ONLY 5 MINUTES

What a difference 5 minutes between shots makes!

ASTROEMERIAS aka PERUVIAN LILIES

A very special THANK YOU to the dear friends who introduced these long-lasting beauties of delight to John and me.

THOSE CHEERY FLOWERS

  

I AM THANKFUL

I looked up this morning to see 

what appeared to be 

shades of Christmas Blues 

and Silver!

...and then

I looked closer to where 

I stood and saw...

the Almost-Autumn Colors

I remember from my childhood.

I am thankful!

WITH ALL THAT'S SAD, REMEMBER TO LOOK UP

He is also sad over the way mankind is treating one another; it is NOT His way! He said to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Pretty simple, huh?
Then, why not try it for a day, or maybe two?

MACKEREL SKY and SAGE BLOOMS

My mom used to look at the sky and say,

"Mackerel sky,

  not 24 hours dry."

                            For those of you who are unaware, it was a        particularly fitting saying, come rain or snow, on the coast of Maine where we lived several years, So, yesterday, when I saw those "mackerel skies right after I had seen the sage blooms that here, in my adopted Texas home are said to predict rain....well, I just had to scurry around to take some pictures, The most handy camera I had in a hurry was my iPhone5s, I am not one to throw around bragging rights...just well impressed with how these pictures turned out! (I was forced to replace my iPhone 4s because it appeared the battery was swelling though I'd never mistreated it in any way, so there's the good and the bad.) 

SCENIC SAGE AND SHADOWS

I HEARD SOME BUZZING!

 ...AND SOME MORE BUZZING!

SAGE BOUQUET

MY SHARING NEIGHBOR!

My neighbor called to ask if I would like 

to come take pictures of her 

PINK HIBISCUS

before they hurriedly came and went! 

I hurriedly came,  and well...here we are!

PINK MEXICAN PETUNIAS

GIANT RED HIBISCUS - 2017

GIANT RED HIBISCUS - COURTESY OF WEST TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER (RED ROOF BUILDING) - SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL TO OBSERVE BLOWING IN TODAY'S GENTLE BREEZE.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

This huge flag hung in the San Angelo, Texas, Hobby Lobby Parking Lot; I've not noticed it for some period of time   . . . I wonder . . .

Below is a link to Red Skelton's Tribute to The Pledge of Allegiance:

https://youtu.be/2HGHdFmu5GU

RAIN LILIES!

For me, seeing rain lilies is comparable to finding a surprise package in my mailbox! The roadside of one of our busy streets had lovely group and individual displays of them this morning as we headed off to fulfill a time commitment. I was "chompin' at the bit", knowing the likelihood of their still being there when we returned was unlikely because they have the peculiar habit of coming up the morning after a rain (or, I've noticed following a good water-sprinkling over our library yard), then generally they disappear, challenging you to find where they stood regally a short time before! Perhaps that's why I like them so much: not only do they surprise me when they arrive, but in their also surprising me when they go, it's with a promise they'll surprise me again another morning! Though it was quite windy, obviously I did get pictures this morning!

P.S. More info is available regarding Rain Lilies by "googling"; one such site is:   http://texashighways.com/txtop40/item/4450-rain-lily

RED YUCCA and TRUMPET VINE

THE CATALPA TREES ARE IN BLOOM!

RAYS SHINING DOWN FROM HEAVEN - AND MORE