What Was Behind The Picket Fence?

 

Do you ever drive by a place 

day after day 

not "seeing"?

Then all of a sudden,

something grabs your attention

and you stop to take notice?

I've driven past this

quaint cottage for years

and just the other day,

I "saw" a

picket fence and

little gate with an iron pull.

I decided to stop and check out 

what was behind the picket fence.

 

 

As I walked through

the front gate, 

I saw

a winter garden, 

bursting with color.

Pansies, 

blooming Rosemary,

and Camelias 

were so charming

and welcoming!

Everywhere I looked,

I saw color 

and interesting containers

and wind chimes 

and water bubbling in a pond.

 

A sweet view through the pickets!

Thank you Littlefield Cottage for 

 tending your garden and planting

such beautiful flowers,

season by season!

You share your beauty 

with all who pass by!

Don't forget to look at your surroundings!

Sometimes it takes a different 

point of view 

to see what is there!

Live Your Authentic Life ~ Be the Real You!

Blessings,

Martha

Paint Chips On The Shore

Peeling Paint

What does that make you think of?

Something old, 
worn, needing repair?

I am often enamored with aged, 
found objects, 
that are still hanging on.

We all know that beauty 

is in the eye of the beholder,

and what I found this afternoon,

truly caught my eye and gave me goosebumps.

Pattern, swirls, grit, chips, splinters

all came together to create 

a thing of beauty in my eyes!

What I saw in color and shape,

made me think of the ocean,

a beach, and waves of water.

 Ocean foam popping 

and bubbling on the beach?

 The front porch of a very old home,

weathered by sun, wind and rain - 

displayed a wonderful show of movement!

Did you see the scattered seashells

or maybe they are beach pebbles?

 Each day, more paint loses its grip

and more wood is exposed.

 Puddles and ocean swirls?

 Sunset over the water?

 The process is lengthy,

but creates a gorgeous,

time worn appearance!

 Lapping waves?

White caps perhaps?

The perfect weather-worn beach cottage?

Nope, just a quaint older home 

in my community

 at least 7 hours from any beach.

It is what I see
 that is important!

 

Beauty is everywhere!

As I gingerly walked across the porch,

the paint literally crunched and crumbled

 under my feet,

it was just like walking across 

squeaky beach sand!

Such a treat to see

 and hear and appreciate 

this gift of time and place!

Live Your Authentic Life - Be the Real You!

Blessings,

Martha

Wish Upon A Star Magnolia!

Driving through town today,

I passed one of the many 100 year old homes 

that dot our historic area.

Once a lovely homestead,

this quaint building

has lived its modern life as numerous restaurants.

 

Now empty, it waits ~

 for the tinkle of glasses and

laughter, and life!

This (currently) green house with

a history all its own,

supposedly 

is the home of a female ghost.

(That's a post for another day).

I always look over and glance in the windows

to see if I can see a shadowy figure 

looking back out.

 Although I didn't see a ghostly white figure,

I spotted beautiful white blooms

all along the side of the house!

Known as the

Star Magnolia,

it blooms at the end of winter 

just at the beginning of Spring!

It has large, 

white blossoms

that bloom on naked branches 

before any leaves appear.

 

 What a lovely view

for the mistress of the house 

to see each day!

Christmas lights, 

remnants of the last restaurant,

still hang in the shrubs - 

but didn't deter the birds 

from starting an early nest!

 

Nor did all the chickens and roosters

gracing the exterior of the building!

 The beautiful blooms are there - 

at the corner of Hawkins street,

for all to see.

I wonder who notices

the perfect blossoms as they drive by?

 

 Definitely a STAR - in my book -

so beautiful as they grace

the side yard of this soulful empty home!

 True beauty - 

Perfection by way of humility,

offering glory to those who take time to see.

Live Your Authentic Life - Be the Real You!

Blessings,

Martha