sweet peas on table
I just cannot pass the dining table without taking a huge breath. The Sweet Peas have finally started to bloom and this little bouquet is filling the air with sweet delight.
As I snap the ends off the first beans I wonder if the heat today, this weekend, will bring some pollinators to the tomato plants which are filled with hundreds of blooms and no fruit.
I do not argue or debate the weather, I just take that which comes, and yet my whole being wishes to just do nothing and enjoy the heat and cloudless sky.
When we are greeted with such beauty it seems only right to just enjoy and savor – but then I feel the same way about the few snow days – cancel everything except JOY.
Indulge in the full experience of the senses.
This week my neighbor’s yard has been filled with thousands upon thousands of dandelions. I noticed on my walk that today it is full of puffy wishes just awaiting the breeze!
What would you wish for?
What do you indulge in with all your senses?
Can you find gratitude and joy in the weather?
Related Reading you might also enjoy:
Breakfast with Buddha
House Gratitude in Focus
A Romantic Day by Myself
Such a Beautiful Day
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 4:35 am
I love sweet peas – they always remind me of tissue paper – so delicate. What a gorgeous vignette you created with that white vase and the chair.
Like you Patricia, I love to take the time to savour what a day has to offer and I’m glad you’re enjoying the summer. It’s probably a good thing we don’t control the weather and it’s certainly been an interesting summer here so far. Extreme temp ranges and tons of storms. But there’s beauty all around and summer is one of those seasons that just begs for appreciation of all things flora and fauna.
.-= Talon´s last blog ..Morning on the lake =-.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Talon,
I am enjoying the fragrance from those sweet peas as I type…I think there is tremendous beauty in the weather. We are having a week of tremendous heat….good for all the weddings coming up this weekend….it has been so rainy and cold here….working at making the whole day a meditation on beauty.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
I often find joy in the weather. I love spring, but I acknowledge that experiencing changing seasons is wonderful.
.-= vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Why Do You Like Me =-.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
vered,
the weather always allows me to be present in the moment and that assists me in finding joy. Thank you for stopping by and commenting today….
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
A little bouquet
freshens your way
As you smile about
Your loving house.
I wish for steak
I wish for snow
I wish for a plane ticket
to go go go.
Paris would work.
Or the coast or Spain.
Or New York City
Or the Rockies, by train.
But here I am
And here I’ll be
whether rains or suns
are shining on me.
(And the Oscar for poetry goes to….)
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..10 Amazing Things I’ve Done Lately =-.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Quite a rhyme Funster – I think much of the world is away today…biggest weeks of vacation are right now…and we are sorting files and bags and writing to flowers – poetry!
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Hi Patricia – I love sweet peas but I haven’t seen any for years. I could definitely find great joy in the weather if the sun would shine.
The weather here is weird right now. It was warm enough to sit outside in a t-shirt until 11pm last night but it’s so dull and the sun isn’t shining at all.
.-= Cath Lawson´s last blog ..Why You Are Letting Your Blog Readers Down =-.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Patricia, that’s a really cute picture.
My family used to have a garden furniture set with chairs that looked exactly like that. I’m not familiar with sweet peas; it sounds like I’m missing something great.
I enjoyed the weather yesterday. I laid on the grass and stared up at the sky. There was not a cloud to be seen and the sky was a beautiful rich blue colour. I felt well rested today and I think being out in nature for the afternoon and resting on the earth had a lot to do with it.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..Oh- Nothing =-.
on Jul 26th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hi Patricia,
I love your bouquet.
We’re experiencing a bit of a heat wave which I’m not fond of, but I’m trying to grateful for sunshine as that’s why I love this area so much.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Women vs Men – Who Wins The Word Count Award =-.
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 3:49 am
Patricia, I think I’d wish for my hayfever not to flare up so horribly like it sometimes does. Why? Because it would be nice to be able to appreciate the sights and scents of mother nature more fully during the spring and summer months!
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 6:38 am
i prefer autumn.
there is just something so dignified about it
.-= Arts web show´s last blog ..Web show ep 1 ‘cooking up a battle’ =-.
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Cath,
Our weather has been grey and wet this year up until this heat wave that just started on the past weekend. I went to a wedding 2 years ago and the country club reception had over 100 bouquets of sweet peas on the tables for dinner – the smell in the room was awesome until all the perfumed ladies arrived and dominated – They usually bloom here in June before the heat….but mine have just started and they are burning up now….this maybe my only bouquet.
Davina,
Yes, you are missing out if you do not know the smell of sweet peas – fair heavenly as my mum would say – delicately so.
and Yes I think an afternoon in the sunshine and close to the earth is very refreshing for the body and the spirit. I have a meditation on my list that requires bare feet in the damp soil, eyes focused on one spot and right hand balancing the upright posture on a tree – gentle breathing for 10 minutes….it is overwhelmingly powerful.
Barbara,
That maybe the only bouquet this year with this heat wave and the flowers blooming so late. I am working on loving the sunshine as it has been a long time in coming, but from 64′ to 98′F is truly a huge jump for my body to appreciate.
Tony,
I live in a household with allergies – I enjoy the flowers in my garden from the window and almost never bring them inside, sweet peas have a delicate fragrance and they do not seem to bother anyone – thus I do bring them in….forget the lilies though…..My partner does the netti pot – saline wash through the nose and sinuses everyday during allergy/hayfever season and he is having a much better time of it this year…and it cuts the snoring!
Arts Web Show
I just try to love everyday for what it brings…but you are correct autumn is very dignified…though just grey and wet here…only during drought do we have the beautiful colors. Thank you for dropping by and your great comment.
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Can you find gratitude and joy in the weather? <– our season changes are extreme. My favourite is Fall, because it smells so wonderful and the air has that wonderful crispness to it. Next on my list is Spring, because I get very excited about my gardens. Then Summer, because of the sunshine. Finally Winter. Old Man Winter and I are not the best of friends. However, I do appreciate his beautiful white mantle. Now, if he only last a week or two it would be perfect
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Patricia,
I like this post. You sound happy and content.
What would I wish for? A bit of your contentment, some cooling rain, and a big fan for my porch. Reading this post reminds me how I miss sitting outside on my porch. I haven’t been able to because it’s so hot and muggy. I realized I need a FAN.
Enjoy the Sweet Peas.
BTW I loved Jannie’s poem!
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Story Photo- What’s to See =-.
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Eliza,
I loved the extreme seasons when I lived in Ohio and New York area and each had it’s own troubles and joys. The winter’s did go on for a long time. Here the seasons are less dramatic – this year they are just strange. So many people fight with the weather. It is on area I can just relax and enjoy what comes – unless I have to drive in the snow…big problem for me
Thank you for you nice comments
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Sara,
Yes isn’t Jannie’s poem delightful and adds to the comments a nice reprieve.
I was not as far south but North Carolina was certainly muggy and too hot to be outside for much of the summer in my memory banks, but then folks do not expect as much from you when it is too hot….there are not a great many rules of decorum here for super hot weather….
Each spot it’s own beauty….
thank you for coming on by…do you drink lots of iced tea?
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Today, I took a break in the middle of the work day to simply gaze into the sky. The sky was a beautiful blue with a few clouds that moved gracefully across the sky periodically covering the sun. I enjoyed the lack of humidity and the infinite beauty of the day. There’s nothing like watching clouds to remind you to just be.
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Think Small to Go Big =-.
on Jul 27th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Karen,
Yes it is so important to just BE – I am afraid I have to remind myself to do just that – I am too responsible and a DOER
Ah the clouds sound lovely…and low humidity YES! as lovely as sweet peas!
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 3:42 am
“…cancel everything except JOY.” You do sound peacefully happy, Patricia. I’m glad
Our weather has finally become softer. Last night, we had our first rain since I can’t remember when—-months—but it was just a sprinkling. Instead of wishing wishing wishing for more (please, God, just a little more), I shelved that thought (until now?) and reveled in the scents riding the breeze: all the desert life bathed in moisture. Pungent, aromatic, sweet, dusty-wet… It smelled like rain even before the rain made music on the metal porch roof. Lovely! I did “cancel everything except JOY.”
.-= Julie´s last blog ..In Others Words- 3 =-.
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Julie,
Thank you for sharing your rain story and joy –
I am working on being in the here and now and canceling my lifetime subscription to worry….
I think I am capturing some of that peaceful nowness in my writing.
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Patricia,
I think you out to write and name a book, “Cancel Everything But Joy.” OMG it would be a best seller. Love sweet peas and saw them in MI a couple weeks ago. I couldn’t celebrate the weather in MI because of 9 months of grey. No matter how hard I tried I was bogged down by it. My answer was moving. Looking back I don’t know how I made it there so long. I guess we do things when we’re ready.
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Tess,
what a great idea for a book title….
Love sweet peas too…
I tried to take a class in La Jolla, CA at the end of grad. school – I could not focus because the sunshine was out every day and I had been so trained by the Pacific Northwest as a child….when it snows or the sunshines…you stop everything you are doing and play – re joice! When it is grey or wet you just work up a storm and get everything done….
This is one of those summers that is having so little sunshine that I m finding I must write before the marine clouds burn off…
when the sun comes out I want to play
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
What a great reminder to appreciate the little things! It’s a hot, hot summer here in Phoenix, Arizona. What I truly appreciate are our thunderstorms, complete with torrential rain and spectacular lightning storms.
Blessings,
Andrea
.-= Andrea | Empowered Soul´s last blog ..The Discomfort of “The Gap” =-.
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Welcome Andrea and thank you for the great comment…I do know those desert thunderstorms…what an amazing experience. Thank you for the reminder
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Hi Patricia .. are they gorgeous .. my Mum loves them .. when I get her back out of hospital and I’ve recovered from today’s move in 2 hours .. and I still must finish off! I’ll have a peaceful drive and find some for her .. they are too lovely. I hope ours aren’t finished yet.
Today – a peaceful day .. with no challenges and a bit of fortune coming my way .. but to be a will of the wisp and just float in the haze would be wonderful .. I know they’re night time delights.
Did you play What’s the time Mr Wolf .. with dandelion heads once they’re pluffy?
Luckily it’s still warm and dry here .. the advantage of being on the South Coast and Beachy Head sends the weather inland ..
Enjoy your sweet peas .. I’ll be thinking of them .. and smelling them…. here’s to today .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Could this be a sitcom – or a break out sitcom Ever had a one word – at a time – conversation Fish and Chips – how do you spell it =-.
on Jul 28th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Hilary,
I have been wondering when was the move…I wish I could pick you a bouquet fresh for your new digs. I think I was not on the south coast on my trip last year – dry weather is good for a move.
We did go south to St. Ives but it was pouring down rain and the seagulls were attacking…it was not a great day to remember.
We made wishes and blew off the puffs much to my father’s dismay – no I do not know the game what’s the time Mr. Wolf – sounds like fun.
Thinking of you and hoping everything goes smoothly.
on Jul 31st, 2010 at 3:58 am
Hi Patricia
Lathyrus oderatus – sweet peas do it for me every time.
Can you find gratitude and joy in the weather?
I certainly can – I’ve walked in torrential rain, I’ve skied when it was a total whiteout and always felt slightly scared but alive.
Who wants boring sunny weather?
Forget the weather – put on your fleece, pack your waterproof and get out there.
.-= Keith Davis´s last blog ..A splash of colour =-.
on Jul 31st, 2010 at 9:00 am
Keith,
Thank you for your good comment and I say just do the best you can with what you are given