This little Redbud tree has lost its blooms
and in the shadows of the maples and elms and hickories and oaks,
it reaches out to the sun to find its "green".
~Nancy ~ 135/365
I heard the sirens until at least 11:00 last night.
On Facebook, I read the updates and saw a few videos and pictures,
and I knew what was burning.
In a small town, it's never far from your home, and things like this touch family and friends.
The news this morning said that ten fire departments responded.
When I opened the back door last night before climbing the stairs to bed, I could smell the smoke.
I resisted leaving the house and walking to watch.
I didn't want to get in the way.
On our morning walk, we met with friends on their walks, and we stopped to watch.
WCIA from Champaign was there to cover the damage, and when this reporter stopped to talk with us,
we could see the genuine concern and sadness in her eyes as she relayed her sympathy for the people who had lost a part of their lives.
But as we stood there,
the one sentiment expressed with a common thread was that there were no injuries or lives lost.
Nobody can take away the memories,
and Shelbyville citizens will come back and rebuild with the strength to make things even better...
~Nancy ~ 134/365
The wind was blowing hard, and it was no easy task to capture these little wildflowers.
Thumbing through several wildflower field guides,
I learned that they are known as "Shooting Stars".
(Dodecatheon meadia / Primrose Family)
I finally found a picture of them after explaining to "Google" that they were white prairie wildflowers that seemed to be turned inside out...
~Nancy ~ 132/365
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine,
and shadows will fall behind you."
~~Walt Whitman
It was a rush,
but I managed to fit in a walk on the trail before the sun set.
I was not disappointed...
~Nancy ~ 131/365
A few more flowers are braving the cooler temperatures and are blooming in my garden.
The Columbine just "found its bloom" this morning.
Every day is a new surprise...
~Nancy ~ 130/365
"I would far rather have two or three lilies of the valley gathered for me by a person I like,
than the most expensive bouquet that could be bought!"
~~Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives and Daughters
Our little flowers were first planted by a gardener
who lived in our house way before I took over their care.
I have transplanted them often,
and they never fail to bloom.
Their first appearance always reminds me of Shannon when she was growing up.
She never failed to tell me they were blooming and that they were her favorite.
~Nancy ~ 129/365
(Oh, and it's raining again...)
After working hard all day,
it was nice to have the kids and grand-kids spend some time with us at the cabin.
~Nancy ~ 128/365
Today was the essence of May.
Warm.
Sunny.
Fragrant.
And when I walked up the sidewalk from the garage to the house,
I discovered that the Allium had begun to bloom.
~Nancy ~ 127/365
"The best thing one can do when it's raining
is to let it rain."
~~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
We agreed today that it feels more like the first week of March than the first week of May.
This little girl at the track meet was making the most of it.
She has chosen to add some sun into her day with bright colors
and to just "let it rain"...
~Nancy ~ 126/365