I was given a Christmas Cactus by a friend four years ago. It looks pretty healthy, but until this past week, it’s never bloomed. Fellow blogger Busy Bee Suz who has a green thumb — which is something I lack — suggested that I move my Christmas Cactus. I moved it by the sliding glass door and a few weeks later it has two buds! How exciting is that?
While I switched from my 80-400 mm lens that I use to take Red and Mrs. photos to my 105mm Macro Lens, I took a few other photos. These were outside in the backyard.
We have three bougainvillea we planted a few months ago. They are thriving in the sun. In Palm Springs, we had bougainvillea that never took off. This is very encouraging!
Aren’t they beautiful?
Yesterday was my first day I managed to take a little walk post surgery. I was disappointed because my foot hurt in my tennis shoes. I had to wear flip flops with very little support. My foot is bruised and a little swollen so the tennis shoes rubbed my foot and were a no go!
It felt good to move around even though it was a short walk. My husband and I like to walk and talk. I shared a memory with him from my childhood. It was good to laugh together.
The Memory
When I was three and my brother was five, we went as a family to a church retreat camp staying in a tiny cabin in the woods of Washington. There were families from our Presbyterian church as well as ones from other parts of the state. Along with the small cabins, there was a meeting hall where we gathered as a group.
I remember sitting in the first row with my family, when the pastor asked if anyone wanted to share something with the group. My brother jumped up. He grabbed the microphone and belted out “Edelweiss” from the Sound of Music! I wonder what my parents thought? As his worshipping little sister, I was so proud.
“Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever…”
These lyrics were stuck in my head after photographing the blossoms above. That’s probably why I remembered this blast from the past.
We have lots of these cacti in our yard. They are only about three feet tall, much smaller than saguaro — although they look similar. I think they are called Cardon Cacti and they are spikier than saguaro cacti.
Do you have any silly memories to share from your childhood?
What would you have thought as my parents when my brother sang Edelweiss?
That bougainvillea is stunning!
Do you have hummingbirds in your area? I bet they’d love it.
Yes, we do have hummingbirds. They like the bougainvillea plus the honeysuckle. I’d love to get photos of them, but have not been successful yet!
Sounds like your brother turned your church meeting into a talent show.
Nice photos. Looks like your macro lens is doing a good job.
I laughed so hard at the memory of my brother. It reminded me of something my son would do. I have trouble with the macro lens. Most of the photos were out of focus, but a few turned out. I need to use it more often.
I love reddish flowers of any type. So vibrant! The story about your brother is hilarious 🙂
The color Red really stands out in our desert. That must be why I like to take photos of Red, too. My husband and I laughed so hard at the story of my brother. 😅
Your photos are stunning. Such bright colors.
I’m so glad you like them. I practicing with the Macro lens because I haven’t used it much. Except for my sea glass photos.
They are great pictures Elizabeth
Thank you! 💕
Most welcome
Wow, the cacti look menacing! Your brother is a sweet guy! Lovely photos, Elizabeth, your lenses do you well!
Thanks so much! The first photos of the Christmas cactus were blurry. I realized I needed to practice more with the macro lens, so I took it outside to practice more. My brother was such a nerd, but I thought he was amazing!
Cacti doesn’t handle cold well. I hope ours will return. I remember having a pow wow one night with a full moon and dancing around the fire with my brothers, and parents. We kind of just enjoyed the heat and the beautiful setting of the mountains with our enormous red barn in the background and the pond frozen over.
I think I escaped losing cacti this winter. Like I said, I didn’t bother with the styrofoam cups to protect them. I hope yours do okay. That sounds like so much fun, dancing around the fire! That’s a great memory.
Thanks, they may return. I think my parents were happy to leave the city of New York and make way for a new life. They were brave as native New Yorkers to buy a farm with lots of land, find jobs, and start anew in their early 40’s. I think all of us learned a lesson from them. Thank you. We had horses, cows, a bull, and goats eventually. It was interesting. I think they were ahead of the curve in reinvention.
It sounds like your parents were very courageous. How fun for you to experience city and country life. My dad graduated dental school the year I was born. He found a job in a small town an hour north of Seattle. We stayed there for my childhood, but started in the town and then mom and dad bought acreage in the country and built a house. It was somewhat of a farm. We had cows, sheep and chickens plus a huge garden. I loved it out there. After they divorced Mom had to sell it.
I hope it is still the same to reinvent yourself. I think now in your 40’s life has became more challenging with certain things but maybe it was also the same way back then and you just need the kick to get going. Speaking as an older person who has left my 40’s awhile ago. LOL.
I think you’re right that it is harder today than it was back then to reinvent yourself. It’s all due to the cost of living. I feel like we reinvented ourselves during the COVID shut down to leave California. That was a financial decision in our favor.
Sometimes you just do what you have to do and take a leap and it works out with a little bit of work, luck, and adapting.
So true!
Im sure I have silly memories. As a parent I think I would be touched because it’s such a beautiful song and the innocence of children will never be bad
Kids at that age are so open and innocent. I remember my kids going to confession. It was one where they brought in a bunch of priests and you lined up. My son said loudly about his three-year-old sister that he hoped she would “Stop schwearing and dad would quit yelling.” Everybody in our line laughed.
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Oh, how I love Edelweiss! What a sweet memory of your brother.
Your mystery cactus looks a lot like a young saguaro, so that’s my bet. 😉
I’m glad I thought of the Edelweiss story. Staying in a small cabin in the woods was such a fun experience it stuck with me. We did have our own cabin in the woods, but I was used to it. It could be a young saguaro. I won’t be around to find out! I looked up cactus that look like saguaro and cardon was one of several that popped up.
Good for you Elizabeth, already walking post-surgery! The blooms are extraordinary and I love the memory of you and your brother. Keep going…hugs, C
Thanks for the encouragement! I ran into one of my favorite neighbors this morning who has been through breast cancer, eye surgery and a car wreck where her car was totaled all in the last few months. She was out walking, too! What a courageous and inspiring person.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Edelweiss story 😅
I’m chuckling about your memory, Elizabeth! Hilarious!
Sorry about your foot in your tennis shoes. I hope you are back to walking the way you want in the morning soon!
Thanks Wynne! I hope to get back to my daily walks soon. I laughed remembering about that church camp. I don’t remember where it was. Do you know of any Presbyterian retreats?
Your bougainvillea is gorgeous! One of those things I won’t ever have here. My Christmas cactus gets loaded with blossoms around Thanksgiving. Guess it can’t read the calendar right! Great story about your brother.
Thanks! You’re fortunate to have a blooming Christmas cactus. Hopefully, mine will be blooming more.
Beautiful blooms and a reminder of how good a ‘walk and talk’ can be! Thanks, Elizabeth! 💝😊💝
Thanks! I’m anxious to be healed and be able to wear tennis shoes and have longer “walks and talks” with my husband.
I bet…annoying, I’m sure. For those of us who’ve loved our flip flops…for our whole lives…to find they just don’t do it for us any longer, support-wise? Gah. But I bet you’ll be back in any shoes you like before you know it. Big hugs, dear one! Big hugs! 😉💝😉
Thanks so much for the encouraging words about getting back into shoes! Flip flops are hard to walk in. I almost decided to put the boot back on to walk. Almost 😅
Do what works best for you! I’m sure you’ve tried FitFlops? They are better than the super flat ones…but a little clunky/heavy. Sending love! 💝
I have not heard of FitFlops. I’ll have to look into them. I have an assortment of flip flops including Sanuks that are made from yoga mats and so comfy. Not supportive though. Olukai which are more supportive and I have fancy ones in gold for going out. 😅 My daughter had me buy Teva’s for our Hawaii trip to walk on the beach and in the ocean.
Oh…well, then! Check them out. They are literally the best, most supportive shoes for my wonky heels and I live in the winter boots this time of year. Their flip flops are super sturdy and both Delaney and I love them the flip flops with a thicker sole. Good to ask your Dr. about them, too. Tons of styles and options, for sure. 😉💝😉
I ordered them from their online store. I can’t wait to get them. I will be sure to tell you what I think 🥰
Please do! xo! 💝😉💝
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Okay! I have black sparkly FitFlops ordered. 😃
Oh my goodness…I knew we were sole (wink!) sisters but geez…you ARE fast! I hope you like them. Let me know! xoxoxo! 😉💝😉
Sole sisters! I like that. They do look super supportive, which I need. 💕
They give me a nice spring in my step! 🥰
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Such pretty flowers. Thanks for helping me dream of Spring! 😊
Yes, walking and talking is something my husband and I like to do as well.
LOL at your brother! Love that song and I probably would have been laughing if my child would have done that. 😄
Thanks! My husband laughed so hard when I told him the Edelweiss story. Of course, he knows my brother so it makes it funnier. It’s beautiful today in the mid 70s. But tomorrow we’re supposed to get rain.
Reminds me of a story about my husband’s grandma. It was hymn sing time on a Sunday night. There was a singing group up front, and they were asking for requests. Well, she stood up and requested what she thought was a Country gospel song. Lets just say it was NOT a gospel song , but it did talk about heaven. 😂 My husband’s Aunt who had brought his grandma to the service was so embarrassed but she was laughing too!
That’s funny! 😄
We still laugh about it! 😂😂
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I love that your Holiday Cactus was inprired to finally bloom for you—I suppose we all need a change in scenery every now and then and then POOF: Inspiration. 🙂
I’ve never loved having bougies in our yard. I mean, they are gogeous to look at, but The Thorns! OUCH.
How sweet that your brother wanted to share the song with everyone. I love that!
Thank you for the advice to move the Christmas Cactus. It’s so gorgeous and fun to see a bloom. We had bougies in our house of 28 years that bloomed that was there when we moved in. But the ones we planted did nothing. I’m not worried about the thorns with all our cacti!
I really love bougainvillea, yours are beautiful.