Winter isn't over, but Spring is on the way. You can begin planning now for a rose bed full of color. This summer you can reach for a fragrant, thornless rose whose vivid fuschia color begs for attention.
One of my favorite roses is the Zephirine Drouhin. Although I’ve seen rose petals served in salads, I don’t grow roses for food. But if this rose could taste as good as it looks, it would be 5-star-restaurant good. My husband planted this rose in an easily viewable corner of the backyard at our first house – and did it ever perform!
This highly fragrant, easy to grow, Bourbon climber is actually thornless, so it’s great on a porch or where children play. The canes can grow to twelve feet long in full sun and light shade.
Zephirine Drouhin has proven to be a repeat bloomer, and it grows well in zones 4-10. It’s disease resistant, but watch out for black spot. It may be a problem in damp conditions.
At my first house, our bush performed with spectacular color all over. And I’m not just talking about the vibrant blooms. The new leaves start out purple, but turn dark green. Again, this is one of my favorite roses.
This antique rose was bred by Bizot in France in 1868. It’s been turning heads for a long time.
Rear Window, 1954
James Stewart and Grace Kelly pair up in an unlikely love story. A photojournalist recovers from an injury incurred on the job and finds nothing more interesting to do than looking out the window. He doesn’t let his broken leg get in the way as he watches his neighbors in their daily rhythms. The woman who loves him comes to visit, provides meals for him, and helps him find out what’s happening on the other side of the courtyard.
Boredom, anonymity, a camera, binoculars, and a phone are what help him get closer to the mystery. His interest in the people he observes is stirred when things don’t look quite right to him.
Raymond Burr stars as the villain whose movements are being watched. Thelma Ritter is James Stewart’s nurse who comes to check on him and gets drawn into the secret observations.
According to IMDB.com, at the time Alfred Hitchcock directed this film, they were working in the largest indoor set built at Paramount Studios and brought the sun indoors using 1,000 lights. The apartments being watched had electricity, running water, and could be lived in.
Director Alfred Hitchcock found ways to draw out much suspense from his scenes. He once said, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
Boredom, anonymity, a camera, binoculars, and a phone are what help him get closer to the mystery. His interest in the people he observes is stirred when things don’t look quite right to him.
Raymond Burr stars as the villain whose movements are being watched. Thelma Ritter is James Stewart’s nurse who comes to check on him and gets drawn into the secret observations.
According to IMDB.com, at the time Alfred Hitchcock directed this film, they were working in the largest indoor set built at Paramount Studios and brought the sun indoors using 1,000 lights. The apartments being watched had electricity, running water, and could be lived in.
Director Alfred Hitchcock found ways to draw out much suspense from his scenes. He once said, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”
Blessing
While reading Psalm 24, I found a riddle of sorts. Verses five and six tell us that those who seek the Lord receive blessing from him. What’s the blessing?
Join me at Seek God With Me where today’s devotional carries a challenge and encouragement.
Join me at Seek God With Me where today’s devotional carries a challenge and encouragement.
Famous For Wisdom
When you pray for something that God wants you to have, you get it. God loves to hand out supplies and tools that will help us achieve our God-given goals. He helped Solomon lead his people by giving him the wisdom he asked for.
According to 1 Kings 1:43-47, King David gave Solomon the royal throne, the king’s mule, and even the company of Benaiah who had been in charge of David’s bodyguard when Solomon became king. Even the royal officials were congratulatory. They prayed that Solomon’s name would be more famous than David’s. Solomon didn’t pray for fame or fortune. He prayed for wisdom.
Solomon was given the gift of wisdom, but we have access to that same wisdom because we have the same God.
This reminds me of Mark 13:11, “Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” If you are obeying God and staying in close connection with him, it’s easier to allow God’s wisdom and words to come from your lips.
For more on Solomon’s wisdom, join me at Seek God With Me.
According to 1 Kings 1:43-47, King David gave Solomon the royal throne, the king’s mule, and even the company of Benaiah who had been in charge of David’s bodyguard when Solomon became king. Even the royal officials were congratulatory. They prayed that Solomon’s name would be more famous than David’s. Solomon didn’t pray for fame or fortune. He prayed for wisdom.
Solomon was given the gift of wisdom, but we have access to that same wisdom because we have the same God.
This reminds me of Mark 13:11, “Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” If you are obeying God and staying in close connection with him, it’s easier to allow God’s wisdom and words to come from your lips.
For more on Solomon’s wisdom, join me at Seek God With Me.
Limelight, 1952
Calvero, an out-of-work clown, finds a suicidal woman and tries to save her life. He gets help from a doctor and feeds the young woman until she gets back on her feet. When he asks questions, she eventually answers and admits her past. She tells him the story of meeting a musician years ago. The musician was poor, so she helped him at the expense of her employer. Her kindness to him got her fired, and she never saw him again.
The clown finds out the young woman is a ballerina. After a full recovery, she gets a job in the ballet, tries out for the lead role, and gets it. She meets the musician she was fired for helping because he now works as the piano player for the ballet.
Calvero loves the ballerina and can see that the musician loves her too. He realizes that he’s just an old has-been clown and the musician is more her age. She must decide between them. The ballerina’s interest in Calvero isn’t logical to onlookers, but she doesn’t see beauty or age in men. She only has eyes for her clown.
One of the great moments of the film is a comedy bit featuring Calvero and his partner who was played by Buster Keaton. Keaton has trouble with a piano as he prepares to accompany Calvero.
The enormously talented cast included Claire Bloom as the ballerina and Charles Chaplin as Calvero, the clown. The musician was played by Sydney Chaplin in his film debut. Sydney, the son of Charles Chaplin, won a 1957 Tony Award for his work in “Bells Are Ringing” with Judy Holliday. Charles Chaplin’s younger children make a cameo appearance in the beginning of the film.
I really loved the story, which was Chaplin’s final American film. The story and screenplay were written by Charles Chaplin. The music was written by Charles Chaplin. It was also directed by Charles Chaplin.
Chaplin once remarked, “Figuring out what the audience expects, and then doing something different, is great fun to me.”
Limelight was nominated for the BAFTA Award Best Film from any Source in 1953. But it wasn’t until the film released in Los Angeles in 1972 that it was finally eligible for an Academy Award. Chaplin, along with Ray Rasch and Larry Russell, won a 1973 Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score.
The clown finds out the young woman is a ballerina. After a full recovery, she gets a job in the ballet, tries out for the lead role, and gets it. She meets the musician she was fired for helping because he now works as the piano player for the ballet.
Calvero loves the ballerina and can see that the musician loves her too. He realizes that he’s just an old has-been clown and the musician is more her age. She must decide between them. The ballerina’s interest in Calvero isn’t logical to onlookers, but she doesn’t see beauty or age in men. She only has eyes for her clown.
One of the great moments of the film is a comedy bit featuring Calvero and his partner who was played by Buster Keaton. Keaton has trouble with a piano as he prepares to accompany Calvero.
The enormously talented cast included Claire Bloom as the ballerina and Charles Chaplin as Calvero, the clown. The musician was played by Sydney Chaplin in his film debut. Sydney, the son of Charles Chaplin, won a 1957 Tony Award for his work in “Bells Are Ringing” with Judy Holliday. Charles Chaplin’s younger children make a cameo appearance in the beginning of the film.
I really loved the story, which was Chaplin’s final American film. The story and screenplay were written by Charles Chaplin. The music was written by Charles Chaplin. It was also directed by Charles Chaplin.
Chaplin once remarked, “Figuring out what the audience expects, and then doing something different, is great fun to me.”
Limelight was nominated for the BAFTA Award Best Film from any Source in 1953. But it wasn’t until the film released in Los Angeles in 1972 that it was finally eligible for an Academy Award. Chaplin, along with Ray Rasch and Larry Russell, won a 1973 Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score.
A Famous Fighter
Benaiah was known for being a great fighter. He could be described as crazy if he were in a Hollywood war movie. But he was real, so we won’t say crazy. We’ll say courageous.
He jumped into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. I haven’t studied enough to find out why he decided to get into the pit, but apparently Benaiah saw that the lion needed to be shut down. Maybe someone else fell into the pit and needed to be rescued. Lots of people have killed lions, but I don’t think Benaiah stood far off and used a powerful gun. I’m pretty sure he was a lot closer than I’d ever want to be. I can’t imagine being trapped in a pit with a lion licking his chops. I’d be terrified and slipping around in muddy snow, trying to get out.
Benaiah was known for being a defender of his people. A true hero. To find out more about this famous warrior, visit Seek God With Me. Or you can you can open your Bible and read about him in 1 Chronicles 11:22-25.
He jumped into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. I haven’t studied enough to find out why he decided to get into the pit, but apparently Benaiah saw that the lion needed to be shut down. Maybe someone else fell into the pit and needed to be rescued. Lots of people have killed lions, but I don’t think Benaiah stood far off and used a powerful gun. I’m pretty sure he was a lot closer than I’d ever want to be. I can’t imagine being trapped in a pit with a lion licking his chops. I’d be terrified and slipping around in muddy snow, trying to get out.
Benaiah was known for being a defender of his people. A true hero. To find out more about this famous warrior, visit Seek God With Me. Or you can you can open your Bible and read about him in 1 Chronicles 11:22-25.
Seaside Letters by Denise Hunter
This book is another heart-grabber from Denise Hunter. She can really tug at a reader’s emotions. As usual, she's written a great hero and plenty of conflict. There are surprises, vocabulary competitions, and kisses. I enjoyed the hero's journey to win the heroine’s heart.
Tucker McCabe is interested in a woman who communicates with him over the internet. He sees Sabrina in the mornings when he goes to the café to get coffee. When he asks Sabrina to help him with a project, he intends to get information out of her – without giving away his secret.
Sabrina has secrets of her own. She has information that keeps her from getting close to Tucker. She can’t fall in love with him, she won’t let herself.
I loved the tension between Tucker and Sabrina. Both of them wanted to be together, but couldn’t. I also loved that Sabrina was helping out the novelist in the novel.
Denise Hunter can roll out a setting that contains many opportunities for conflict and beauty. You know there will be a happy ending, but you don’t know how the characters will find their way to it.
I’ve always been thrilled with this author’s books. I recommend them highly.
Tucker McCabe is interested in a woman who communicates with him over the internet. He sees Sabrina in the mornings when he goes to the café to get coffee. When he asks Sabrina to help him with a project, he intends to get information out of her – without giving away his secret.
Sabrina has secrets of her own. She has information that keeps her from getting close to Tucker. She can’t fall in love with him, she won’t let herself.
I loved the tension between Tucker and Sabrina. Both of them wanted to be together, but couldn’t. I also loved that Sabrina was helping out the novelist in the novel.
Denise Hunter can roll out a setting that contains many opportunities for conflict and beauty. You know there will be a happy ending, but you don’t know how the characters will find their way to it.
I’ve always been thrilled with this author’s books. I recommend them highly.
The Philadelphia Story, 1940
When a woman decides to get married for the second time, her ex-husband shows up to throw a wrench in the works.
Katharine Hepburn stars as a bride-to-be from a family who doesn’t want the limelight. She joins Cary Grant and James Stewart in this elegant story of love. I noticed how often characters drag their feet, but not literally. They do what they’re supposed to, when they’re supposed to. It’s the why that makes the story happen.
Everyone is running from something or to something. The bride-to-be has more than one man after her, and even the female photographer is chased by a man. Can it be that there’s more to the story than love? Or is it love that motivates people to do what they do?
If I had ever seen this movie, I’d forgotten so much of it that it seemed like a new story to me. I love Cary Grant movies, James Stewart movies, and Katharine Hepburn movies. So of course I enjoyed this one. The characters have little quirks that make them human and wonderful.
Katharine Hepburn stars as a bride-to-be from a family who doesn’t want the limelight. She joins Cary Grant and James Stewart in this elegant story of love. I noticed how often characters drag their feet, but not literally. They do what they’re supposed to, when they’re supposed to. It’s the why that makes the story happen.
Everyone is running from something or to something. The bride-to-be has more than one man after her, and even the female photographer is chased by a man. Can it be that there’s more to the story than love? Or is it love that motivates people to do what they do?
If I had ever seen this movie, I’d forgotten so much of it that it seemed like a new story to me. I love Cary Grant movies, James Stewart movies, and Katharine Hepburn movies. So of course I enjoyed this one. The characters have little quirks that make them human and wonderful.
A Famous Leader
Today on my devotional blog, Seek God With Me, I’m sharing my thoughts on the famous leader of David’s three mighty fighting men. If you think I mean David, you’re wrong.
To find the name of this famous leader, you can either read 1Chronicles 11:20-21 or 2 Samuel 23:18-19 or you could read the blog post.
To find the name of this famous leader, you can either read 1Chronicles 11:20-21 or 2 Samuel 23:18-19 or you could read the blog post.
Romantic Roses: Audrey Hepburn
When a rose is named after a woman, you automatically think the woman must be beautiful. I don’t own this rose, but just knowing it’s named after one of the world’s most beautiful women makes me like it.
Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, many roses were named for Hollywood celebrities. Audrey Hepburn was chosen as the name of a graceful and elegant Hybrid Tea rose introduced in 1991. This flower is a showy swirl of soft pink petals unfolding from the shy center. If you grow this rose in cooler climates, you’ll find the petals are more of a pink color. In warmer climates, the rose is much lighter, almost creamy-white.
This moderately fragrant rose is not easy to find. It’s tender and doesn’t do well in severe cold. However when new canes appear after the winter dieback, blooms repeat until the cold returns.
Audrey Hepburn, the actress, must have loved flowers. She starred in an Emmy-winning video series for PBS in 1990s called Gardens Of The World With Audrey Hepburn where she visited more than 50 gardens around the world, making comments and reading poetry.
Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, many roses were named for Hollywood celebrities. Audrey Hepburn was chosen as the name of a graceful and elegant Hybrid Tea rose introduced in 1991. This flower is a showy swirl of soft pink petals unfolding from the shy center. If you grow this rose in cooler climates, you’ll find the petals are more of a pink color. In warmer climates, the rose is much lighter, almost creamy-white.
This moderately fragrant rose is not easy to find. It’s tender and doesn’t do well in severe cold. However when new canes appear after the winter dieback, blooms repeat until the cold returns.
Audrey Hepburn, the actress, must have loved flowers. She starred in an Emmy-winning video series for PBS in 1990s called Gardens Of The World With Audrey Hepburn where she visited more than 50 gardens around the world, making comments and reading poetry.
Famous Mighty Men
Why do some people become famous?
Some people become famous because of who they are, and some because of what they do. Today on my devotional blog Seek God With Me, I’ll take a look at three mighty fighting men and what they did that made them famous.
It only takes a decision to act to make someone stand out. These three men were heroes because of their decision to support their leader and serve him in a way that was unexpected.
How do you serve others in unexpected ways?
Some people become famous because of who they are, and some because of what they do. Today on my devotional blog Seek God With Me, I’ll take a look at three mighty fighting men and what they did that made them famous.
It only takes a decision to act to make someone stand out. These three men were heroes because of their decision to support their leader and serve him in a way that was unexpected.
How do you serve others in unexpected ways?
The Category of Appearance
My husband and I were talking about how men and women differ. He said, in the category of appearance, women judge each other and men don’t. He’s seen one woman give another woman a once-over glance when she walked into the room. Then she gave a look that said she was satisfied she’d won that beauty contest. In his opinion, women wear makeup and get cosmetic surgery not for men, not for themselves, but in competition with other women.
Then he explained that men don’t act that way with each other. They’ll compete in sports or even gadget ownership, but not in looks. Men will stand around, with their bellies hanging over their belts, discussing the topic of the moment. When a beautiful woman walks by, she may or may not notice the smiling men with their bellies tightly sucked in. For some guys, that’s about the extent of work they’re willing to do to improve their appearance -- for anyone.
Now don’t get me wrong. My husband’s not a slob. His appearance has kept my attention for well over twenty years. Charming as he may be, he’s also very smart. He's decided to change a few things about his normal eating routine. And of course, I’ll join him.
I think that’s what a lot of people do at the beginning of every year. We take a glance back at our last twelve months and find that we need a new normal.
For me a new normal means work. I have the nutritional knowledge and exercise DVDs that it’s going to take to turn my comfortable world upside down. And I’m going to do it.
It won’t be for men, and it won’t be in competition with other women. I’ll do it for my health. I want to be around to play with my grandchildren, if I get to have any. I want to be healthy enough to enjoy my 50th wedding anniversary, if I have one. I want the freedom to go to the beach or the pool without being embarrassed because I don’t like how I look.
I’m doing this for me.
Then he explained that men don’t act that way with each other. They’ll compete in sports or even gadget ownership, but not in looks. Men will stand around, with their bellies hanging over their belts, discussing the topic of the moment. When a beautiful woman walks by, she may or may not notice the smiling men with their bellies tightly sucked in. For some guys, that’s about the extent of work they’re willing to do to improve their appearance -- for anyone.
Now don’t get me wrong. My husband’s not a slob. His appearance has kept my attention for well over twenty years. Charming as he may be, he’s also very smart. He's decided to change a few things about his normal eating routine. And of course, I’ll join him.
I think that’s what a lot of people do at the beginning of every year. We take a glance back at our last twelve months and find that we need a new normal.
For me a new normal means work. I have the nutritional knowledge and exercise DVDs that it’s going to take to turn my comfortable world upside down. And I’m going to do it.
It won’t be for men, and it won’t be in competition with other women. I’ll do it for my health. I want to be around to play with my grandchildren, if I get to have any. I want to be healthy enough to enjoy my 50th wedding anniversary, if I have one. I want the freedom to go to the beach or the pool without being embarrassed because I don’t like how I look.
I’m doing this for me.
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