It is never enough to simply sow the seeds for prosperity and abundance. Prosperity and abundance, like all things require care and attention for growth. When you nurture the garden the fruits of your labor appear in great abundance. Take the time to nurture every endeavour in your life. ~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Spring Flowers On The River ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Abundance can often be like the ocean, ebbing and flowing with the tides. When the tide is low, I seek to remind myself how quickly the tide can turn and bring with it the seeds of prosperity which planted will flourish and grow. Today, I look to the heavens and I thank the Universe for all bestowed upon me, with gratitude and confidence that I have planted the seeds. ~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Rough Legged Hawk ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Last Spring I put together this DIY Bird Station in my perrenial garden…

I took an old chair that I found at a thrift store that was missing it’s seat and attached an in-expensive pagoda shaped bird feeder to the chair with jute twine. The top of the bird feeder has a little twist on and off action which prevents squirrels from getting it open.

I used the jute twine to weave a bit of a platform for the bird feeder in the seat area of the chair and added branches to help keep the bird feeder securely on the chair and provide perches for the birds.

It was a popular hang out for the birds last Spring and Summer. The jute twine and branches have been refreshed for the season and I’ve added a piece of slate on the ground under the chair to keep stray bird seed from my garden.

The best part of the DIY Bird Station is that I can see it from my desk.

A few weeks ago, I took the old bird bath in the backyard and had it moved to the front, under one of the windows at my desk. I found a good sturdy branch among the downed branches in the yard and propped it up behind the bird bath as a perch. Last year I had a Cat Bird that enjoyed the metal tub I used as a bird bath, we’ll see how this does this year…

(Photos: c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

“Acceptance, tolerance and understanding are pivotal to any and all relationships. Today, I will practice these three skills towards everyone whom I meet and come in contact with. Today, I will acknowledge that it is not my job to fix or change anyone. Today, I will acknowledge that everyone is perfect, just the way they are.” ~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Summer in the Secret Garden ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

A short time after publishing my earlier post today, Live With Sorrow, I looked out of my desk window to check on my little yellow crocus that have been blooming sporadically for over a week now and found they had some companions… Some lovely white crocus had also bloomed.

As I hobbled down my driveway, camera in hand, I was filled with joy knowing that more of the crocus I had planted last fall were poking their pretty little petals out in the sun.

It’s true that the smallest and simplest things can fill our hearts with joy. For me flowers have always been a great source of joy. I spent 20 years working as a floral designer and although the long hours during the holiday seasons were rough, the work itself was always filled with joy. It never ceased to amaze me during those 20 years, that I could look at a bunch of white daises, or red roses, or pink carnations and find that one perfect flower that made me say, “wow.”

Joy is all around us… Even in times of deep sorrow, we must open our eyes to see, open our ears to hear and let it the joy flow into us every day.

(Photo: Crocus On The River ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

We wait with anxious excitement as Winter wanes, for early signs of Spring.

This Winter has been so unseasonably warm and we’ve had no significant snow what-so-ever.

Today I discovered the first signs of early Spring in my front perrenial garden…

Three little newly sprouted yellow crocuses:

I could see signs of more crocuses sprouting through the garden, that sorely needs to be cleaned up… Keep sprouting little crocuses… I look forward to your purple friends to show their faces soon.

(Photo: Yellow Crocus on Point Shore in Amesbury, MA ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey ~ February 19, 2012)

I finally added a new photo album of photos “In The Secret Garden” to my photo gallery. There’s still many to edit and add but I hope readers will check out the album here: The Secret Garden.

(Photo: Quan Yin In The Secret Garden ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

This luscious blue hydrangea blooming along High Street in Newburyport caused me to stop the car a couple of weeks ago…

(Photo: Blue Hydrangea ~ © Pamela J. Leavey)

I have been reflective of late…

Thinking about the process of weeding…

(Photos: In The Secret Garden, Newburyport, MA ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~~ Marcel Proust

(Photo: Black Eyed Susans ~~ © Pamela J. Leavey 2011)