Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Simple Pleasures

Some people spend their lives wishing they were rich.  Some people crave power.  Others wish for fame.  As for me, it doesn't take much to make me happy.  Sure, a little more money would always be nice, but I find that joy usually comes from simple things.  A few hours spent with good friends, talking and laughing.  A grandchild suddenly saying, "I love you, Grandma."  These are the moments that make me feel happier than any millionaire. 

And when I'm feeling a bit blue or bored, I can just walk out the door.  Here are some simple pleasures that bring a lift to my spirits:


Seeing the first coneflowers beginning to bloom.

 


Finding a new daylily blooming each day.  This one is 'Lavender Dew.'




Finally having success in scattering poppy seeds  in my garden.



Another success--my first ever delphinium.  And finding it to be just as blue as the catalog pictured it to be.


Even better with a friendly visitor.


This visitor, however, doesn't make me so happy.   But otherwise, the cheery faces of Susans always bring a smile to my face.


When I see 'Canterbury Tales' next to 'Moonlit Masquerade,' I'm glad I let the daylily grower talk me into buying 'Moonlit,' too.  I think these two were meant for each other.



I'm happy, too, I didn't pull what I (and Beckie, too) thought was a weed.  When your memory plays tricks on you, like forgetting all about planting this phlox last year, it's nice to have a pleasant surprise.



My memory recall can be strange at times--for example, while playing a trivia game I can recall the capital of Bulgaria learned long ago in fourth grade geography (it's Sofia, by the way), but not where I laid my reading glasses two minutes ago.  A sudden flash of recognition last week reminded me that this mystery plant was the balloon flower I planted last year.  I'm happy that it's going to bloom soon even in the shadow of the ever-growing Amsonia towering over it.


And if all else fails, I can always count on a wagging tail and big brown eyes to lift my spirits. 
Sophie makes everybody, even Marmalade, happy:)



"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance;
the wise grows it under his feet."  ~James Openheim

31 comments:

  1. Lovelyness everywhere the eye reposes...

    cielo

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  2. Mmmm, I finished this post feeling happy too. The pinks and the blues you have in your garden are such fine clear colors, and it all looks good. Happiness!

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  3. Aww..that last shot of Marmalade giving Sophie a bath is so adorable. My cat wouldn't touch my dogs with a ten foot pole! lol ;)

    Your Echinacea picture is pretty spectacular, it looks like a field of those purple coneflowers. And I envy your Delphiniums because that is one plant that doesn't seem to like it here. See you topped me on something with your cooler climate. :)

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  4. That dark daylily is gorgeous. I don't think I have seen it before. I love those pink lilies on your header photo. Aawwwww. That last picture is so sweeet. Sophie is such a love. You have so much to be thankful for Rose. Grandchildren, children, good friends, beautiful garden. Big Hugs.

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  5. What a delicious post Rose, all that lovely colour and your photos are beautiful! The one of the Lavender Dew Lily is stunning!!

    So nice to see the butterfly, I am looking forward to more ;) especially as there are none around here at the moment!

    I am glad the grower persuaded you into that purchase too, they do look lovely together.

    What a good job you didn't mistakenly destroy the Phlox, it is very pretty.

    I am so in love with Sophie (I think Marmalade is too:)) she has such a sweet and gentle face.

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  6. such beauty you have captured in your photographs.

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  7. Love all your pictures but my favourites are the day lilies, the delphiniums (& butterfly) and of course the delightful pets. You must have waited ages for that!
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  8. oh, MY! What a great post! How wonderful to be so content and to have such harmony in your garden!

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  9. What a happy post! Love stories abound - lilies and pets.

    Your flowers are gorgeous and I really love your header!!

    I do agree, the best things in life are free (and especially hearing a grandchild saying "I love you").

    You make me laugh with your DIP's. I think every garden worth her salt (maybe his too), has a few DIP's in their garden.

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  10. Oops! I knew I should have proof-read that comment.
    I meant every gardener, not every garden worth her salt. LOL!

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  11. What a precious photo of your pet cat and dog! I am also brought to a smile when I pass my echinacea...they just have that something special.

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  12. I have a hard time remembering some plants from one year to the next....especially from the first year to the second. I leave tags in where things were growing in the previous season. I need all the help I can get!
    Love love love those two daylilies together.

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  13. These things make me happy too. Especially the friendly golden and gold cat. How very sweet.

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  14. oh my gosh that picture of Sophie and Marmalade is priceless!!

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  15. Excellent Flowers Collection. After seeing all collection i am very happy because it give relaxation to a tried person.
    Look a small garden design

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  16. CIELO, Thanks for visiting!

    Laurrie, pinks and blues are my favorite here.

    Racquel, It's amazing what Sophie puts up with:) You're right--we can't all grow the same things. I'm excited about the delphiniums, because I've never had any luck with them before.

    Lisa, I wish you could see all the lilies in person--many are still waiting to bloom. I try to count my blessings every day.

    Songbird, The photo of the daylily was one of those accidental strokes of good luck. I couldn't have planned the dark background if I had tried:) Sophie never met a creature she didn't like...well, maybe not voles or rabbits:)

    Tammie, Thanks; I just had to enlarge these this time to show them off.

    Maggie May, Sophie and Marmalade were cuddling, and I ran to get my camera. The bath surprised me:)

    Sissy, I wish I could say I was content all the time, but the garden is a wonderful place for lifting up my spirits.

    Wendy, Thanks for reminding of the name DIP's:) I do have quite a few of those, especially since Sophie often removes the markers I leave.

    Sage Butterfly, I don't know what it is about coneflowers, but they always make me smile.

    Janet, This is the first year these two daylilies bloomed at the same time; I'm so glad I planted them next to each other. I usually leave markers next to plants, too, but sometimes winter heaving moves them...or Sophie decides to pull them:)

    Tina, I know you must miss having BJ as your gardening companion. Sophie loves spending time out there with me.

    Sweetbay, Thanks; this photo is definitely a keeper for me.

    Smallgarden, Thanks for visiting.

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  17. What gorgeous photos --you have a great eye, and some patience I'll bet too.

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  18. Awww, I'm with you -- if you can take joy in simple pleasures, you'll always be happy. All the blooms are amazing. But the last photo of your kitty and dog melted my heart!

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  19. I loved this post so much! Beautiful images of your gorgeous flowers. I want them all! I didn't like seeing that JB though-I'm in the Chicago suburbs, so that means I'll be seeing them soon... What a blessing your talents are to have created such a beautiful space. And I have wanted a golden retriever FOREVER.

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  20. I do so agree with you, it doesn't matter what is wrong with the world if I can be in my garden enjoying new flowers and perfumes every day. you have some very special Hermerocallis, I have quite a few (they grow so well for me here in Italy) but I don't have any like your beautiful colours. Christina

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  21. Aw yes, simple pleasures, Rose. A lovely post.(In awe of your poppies!)

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  22. Lovely, so much to enrich the soul. Thank you for making me smile, and reminding me what I have to look forward to when my own coneflowers get around to blooming.

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  23. I love this post. Gratitude really can change our outlook on life.
    The last picture is so sweet!
    Rosey

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  24. Love all your pictures but my favourites are the day lilies, the delphiniums (& butterfly) and of course the delightful pets. You must have waited ages for that!

    backyard design

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  25. That quote is so true! And your flowers are nearly as gorgeous as Sophie.

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  26. our garden makes me smile. Even after having to do my own hillside weed-abatement):-

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  27. I forget what I planted all the time, but fortunately, I also forget to weed, LOL! I think stuff you learned early in life is stuck in the long-term memory and it won't budge for new short-term stuff you want to recall. I can recall when my childhood bff (who I haven't had any contact with since we were 11)'s birthday is, but struggle to recall more recent friends (even close ones) bdays. I've got the Brady Bunch theme sone engrained forever, but can't recall most of the Spanish I'm trying to learn! GOOD TIMES!

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  28. That was a lovely read Rose~Thank you. gail

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  29. Hi Rose,
    Your post was uplifting. Those daylilies do look like they are made to go together. All of your blooms are lovely! I have 2 double poppies that I planted from seed, and a pink one is blooming, with the other still in bud. I hope the blooms last awhile.

    You should enter the photo of Sophie and Marmalade into a contest of some kind. I love it!

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  30. Sweetly said. Yes, the simplest things in life make us the happiest don't they? You're right about Canterbury Tales and Moonlit Masquerade. They go great together, a wonderful color pairing.~~Dee

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  31. Great Post. I love gardening your blog is amazing.....

    bill ackman

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