30 Days of Gratitude - November 1st

I've gone through quite a bit with my health the last two years.  Fortunately, things seem to be under control and I have so much to be thankful for.  Join me in 30 days of Gratitude in November.  Maybe my posts will inspire you to share what you are grateful for too!

Today I am grateful for the last minute decision to stop at The Gardens at Catigny Park over the weekend after a fun lunch visit with our son, Jon. The weather was unusually lovely, for this time of year, and the roses seemed to be enjoying it just as much as we were.  Aren't they lovely?  The faded petals and rose hips really put on a show!

“The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.” -Anonymous

The Red Rose of Encouragement

A Single Rose to represent the support of friends - ©CindyRippe2013

During the installation ceremony at TOPS last month I was presented with this single rose.  It was part of a bouquet that represented the members of the group.  Even though it is strong, and is beautiful on it's own, it looked even more lovely that night as part of the bouquet. I look at it as a symbol of my promise to encourage and support the other members of the group. Tonight is the first time I will lead the members through the meeting since our chapter Leader is unable to attend.   The rose my reminder of the promise I made and will do my best to support the chapter.  I know that I've enjoyed the encouragement they've given me in the past.

I think this quote, by Deborah Day, "Encourage, lift and strengthen one another. For the positive energy spread to one will be felt by us all. For we are connected, one and all"

A phone call this afternoon reminded me again of the rose.  My friend, Kelly, called to check in on my progress with my design project.  It's a great feeling to have a friend with the same interests as you that is there to support and encourage you along the way.  We both enjoy a creative energy that seems to connect us in a way that no one else understands.  (And I really mean that.  There are times when no one else would understand what we are thinking and the energy our ideas create could probably light a fire.) I can only hope that I've been there to support her as well when she's needed it.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31

Valentine Roses with a Message

Roses with a Message for Valentine's Day ©CindyRippe2013

I love pink roses.  I've always loved them.  From the time I was a little girl, spent time at my Grandma's house, and thought of her as the rose expert.  She grew beautiful hybrid roses that she ordered in February from the "garden book". (Jackson and Perkins).  Even then my favorites were always the pink varieties. Since roses are well known as the flower of love I figured that Valentine's Week would not be complete without a post about them.

Don't you love this use of the crystal goblet with two tiny roses inside?  As part of a tablescape from the 2008 Chicago Flower and Garden Show it added a special, romantic touch. Very sweet, and graceful.  The quote from 1 Corinthians 13:13 is one of my favorites and was perfect to accent the image.

There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

I try to include a Language of Flowers description each month (for the flower of the month) and when I checked to see what the meaning is for the Pink variety of Roses. I was amazed to find a huge list of meanings (at the Language of Flowers site) for the many colors as well as for the varieties that are now available. Which is your favorite?

Rose Meanings by Color

Orange
Passion,
Enthusiasm,
Fascination

Peach/Coral
Appreciation,
Congratulations,
Modesty

Pink
Friendship,
Grace,
Admiration

Purple/Lavender
Enchantment

Red
Love

White
I am worthy of you,
A heart unacquainted with love

White (withered)
Transient impressions

White and Red (together)
Unity

Yellow
Happiness,
Affection,
Joy,
Forgive & Forget,
Jealousy,
Infidelity

Rose Meanings by Variety

Hundred-leaved Rose
Pride, Dignity of mind

Japan Rose
Beauty is your only attraction

Maiden Blush Rose
If you love me,
you will find it out

Moss Rose
Voluptuousness,
Superior merit,
Confession of love

Multiflora Rose
Grace

Mundi Rose
Variety,
You are merry

Musk Rose
Capricious beauty

Musk Rose(cluster)
Charming

Wild
Simplicity

Elegance and Flowers

©CindyRippe2013 - Elegance and Flowers - Bedding at the 2012 Chicago Flower Show

It was one of those "down" days yesterday.  When you don't feel well it's so tempting to just crawl in bed for the day.  Instead of giving in completely, I rested often while getting little jobs accomplished.  This is a photo I took of a display at the 2012 Chicago Flower and Garden Show. Yes, it's "over the top" and unrealistic for most of us but it was a great way for the company, Boutique Home, to showcase their elegant bedding and drapery.

I wasn't able to climb into a bed this elegant but I was able to add the things that comfort me when I'm down.   Tea, Pillows, Sketching in my devotional book, Girly Bling and Flowers.....it's always about the flowers for me. 

Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.  Mark 6:31 

Autumn Roses - Transitions - Family Caregivers

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  -- George Eliot

Mom's finally on the mend - Thank you God!  While we are happy that she is healing physically; the Dementia creates a new challenge to us as Caregivers.  Unfocused and forgetful, she needs a constant watchful eye to make sure she's eating, using her cane, not losing her balance and much more.  One minute she feels great and the next she's in really bad pain again.  It's part of the healing process and getting stronger, so it's understandable.  On the other hand, it's exhausting to keep up with her needs.  As usual we make it through the day by focusing on the positive (eventually...I never said I was perfect!) and relying on humor and faith.

The transition from a broken body to a healthy one can be filled with happy moments as well as sad.  This first day of Autumn makes me appreciate things while I still have them and try to anticipate the good things yet to come.  Mom's favorite yellow roses are sharing their last set of blooms this week as we will miss them!  I created a display that transitions the end of summer's flowers in one of the pumpkin bowls that I use to decorate for fall.

Happy 1st day of Autumn!

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.    Ecclesiastes 3:1

Nothing in Nature is Perfect - Family Caregivers

This whole experience as one of Mom's Caregivers hasn't been easy, that's for sure!  Each day (heck each minute!) can reveal a change in mood or health.  Things aren't perfect but we haven't given up and keep trying to do our best to help her to stay with us "in the moment".

Mom has always loved roses.  A trip to the Rose Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden this morning was good for both of us.  We were overwhelmed with the beauty of hundreds of thousands of blooms, in every shape and color.  All of the flowers were beautiful but as I zoomed in for closer photographs I noticed that on every blossom there was at least one imperfection.  I was reminded that even though there are things that Mom's done to hurt or confuse me, she still has her overall beauty as a person and I need to keep trying my best to see that instead of the imperfections of her disease. I also need to remind myself not to be so hard on myself as a caregiver.  I'm not perfect either! 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16

Linking to: Seeds of Faith and

Little Ballerina Bouquet

Little Ballerina Bouquet - ©Cindy Rippe 2012

Our 3 year old granddaughter, Isabella, takes ballet classes each week and just loves to dance.  As the date of her first recital approached we read her Ballerina book together. One of the things we talked about was how the dancers might get flowers after their performance. 

Well, we totally enjoyed seeing our first ballet recital and seeing Isabella's joy and excitement as she danced, hopped and skipped across the stage. I couldn't resist creating this little bouquet for her with mini roses, pink tulle, and a big white satin bow. We gave it to her after the recital.  She loved it and was so happy that her Momma, Daddy, and all four of her grandparents were there to see how much fun she was having.

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.  ~William Stafford

June Flower of the Month - Rose

Planter in my garden - ©Cindy Rippe - 2012

The flower for the month of June is the Rose.  Love and Beauty are the most common meanings for the Rose.  The specific meanings vary according to color if you want to send a hidden message like they did in Victorian times according to the Language of Flowers.

My grandmother "Grammy" became an expert at growing hybrid varieties that seemed so exotic to me as a child.  She put things like fish heads (eeeww!), egg shells, and coffee grounds in the ground around each plant.  The combination created the perfect soil I guess because the flowers were beautiful. Today you can grow low maintenance varieties like the yellow "KnockOut" brand I planted at Mom's. They bloom from May through November without much work or the need to add fish heads :)  I hope you take some time to enjoy the delicate beauty of your favorite color and variety and share the love with your friends and family.

Flowers are Love's truest language. Park Benjamin

Linking up to:

Sketching Roses at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.  ~Claude Monet