Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Pray for Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina & Tennessee as they try to recovery from Hurricane Helene. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Liriope muscari is commonly referred to as big blue lilyturf, lilyturf, border grass, and monkey grass. It has grass-like evergreen foliage and lilac-purple flowers which produce single-seeded berries on a spike in the fall.
It is late summer here, however, these Big Blue Lilyturf can be spotted around all over the city in landscape manicured gardens. They are one of the few plants in bloom right now besides the varieties of Crape Myrtle.
Being an easy plant to grow, landscapers tend to use the Liriope muscari as groundcover for borders along sidewalks, trails, driveways, shrubbery, and trees. It is one of the most popular groundcovers in the southeastern United States.
The Apotheosis of Washington is located in the eye of the U.S. Capital Building’s Rotunda in Washington D.C.. It was painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865. The painting depicts George Washington rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame and surrounded by six groups of figures.
The Apotheosis of Washington was painted in the true fresco technique. Constantino Brumidi was born and trained in Rome; having already painted in the Vatican and Roman palaces prior to emigrating to the United States in 1852. He was a master of creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms and figures on flat walls. He painted frescoes and murals throughout the Capitol from 1855 until his death.
The Apotheosis of Washington, was painted in eleven (11) months at the end of the civil war. A rainbow arches at George Washington’s feet and thirteen maidens symbolizing the original states flank the three central figures.
George Washington, The United States of America’s first president, had a substantial impact on the nation. He never actually graced the halls of the United States Capital, however, his presence, influence, and his likeness is everywhere. There are approximately thirty-five (35) pieces of art which include Washington’s likeness in the U.S. Capitol.
This was one of the many stops on my parents cross country vacation during the summer of 1985. They visited The Smithsonian Institution Building on their Washington D. C. Tour.
The Smithsonian Institution Building is Aka Smithsonian Castle, The Castle
The Castle was the first Smithsonian Building. It was designed by architect James Renwick Jr. and built between 1847 and 1855 to house the Smithsonian Institution, which was established by Congress in 1846. It was designed in the Norman Revival style, which combines late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs. It is made up of Seneca red sandstone from the Seneca Quarry in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Close Up of Joseph Henry Statue
The Joseph Henry Statue is located at the entrance of the Smithsonian Institution Building, or “Castle.” Joseph Henry was the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878. The bronze statue of him was commissioned in 1880 and installed in 1883. At its installation it faced the Smithsonian Building (The Castle.) In 1965, the bronze statue was turned to face the National Mall.
Girasol Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
The ‘Titan’ sunflower, as the name suggests, is a giant annual sunflower variety with an extra thick stem, supporting huge, alternating leaves, and a massive flower head that can reach 16-22 inches across! Plus Titan sunflowers can grow to heights of 12-14 feet! Blooms from July to September. Sunflowers attract a myriad of pollinators including bees, birds, butterflies and many others as well.
Lemon daylilyYellow daylilyHemerocallis lilioasphodelus grows in big, spreading clumps, and its leaves grow to 75 cm (30 in) long. Its scapes each bear from 3 through 9 sweetly fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers.
Lantana camara, commonly known as lantana or shrub verbena, is native to Central and South America but has naturalized in much of the southeast United States.
Do you think the eyes being the windows to the soul are only for humans? Have you ever really looked into a horse’s eyes? What do you see? One can tell a lot about a horse by looking into the eyes. You can see his/her strength, calmness, his playfulness, gentleness, and/or her steadfast heartbeat.
Do you see yourself in the horse’s eyes? Does the horse see you as playful, gentle, generous, knowledgeable. and a kind calm steadfast friend?
Horses can sense the type of person you are. They can tell whether you are frustrated, stressed, or irritable. They can also tell whether you are relaxed, calm, trusting, playful, and/or friendly. Horses can sense your mood and respond accordingly.
“The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reflect everything that seems to be hidden; and like a mirror, they also reflect the person looking into them.”
The horses my grandson, Cole, and I visit at the Greenway can sense our love for them. They respond to his friendliness and calm loving manners. Sometimes they approach much closer than we expect, knowing they will receive gentle loving attention and affection.
I see their strength, their gentleness, their trusting spirit, and their responsiveness to our hearts and our touch. I also see the reflections of the beauty surrounding them within the Greenway. I can also see the reflection of myself in their eyes.
Location: Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Sending y’all my birthday wishes of happiness, good health, peace, and an abundance of love throughout 2024 and beyond. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good or Bad Luck? According to Norse mythology, finding a double-yolk egg is very bad luck. That bad luck is said to result in a relative’s life coming to an end very soon. ( I hope I do not receive bad luck after cracking a double-yolk egg this morning when I was fixing my breakfast.)
I would hope I would have good luck instead. In some beliefs a double-yolk egg signifies good luck, and may symbolize prosperity and abundance. It can also indicate nourishment for your journey and the strength to preserve until you reach success.
In Chinese folklore and Islam, finding a double-egg yolk is stated to denote good luck, increased finances, and good fortune coming your way.
In Christianity, double-yolk eggs can symbolize new life, rebirth, or that life is about to change. That change can be a positive change whether in gaining or losing something or someone. Losing someone or something that has been toxic for you would be a positive change. Often in life we encounter changes in our lives. Embracing change can help us remember that Christ is always there to guide and protect us.
God Bless. May your life be filled with prosperity, positivity, and happiness. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.