La Fête du Muguet

Muguet are sold everywhere in France on May Day, since it can be sold without a permit and free of taxation that day.
In France, Lily of the Valley is known as, "porte-bonheur"--literally, "bringer of happiness". I know it brings happiness to my #1 daughter. May is the month of her birth and Lily of the Valley is her birth flower, and although her middle name is Rose, she has always been very fond of Lily of the Valley. 

Legend has it that King Charles IX received a sprig of Lily of the Valley as a lucky charm so he gave it to the ladies of the court every year on May 1st.  When a lady receives a sprig of lily of the valley, she is supposed to give a kiss in return. 

Gratitude

Today at a garage sale I spied a large garden étagère that I wanted to buy. I didn't have any way to get it home or even if I could I knew I couldn't get it up 3 flights of stairs. A very kind young man offered to put it in his truck and bring it home for me. He did and in talking to him, he told me he had been in the Army for 15 years and had been in Iraq and Afghanistan several times. I thanked him and offered him something for gas, but he refused. All I could do was give him an hug and and my sincere thanks. 
The army makes a man out of a boy.

Lilacs

I just wanted to share this lovely bunch of lilacs that my friend, Mary, brought to me today. I wish you could smell them. To my nose, lilacs smell cool. Some flowers smell warm, but lilacs smell cool. Do you find it so?

Bing

Bing Crosby singing "Dream a Little Dream of Me"

Polly's favorite tulip is named after her favorite singer, Bing Crosby. It is blooming right now. She saw it when she was here last weekend. It is still blooming and she can visit it again this weekend, too.

Pond's Adventures

 This is my Grandpuppy, Pond, ordering at the drive-through window. "I'll have the tater-tots, and a small root beer, please. (she's very polite)







Pond and her sister, Calli, having a little siesta. Both of these dogs are rescue dogs. Calli came with a broken leg, and Pond was abandoned in the park next to my daughter and son-in-law's house. She had a huge hernia which was causing her some discomfort, but eventually they had fixed. Now it seems to have returned somewhat. It will have to be worked on again.
Pond has her own facebook page called: Pond's Adventures

English Flag (the Flag of St George)

Today is St. George's Day. St. George, the patron saint of England. You can read the history of this tradition at the website of the Woodlands Jr. School's page on St. George's Day. And if that isn't enough, and you are still wanting more in-depth information, the Britannia History page is very good.

St. George, Raphael

Another symbol of the day is the red rose. Here a London constable wears the rose on his helmet.










Even Google wants in on the act...

next time I rant

The next time I make a grammar rant, you can comfort me with this:

Spring Blossoms

Even though we haven't had much weather that could be call Spring-like, I have some Spring blossoms to share with you.
I bought this beautiful pink Azalea this weekend. I thought the color looked so perfect against the brown silk drapes in my living room.

Sunday, my friend, Mary, brought me these blossoms from her plum trees.

I have shown pictures of her trees before in this post called Plum Delicious. Each Autumn the trees provide Italian prune plums. They are so delicious. I freeze bags of them to use in tarts all year.

Another grammar rant

So true, so true. 

see more Historic LOL 

Here is my other rant on the subject:  Click Here

Easter Monday

Easter Monday and this is how I feel after yesterday's overindulgence. Being diabetic, I don't eat potatoes, white flour, or sugar. But as per my doctor's blessing, holidays are free days. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, I ate freely of all the "forbidden fruits" and still maintained my good blood levels. So, yesterday I did the same and am hoping for the best. I don't know, though, the third dessert might have been pushing the limit. There were 4 kinds and I managed a small portion of 3 of them. Lemon meringue pie, cardamom pear tart, chocolate mousse cake, and cupcakes - not to mention all the Lindt chocolates. Well maybe this is what I look like:

Later, since the sun is shinning, I'll go for a long walk and try to walk off some of the effects from yesterday.
Hope you are enjoying this wonderful season.

Easter Greetings

He is risen - He is risen indeed!

I have always loved this Easter hymn. We sang it at my husband's funeral. It is a song of the triumph of life over death. On this most holy of holy days, I offer it to all of you.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed:
let shout of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The three sad days are quickly sped,
he rises glorious from the dead:
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
the bars from heaven's high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

Good Friday

A wonderful, symbolically rich illustration from Parsch's "The Church's Year of Grace". The caption: "Nos pisciculi Christi sumus" (We are Christ's little fish)
Just a few of the symbols here: The Virgin Mary prays for her son. St. John points to the King on the cross. Mary Magdalene kisses the Saviour's feet. The Lamb stands for the Eucharistic Victim and the rising sun points to Sunday's resurrection. Like the four rivers of paradise, the waters of salvation flow from the base of the cross. In them we come to life, Christ's blessed little fish.

My tartan

Dig out your tartan and get ready to celebrate. I'm joining the parade with

Hyacinths for the Soul with Sarah

Upstairs Downstairs with Babs

Vignette Design with Delores

Polohouse with Alison

for 

My tartan is a rather dull brown, not very attractive and not one I have ever worn. I prefer one to the brighter, more colorful designs. But this is the one of my heritage and my father, Paul Harold Elgin. The Original Elgin brothers having immigrated to the American colonies in the early 17th century.