IS SUMMER ALMOST OVER?
Here in the East in New England, USA, it has been a hot summer with intermittent rain storms, then a cool spell, but now once again we are getting some humid days. But looking around I notice the trees are already displaying their new coats in colors of red, orange, and yellow. They are a harbinger of what is to come – autumn or fall as some call this incoming season.
I’ve enjoyed the summer, cookouts on the deck, getting together with family and friends and wearing shorts and flip flops (which I never used to wear until last year, who figures? Flip flops – not shorts. LOL!) I only wear one kind though – Clarks. They are the most comfortable for me. No, I am not getting any kickbacks from them for saying this. Ha!
I’ve also loved watching my roses, dahliahs, hibiscus, marigolds, and Rose of Sharon bushes in all their brilliant and glorious displays of color. They are a joy to me. Here are some more photos I snapped recently to enjoy before they are gone until next summer. Sigh!
In the fourth photo down below is my mint plant. This plant and the hibiscus will be coming into the house for the winter after being cut back. The hibiscus will stop flowering right after being cut back but will continue to grow dark green leaves all winter long with an occasional flower. The mint plant is purely to keep little critters like mice away. It helps keep bugs at bay, smells fragrant, and also produces nice mint tea.
You can see how the colors of the Rose of Sharon blossoms are variegated from whites to pinks and purples. These bushes are amazing as they keep evolving in colors and textures, especially since they all came from the same mother bush that was originally violet but is now all white.
Here are some of the 17 Rose of Sharon bushes we have all over our yard, some in the front, along the sides and out on the side that faces the street. They are variegated in colors and textures. The mother plant in the lower left photo used to be a violet color but now has evolved into white flowers. It’s totally mesmerizing watching them each year as they continue to change in front of our eyes. Who can figure?! It doesn’t matter what color they are – they are all beautiful and bring so much joy to my days each summer as I wait in avid anticipation for the moment the first flowers bloom. God works his magic to delight me and make my days more fulfilled by all the beauty around me. I am thankful for his blessings. I hope you have gotten some pleasure out of viewing them.
I can’t believe the year is flying by so quickly. That’s what life is doing to me – flying by in the wink of an eye. As I add one more year to my life I feel the need to push myself more to complete all the things that I have on my bucket list more urgently.
Writing this year has been productive. So far I have published four books and have two more that I plan to complete before the end of 2018. Next year I plan to write at least 4-5 books also. I feel compelled to reach at least 40 books before He calls me home. Since I began so late in life to reach my dream to be an author, it is even more important for me to complete all my projects for my progeny to have to remember me by. I hope I make them proud.
Each year we travel to new places and return to some familiar places. This year we will be going to Aruba and next year to Greece. We have a few more places on our bucket list to visit then we may just sit back and enjoy our lovely home with our tropical fish and one beta named Red Robin (named by my two youngest grandchildren).
Thank you, readers, for stopping by to read my post. Please come back again soon.
REMEMBER: READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS.COM ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
Watch for two new books coming this year one for young children and the other one for middle-grade/PT/YA.
Visit Jemsbooks.com, Amazon or Bn.com for all Jemsbooks!
Reading is good for your health! Start reading and get healthy today! Please leave some love for authors by reviewing their books wherever you purchase them. We authors will love you back!
(All photos are the property of Jemsbooks aka Janice Spina.)
Blessings & Hugs!
Janice
Purchase Jemsbooks
JEMSBOOKS 
Hi Janice. I didn’t have any luck growing Dahlia. I have 5 hibiscus trees and they’re doing well. You Rose of Sharon looks beautiful. It’s still very hot in southern CA. It was in the 90sF.
Our Dahlias took a little while to grow but now they are doing well. Hibiscus trees love the hot weather and so do Rose of Sharon. I believe they are the easiest to grow though (Rose of Sharon). We just stick them in the ground each time we get a new offspring front the mother plant and it takes off as long as we water it enough. Thanks for stopping by. 🤗
Thank you, Janice. I’ll plant Rose of Sharon next spring. I have plants that grow well and I transplant the babies all over my garden also. 🙂
They are so lovely and easy to grow. They give me such joy and peace. hugs
I like the color of the flowers. I’ll plant them at the end of winter next year. You’re an inspiration. Thank you, Janice. When I think of you, I think of my tugged away children’s stories! ❤ xox
Aww, thank you. You are sweet, Miriam! Bring those children’s stories into the light and share! Love to have you on my blog when you publish one or more. Good luck! 🤗 xx
Yes, Janice. After I finish the the last bit of nitty gritty stuff for my poetry book, then I’ll work on the first one. I have several animal stories to write. They’ll be in the format of story, facts, and drawing. I was a little ambitious to do a vocabulary section in the back but I may not. When I was teaching, we do have books with 300, 400, 500, etc vocabulary for different reading levels. I may eventually do it because it was helpful to me as a teacher. 🙂 xox
Sounds good, Miriam. Bet of luck with your poetry book and the animal stories. 🤗 xx
With the transition of Create Space and KDP, I can’t be in a hurry. 🙂 xox
It sounds as though you’ve had a wonderful Summer.
I’m sure they’re already extremely proud of you. But I do hope you manage to make your goal of publishing at least 40 titles. You’re certainly well on your way to that.
Yes, it has been a good summer, Tori. Thank you, for the kind wishes. I hope they are proud of me and that I do get to publish 40 titles. 🤗
Your flowers are impressive. The dahlias in our garden arrived weeks later than expected this year, perhaps because of saltwater flooding in early spring. The hibiscus are big and blooming steadily. And the sunflowers are still reaching for the sky. My wife Christine describes the garden as her healing place. I’ll bet you feel similarly. Flowers recharge us.
Thank you, David. Yes, our dahlias took a while to get blooming too. I agree with Christine – it is a healing place when one looks at and enjoys the beauty of flowers! It’s a calming effect for me. hugs
Color already! Nothing here but a bit of burnishing on the dogwoods but with all this rain, we could be late. Hope some color is still there for our trip north in a couple of weeks. Where DID summer go?
My questions too, Noelle. Where did it all go? Sigh! hugs xx
Only the maple trees and the mums are showing fall colors here in the midwest so far, but the nights are definitely starting to cool off. I always love to see pictures of your beautiful garden.
I think your family should be enormously proud of the books you’ve already published, though I applaud your ambition to keep writing as long as possible. After all, age is a state of mind and it seems you are committed to keeping yours sharp!
Thank you so much, Amy, for your kind words. I certainly am trying daily to keep this old mind young and active. Yes, age is a state of mind exactly. I feel like a kid inside, not so much on the outside though! Ha ha! hugs
You are amazing, Janice, with all the books you are writing. Four to five in a year is a lot of hard work. Your garden is delightful.
Thank you so much, Robbie! hugs to you