all communication!
I think the latter may be the case, on a daily basis he gets a bible quote sent right to his message box! Absolutely hysterical! How do you explain that one to tech support??? His dad boasts how many minutes he has acquired over the months by not using them, while son is using his up talking to his new friend, Rajah! So if anyone out there knows Ethel, tell her that Will has her phone! In the meantime if Ethel McArtor, comes up on your caller ID, just know it's your old friend, Will! Now be careful, he tends to get a little sensitive if you call him Ethel! Could I make this stuff up, even if I tried!

Such a Noble Flower!

Prejudices 
"Legend has it that Queen Anne, the wife of King James I, was challenged by her friends to create lace as beautiful as a flower. While making the lace, she pricked her finger, and it’s said that the purple-red flower in the center of Queen Anne’s Lace represents a droplet of her blood. Queen Anne’s Lace represents sanctuary, magic, trust, healing and steadfast love."~google search~
Pretty amazing history since this delicate flower is considered by many to be a roadside weed. For years I fought them back trying to control their vivacious appetite for space. I finally came to realize that mixed with my treasured hydrangeas they made the most beautiful filler flower. My arrangements took on that wispy feel that I so love. I then began to cultivate them appreciating them for who they are, my prejudices against them all but vanished. Once considered a weed, a general train of thought, was now my reliable and trusted friend, that made my arrangements whole. I do believe that looking beyond what we are told, experiencing for ourselves, other than what is perceived to be, can lead to extraordinary and lasting relationships, for any species! A little sanctuary in our hearts to store magic, trust and some healing love! Such a noble flower!

Come Sail With Me!

Come Sail With Me

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship."~ Louisa May Alcott~

My ship's in full sail and I'm still learning how to navigate, jump on, we're going to the Land of Positivity! There may be a storm, but do not fear, together we will sail thru the night over sea, part troubled waters, I fear not thee.~Rosemary Aubut~

Not sure where that one came from but let's go with it! The longer I do this blog, I come to realize that people need to cling onto positive and encouraging thoughts! I started out writing to encourage myself, mostly! I honestly and truly did not think that I could put ink to paper, to blog, and have it make any sense at all. When I hear someone make a comment that they enjoyed my blog that day, whether they laughed, cried or it just made them reflect, I am truly overwhelmed! Especially if it is someone I least suspect! Thank You all for encouraging me!

When our shoulders are laden with blistering woes, our sensitive spirit longing for comfort, sail to the Land of Positivity, find a colorful umbrella there, sit still for a while, enjoy that you be. A ship abandoned does not sail! You may not change the challenges before you, but a different perspective may very well lie in the solitude of the sea! 

The Big Dig!

The Headless Hunter

Could I make this stuff up, even if I tried! This guy had a ritual that could rival high tea at noon in Buckingham Palace! I was watching the woman to the left, hunting for treasure, in her own little time-warp, when she looks up to witness this guy perform a wringing out ceremony!
Let's give him a name! How about, Bob! So Bob starts bobbing up and down, stands on one foot bobs, then the other, bobs up and down even more. Bob flapped his ams drying them in the sun, pulled out his bathing suit sides flapping them in the wind, then proceeds to grab the excess fabric in front wringing it out like it had absorbed the entire ocean. It's when he migrated south and to the rear that even my good angel screamed shoot! She knew I had a camera!
Me thinks there had to be a couple of shells lodged a little to the north in the crevice of no return. Maybe we could call this one the Big Dig! See what that super-moon can do to you!
Finally Bob relented, walked to his chair oblivious to the crowd he had attracted. Bob's waiting mate oblivious as well, I think she has witnessed this type of behavior before. I have to say for an older guy his balance is still pretty good!
Can you only imagine what this poor woman was thinking??? Just give her a caption in your head and we will keep it private! Alas mate, the beach a symphony in motion!

Super-Moon Phenomenon!

Shelling
All those florescent lit fitting room inhibitions seem to disappear when one finally wears their purchase on the beach. There is something to be said about the freedom one feels at the oceans edge! Just sit quietly for a while and a Broadway production will unfold before your very eyes! Sitting with my lens laden instrument of capture in hand, this woman meanders by engrossed in her mission to find the perfect specimen. Low and behold she strikes this pose right in front of me! My bad angel screamed shoot and before my good angel could chime in the damage was done! Even good angels have a sense of humor sometimes! They just need to remove their control top pantyhose and feel sand between their toes!
Not the most flattering shot but an interesting observation in human behavior. Our coral beaches are not easy to navigate, yet they walk and search oblivious to all! Contorting their bodies for the sake of treasure.
Maybe we could call this behavior the "super-moon phenomenon." If only Darwin were still around! If you missed it Saturday you can boast that you saw it here!
The ocean is my stage, my camera the instrument of symphony, shells my props and my brain just a little warped! AMEN!
More observations coming your way tomorrow, move over Broadway!

My View!

My View

"On the ordinary view of each species having been independently created, we gain no scientific explanation."~Charles Darwin~
Well could, Charles possibly come up with an explanation for this photo, or anyone else for that matter? I am entering this photo in a weekly challenge at http://www.twoscoopz.com. The challenge is to create a photo with a unique theme each week. It is called focus 52 and this weeks theme is "the view from here". I think I nailed it, look at that v for view, between my toes on my right foot! (Just love those corny puns.)

Folks that understand me know that I am extremely camera shy, so this photo is probably the most you will ever see of me. Should have given myself a Photoshop pedicure, OPI's, Senorita Rose-Alita, might have been a good color choice to recreate! These are very happy feet however, all covered in sand! It was 85 degrees here in Florida yesterday.

There is nothing like the ocean to inspire one to write. There is time for reflection here, far greater than the physical senses can encounter.

The ocean holds such history for our family and we are forever indebted to it's majesty. 

Riding over a small wooden bridge on our way to Gasparilla Island, my grand-daughter Hannah, once asked if God put food coloring in the water here, in Florida. This extraordinary child has the "scientific mind" of a genius looking for that unexplainable, explanation! 

Ahh, just let this one be, little one! You have made your grandma's heart, smile forever!

Just a Splash of Color!

Inspiration
Doesn't this photo look like something that Claude Monet would have tossed out? Sorry Claude, I'll bet everything you created didn't land up in a museum and don't I wish that I had found it with your signature on it! Just cherish that thought!
The Father of Impressionism, I bow to your excellence. Mastering your technique you have allowed us a place for visual content. Je ne sais quoi and sacré bleu, Claude!
I think I need to go to the ocean today to recharge my soul and find inspiration for my senses to rejoice once again! Yes I will bring my camera and a pad and pen! Who knows what tomorrow will bring???

Time!

Time
"Time, the cradle of hope.... Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it, and repentance behind it:  he that has made it his friend will have little to fear from his enemies, but he that has made it his enemy will have little to hope from his friends." 
~Charles Caleb Colton~
There are some issues in life that must be attended to immediately while there are others that only time can predict! Watching a young person find themselves can be excruciating painful for a parent, but the parent must trust the skills they have instilled in their young and watch them figure out how to apply those lessons to life! Wisdom is not instantly acquired at the age of twenty one, it is earned thru trial and error at any age. Share your earned wisdom and let them know that although you may not agree you will support them in the end. It is their decision alone! When placed flatly in their hands young ones usually make the correct choice and if not, it is their lesson to stumble again! The fine line we walk as parents! If there are issues beyond control seek professional help. 
I do not profess to have a shingle out side my front door but I can tell you that this back door therapy works most of the time. Sometimes there is a great deal more growth in giving up control than there is being in control! A little trial, a little error, for that well earned wisdom. Just some pressing issues on my mind!
"Life's not always fair.  Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow."  ~Terri Guillemets~

Life!

Life
"When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful."~Barbara Bloom~
To the people of Japan I send my love, thoughts and prayers. The symbols in the photo above are that of life! You are a strong and proud people filled with honor, tradition and a tremendous work ethic. 
I do believe that your devastation and suffering will be overcome, your history has proven that. Your magnificence will once again rise, more beautiful than before!