Columbine

Columbines on Rock Ledge

Limestone ledges for their beds, the Columbines ask for nothing but a place to blossom in the spring.  I grew up calling them Honeysuckles, but they have several names like Rock Bells, Cluckies, Jack-in-Trousers, Granny's Bonnets, and Dancing Fairies.

Don't they look like drips of paint that might have fallen from Mother Nature's paintbrush?  The legend is that the Columbine blossom resembles a circle of doves drinking from a fountain.   Thus, the name Columbine from the Latin word Columba, meaning dove.

As much as we love the flowers that grow in the wild, we love the flowers that come inside our home just as much.  Most of them are silk, won't wilt, nor die.  Our hanging baskets out on the patio are silk for the same reason.  Not only that, but we don't have to water them or vacuum up the dried leaves.  One of the tricks to neatness is finding ways to prevent the mess in the first place.

Flowers bring life and smiles into a home.  We have a year-round tree that gets shuffled from room to room, and we dress and accessorize her with the season.  Right now she's wearing a garland of yellow and white flowers that sing of spring.  Once in awhile a colorful bird will fly from its storage box and perch inside the branches for a bit of playfulness.  Much like the tiny rubber mouse that has lived on our brick fireplace for lord knows how many years.  It's a family tradition for the kids to move the mouse to a different spot on the fireplace each time they visit.

There are uncountable ways to have fun at home, without spending big bucks.  Garage sales are treasure chests of knick-knack patty-whack things to add spice and flavor to any room in the house.....like the ceramic turtle from Mexico that makes his way around the house.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

 "May your life be like a wildflower 

growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day." 

 - Native American Proverb