Sunday, April 26, 2020

This and That ~Number 4

How is everyone doing? These last 40 days have been surreal for the entire world. So much has changed and there is so much uncertainty. 
I am missing my family, my friends, my church, and going out. But we must stay positive and make the best of things. 
Today, I am catching up sharing some things about my family I haven't posted and some things I have been doing.
My daughter gave me this cute moss-covered straw watering can planter for Valentine's. The primroses have stopped blooming and I can't wait to get to a nursery to replenish it with something blooming. Maybe an African Violet would be nice and last all summer. It looks so nice on my porch coffee table. It is pictured in the previous picture.
We were in Texas in early March when the blue-bonnets were blooming. They were so pretty just growing on the sides of the road.


Here are my Texas grandchildren in a bluebonnet field.

This is our family at Christmas. It was so good to have them at our house this year. My grandchildren have grown so quickly. My oldest grandson is a senior this year and hopefully will go off to college this fall. Things are uncertain right now how normal college will work online or on campus.



This is the newest edition of Southern Lady. Do you have it? Then please turn to page 41-43. My daughter's painting is pictured in the article.
She is an abstract painter and you can view her work at amyschnorrenbergart.com and Instagram @amschnorrenberg_art

A friend of my daughters commissioned this painting for her bedroom. I am so proud of my daughter and it was a great honor her painting was featured in Southern Lady. Southern Lady is one of my favorite magazines.
This is an arrangement I did with grocery store flowers that I posted on Instagram. If you are not following me on Instagram (Living With Thanksgiving) or Facebook (Bonnie Morgan)I would love for you to become a follower. 

This is the same arrangement after the lilies opened in a different setting. Would you have recognized it?

Usually, I see the same butterflies in my garden but this one was new to me. I had to look it up in my butterfly book.  It is called a Red Admiral butterfly. According to legend, Red Admirals were named for their resemblance to eighteenth-century British naval uniforms. 
 After reading about the legend, I was curious to see what an 18th-century Royal Navy uniform looked like. This is a depiction of the uniform worn by the hero of the battle of Trafalger, Admiral Lord Nelson. I found a picture of him with an orange sash but it had a copyright. I still wonder why the butterfly is named Red Admiral. Shouldn't it be an "Orange" Admiral? My husband believes the butterfly is called a Red Admiral because Nelson was an Admiral of the Red, at the time of his death, the highest rank echelon in the Royal Navy.
The legend will help me remember the name of this butterfly. 
My confederate jasmine is in full bloom! It smells heavenly.

We have had several bad storms recently. This tree on the golf course near my house was damaged.  We were grateful only to have limbs and debris in our yard.  Storms two Sunday nights in a row were unnerving!



Beware of this caterpillar! It is very pretty but does so much damage. It is an Eastern Tent Caterpillar.




I am loving my new bird feeder. The squirrels can not steal my birdseed. They keep trying though. It is so convenient because it doesn't have to be replenished very often.
 During this stay at home period, I am glad to say I have walked almost every day. I have enjoyed the lakes and ponds around the golf course near my home. I think if you zoom in you can see a heron in this pic. This area is an avian haven. I'm working on a blogpost on birds to publish soon.
 As I was walking with my camera in hand I had the most interesting shot of a huge turtle in the water and a car passed by and scared him off.

The solitude of early morning walks gives much time to reflect on my blessings and enjoy the beauty around me. I love the reflection of the clouds on the water.
 I also have enjoyed seeing families out working in their yards and many more people taking walks and riding bicycles.
Besides walking, I have worked and worked in my yard. It has certainly given me a focus and goals to accomplish but the size of my garden is becoming too much for me as I have gotten older. 
I have also enjoyed a lot of porch sitting daydreaming about plans for my garden and just watching and listening to the birds. It has been a restful time because there was nothing on the calendar and no where I had to be.

I'll close with the new normal for us all. Many prayers for those suffering from the Corona Virus and all those caring for them.
Stay safe, my friends!

21 comments:

  1. I love this post, Bonnie. I love the glimpse it gives us into your world -- your beautiful walking area and the joyful nature you see and your daughter's fabulous talent (I have the magazine and I noticed the painting even before you first mentioned it, but I had no idea!)I have a similar feeder -- the squirrel has a little trouble, though like yours he tries. But the chipmunk is just small enough he can sit on it and chow down. I don't mind too much because he's so cute! Love the planter and the family photos. All looks good. Do take care, my friend. It's not over till it's over (and I doubt it will ever be) but it will be much better!

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    1. Thank you Jeanie, for you comment. It lifted my spirits. Blogging friends are fun to share with and learn from.

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  2. Lovely post from your world Bonnie. You have a beautiful family. I suspect your senior was excited about going away for his freshman year only to find things on hold. You are in a lovely paradise with you garden to keep you busy and such a lovely place to walk. Nature sure does provide entertainment watching the birds and animals and of course butterflies. How interesting reading about the Red Admiral butterfly and uniform. I'm like you, I need to go to the garden center for plants but going to wait a while longer. Stay safe Bonnie........

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    1. Thank you, Emily. I appreciate your kind comments about my post. The weather has been extremely pleasant for nature walks and I have noticed so many things to savor and be thankful for.
      I have so many things I am interested in learning more about. Thankful for google! Hope your week holds many blessings.

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  3. Good morning my friend. I do love the moss covered straw watering can, what a thoughtful gift that your daughter knew you would love. The darling grands in the bluebonnet field is one to be framed as well as your family photo. Your family is beautiful and I know it was so wonderful to have everyone at your home for Christmas. The floral arrangement t is beautiful in the garden and on your ottoman. Your daughter is so talented, I do love this abstract and such an honor for her work to be featured. Morning walks are not only for physical benefits, but also for spiritual and emotional! Wishing you a wonderful week!

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    1. Thank you sweet friend. My walks have been very enjoyable and you are so right about all the benefits. I took a different route today and got some landscaping ideas.
      Thanks for your sweet comments.

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  4. Good morning, Bonnie! I so enjoyed your post this morning! The floral arrangement you created is absolutely gorgeous! You have such a beautiful family, and I know you enjoyed having them all home for the holidays. Congratulations to your daughter....I know that you must be so proud of her. I’m interested in your bird feeder. Would you mind sharing where you purchased it? We battle the squirrels, but also a pair of hungry raccoons. They will eat an entire feeder of food overnight. It is so aggravating! We have caught them on camera along with an opossum eating our seed. I love my birds, but can’t seem to keep seed in the feeders for them. Thanks for such a lovely post. Take care, sweet friend!

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    1. The squirrel proof bird feeder came from Wild Birds Unlimited. I really like it. I googled it and it is still available.
      Thanks Shannon for your sweet comment.

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  5. Hi Bonnie. Your post is lovely. My goodness I can smell your Jasmine it is glorious over the arbor. We have the yellow Caroline Jasmine and the freeze bit the top of it, but it is still pretty. The arbor would be such a grand place to enjoy your morning coffee or tea. Your walking area is so nice, I know you enjoy it.

    Bonnie the photo of your daughter's painting certainly reveals her marvelous talent. It is beautiful and I know you are so very proud of her. Also, the photo of your family is a treasure of all of you. Truly, you have a lovely family.
    Wishing you a wonderful week. Stay well.

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  6. Bonnie, this is a really great post, which I read with my morning coffee and am just now getting back to comment. Your family is such a good looking bunch! I know holidays can be really hectic, but that photo and this virus demonstrates why it was SO worth it, doesn't it? I sure hope your grandson can find peace with his sr year-end and new beginning in the fall, however it goes. Congrats again to your daughter with her abstract being featured. It's gorgeous alone, but really tasteful in that designer's work. I love the red admiral butterfly and so glad you posted the uniform from which it gets its name - yes, perfect! I also love your flower arrangements, and completely understand your comment of the landscape maintenance. Had we stayed, ours really needed some major overhauling, and I really didn't have the wherewithal to want to do it. I had one of those squirrel proof feeders, and it was my best one. I used it without the wire hanger, mounted it on the pole planted in the ground. I used sunflowers seed exclusively, and was able to adjust it for cardinals and smaller birds, but tight enough to spring closed on bluejays (the bullies) and squirrels. Be careful, though, wasps liked nesting inside and I'd always have to clean out makings of nests a couple times a year. I hope you have a great week. Looks like our state is going to try to ease into opening back up this week, in phases, if our numbers stay low.

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  7. Rita, thanks for the tip about the wasps! They build in my sprinkler box too.
    Our governor is announcing the new plan for us at noon today. Our county is just now reaching its peak so it is concerning.
    I love doing"this and that" posts because I can catch up many followers about what I have been doing that I hadn't posted about.
    Thanks for you visit and sweet comments.

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  8. Oh I enjoyed reading this post today and looking at all the wonderful pictures. Loving the family picture and those Texas grands are adorable Bonnie. I am telling you I think I can smell your jasmine! How beautiful is that! So much uncertainty still in our world isn't there? Lord just give us all the strength we need daily is what I keep saying. Thanks for a wonderful post dear Bonnie. Made my day. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  9. Good Afternoon Bonnie,
    I could hear your voice as I read through this most delightful blog post. I could feel the soft Southern air, hear birds in the distance and smell the wonderful fragrance of the confederate Jasmine. I am going to mention this species of Jasmine to my daughter who lives in Florida.
    I am following your daughter on Instagram, I was so thrilled for both of you when I saw that her art had been featured.
    Beautiful photo of your family all together for Christmas and then of your grands in Texas.
    I miss my family terribly, so thankful that everyone is well and healthy, but never the less, sad that time is passing and I am not seeing them.
    Stay well and blessings to you and yours,
    Jemma

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  10. Your family photo is just beautiful, Bonnie! How wonderful that you had all of them together at Christmas. The moss covered planter is darling, and of course, I love the painting that your daughter did and that was featured in Southern Lady. Your bouquet that you made for the pretty vase is stunning! Yes, it’s sad to say, our new normal is wearing masks. I’ve made and given away 118 so far. Stay safe and enjoy your walks and your garden.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments, Kitty. You are amazing making 118 masks!

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  11. Hi Bonnie, I'm so glad you've been out enjoying nature and your garden, I keep thinking how grateful that this occurred in the Spring rather than winter so we can at least be outside. Your moss covered watering can is adorable! Wow, your daughter is an amazing artist, congrats to her for being in Southern Lady! Thanks for her info, I will follow her on instagram, I love love your abstracts!
    Jenna

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    1. Yes, if we had to have this horrible virus the pleasant weather has helped cope with everything so much.
      Thanks for your kind comments about my daughter's paintings and following her IG account.

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  12. Bonnie dear - Your words reflection, solitude, blessings and beauty pretty much sums up a
    benefit of this particular time, if our hearts recognize it. Our neighborhood has become
    restfully quiet without traffic and mechanical sounds to break the calm. How much I enjoyed
    your blog today....bless you.

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  13. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. You blessed me today with your visit.
    My heart does recognize so many blessings we have if we just take time to reflect and be thankful.
    I hope that you have a lovely week and please visit again.

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  14. Hello Bonnie, the moss covered watering can is precious and so sweet of your daughter. Love the family photo. Your daughter is so talented. Kudos to her for being featured in Southern Lady magazine. Your flower bouquet is lovely. Nature surrounds us with her beauty. Continue to be safe.

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    1. Linda, Thank you for your visit and help fixing something on my blog. You are so efficient. I am always amazed how quickly you can fix things and you are a busy lady.

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