Florals, Food, and Faith

 

Bougainvillea

From age 8 to 16 I lived in Southern California where Bougainvillea grow with abandon. At that time of my life, I was more interested in geography (the beaches in Venice, Santa Monica, and Huntington and winter snow in the San Bernardino Mountain areas of Big Bear Lake and Crestline). 

Years later as a young adult, circumstances led me to spend a summer at Vandenberg Air Force Base, north of Santa Barbara. We were driving parallel to the Pacific coast when I spied Bougainvillea growing up the outside wall of a seaside cottage and then spread out over the roof. It was very striking. Now these many years later, that sight remains a vivid memory. 

a scene from my post on March 5th

The flower petals are sort of wrinkly, and thin, much like tissue paper, in clusters. They come in many shades of reds, pinks, and orangey-salmon.

I've never had one in my yard, in part because I've lived in more places where Bougainvillea can't survive the climate than where they can thrive. 

Years ago Pastor Chuck Swindoll referenced Bougainvillea in one of his sermons, stating this plant has sturdy sharp thorns with runners that can grow underground, piercing bare feet in the grass. The plant is said to be difficult to handle without gloves. I choose to enjoy this plant in the yards of others.

My Yard Boy and I had to make another trip to the nursery this past week. After pruning the freezer burn from the plants that took such a hard hit from this winter's unusual cold, we fertilized what was left. In our fervor to boost plant growth, I forgot we're not supposed to fertilize the Blue Daze. Feeding them resulted in a quick death.

Blue Daze

Our conversation with one of the nursery employees, revealed that Blue Daze is more like a weed, which means you plant it and then ignore it, please. It can thrive on its own, thank you! I used to know that, but had clearly forgot. We bought 8 more and Gary planted them. 

It's nice there is something in our yard that does not need our devoted attention. As Gary likes to say, "There is a secret to growing grass in North Central Florida -- but I don't know what it is!!" 

This is true. There are several kinds of grass from which to choose and all of them seem (to us, anyway) like very fickle women who are hard to please.

waning white rose (on the right)

The beautiful flower arrangement that some of our children sent for my birthday has been a real delight. As the days passed, I gradually removed the faded blooms from the vase, but kept the 3 milky white roses until their petals began to fall off. The transition from white-white to this lunch sack shade of brown has been beautiful. It has been a wonderful illustration of how some things develop a special charm and even elegance with age. We should all hope to be as lovely as an old rose as our birthdays accumulate!

But with that said, eventually the roses were falling apart (like people 🤭), so I had to discard them along with the dried up and turning - to - powder Baby's Breath. What remains is this hearty flower that reminds me of lemon cake frosting. I don't know what this flower is. There were white carnations in the original arrangement, and they were bigger and shaped different from these yellow blooms. 

the mystery flower

Do any of my readers know what this yellow flower is?

afternoon treat at Wendy's

Moving on to the subject of food..... this week was my annual eye exam. These appointments, even for the most healthy of eyes, take FOREVER with a lot of waiting between tests. But after two hours, all came out very well. A Wendy's is next door to the eye doctor's parking lot, so Gary treated us to vanilla Frosties.

The next morning was the weekly Ladies' Bible Study I attend. It was the last session until late May, so we were encouraged to bring finger foods. It was not a sumptuous feast, and more was added after I snapped this picture. But it was enough and very good.

Grape and cheese kabobs

My neighbor, who rides with me to the study, brought these kabobs, which I thought were really great: cheese and grapes skewered with a decorative toothpick (a little longer than the teeth-picking kind). Colorful, not at all messy, and festive. 

My contribution was more of a craft project -- you had to work for it. 🤭 Assuming there might be a lot of sugary treats for this occasion, I wanted to balance that out with some protein. This individually-wrapped Babybel gouda cheese was perfect.

I say it was like a craft project because you first tear away the orange tissue wrapper. Then you grab the red tab and pull off a strip of the red plastic that encases the cheese, which easily releases from its case. There's no mess, it's got a satisfying salty taste, and is only 70 calories.

It is Palm Sunday weekend as this post is published. Both the plant kingdom and food are major players in the Biblically historical events we are observing. 

Palm fronds (or branches) were used like flags to enthusiastically wave as the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus into the city. 

some of the several palm trees in our yard

The crowds welcomed Him with great enthusiasm for not only the many miracles with which He had blessed them, but also because they thought He was the King of the Jews who would set them free from their oppression by the Romans.

The Last Supper by Da Vinci
(Unsplash)

A few days later, Jesus met in a private room with His twelve disciples for what would be their last meal together. Within hours after this meal the horrendous happened: He was betrayed by one of His own and summarily killed by crucifixion before a raucous crowd of those who had hailed Him as their king earlier that week!

God so loved the world

that He gave His only Son

that whosoever believes in Him

shall not perish

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

I, like everyone else, am a sinner. I hold to the belief that Jesus' death on the cross paid the price for my sins. Because of this conviction, I know I'll spend eternity in Heaven. It's that simple. 

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara

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