LEST WE FORGET

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields. 

John McCrae

In memory of the thousands of ANZAC servicemen and women who have died in foreign lands.

ANZAC Day 

April 25th

Beautiful Monarch

This morning at 5:15 am a new monarch 

emerged from it's Chrysalis.

We had been watching it grow

 from a minute caterpillar to a very fat, 

yellow and black striped eating machine.

Then one morning, just a week ago,

 it spun a web and closed itself away in it's chrysalis.

It only took a couple of hours.

Just one short week later it emerged

 - a fully fledged, beautiful creation.

Such a quick transformation.

At lunch time today the residents where I work, 

set it free in the garden, 

where it attached itself to a Magnolia tree 

outside the dining room window.

It spent the afternoon drying and spreading its wings.

What a blessing.

Unfortunately my photo's didn't turn out 

so I've had to cheat and take some 

from the internet. I hope you don't mind.

Diana

Boston, Mass.

A hint of Autumn

I was taking a friend home from 

an appointment yesterday 

when I noticed all of the leaves 

that had fallen into the gutter near her place.

I love it when the leaves begin to fall.

Of course the temperature tends to fall with them, 

but it still very nice in the afternoons. 

Once the sun has come around a bit 

 it pours in through our lounge window. 

We are lucky enough to face north west.

When the grands were smaller 

we would go out and kick the leaves around

 and throw them at each other. 

Great fun!

One thing with the falling temps, 

I now have a valid excuse for hot puddings.

So later yesterday I picked the last of my rhubarb 

and stewed it and we had it with custard after tea.

Not a lot of colour in the rhubarb but it tasted good. 

I didn't have any cream or ice cream to go with it, 

but never mind - we enjoyed it.

Wishing you all a great week

wherever you may be.

Diana