Friday, May 2, 2014

Beauty matters....

Last week I gave Mother a bunch of tulips and unfortunately they drooped within a few hours...we tried the penny in the vase trick and poking a hole through the top where the bloom joins the stem but nothing worked.
Mother decided that she would simply display the blooms in a silver compote...
when we arrived at her condo tonight these gorgeous blooms greeted us.


I blurred the edges and enhanced the colour.
but they are equally beautiful in their natural state. 


Beautiful aren't they?


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...



Beauty makes all the difference...


"A tulip doesn't strive to impress anyone. 
It doesn't struggle to be different than a rose. 
It doesn't have to. 
It is different. 
And there's room in the garden for every flower. 
You didn't have to struggle to make your face different than anyone else's on earth. 
It just is. 
You are unique because you were created that way. 
Look at little children in kindergarten. 
They're all different without trying to be. 
As long as they're unselfconsciously being themselves, they can't help but shine. 
It's only later, when children are taught to compete, 
to strive to be better than others, 
that their natural light becomes distorted."

~ Marianne Williamson ~


I have been thinking a lot about beauty these days.
Beauty matters.

In spite of the bleak winter weather the garden is coming alive.
The flowers are budding...
the birds are singing in the morning before first light until the sun sets in the sky.
There is much to be thankful for in the day.
Those little bits of beauty that surprise us when we least expect them.
The flowers growing in the cracks of concrete by the seashore.
A kind smile from a stranger that you pass in the street.
Picking up the phone to hear the voice of your best friend...
the sound of the kettle as it whistles when it boils.
That sweet taste of tea from a china cup which brings with it a sense of joy.
Beauty matters.

These simple everyday things are never taken for granted...
the "attitude of gratitude" is the simply the most empowering tool that I have embraced as an adult
if you have never thought about it you might like to start now...
it will change your life forever and for the better.



Look for beauty that will enrich your days...
I hope that you find some beauty this weekend.

20 comments:

Madame Là-bas said...

I was having a conversation about gratitude and disappointment with my new travelling partners last night. A few weeks ago, I found http://tinybuddha.com/blog/stop-comparing-yourself-to-others/ which seems to express very well how we make ourselves unhappy through comparison
with others. Your tulip photos are lovely!

Pondside said...

Yes, beauty matter a great deal.
Beauty is there - everywhere. It's how we look and I believe we have to change our lens to see much of it.
The tulips are gorgeous!

Deborah Montgomery said...

My philosophy exactly. Dostoevsky said beauty will save the world.

LPC said...

Beauty is my drug of choice.

Jennifer said...

That attitude of gratitude is crucial to me being balanced and happy. Beauty is a balm for my soul as well. Gorgeous tulips. I didn't buy them this week...and now need them so at the market today... Enjoy your beautiful weekend. xoxo

Lorrie said...

Beauty is as necessary to my soul as water. I look for it everywhere. Your tulips are gorgeously rich in color and form.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

I totally agree and you can find so many beautiful things in the most unlikely places.

Pam said...

what a beautiful post...we take so much for granted; everyone is so busy and in a hurry these days; it certainly is wonderful when we can slow down and appreciate the beauty around us in the colors and formation of all the wonderful flowers that are blooming right now..thank you for bringing this tulip to all of us..Spring does not last long!!

Anonymous said...

Bash the bottom inch of tulips with a rolling pin to make them stand up. You can repeat the process on long stem tulips in about a week. Melissa

Jeannine said...

Wonderful food for thought. Thank you, Leslie.

Anonymous said...

A tulip brightens our path and soul
In passing they nod a friendly hello
Their visit is short, filled with colour
With an attitude distinctly mellow





Susan said...

What a wonderful post!!! I've been following you for a couple of years and have always enjoyed your blog and it's' many and varied subjects.....however, the simplicity of those pictures, the stunning beauty of tulips which may have so easily been discarded and your thoughts on gratitude, have left me with tears in my eyes!!! Never doubt your ability as a writer, observer of life and contributer of beautiful daily thoughts....you will touch someone, and they will be grateful to you. Thankyou from the other side of the world on a cold Sydney Sunday morning. X

kim at northerncalstyle. said...

Hostess, amazing tulips! Lovely words and inspiration. I also enjoyed the Chinatown post. You live in a very pretty city. Also hope you didn't let anonymous's comments get to you. I have been busy, but always enjoy stopping here and seeing what you are up to and how you make the most of each day!Your honesty are what I love about your blog. Have a good Sunday. xo Kim

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Hostess! I am not one to comment on blogs, this is only my second time but I just wanted to say how much I absolutely love your blog. I eagerly await each post and because of you I have dug out my copy of Simple Abundance to remind me of the simple things. It appears that Susan & Kim above me here, have expressed my feeling beautifully so I won't try to repeat them. But I would like to thank you for all the time & thoughtfulness that you put into each post. Have a lovely Sunday! Pam in Virginia

Bonnie said...

May I add this a beautiful post. Thank you for your wise words. Bonnie

Jen Lawrence said...

Gorgeous photos. We are promised beauty for ashes and I hang onto that thought very tightly.

Bmore Bungalow said...

What a great post! You are right the attitude of gratitude is life altering. It makes you more aware of all the great things around you, and turns a little into more than enough.

About Last Weekend said...

Your tulips - are they parrot tulips? photos are lovely. Tulips are wonderful - they're up and then down and all round, always dancing, have never heard that one about the penny, or the hole in stem. I am a cup half empty person and my daughter has sadly inherited it. In a way its good to observe her and realise I do the same thing, always summing up in the negative

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

They are parrot tulips!
I think just knowing that you are a cup half empty person will help you turn that around into something more positive. I have come to this positive gratitude attitude mindset during menopause and I wished that i had embraced it years sooner!

Rose L said...

I went to the Tulip festival here in Oregon not long ago and took lots of photos. You can see them on my blog in 2 recent posts! http://poetrose24.blogspot.com/
They are beautiful and colorful. They also have an iris festival, rose festival and dahlia festival.
My dahlia photos here: http://poetrose24.blogspot.com/2013/09/dahlia-festival-2013.html
The Iris gardens: http://poetrose24.blogspot.com/2012/06/schreiners-iris-gardens.html