Scanning the sky…

HIBISCUS
…scanning the gray sky for a sunbeam.
Even in stormy weather it looks up,
seeming intuitively aware that the sun is still there!

When we’re in the midst of stormy times in life,
let us remember that God still reigns –
and let us look upward and seek His face!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For as the waters fill the sea,
the earth will be filled with an awareness
of the glory of the Lord.
Habakkuk 2:14 NLT
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Too Bloomin’ Hot…

 …but still bloomin’ !!!

In spite of the continued intense heat and drought in our area, there are a few specimens that just keep on keepin’ on.
One of the showiest and most prolific is the crepe myrtle.

These are all pictures from an early evening walk a few days ago. 
When it’s so hot like this and I’m carrying a water bottle,
I usually don’t fool with taking the camera along. 
We usually wait ’til almost time for the sun to go down,
so there’s really not enough light for much good photography. 
However, here are a few snapshots taken with my camera phone, to document our little outing. 
I will try to get clearer pictures of the flowers later with my camera.

This is a “little” shot of the moon, just to set the scene.

Now back down to earth and the reality of this persistent drought!

We’ve been watching this pear tree for a while. 
It seems to have held up pretty well with such a long period of upper 90 to 100+ temperatures.
You might say it’s growing ‘roasted pears’(!)

We were amused when we came across this tree, which seems to be pointing to the sky. 
The top is rotten, and there are a number of woodpecker holes around that upper part of the trunk. 
It looks like some of the holes were probably pecked after the tree began to deteriorate. 
I wonder what the woodpecker thought when he had drilled and drilled his beak into that tree –
only to come out on the other side and see blue sky!!

Back home now, and entering the gate by the side of the house.
We have two confederate jasmine vines that cover an extensive area of our side fence.
We don’t notice these seed pods every year, but here are a couple that have appeared recently.
I hope they will remain on the vine to dry and turn brown.
If so, there will be some very interesting-looking seeds inside,
and I hope to be able to show you pictures of them later.

It’s said that “good fences make good neighbors.”
That’s especially true if there’s something pretty blooming on both sides!
Our side of the fence has the confederate (or star) jasmine;
our neighbors have pink honeysuckle on their side.
(Just for the record, we are blessed to have good neighbors!!!)

I’m always happy when I see the first pink blooms peeking up over the fence. 

This is a close-up of my favorite color of honeysuckle!

One more picture from that evening — a bright yellow hibiscus that we purchased to plant along the back fence.
We have another hibiscus that seems to be thriving in the heat (as long as we keep it watered)…
so we decided to try this one, too.
We both really like the brilliant color!

By this time, the mosquitoes had gotten really hungry and obnoxious,
so it was time to call it a night and get back into the air-conditioning!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit.
May your life be filled with lots of little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~