Welcome!

welcome to our house
fence surrounded by roses
such a lovely day

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

Home Thoughts
by Claude McKay

Oh something just now must be happening there!
That suddenly and quiveringly here,
Amid the city’s noises, I must think
Of mangoes leaning o’er the river’s brink,
And dexterous Davie climbing high above,
The gold fruits ebon-speckled to remove,
And toss them quickly in the tangled mass
Of wis-wis twisted round the guinea grass;
And Cyril coming through the bramble-track
A prize bunch of bananas on his back;
And Georgie–none could ever dive like him–
Throwing his scanty clothes off for a swim;
And schoolboys, from Bridge-tunnel going home,
Watching the waters downward dash and foam.
This is no daytime dream, there’s something in it,
Oh something’s happening there this very minute!

What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for our home, home sweet home!

For: Mundane Monday Challenge #85 : Learn Photography, 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 21, Tell Me Something Good #32

Poetics: Our garden through the years

plants

garden full of life
of butterflies and bees
the scents of flowers

look at the garden
peace and tranquility
wonderful feeling

garden through the years
canvas of memories
brings us joy and hope

the English Garden
taking clothes off in summer
the feeling of freedom

All winter long the garden is cold and bare
With the coming of spring, everywhere is lovely
Trees unfold their leaves, flowers bloom with flair
Apples blossom, all white and pure with such beauty
And the smell of wonderful rain and freshly cut grass
Don’t forget the symphony of spring with birds singing
The spring peepers chirping call chorus with such class
The dandelions, lilacs, tulips, hyacinths, all blooming

For: Poetics: Johnny’s Garden by kim881.

Also for: Nurturing Thurs – Where We Are! by Becca Givens

Curves ~ Pic and a Word Challenge #62

curves
garden
by the bay
so breathtaking
curves

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Curves ~ Pic and a Word Challenge #62 by Patrick Jennings

Our first snow of the year

What made you smile this week?

For: 52 Weeks Photo Challenge:Week 14- Winter. Also for: Weekly Smile 45 #weeklysmile

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7

Home Thoughts
by Carl Sandburg

THE SEA rocks have a green moss.
The pine rocks have red berries.
I have memories of you.

Speak to me of how you miss me.
Tell me the hours go long and slow.

Speak to me of the drag on your heart,
The iron drag of the long days.

I know hours empty as a beggar’s tin cup on a rainy day, empty as a soldier’s sleeve with an arm lost.

Speak to me …

What are you thankful for today?

I am grateful for my two homes, the Philippines where I was born and bred and Germany, where I am happily living with Him Indoors.

The shore that call us home
Was the title of the poem
By Samuel Hazo in 1949
Makes me think about my life
Every time I go home and meet my
Family, friends and relatives again
After some time when I’m here
And they are there living differently
Yet parallel to each other, there’s this
Nostalgic feeling, of being home again
This land or these islands I miss so much
It doesn’t matter where I am now, and
I’m building a home with my family here
But over there where I used to call home
Full of childhood memories, of school,
Of college, of my first experience at work
First love, first kiss, first of everything
These experiences made me and taught me
They gave me a solid foundation of how
It is to be me, all the trials and errors
They gave me the confidence to try and
Explore different things and I have proved
That I can do it no matter where
So even when I’m happy here
I’d still be a girl with a fringe
I’d always go back to the shore
That calls me home, the Philippines

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

yacht

lavender

tortoises

home is happy
home is cosy
home is warm
home doesn’t regret
home doesn’t mind sharing
home grows with love

it doesn’t matter
where or what is home
home is with Him Indoors
and HRH the son
our three tortoises
our flowers in the grden
things we share
experience and memories
I love our home!

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7. Also for: NaNoPoblano Day 7

Scenic Iran

My friend has just got back from her holiday in Iran and she’s sharing some of her photos. Have a lovely weekend everyone!

For: picnic area…

Foxgloves

For: FFF254 – BLUE FLAX LILY

Autumn in the Garden by Henry Van Dyke

When the frosty kiss of Autumn in the dark
Makes its mark
On the flowers, and the misty morning grieves
Over fallen leaves;
Then my olden garden, where the golden soil
Through the toil
Of a hundred years is mellow, rich, and deep,
Whispers in its sleep.

‘Mid the crumpled beds of marigold and phlox,
Where the box
Borders with its glossy green the ancient walks,
There’s a voice that talks
Of the human hopes that bloomed and withered here
Year by year,–
Dreams of joy, that brightened all the labouring hours,
Fading as the flowers.

Yet the whispered story does not deepen grief;
But relief
For the loneliness of sorrow seems to flow
From the Long-Ago,
When I think of other lives that learned, like mine,
To resign,
And remember that the sadness of the fall
Comes alike to all.

What regrets, what longings for the lost were theirs!
And what prayers
For the silent strength that nerves us to endure
Things we cannot cure!
Pacing up and down the garden where they paced,
I have traced
All their well-worn paths of patience, till I find
Comfort in my mind.

Faint and far away their ancient griefs appear:
Yet how near
Is the tender voice, the careworn, kindly face,
Of the human race!
Let us walk together in the garden, dearest heart,
Not apart!
They who know the sorrows other lives have known
Never walk alone.

For: Nurturing Thurs – Your Choice by Becca Givens

OBW 167 ~ Autumn

For: OBW 167 ~ Autumn , Our World: 3rd October 2016

Our Garden

our garden through the years

plants

For: OCTOBER is the month to share your favourite gardens, #MySundayPhoto – The Morning Pier , a little old barn…, FFF253 – NARCISSUS ‘MELANY’ , Pacifica Pier (Sundays In My City)