Hope In Shadows and Wavy Mirrors

You might have noticed that I like to take photos of appealing shadows. Here are some from shadows on my patio, from a hanging flower pot and a wind chime.

The word "hope" is what caught my attention and my heart. This wind chime was given to me several years ago by a friend.

Can you see me in my butterfly hat in the mirror reflection? These are two bouquets in my kitchen, one from one of my sons who brought them to my house and one from me, to lift my spirits on the second anniversary of my hubby's death, on November 12. Flowers always get a smile from me. Do they have that effect on you?
I treated myself to the orange roses, an upbeat and unusual choice for me, and my older son surprised me with the gorgeous mixed flower bouquet. There are lavender roses in it, so pretty, and a favorite flower for me, oriental lilies.

The above shows my kitchen table last week with a different bouquet, as I wanted you to see my wavy mirrors. I saw these mirrors in my friend, Barbro's, home and wanted some for my house.
For my friends in the USA can Thanksgiving be here soon? I ordered a smoked turkey to be picked up on Thanksgiving day from the local BBQ restaurant. We had that last year and it was delicious.

Season of Hope and How Rich We Are

Hope is the theme of this season.
For many, hope's birth will be celebrated this Christmas, when a small wonder was born in a rude stable in Bethlehem.
I treasure what C.S. Lewis wrote about a stable that was much bigger on the inside than on the outside, because it contained the whole universe.
Do you know that today when I ate fresh red raspberries, straight out of their container, I realized that I am rich?
Eating raspberries in late December is something King Henry VIII may have been able to do, but not a solidly middle class citizen of that time. My husband and I are watching the Tudors tv series so Henry VIII is royalty that comes to mind.
In some ways, we people living in 2009, live like kings and way beyond that of a royal lifestyle. Royalty hundreds of years ago could not imagine tv, or electric lights, or likely even raspberries in winter.
Sometimes when I exercise in a warm water pool I tell the other ladies in the water that we are like queens and princesses, buoyed up by healing waters at a nominal cost.
So I hope each of you dear readers enjoys some sweet winter berries and other tender gifts today.

Muscari to plant in my garden

Muscari armeniacum 'Blue Pearl' - Grape Hyacinth
Originally uploaded by The County Clerk
Do you love "plant therapy" where you wander the rows of plants in a garden store and buy a few plants?
Today I bought a pack of 10 Muscari "Dark Eyes" , ideal for fall planting and which will bloom in spring. I have a big pot to plant them in.
For bulbs pots work best for me: it foils the gophers, if the ground gets soggy the bulbs don't rot since the pot soil drains well, and when they are done blooming I move them to the side garden.
I believe gardeners are hopeful people. We plant a seed, or a bulb, or a sapling in hopes it will grow strong and healthy.
That hope is part of me as a gardener and as a Christian.
What bulbs are you planting for spring?
Oh, and today I mailed the two books to the readers who posted comments this week, and who were selected to receive the books.