Wednesday, July 22, 2009

How Did This Happen To Me?


I can remember so clearly... on my visits to my grandma, on my dad's side. She lived up the street from my home and I always enjoyed visitng her and spending time at their home. Often during those visits, she would pull out her photo albums and she would want to show me all of her latest creations. For some reason that I totally could NOT understand, she would take pictures of flowers...individual flowers, flower beds and huge gardens that she and my grandpa had visited. We would sit together and flip through all of the black photo book pages, each photo secured with black photo corners. I can remember exactly what I was thinking as we sat there going through the books...why would anyone take pictures of flowers? Wouldn't it be so much more interesting to take of people and events?





Fast forward the pages of time some 40 years later, and here I am in her same situation. It seems to me that the flowers this summer are more vibrant and plentiful than I ever remember, and I can hardly go through a garden or visit my friend's homes without carrying my camera with me to capture their beauty. The picture above is of my sister-in-law's flower boxes on the front porch of their home. The white wooden boxes are overflowing with colorful blooms.




Not only do I want to capture the exquisite beauty of the flowers myself, but I have my uncle doing the same for me, in his travels. He has come to realize what joy this brings to me.


How did this transformation happen...going from the young girl sitting by her grandma's side, looking at picture after picture of flowers, while inwardly rolling the eyes, and wondering the "whys" of this type of behavior...




...to the middle age lady who carries her camera with her just in case she comes upon another gorgeous flower garden? Most every single time I capture flowers with my camera, I find myself thinking of this dear grandma. Actually, both of my grandmas did much to instill a love of flowers and their unique beauty. The above photo was taken at my other sister-in-law's home, when I discovered her amazing hydrangea bushes...some of every color and hue, and each one of them filled with blooms.




Here are some outstanding flower photos captured by my uncle on his recent beach trip.














Driving to the grocery store a week ago, I found myself stopping to take a picture of this overflowing bush of gorgeous white hydrangeas along the road...sorry to admit this, but it is true.











Yes, I know there are things that I will do over the years that will cause my own grandchildren to inwardly or perhaps even outwardly roll their eyes, but now I know that it is okay that they do it. I know that "what goes around, comes around", and someday they may just be doing the exact same thing themselves. I know my grandma would be thrilled to sit at my computer and look at all of my fascinating flower pictures. She would probably just smile to herself...like I will someday do.









"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting- a wayside sacrement. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." ~Ralph Waldo Imerson

"The cups of blessing" this summer are abundant and I am so thankful!

22 comments:

Marty said...

I share your love of flowers - real life and in photo's. I agree this summer is exceptional. I've already but my weather order in for a repeat of this delightful July weather for next summer.

Happy@Home said...

Hi Judy,
This is a beautiful post not just for all of the pretty flowers, but also the sweet story about you and your grandma. It is funny how as we get older we do start to do things that we once thought we would never do.

Enjoy your day and keep that camera handy :-)

southerninspiration said...

you could have much stranger habits, you know...this one happens to be oh.so.lovely!!! Love the photos, and thanks for sharing!

Suzanne

Judy said...

I'm smiling...as I think of the files that have nothing but flower photos in them over here. I don't think I was as impressed by flowers when I was young...the older I get, the better they look!

My daughter-in-law came with me to the garden shop ahile ago...and laughed as she told me how she despised visiting garden shops with her mom a long time ago. Now they have become one of her favorite places...and her wee daughter gets to frequent them with her. We become our mothers...and our grandmothers...as time goes on. It's all good...and your flower pic's are beautiful.

nancygrayce said...

Those flowers are breathtaking! When I got my very first camera (a box camera), our azaleas were in full bloom. I took a whole roll of film, which thankfully was only 12 back then, forgetting it was black and white film!

Shelley said...

These flowers were a treat to the eyes! Love the story about your grandmother - isn't it lovely how she influenced you? :-)

Melanie said...

I get why you do it!
Gorgeous.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

In the genes? I'm glad you do take flower pictures. You do it so well...and I would miss seeing them if you did!

My dad always took pictures of the fish he caught and animals he had killed hunting. Now that's my idea of a horrible photo album to endure paging through. The Grandkids said Yuck!!! to his photo albums!

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

In the genes? I'm glad you do take flower pictures. You do it so well...and I would miss seeing them if you did!

My dad always took pictures of the fish he caught and animals he had killed hunting. Now that's my idea of a horrible photo album to endure paging through. The Grandkids said Yuck!!! to his photo albums!

Anonymous said...

The pictures are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thanks for sharing. I just recently started my Blog. Come by for a visit if you get a chance!
Aimee

Kathryn said...

What a beautiful post of photos....aren't grandmothers special?!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today and leaving me an encouraging word. Let me know, if you decide to read the book, how/if it touched your heart, too.

Blessings!

LisaShaw said...

O Judy,

Not only are the photos beautiful but your words!

I had a similar experience with my Grandma over flowers, baking from scratch and sewing. I just didn't pay too much attention but now...


I love you.

Journey said...

I love your blog!!!! I'm new to the blogging world and trying to figure out what I want to do. Your flower pictures are lovely and your story so warm.

Anonymous said...

Good evening Judy, I enjoyed seeing all of the pretty flowers on your post. I too like to snap pictures of flowers. They bring such joy. I get excited every time I see a new bloom in my garden. I think as we get older we tend to appreciate all of God's little gifts more.

Anonymous said...

I love to do this too. Your pictures are so good. You have a good camera.
Grandmas are such wonderful people. I'm so glad I am one. Blessings
QMM

a woman who is said...

Oh my gosh I have drug my family through soooo many flower gardens. Outward eyeball rolling for sure :D

So far the girls could care less about anything gardening. But the son is now really into his first veggie garden.

Oh maybe the grands...maybe not...I am such a silly old flower lover.

My inspiration was my grandmother...my mother was not affected by this madness. Maybe it skips a generation. lol

I enjoyed your pictures :)

Tracy said...

Oh, what breathtaking photos! You are a woman after my own heart. I can spend HOURS taking photos of flowers...truly God's exquisite creativity on display! I had to smile when I realized I'm not the only person who will STOP MY CAR to take a photo! ; ) Like you, my love for flowers came from both my Grandmothers (although I didn't realize it when I was younger, either!) I hope to pass along that same love to my grandchildren one day, too. No doubt you're right...your Grandmother would marvel at those beautiful images. That quote you shared couldn't have been more perfect. Thanks for starting my day with a smile!

Blessings each day said...

Even as a little wee girl I did love flowers and my mother would have to stop me from picking them !

Like you, though, I used to think that every picture should have a person in it somewhere, but now...yes, now I can see how wonderfulit is to just enjoy the beauty of nature!

Great job, Judy!

blessings,

marcy

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

These flower displays are so wonderful Judy! The colors are so bright and the flowers so abundant.

When I think of my maternal grandmother I think of herbs, She had a large "kitchen garden" and would always be tending her vegetables and herbs. The end of summer she would can for the winter. I can not smell fresh dill without immediately thinking of her!

What beautiful gifts of memory our grandmothers gave us!

Connie said...

I just started this year taking photos of flowers. It must be a right of passage or another phase we go through. Loved seeing all your beautiful flowers and I too stop now with camera in hand to catch a photograph of something that catches my eye.

Have a good week and I'll be thinking of you when I see flowers this week. Connie

Lauren said...

Well Judy...you know how I feel about flowers!! Those gardens are gorgeous! Someday I hope mine will be as lush and dense...but in th emeantime I'll enjoy those fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing!!

Unknown said...

Judy,

Your flowers are so pretty. I too like taking pictures of flowers. Lovely!!!

Cynthia

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