Dogwood Trees Are Blooming

Dogwood

I had a wonderful time this morning photographing the gorgeous flowers in my backyard. Thankfully I was able to take pictures of the dogwood trees before their delicate white blooms fade and fall to the ground. It seems these flowers bloom quickly and just a quickly disappear.

What a wonderful sunny cool Spring day to be outside exploring my overgrown backyard. I had so much fun grabbing close ups of every flower I could find. Creative. Happy. Relaxed. Energized.

A beach trip would have been wonderful but it was nice to stay home and appreciate the things that surround me daily.

Camellias

My yard has two hardy camellia bushes that have stood the test of unpredictable Winter/Spring cold then hot temperatures. I was afraid the frost would ruin the flowers and buds but once again these flowers set an example to me to stand strong against the harshness of life and bloom ANYWAY.


I hope you are having a happy, creative and productive day.

Thank you for reading

Thomasina

Spring is here! Time To Bloom

Azaleas beginning to bloom.

 Hello Everyone!

 

Long time no blog. I am back now just in time for Spring. Thank God winter is over. Now it is time to enjoy the beautiful budding flowers and sprouts of green. I definitely feel happier during the Spring and Summer months. Sunshine and blue skies - my life's motto.

 

 

Love how everything is coming up green.
 

 

This photograph is a lesson in you can't believe everything you see. It looks like just a peaceful shady green corner of my yard. In fact, it is next to a busy street and drive way. Photographers frame and crop images in a way to compose a picture that is not the actual reality of the real place, situation or even a person.

 

Always remember "there is more than meets the eye". In my beach photo landscapes ,I have cropped out so many trash cans, random people walking by and drainage pipes it is hilarious.

 

 

A daffodil that is truly a survivor.
 

 

This flower (some people think of it as a weed LOL!) is a daffodil with the strongest will to survive I have ever encountered with any plant in my yard. I remember this seeing this flower's beautiful buttery yellow bell blooms since my childhood. It has fought back against being trampled, cut down over and over with the lawn mower, and harsh weather conditions for many years but magically appears alive and strong year after year.

 

 

This year has been a stressful time for me and America so I took inspiration and strength from not only seeing the daffodil spring back at the beginning of Spring but this time it looks even more lush and strong than it has in many years. This plant is growing completely alone but decided to return and be beautiful every year.

 

Be Persistent.

 

 

Be Consistent.

 

 

Be strong.

 

 

Rise Up.

 

Thank you for reading. More blogs are coming.

 

Thomasina

 



Blue Skies and Sunshine - Perfect Day For A Walk

Today was the perfect day to go walking at the Cape Fear River Trail.

I love this time of year because I know Winter is wrapping up and Spring is on the way. 

This is the bottom of a kick butt hill. I take  big steps to make the hard trip up a bit quicker.

A view of the huge pond from the bridge. I wonder what is the difference between a lake and a pond? It so peaceful with the sun reflecting off the rippling water.

The Cape Fear River seen through the still in Fall mode woods on one side of the trail.

Big blue skies - I love days like this. Perfect cool but with just enough warmth to be comfortable temperature. The sun is shining bright. 

The covered bridge - I love looking at the shadow play of the wooden slats on this bridge.

 I take a quick break from my walk and stand at the railing to listen to the small but surprisingly loud waterfall running parallel through the forest.

The waterfall - I close my eyes and took the time to relax and clear my mind. 

Today was a very short walk. I turned around at the covered bridge and made my way back. Just under two miles today  but a good workout nonetheless.

I am so blessed to be able to be in good enough health to get out of the house and walk a nature trail.  Your health and time is so precious, take the best care of it you can.

Thank you for reading my blogpost.

Thomasina

Leave me a comment below or contact me by email thomasinawords@gmail.com

Fall Is About Change - Like It Or Not

To be very honest, I do not like Fall and Winter at all.

My time of year is definitely Spring and Summer. Warm temperatures, green leaves and flowers make me happy, calm, creative and full of energy all at once. I thrive in bright sunshine.

Cold weather chills me to the bone. I have always hated being cold. Not a fan of the dark either. Fall back to the dark and cold is what turning back the clocks is to me. It gets dark way too early in the evenings.

 But I decided to do things a lot different this year.

For the first time in my life, I decided the only way to get through these coming cold and dreary months is to completely NOT CARE. Yes, I have decided that the only way to deal with the half of the year that can make me depressed, is to just ignore the chilly temperatures. Warm mind over cold temperatures.

I will not allow myself to focus on the discomfort and the lack of sunshine but I will make sure I am constantly busy and productive. The cold seasons make me want to just hid in my house under the covers in my bed in my room and watch DVDs or videos on my computer. But I would get mad and guilty at myself for not getting anything down to get closer to reaching my goals.


This year I am determined to have a happy positive holiday season. I also am going to get back on track with healthy eating and exercising too.

No more head under the covers wishing for Spring to hurry up and get here this year. Dreading the cold months made me waste precious time and caused me a lot of stress. This lifelong bad habit will now come to an end.

Time is too valuable to waste. I will appreciate every cold day and have as much fun as I can. Life is too short to not be lived fully.

Thank you for reading!

Enjoy The Beauty Around You - Get Outside and Walk

Camellia

Get outside and enjoy spring!

Life is too short too be sitting inside the house. Get up and Get Out! If you are feeling stressed or feeling uninspired one of the best things I like to do is to take a walk. Walking will get the blood going and fresh oxygen into the body.

I have solved or simply let go of so many of life's annoyances or problem by taking a walk to clear my head and my heart. Walking has helped me get through some very dark and sad times in my life. A change in surroundings does wonders for the mind and the soul.

Unplug! Put down the computer and the phone for just long enough to refresh your mind. Too much internet or social media will make you think the world is a lot worse off than it really is. Good news doesn't get as much attention as bad news so that is what is pushed and promoted much more often online. Good things do happen but you don't hear about them nearly enough as the latest horrible human tragedy or disrespect for human life.

Walking helps me get out of my head and look at the beautiful things created on this incredible plant. Sitting down too much in terrible for your health. It is a blessing to be able to walk  and to stand so get outside and move. The more your move around the better your body will feel.

I hope you have a wonderful healthy inspiring day today.

Thanks for reading!

Springtime and Dogwood Trees. I Love This Time of The Year

Dogwood trees and beautiful blue sky

I took this picture of a blooming Dogwood tree in my backyard. It was an amazing blue sky day and I was hoping I would capture the moment. I think I did.

One of the many great things about having this blog has been that it has gotten me out of my comfort zone. I have done more new things, learned more new skills and consistently become more and more organized because of my blog. Having this blog made me become a lot more comfortable with myself. I feel a lot more confident about my skills and talents. The only way to get better at anything is to practice. I learn something new everyday because of my blog.

I have only had this blog for a little over a month and it has made more positive changes in my life than anything has in years. If it wasn't for this blog, I wouldn't have this beautiful picture of a clear blue sky and blooming dogwoods to share with the world.

I love spring and my blog. It has been a time of New beginnings.

Thanks for reading!

Crinum in bloom

Crinum in bloom

Spring is here! This picture from last year shows how bushy and high the plants grew- the tallest ever. I am interested to see if they will be very tall this year. The crazy weather changes have definitely had an effect all the plants in my yard.

Thanks for reading.

Camellia is budding

The I LOVE Spring Tag!

Happy first day of Spring Everybody!!! Woo Hoo! 

I thought this season would never get here. Warm weather and sunshine, I have been waiting for you for a longtime.

1.    Favorite Spring nail polish

I don’t really have one. I don’t usually wear nail polish on my fingers- hate chipped polish and the smell of nail polish remover. When I do wear polish, I will wear it on my toes. Essie – Lacy not Racy, Wet and Wild Bronze Glaze, and Rimmel Lasting Finish – Goldspun Coral

2.    What is your must have lip color this spring? I love wearing low maintenance lip glosses usually from the drugstore. Vitamin E is something I use on my lips too.

3.    Show us you favorite Spring Clothing item!  My pale pink She’s cool silver sequin top. Light airy and goes with everything.

4.    What’s your favorite spring flowers? Daffodil and Camellias

5.    Favorite spring scarf/accessory? All my Hollister scarves

6.    Favorite Spring trends this year? I really don’t follow the trends. My style is usually classic and comfortable.

7.    What is your favorite spring candle? Yankee Candles- Golden Sands and Beach flowers

8.    Favorite perfume for spring? Jovan Island Gardenia. Love this fragrance so much.  Also Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers

9.    What is spring like where you live? I live in North Carolina. The springtime weather here is usually very mild, sunny and warm. But it can get very hot and humid at times.

10.  What is your favorite thing about spring? Everything! The sunshine, the new flowers and plants, daylight savings time. I come alive in spring and summer. I have so much more energy, inspiration and motivation.  I feel so free and happy in spring.

11.  How do you care for your natural kinky hair during the Spring? I will moisture  and seal a lot less because the warm weather is not as drying. My shea butter mix (a post will be coming up soon), coconut oil, olive oil and cantu shea butter are my holy grail products.

As for styling, I will wear protective styling (braids or twists) most of the time. Around the house and at night, my hair is always covered in a scarf to protect it from frizzing and to hold in moisture.

12.  Are you a spring cleaner? Absolutely! I start pulling things out of closets. Rooms must be decluttered. Papers will be sorted and thrown out. When spring comes , I want the house to be reborn too. Fall and winter darkness and gloom is out of here.

13.  Any plans for a vacation? I plan to go to the beach as much as I can this Spring and Summer. Also I will be going to an Alice in Chains concert soon. Very excited!

Crinum

Spring is coming! I cannot wait! This is a picture I took of the Crinum in my yard last year. The flower have a kind of citrus flowery scent. Lovely to look at and to smell.

Everyday is a chance for a New Beginning

Two daffodils in my backyard

These flowers has bloomed every year since I was a little girl. I remember stepping on it while playing in my back year.But it didn't seem to mind. For decades this plant has broken through the earth again and again to rise up and live the best it can for as long as it can.

Daffodil

This year, I see this beautiful yellow flower as a survivor. It is a lot stronger than it looks. I am inspired to live my life the year this flower lives. I shouldn't let life's troubles and set backs stop me from knowing my purpose and rise to bloom again and again.

Have an amazing day everybody.