Thursday, July 21, 2011

Living in the Moment

I like to think ahead. While I'm busy in the now, I plan for the future. It's a delicate balance, this planning ahead. Sometimes you find your head so full of what's to come, that you can miss the beauty of now.
Like these lemony lilies.

 Or these fiery, orangey ones, (which, I'm not usually all about fiery orange, but these were on the $1 rack at the farmers market a couple years ago, and I am ALL about $1 perennial surprises in the garden!)
 Penny, this is as far as our tomatoes have gotten. I'm looking forward to the piles of red riches you are harvesting right now? See I do look ahead!
 I'm loving the bee filled squash blossoms
 And the hollyhocks in every shade of pink and red!
So what is all this talk of Christmas? BHG is sending my email Christmas gift ideas to make now.
I see Christmas fabrics in the stores and Tip Junkie is having a Christmas in July giveaway week, which, yes, I did enter to win a cute camera bag, but I won't think of it as a Christmas gift.
I dream of Spring and Summer all through the dark, cold days of winter.
So even though it is supposed to hit 100 degrees today, I may be hiding in my air conditioned house, but I'll be looking out the window as I sew at the garden. Watching the flowers bloom and the hummingbirds feast, and living in the warm sunshine of the moment.
How about you? When do you start planning for Christmas?
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18 comments:

  1. trishJuly 21, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Good Morning Kathy. :o)
    Your garden pictures are so pretty. I am so jealous for those tomatoes and squash! ;o)
    You know me and Christmas, I have been plugging away at my gift list. :o) If I don't start early, I am like a mad woman creating at the end of the year. No fun.
    Have a lovely day indoors! :o)
    Sincerely, Trish

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  2. PCovi July 21, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    Oh beautiful! Yes, by all means look at them from inside the house. We are all gonna burn today, that is for sure.
    Mama used to know a man that we'd visit who cross-bred daylilies. It was so interesting because when he came up with a new one...he earned like %10-20,000 each. He'd give her bulbs too. I need to ask her if she still has any that came from him. He commited suicide!!!

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  3. Lemon Lane StudioJuly 21, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    I was so overwhelmed and rushed last year that I am like you, thinking and working on Christmas this year. My goal is to have everything handmade finished by December 1st so that I can enjoy the season.

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  4. Blondie's JournalJuly 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Such pretty blooms, Kathy. I love the Asian lilies! Beautiful hollyhocks, too!

    I wasn't thinking of Christmas until I read this post!! I usually start my shopping in October. Although I don't give anything crafty as gifts, I like to stitch a few ornaments for the tree. I should start now while I am enjoying the lazy days of summer!!

    Stay cool!

    XO,
    Jane

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  5. camp and cottage livingJuly 21, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    I have already got a lot of ideas for Christmans gits to make.
    But you've got me thinking I should be getting started!
    Lovely lilies. Hollyhocks too.
    It's a breezey, yet sunny day here on the lake. Perfect weather really. I'm heading out on the deck to soak it all in!

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  6. Anita KehnJuly 21, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    I'll have to admit ~ I get weary with Christmas in July! I'm so busy with summer stuff and I want to enjoy each season as it comes. I'll start with Christmas in November. That's just the way I roll! I think it is important to enjoy the beauty of the now. Glad you pointed that out to us so we can take special notice as it IS easy to overlook the small things.

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  7. Jen KershnerJuly 21, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I am for sure hiding in my air conditioned house too and I plan to stay here until this weather breaks. I will leave only to gather my ripening plum tomatoes. Yum!

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  8. koraleeJuly 21, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Love hollyhocks...I think my new garden may have to have some! Thanks for sharing..happy weekend.

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  9. bjJuly 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    OOO, darlin'..I shop for Christmas all year long. With so many grands, I just have to do it.

    Wish I had some hollyhocks..I have ONE little tiny flower in my near-dead garden..one little bloom on my French Hollyhocks. So pitiful.
    I can get depressed if I talk about it so I'll talk about something else.
    I am anxious to see what all you are making for your shop...:)
    xo bj

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  10. Donna HeberJuly 22, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Hi Kathy,

    I just love your daylilies! It is so warm here today in the Northeast I'm not even thinking about Christmas yet. I hope to start my shopping in early September. Have a great day!

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  11. Mimi SueJuly 22, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    The older I get the more I know how important it is to live in the moment. It is a fine balancing act but so important to do so. Wish I'd learned that when I was a little younger. Mimi

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  12. People Who Know Me Would Say:July 23, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    I am a Christmas all year long girl. I shop all year for just the right thing for my peeps. :) And I like the reminders of the holiday I'm seeing in Blogland right now because I'm hopeful it reminds folks to keep Christmas in their heart all year long. I know, schmaltzy, but it's true.

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  13. UnknownJuly 23, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Oh, I so agree with you Kathy. Living in the moment is the best. I love your photography and my favorites right now are the daylilies. I just put some in my planter attached to my window box. I especially love the tigerlilies.

    Happy weekend. Karen

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  14. Red Rose AlleyJuly 23, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    Hello,
    I visited your blog today. I saw you on Imagery by Kimberly. Aren't Kim's posts wonderful? Your blog is so pretty, colorful, and charming. I actually have a similar picture of one of your flowers on a post that we did. I love the tea set you have shown. I have been taking time out each day to have a cup of tea. Me and my daughters just started a new blog, and we would love it if you could visit us and follow. I would really enjoy coming back to visit with you and seeing all your bright, creative ideas. Hope to hear from you, and have a sweet day.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  15. The Weathered PaneJuly 23, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    I still want to enjoy summer! Here in Alaska we're having an exceptional summer. I did notice that Joanns has Fall decorations out though.... and that doesn't feel very good. I usually start thinking Christmas in October but don't decorate until the weekend after Thanksgiving. Then it's woo hoo!

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  16. Manuela@A Cultivated NestJuly 24, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Your garden photos are lovely! I don't start thinking about Christmas until maybe October. I think it's crazy that stores (like Hobby Lobby) already clearanced their summer stuff to make room for Christmas decorations! I like to enjoy the season I'm in!

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  17. SherryJuly 25, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I don't want to think about Christmas until November!!! Mind you I am having a Christmas in July sale in my etsy but.... :)

    I get enough of winter and cold weather every year to last 100 lifetimes...I just enjoy being in the summer heat and all...I'll just deal with today and maybe tomorrow today and let the rest of it take care of itself!

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  18. Penny from Enjoying The Simple ThingsJuly 29, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Hi Kathy,
    I came back from my week in Florida to a whole kitchen full of tomatoes that Mr. Comforts picked while I was gone!

    I am now looking forward to planting some more veggie. I think I will try green beans again and see if I can get another crop before fall.
    xo
    Penny

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Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)

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