Friday, June 26, 2015

Five on Friday

"It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary."

Paulo Coelho

Thankful for my little balcony garden where doves find respite.  I enjoy watching through the window as they eat from the plants and drink from the bowl of water I've placed in one of the pots.
It's also Jingles favorite spot for relaxing and exploring.
I'm always delighted to find volunteer plants growing, even if some people consider them weeds.  The one on the right is called common purslane and grows wild here.  It is used in salads or as a side green and provides 6 times more Vitamin E than spinach and 7 times more beta carotene than carrots.  It is also high in Vitamin C and other vitamins as well as an essential omega-3 fatty acid called alphalinolenic acid.  Not bad for a little wild weed.  
Anything that's green is allowed to grow in my garden and is especially appreciated when it has pretty little flowers.
I've gathered together some of my cotton yarn with plans to crochet some colorful potholders today.
And I'm reading The Alchemist right along with my husband.   I started it years ago but never finished it even though I enjoyed it immensely.  Ironically, someone recommended it to my husband yesterday and insisted it was a must read so he came home with a different release of it.  He's already 15 pages in and loves it.

So that's my five.
Enjoying, relaxing, delighting, crocheting, reading.
Sharing with Amy for Five on Friday.
Have a fabulous day!

20 comments:

Aishwarya said...

Hi Tammy

So sweet of you .... To let the weed volunteers grow in your garden.

I love reading Paulo Coelho books. Have read The Alchemist. He wanders off into far away land taking you along :)) Ha ha.

Linda said...

I'll have to look up that book, though I have several unfinished ones at present. Maybe I'll actually bring one of the books with me and finish it on our upcoming Colorado vacation as that's when I seem to always read in the summer - during the nights on vacation when I retreat to our room to get away from all of the kids after spending so many hours of the day with them! ;)

Happy Friday. Hope you're enjoying a nice weekend.
Linda

~*~Patty S said...

That quote says it all doesn't it ~♥~ life is so full of little surprises everywhere we turn.
This post is lovely Tammy.
We were watching our mourning doves which look the same as yours last evening as they seemed to lean into the birdbath taking long drinks of water and chasing one another around the garden.
That is a wonderful read...a book worth reading more than once.
Happy Weekend to you and yours
oxo

Maya Kuzman said...

I read the Alchemist years ago and couldn't put it down until the end. I got hook up on Coelho's work since then. You are going to like it! Have a fantastic weekend!

linda said...

A lovely five Tammy, I think it's great that you can watch Doves on your balcony, I have so many weeds in my garden right now I have never let them get this far but now they are flowering and I think they are beautiful so I'm going to let them stay. Have a happy crocheting weekend. :)

Amy at love made my home said...

That is so funny about your husband coming home with the same book that you are reading! I hope you both enjoy it and can enjoy comparing notes when you get to the end. Always lovely to have volunteer plants that you are happy to see isn't it! Hope you enjoy your crocheting! I love that yellow! Thank you so much as always for joining in. I hope that you are having a great weekend! xx

Mereknits said...

I love that you are reading the book together, lots to talk about I am sure. Have a wonderful day Tammy.
Meredith

Lorrie said...

I couldn't get into The Alchemist at all and finally gave the book away without finishing it. Most unusual for me.
Purslane - I'm encouraging it in my garden these days to add to salads.
Have a good weekend.

Crimson Kettle said...

Lovely photos especially Jingles! I used to have a budgie called Jingle. Have fun :-)

eclectichomelife said...

How true is your opening quote, but sometimes we forget and need to be reminded. I loved the Alchemist, hope you both finish it and do too x

Gracie Saylor said...

I admired your dove, kitty, volunteer plants, and yarn plans, Tammy, and hope that you and yours have a happy weekend :)

Serena Lewis said...

I've often wondered why certain people deemed some plants as weeds. Some weeds are quite pretty and we all know how hardy they can be. :)

I love your blog, Tammy! Always so positive and inspiring. After a very difficult year where my life has changed so dramatically, I really want to get back into blogging regularly. I miss it terribly!

Jingles is as cute as ever.

I'll look forward to seeing your pot holders finished.

I've never read The Alchemist but I've heard people will either love it or hate it.

Enjoy a beautiful and safe weekend, my friend. xo

Teresa Kasner said...

You are such a wonderful woman to provide water and haven for the wild doves. I look forward to seeing what you make with your cotton. Enjoy your read. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,
That is also my credo, as long as it is green in the lawn, it can be mowed. One cannot be too fussy in a garden and yes, some weeds ought to be admired. Always we must realize that some countries weeds are an other countries room plants being sold in pots!
You do well in reading, crocheting and enjoying the little things. Stay safe and sending you all hugs and blessings.
Mariette

September Violets said...

Your balcony is quite the wild retreat these days ;) Enjoy your crocheting and reading together!
Wendy

A Colorful World said...

Interesting post! Love your balcony. Purslane grows wild here in the desert also as a "weed" and I thought that was so funny when we moved here, because I almost bought a potted plant of it back in Virginia! :-)

Betsy said...

That's a book I haven't read and may have to check it out at the library. I already have a stack that must be finished within two weeks though, so it will have to wait. You are so sweet to give the doves water and the "weeds" a home. It's all a matter of perspective isn't it?
Blessings,
Betsy

Winwick Mum said...

Volunteer plants - what a lovely expression! I've read The Alchemist too. I suspect it's one of those books that you could read many times and take something different from it each time xx

Mrs Tiggywinkle said...

I am just about to start reading The Alchemist: I was browsing the book table in a charity shop last August when a fellow browser picked it out, placed it in my hand and told me that I MUST buy it because it's an essential read. So I did. Thank you for reminding me, Tammy. x

Sam I Am...... said...

Five on Friday.....great idea! I love your attitude about letting plants grow although I did that and ended up with poison ivy in my yard and on me!
I'm still working on those preemie hats and need to have them done when my daughter comes..52 of them.
I have had the alchemist on my reading list for awhile now. I was getting his quotes on facebook for awhile and just loved him! Wise council.

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