Sunshine

 Sunshine

Clear blue sky; the sun shines down

On you and me and all around

Glist’ning here and there like glitter glue

On my granddaughter’s picture that she drew

Colourful leaves are drifting down

Covering grass and all the ground

The white picket fence is brighter too

The house and shed looking like new

But sunshine makes shadows fall

Against the house, along the wall

Dancing branches, trees that sway

A royal show now on display

The shadows begin to lengthen

As the sun sets in the west

It’s bright- red widening glow

Leaves gentle warmth on my breast

(c) Beverly Nippard

     October 9, 2015

Be The Change

I just came across this stimulating article called The Funeral that I'd like to share with you.  It's most likely inspired by this quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi:

THE FUNERAL

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big sign on the door on which was written:

Yesterday, the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who  hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up.

Everyone thought: 'Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it, they suddenly became speechless.

They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.  There was a mirror inside the coffin; everyone who looked inside it could see himself.  There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:  There is only one person who is capable of setting limits to your growth: IT IS YOU!!!!!

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your husband or wife change, when your  company change, when your church changes, when your location change, when your money change, when your status change...

Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs.

Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses. Be a winner, build yourself and your reality. It's the way you face Life that makes the difference.

~Author Unknown~

Summer Days

When we were young, summer days were carefree

We were not bored with just watching TV.

Friends would come by; we'd play games in the yard.

Hopscotch or skipping rope, nothing too hard.

On sunny days we'd head for the river.

The sight of the water made us quiver.

We'd jump on the rocks until we fell in,

then paddle our feet or pretend to swim.

Some days we played with our dolls in the shed,

while other days we played softball instead.

Or go to the back woods, hike and explore;

I just can't say which of these I liked more.

Every two weeks a bookmobile came by.

We'd get excited as it would draw nigh.

And all too soon, you'd hear such a big sigh.

Time for school; how the summer has flown by.

(c) Beverly Nippard, June 2004

  

(PS  I'm the one riding the bike in the middle picture!)

An Irish Blessing

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.

May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.

And may happiness fill your heart  

each day your whole life through.

~ Irish Blessing

The Wonders of Fall

Coloured leaves on the trees
Slightly stir in gentle breeze
Some are floating to the ground


Rain droplets on the wood
Collect where planters once stood
Making little puddles now

Squirrels run along the fence
Going quickly hence to thence
Little chucks puffed out with food


Chickadees and sparrows come
To eat at their feeder home
Soon to migrate far away


Sombre skies give way to blue
And night skies are clearer too
Wonderful, mystical fall!


©Beverly Nippard, October 16, 2011

Photo Credit

I would like to thank my talented son-in-law for my new banner.  The picture is a view of Grand Lake from Sunday Hill in North West River, Labrador.

Also thanks to Nadine for finding this treasure and bringing him to join our family.  It was beautiful to have them visit us for a few weeks in July.  Of course, the highlight of the visit was Becca's 3rd birthday.  We had a family supper at the Jungle.

Clockwise around the table: 

 Trevor, Geoff, Nattie, beautiful birhtday Becca, Nadine, Grammy & Popper

Robin

This robin sits patiently on the fence waiting for my strawberries to ripen!

Which season is it anyway?

A look out the window suggests it could be winter, a look at the calendar says it is spring, but a look at my bloomin' Christmas catcus suggests....well Christmas! The signs of the times? One time we could tell the seasons by nature - the sky, the position and strength of the sun, the weather, plant life...well...good thing we have calendars to keep us on track!

The Happy Couple

Nadine & Trevor Harris

August 28, 2010

Weekly Cleaning List

For all you computer addicts out there:

The Family Grows...

In less than six weeks, Trevor Oliver Harris will become our son-in-law. He and Nadine will be joined in holy matrimony on August 28, 2010. We are all so very happy!

First Color of Spring!

The first color of spring in my garden is my sunshine yellow daffodils. Aren't they beautiful:

Children's Day

Did you know that today, June 1st is celebrated as children's day around the world? While it is not an official holiday, it is a reminder that we should set aside special times with our children daily. I'm so thankful for my children and the joy they have brought into my life. Not only have they enriched my life themselves, but they have brought friends, husband and especially my grandchild into our lives. Natalie and Nadine, I love you both dearly. You are both my pride and joy - priceless treasures :)

Trust

I like this poem. So many times we try to figure out where we should be or what we should be doing next. We simply need to trust in His leadership, listen to His voice and follow where He leads.



"It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

with these clumsy hands of mine."



"The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so esily,

But in my hands they die."



If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I have the wisdom

To unfold this life of min?"



"So I'll trust in Good for leading

Each moment of my day.

I will look to God for guidance

In each step of the way."



"The path that lies before me,

Only my Lord knows.

I'll trust God to unfold the moments,

just as He unfolds the rose."



~ Charlie Gilchrist

Mother's Day Trivia

Do you know what flower symbolizes Mother's Day? It's the carnation!

Carnations have been associated with Mother's Day for a very long time. According to Christian legend, a carnation sprang up when Jesus Christ's mother, Mary, shed tears of distress seeing her son enduring sufferings on the cross. Then in 1907, Anna Jarvis used carnations at the first Mother's Day celebration because they were her mother's favourite flowers. Anna Jarvis handed out 500 carnations at her mother's church, St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia - one for each mother in the congregation.

White carnations are used to honour a mother who is deceased, while red or pink carnations symbolize the feelings of affection for a mother who is living.

Just as I have for decades, I will pin my rose to my bosom as I go off to church this Sunday. Since 1997, I have been wearing a white rose.

Family Photo Update

Trevor, Nadine, Beverly, Geoff, Natalie

Rebecca, Wallace

See how we've grown?!

Family Photo

With the newest addition to our family, I thought I'd update our family photo!

Beverly, Nadine, Wally

Natalie, Geoff

Rebecca

Our visit to Oxen Pond Botanical Gardens

When we were in St. John's, Nadine and I took a few hours one afternoon to visit Memorial University of Newfoundland's Botanical Gardens, a.k.a. Oxen Pond Botanical Gardens by locals. After a shorter browse than I would have liked (grin) around the gift shop, and a quick glance around the indoor gallery, we ventured outside and walked some of the trails.

The gardens, on the edge of a dense boreal forrest, with poor, rocky soil, surrounded by peat bogs and fens are a delightful surprise in the midst of the city. The first garden we visited was a collection of plants used for medicinal purposes.

We continued on, snapping pictures of Newfoundland wildflowers that peppered the bogs and fens.

There were three trails of increasing intensity. The second trail took us to the duck pond where we fed the ducks with feed we had bought at the gift shop. There were only two ducks in sight when we opened the feed, but right away we heard the honks approach from the surrounding reeds and within minutes there were over twenty ducks at pond's edge waiting to be fed.




The third trail took us to a lookout with an incredible view of St. John's.



Of course, by that time, with the temperatures in the high 20'sC, I was poofed!

Thankfully, the trail was mostly downhill from there. We continued on to browse the greenhouse and more gardens.

These random pictures from the many we took that day, cannot begin to capture how beautiful, lush, colourful and breathtaking the garden was. As I stood there in the garden, I imagined myself in the Garden of Eden and pondered aloud to Nadine what it must have been like. We were amongst the finest collection of plants and trees in the Atlantic Provinces all growing in a natural setting. There were many different species of trees. I thought about the tree of life.

It made me homesick for heaven!

First Pictures of Rebecca

Some of you have been asking to see more pictures of Rebecca. This is Rebecca and I having a cuddle while she was still in the hospital. Isn't she gorgeous?!







Of course, once she was home she was still getting 'snapped up' in more ways than one. She had her own paparazzi following her around. Here she's resting in her cradle.

On my last visit before I came home, I just couldn't put her down. Her and I were having some quality time.

Ahhh laahhh....she fell asleep again before we could get the burps out. I miss her so much!

I'm a Grandma!

Please let me introduce our new granddaughter, Rebecca Emily Constantine, born Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 9:40 a.m., weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and stretching a whopping 19.25 in. Isn't she gorgeous!