Memorial Day and Heroes

Memorial Day Commemoration 2008
Originally uploaded by davidyuweb
Poem "In an Age of Fops and Toys" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Please read it all, the last two lines will make your heart sing.

In an age of fops and toys,
Wanting wisdom, void of right,
Who shall nerve heroic boys
To hazard all in Freedom’s fight, ---
Break sharply off their jolly games,
Forsake their comrades gay
And quit proud homes and youthful dames
For famine, toil and fray?
Yet on the nimble air benign
Speed nimbler messages,
That waft the breath of grace divine
To hearts in sloth and ease,
So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When Duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies, I can.

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pretty Lavender Chair

I did a project, me! I don't do many since I am busy in my garden, writing poems, etc.
I have two old white lawn chairs that were mottled with gray, so I was inspired by a fellow blogger.
Several years ago she wrote about Fusion Krylon spray paint for plastic chairs so I bought Lavender color and sprayed one of the chairs. If you are that blogger, let me know in a comment so I can give you credit. I think the color is Gum Drop, there is a little label on the can that says that; the can top shows the color.
Instead of mottled splochy grey and white it is now a pretty color.

This picture above doesn't show the full loveliness of the new color, but it gives the idea.
Here is a before and after with the unpainted chair on the left.

Sad old chair above with grey splotches.

Above is the pretty lavender chair that looks completely new. The spray paint covers beautifully.
I used almost one can of spray paint which cost about $7 and next I will buy the turquoise color and clean and spray the sad white and gray chair for a festive new look. I spray painted outdoors in the garden.
Our patio will look so festive you may want to come to visit.
PLEASE FRIENDS WEAR GOGGLES WHILE USING SPRAY PAINT!!!!
I accidentally sprayed toward my face on my first attempt and my glasses protected my eyes. No harm done, but I went to urgent care, my son drove me there. So from now on when I use spray paint I wear PROTECTIVE  GOGGLES. BE SAFE.
And beautify your lawn furniture!
Tete in her blog Beyond the Garden Gate is the gal who gave me the tip about the Fusion spray paint. Her blog has oodles of flower photos, lilacs today among others, so go over and say hi to her at http://tete-beyondthegardengate.blogspot.com/ if you like.

Winnie and Piglet

Winnie, you sly dog
Originally uploaded by TACD

"What day is it?" asked Winnie the Pooh.
"It's today" squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day" said Winnie.

Wise words, today is precious and it won't roll around again.

Golden Poppies and Lavender and reading about Tudor England

Thank you to all my blog sweeties for your birthday wishes. You are each one a treasured friend in my garden of friends.
For today's blog post I saw these Golden Poppies and Lavender on my walk along the bay today.
They are growing two blocks from our house.
The red brick wall gets very hot and holds the heat which California poppies and lavender both appreciate. I think orange and purple / blue flowers on a red wall are an odd combination, but it works and they look right purty.
I had time to read a bit today, and before that I exercised in a pool for an hour and did a wee spot of gardening.
With my reading I get to time travel, in a way, and today I am in the Tudor Court, reading a not yet released book about Henry VIII's sixth wife, Catherine Parr. The book is "Queen's Gambit" and it is the first novel by Elizabeth Fremantle. When I saw the author's name I thought she was born to write fiction about England's royalty.
Do you like to time travel with a book too?

Garden Party

Three dear friends treated me to an early birthday lunch and each gave me a garden related gift. Do they know what I like or what?
Isn't that a fun saying on the pink bag "Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake."
A festive painted ceramic snail, a brilliant red begonia and a Coconut Sherbet pansy in a blue Easter basket.
THANK YOU LADIES.
Friends are as sweet as garden flowers.

Camellias floating in water

Our seven foot tall camellias are blooming now and I like to float camellia flowers in a bowl of water.
I like to see the photos of where you all live, some of you having pretty white snow and all the different weathers round the world.

Easter Flower Cross "He is Risen"

Easter Flower Cross
Originally uploaded by Avondale Pattillo UMC

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
⁶ But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ⁷ But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 
Mark 16:4-7 NKJV