Graceful Pleasures


While we've had enough rains to get things going...
we are hoping the Lord will soon, if He pleases, send more

in the meanwhile, a little bird told me...


we have ackees on our tree

in a later post, I'll tell you more of them
they are not a fruit to be trifled with and one ought to know this fruit before eating


and back to this wee bird which happens to be a baby smooth-billed ani...
and is just as cute as can be...
but, it is very unusual to see a lone ani, and most especially a baby, all alone
somewhere the others must have been close by
these birds are extremely close knit and even share nests and young ones together...
so I was a little baffled as to why it was alone



out in the kitchen garden...
I've got a few strawberry plants growing quite nicely...
and this one decided to delight me with some blooms


that can only mean one thing...
strawberry fruit
here's hoping the chickens don't get wind of it and try to fly over the garden fence for them



because we grow veggies in the kitchen garden which means cleaning out the old plants...
and renewing the soil for the next crops...
I prefer to keep my herbs in pots until we carve out an herb garden in the future
we live in a warm climate and because of this...
I can keep growing herbs all year and because of this...
when I plant herbs among the tomatoes and beans and cucumbers that play out their time...
too often an herb plant ends up in the compost pile when it should have stayed in the ground

the oregano are doing well in three separate pots


the bee balm is now flowering and although I read that it takes about two years to bloom...
these plants are only about 6 months old...
so I was pleasantly surprised to see them flowering

this is a plant that I would like to grow close to the bee hives


I understand they are named bee balm because honey bees love them

when the flowers are more prolific on my potted bee balm...
I will also use them in teas and salads



we've been eagerly running to the edge of the fence below the cottage to stare...
and all because we spotted avocados growing on the avocado trees
we love this fruit and can't wait to get our teeth into them

I've been trying not to look at them too often...
because it seems to make them grow slower, you know what I mean : )



and oh! please don't let me talk about the pineapples...


well, okay, I just have to let you know...


they are too good to describe, but let me try...


mellow, sweet, juicy, I think I got that right...
and they have been doing a great job of ripening one after the other
not too fast, not too slow behind the next...
so we've been enjoying pineapple every other day

and yes, we eat the whole thing at one time



and lastly, but not least, is the duranta plant doing a fine job of decking the cottage compound...
with it's glorious little flowers that the tiny butterflies do so enjoy the nectar of


Ah! but even better than these earthly pleasures is this:

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in Thy presence is fulness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11

May your day or night find pleasures ever more in the grace of the Lord.