Journals and Magnolia

 I have been writing a daily journal starting when my hubby, Will, died in 2016. Here is the cover of my new journal with a gardening theme.

 The above is a closeup of a portion of it. Below is the entire front cover, and the back cover is just as pretty.

This is my seventh journal, each one has a different cover, and all from the same publisher, and each has a magnetic clasp which holds it closed.  Each journal says "This is a Flame Tree Notebook" from Flametreepublishing.com My journaling is simple, I use stickers to brighten the pages. This is the first page of my new journal ready for me to write in.

 Below is another photo of my black tulip magnolia, taken on Feb. 17 2021. You can compare how the buds are more opened vs. the Feb. 1 photo in my previous post. The flowers are about three inches across now and when fully open about six inches across. I had this tree planted two years ago. I live in California, thus no snow at my house and I have a flowering magnolia. There are quite a few magnolias in my town, most of them white and some of them pale pink, so mine stands out with its bright color. All the magnolias are pretty, in my opinion.

I hope today finds all of you blog friends around the world warm and safe and healthy. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, I got my second Covid vaccination on Feb. 19. I am happy and feel a bit more safe. Experts say even after we get the second shot we should avoid eating in restaurants and seeing movies in theaters. This is a LONG haul of isolating. In a few days I am going to a friend's house for coffee on her patio staying six feet part, since we both are vaccinated. My dog, Bounce, is invited, and we will take a walk wearing masks after coffee. My friend loves Mr. B and he loves her.

Today, Feb. 25, I added the above photo of my last year's journal. It has a metallic sheen to it and a Japanese temple and waterlilies and an egret. I tried to put the photo right after the other journal cover photos but of course, blogger did what blogger does, and here it is at the end of my post. I wanted to show you how varied the covers are by that publisher.

My black tulip magnolia and poem by Swinburne

 

Here is a photo of the buds and flowers getting ready to open, on my Black Tulip Magnolia tree. I took this photo on Feb. 1, 2021 and the buds are a promise of spring to come. I don't know why this is called Black, since the flowers will be red/magenta/purple when they open. I bought this tall tree in 2018. I understand that plant experts are searching for and breeding for a purple flower magnolia and this tree is a part of that search.

Yes, friends, I know it is still winter, yet in the spirit of my budding magnolia tree, here is a poem about early spring, written by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909).

For winter's rains and ruins are over, and all the seasons of snows and sins; 

The days dividing lover and lover, the light that loses, the night that wins;

And time remembered is grief forgotten, and frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover, blossom by blossom the spring begins.

 

To mark the end of the poem, and because I like this portrait of me so much, here is the portrait above. Diane gave it to me! I think I will share it here upon occasion. 

Oh and help is appreciated if you know how to NOT double space when you hit  "enter". That way I could display the poem better.

Added Feb. 16, 2021: Thank you commenters for your instructions on how to stop the double spacing, I will try this next time. To my friends in Texas, stay warm and safe, I have heard about your dangerous snow and power outages. I felt a little bad I am posting such a sunny photo when many people are so cold! Hugs to you all.

Journey to Heal by Wei Wei

 

My friend, Wei Wei, has published a beautiful book, with photographs of nature taken by her, and words to accompany each photo.

Wei's words and photos in "Journey To Heal" are glimpses of beauty and her book is a delight to read. Her photos celebrate calm moments in nature and she has a gift for poetic words. The story in it has sadness caused by the death of her father, yet the book's words and photos reflect a deep joyfulness and healing. 

I like how the photos she chose often have a bit of mist or fog, ocean spray or clouds. Here is a sample of Wei's words: Take me, take me, to the other side of the mountain ... Take me, take me, to the other side of the cloudy sky.

Wei's book is available on Amazon and at her publisher as an ebook, paperback and hardcover. Here is a link to Wei's publisher: Friesen Press