Sunny Susy Good Neighbors

A neighborhood is only as great as its residents. I am fortunate to be blessed by many good neighbors!

A couple of weeks ago when not feeling my best, one of my dearest friends dropped by with a bit of sunshine which instantly cheered me up. I knew just where I wanted to hang my Black-Eyed Susan Vine and had even bought the hook from which to hang it. Unfortunately, I am too short to reach up there to do so.

"Sunny Susy" now hangs on my front porch—thanks to my good (and tall) next-door neighbor!

I often tell others about my great neighbors and the great little things they do for me and my dog Valentino. Do you find yourself sharing good neighbor stories with others?

Sometimes saying "Thank you!" just isn't enough for the sweet little things our neighbors may do for us. Now we can give them an award for being one of the good things in our everyday lives.

Two flowers poised side-by-side on the Thunbergia vine sharing their red orange sunshine made for the perfect picture for the latest design by abitosunshine.

(Note: click the award below to read my Haiku.)

Sunny Susy Good Neighbor Award Wall Decal
by abitosunshine

Go ahead, share a bit of sunshine with your good neighbors! And, don't forget to be a busy body rather than being one of those neighborhood busybodies.

Disclosure: As a Zazzle associate and as an Amazon associate, I may earn income from links in this article. Thank you for supporting my poetry and prose.

Bloom Where Planted Monday Musing

On our morning walks in the neighborhoood many a beautiful flower catches the eye of my dog and I. Well, maybe Valentino's nose!

This particular flowering bush, planted at the edge of a gravel parking place, seems to always say "bloom where planted" to me. But then I begin thinking of how my dog and I blossom just fine as a transplanted pair.

Capturing my dog Valentino standing before these beautiful flowers I just had to pen a poem in Haiku to go along with the picture. But of course, the picture poem then became one of our Dog Days of the Week from Dog Pawsitive Tidbits.

Blooming where planted
Beauty cultivated, or—
Blossoming transplant.
©Ruth Cox

Oh! If you know what this flower is, please let me know, for I haven't a clue. Thank you!

UPDATE: This appears to be a giant white hibiscus, not positive of which one, though, as there are so many varieties and colors of Hibiscus flowers.

We are attending the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party today at Mostly Blogging...Come grow with us!

Joyous Spring Crocus

As the hands of time are poised to spring forward an hour in the wee hours of the morn, I focus on the passionate purple and golden yellow crocus discovered on my neighborhood walk today. Ah—the joy of Spring grows near and dear!

My walk with my dog Valentino (whose nose made the crocus discovery for me while his focus was upon a scent trail of who knows what) assured me Spring truly is almost here. While I may not appreciate the loss of an hour as my clock springs ahead as I lay sleeping tonight, I am certainly delighted at the sight of the crocuses found blooming today.

To show and share my appreciation for this joyous sighting of crocus flowers, I penned a Haiku poem and created a picture postcard ... Enjoy!

Crocus in focus
Leaves a fallen mem'ry. Joy
Springs forth forever.

Joy of Spring Crocus Postcard by abitosunshine
Look at other Spring Postcards at zazzle.com

To me the crocus flower represents joy and passion in living. This first sighting of Spring crocuses has me appreciating the fact that my dog and I have survived our first winter in Ohio and we are both ready for the arrival of a spring in our step as we march forward ... Together. 

Meanings of Flowers

There is much to learn about flowers and their meanings, generally as well as personally.

Does the sighting of the first flowers of Spring mean something special to you?


Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and of Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

Moving Sound The Trumpet Flowers

Toxic Trumpet Flowers

Whether Brugmansia or Datura — Angel's Trumpets or Devil's Trumpets — make no mistake, these flowers are highly toxic to mankind and to pets and animals.

Why? you might ask, use my picture of the white trumpet flower to announce that I am moving. My answer, quite simply, is that finding these flowers while walking with my dog Valentino this week seemed appropriate as I find myself teetering on the fence of mixed emotions in reaction to this inevitable move.

Sound The Triumphant Trumpets

Feeling trumpet-like and quite triumphant, we are leaving Florida, leaving behind our living in a toxic environment. (Enough said!)

Taken aback by many tepid reactions to our move, I have remained tenacious in my efforts to make a new and improved life for me and my dog Valentino. I have dodged many a thwarted plan to realize a pathway to a non-toxic life for us. Neither the naysayers nor those who choose not to encourage me in this move shall thwart this plan.

Moving From Florida To Ohio

I now have a job waiting for me and I have rented a home for me and my dog. Sound the Trumpets!

O-HI-O Ruthi aka abitosunshine Postcard by abitosunshine

Yes, this triumphant feeling has me looking forward to a move back to Ohio, the land of my birth. This move is made possible by many who are supporting me emotionally and financially. For these friends and strangers I will forever feel thankful.

I shall forgive those who chose to add to the toxicity in my life, for it is my nature to love even those who have a funny way of showing it in return. I shall never forget those who are encouraging me across every mile. These are the ones who are the light of my way home.

To hell with the devils among us! I hear the Angel's Trumpets ringing loud and clear, singing their trumpet-like song for me and Valentino — Triumphant, together.

I share my moving emotions beginning with the letter "T" this week in the ABC Challenge, my feelings being TRUMPET-LIKE and TRIUMPHANT.

NOTE: This will be my last submission until I am back up and writing from my new home. I will continue the ABC Challenge of Emotions upon my return. This link-up will remain open for you to share the links to your emotional articles in my absence.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and of Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

An InLinkz Link-up

Get the InLinkz code for your ABC Challenge article.

Floral Scented Sip and Sing-Along

Sip on the scent and sound of musical finery in this floral scented song in haiku and charmed winery by abitosunshine.

Flowers in Haiku
©Ruth Cox

Floral scented song
Glass or bottle sarong, charmed
Sip-along lyrist


Charms for Bottles and Glassware
by abitosunshine

Bottle Blossoms Wine Glass Charms by abitosunshine

No doubt the offerings of poet and designer shall meet with our earth mother's approval on Earth Day as we link up with Noner Says for Wordless Wednesday.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Zazzle and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.