Aloe in the Garden

Have you considered planting aloe in your garden?

This is one of my favorite plants for the larger area landscape and also as a potted plant. I enjoy the long lasting blooms and the hummingbirds that are attracted to the aloe flowers. 

Benefits of aloe: Helps sooth burns, blisters, rashes, athlete's foot, acne, sunburns, it's a mild anesthetic, relieves itching, reduces inflammation, beautiful flowering and draught tolerant plant, moisturizer, post shaving gel, dermatitis aid. Aloe juice is also available at health food stores as a supplement.

Did you know that Aloes are considered one of the Fire Safe landscaping plants? They provide a defensible space of non inflammatory vegetation in the same way that succulents do.

A great plant to fall in love with!

Into The Heart of A Succulent

I love macro photos of plants, especially these succulents in my backyard. 

Photographing above the plants as if scuba diving gives an illusion of diving right down into the heart of these succulents where I am sure that complete bliss could be found.

In challenging times and difficult days I like to find gratitude effortlessly by just taking in beauty and allowing the visual senses to ease my mind.

"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul." Rabbi H. Kusher

So on days when concentration is just too much effort, then take a break and enjoy the moment in a passive way. Have you ever looked up something you love on Google Images? Images such as puppies, flowers, ocean sunsets, hugs, etc, etc, are sure to lift your spirits.

I wish you an amazing day and hope that you will take a moment to give thanks for the beauty in your surroundings and feel the peace that enters your soul.

Daily Gratitude

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Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful and appreciative. 
Finding time each day to add more gratitude can help to shift our perspective to a more meaningful day, a more meaningful life. I like to feel more gratitude by embracing the things I love and getting more of that love into my life. Author Marrianne Williamson writes that to have a shift in perspective is a Miracle. Isn't that the truth? Wouldn't you just LOVE it if some people in your life would have a change in perspective? Of course we all would, but it's not so bad for us either! That shift of an expanded gratitude can create more happiness and peace to our lives and others around us.
What brings you joy each day? 
These are my chihuahuas that make me laugh and teach me about unconditional love every day. 
I am thankful for these little life forms!

 My gratitude photos for today...

BELLA

CHULA

Bella and Chula

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LOVE CRAZY

I have been photographing the word LOVE for years.

Finding the word LOVE and photographing it in all sorts of places has become another gratitude booster for me. Always a fusion of joy when I least expect it!
As my "collection"of Love photos grows, so do my DIY crafts and gifts with them. 

Spray painted LOVE in an alley in Santa Fe, New Mexico

This one I wrote in the sand and created Valentine cards.

Winter Landscape with Color

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Vibrant colors and easy care make succulents and euphorbias fabulous winter plants in Southern California. Photos below come from my backyard today. All of these plants work well planted in pots with well draining soil such as cactus mix.

Potted succulents at my doorstep include the Black Rose Aeonium, Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe luciae) and Sedum varieties. These all make great container plants.