Pilgrimage and Jubilee: My First Fifty-Ish Years in Poetry, Prose, and Pictures

Dear friends,

For many years, I had been plotting to compile a book of my poems, favorite essays, stories, and photos to chronicle my first 50 years of life. I knew I would call it Pilgrimage and Jubilee. My initial goal was to do it in time for my 50th birthday, but that was over a year ago. However, I did manage to pull it off in time to print up several copies as Christmas presents for my family. I finished it on Christmas Eve, so I was cutting it close!

Anyway, I thought you all might like to see it, too, so I have uploaded the PDF file to Scribd and embedded it here in this post. You can scroll through it or download it as you like. If you want to view it full screen, you can click on the rectangle button on the right side of the Scribd bar underneath the document window.

It even has color pictures, which the printed version didn't. I created all of the art work and most of the photos.  

If you are one of my relatives, you might be particularly interested, because I put in a lot of information about our mutual ancestors, too. Even if you aren't part of our clan, the historical details might intrigue you. What can you find out about your own family?

Let me know what you think!

Much love,

Virginia

Tabebuia, The Brilliant Yellow Flowering Tree of Spring

The brilliant yellow tabebuia trees are in bloom everywhere around the Orlando area, but only for a short time. I see them in every neighborhood as I drive around, but this tree is only a block from our house.

I meant to get out and photograph it earlier, but by the time I found my way over there, camera in hand, so many blooms had already fallen. Even as I clicked away, dozens more floated to the ground. I do love the yellow carpet effect, though. I had to watch where I stepped, because the bees loved it, too, and were buzzing around my feet, busily gathering nectar and pollen. I'm not afraid of them, but I do have a healthy respect and don't wish to disturb them from their labors.

We do not have the traditional "seasons" in Florida. No snow, not much autumn brilliance. But I do try to stay attuned to blooming times of the magnolia, camellia, rain tree, flame vine, and tabebuia. I try to stay mindful in the moments and appreciate the beauty where I can find it. Then I memorialize them with my lens so I can enjoy them all year long.

How about you? 

Flowers in the Neighborhood:

• Flame Vine
• April Showers and Flowers
• Still Blooming on a Chilly Morning
• Still Life Magnolias
• Little Gem's First Bloom and the Day of Small Things

All flower posts on this blog: Flowers

Most recent flower post from Leu Gardens, with links to botanical gardens posts: Flowers in Florida (A Bit of Spring)

Flowers in Florida (A Bit of Spring)

Dear friends,

While much of the rest of the country is snowed in, we've got flowers blooming in Florida. If you live in the north, you can enjoy this bit of springtime color vicariously!

These photos are from Leu Gardens in Orlando. I think they are all in the butterfly area. I didn't take a lot of pictures when we went this time since we were wandering aimlessly with friends and I was having trouble getting into my camera settings. However, I have a few other Leu Gardens posts linked at the bottom, and those have a bazillion photos!

 

More flower pictures from botanical gardens!

• Leu Gardens in the Autumn
• Christmastime at Leu Gardens
• Leu Gardens
• Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania
• Sarah P. Duke Gardens in North Carolina
• Cypress Gardens in Florida

Virginia Knowles

www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

The pictures in this post were shot with a 

Canon Powershot ELPH 135

and edited with Picasa -

not fancy, but they do the job!