I’m looking over a five-leaf clover!!

Yesterday, when I was pulling weeds in the garden, I came across a patch of three-leaf clovers. Among those was a lone five-leaf clover.

I carefully plucked the rare beauty and hurried inside, I snapped a few photos on a paper towel, then placed it in the smallest glass I could find to to hydrate the treasure — a colorful undersea hued shot glass from the Cayman Islands.

I began to research a five-leaf clover and finding one is rare – about one in 20,000. There was a young girl in Savannah who even had a bit written about the five-leaf clover she found.

According to Wikipedia, five–leaf clovers are less commonly found naturally than four-leaf clovers; however, they, too, have been successfully cultivated. Some four-leaf clover collectors, particularly in Ireland, regard the five–leaf clover, known as a rose clover, as a prize.

According to an Irish legend, if you find a five–leaf clover, luck and financial success will come to you even more than those who find a four-leaf clover. If you’re relying on a clover to bring you luck and success, though, good luck with that!! (chuckle)

In any event, I’m just lucky I found it. I’m looking for ways to preserve it, and I’ve found a few good ideas from friends on social media.

Here are some tips I’ve been given from some friends:

• Dry it pressed between pages of a book, then laminate it.

OR

• Dry it, then cold laminate it.

OR

• Use silicone to keep the green in the clover to preserve.

OR

• Dry it in between white paper, then laminate it.

I’m thankful for these tips, and I suppose I need to get some laminating sheets. I feel like I want to frame it…..maybe the luck will start pouring in our house.

I have a boomerang from my Dad he purchased In Australia in WWII over our doorway to catch all the luck coming through the door.

I know luck is usually best paired with trust in God. (smile)

But just for fun, do you have a lucky charm in your possession?

Peace, Love, and Five Leaf Clovers

Sheree K. Nielsen

____________________

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

Her newest book, Coffee Coma – poems and photographs about our love affair, and life with coffee is due out by Shanti Arts Publishing!

Any of these can be purchased from Sheree directly so she can autograph for you!!! Visit her facebook page at Sheree K Nielsen, Author.

Feeling grateful even when things seem difficult…

I read something given to me by an outpatient therapist after I was hospitalized for depression this winter that developed after eye surgery. (Needless to say, I felt down and sorry for myself, and wondered if I’d ever get out of this dark hole…wondered if my eye would heal properly.)

It was a document published by The Tapping Solution written by Nick Ortner. The document told a story about a blind boy sitting on the steps of a building with a hat on the ground near his feet.  A sign read, “I am blind, please help.”

Only a few coins were in the hat – spare change from folks who hurried past the man. A man walking by dropped some coins in the hat, then took the boy’s sign, turned it around, and penned some words. He placed the sign back in the boy’s hand so all those strolling by could see what was written.

The hat began to fill up. The man left and stopped by later that afternoon to see how the boy was doing. His hat was full of coins.

“Were you the one that changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”

“I only wrote the truth.”  “Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it. “

Both signs spoke the truth, but the second sign conveyed to everyone walking buy how grateful they should be.

What is gratitude:

Gratitude is a habit. It’s a way of looking at the world and all the good things in it with a feeling of appreciation, regardless whether your current situation is great or bleak.  It’s a heart-centered approach to being at peace with yourself and all you have. I think Nick Ortner’s words really got through to me.

I decided instead of being depressed, I was going to start looking at things in a different light. The right medicines helped as well. I got my joy back. I’m happy about that.

Last week I breathed in, and breathed out, fresh salty sea air at my favorite beach – Sunset Beach, North Carolina. I shared this experience with the doggos and my hubby. It was a magnificent week of relaxation.

I have ‘tons’ to be grateful for – nature, the birds, the trees, a roof over my head, financial security, great friends and family, a church family that cares beyond belief, remission from lymphoma, and my partner in life – my husband, Russell.

Like Nick Ortner says, “When you practice gratitude, you attract more things in life for which to be grateful.”

What do you have in your life to be thankful for?

Peace, love, and sand dollars,

Sheree K. Nielsen

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

Her newest book, Coffee Coma – poems and photographs about our love affair, and life with coffee is due out by Shanti Arts Publishing!

Any of these can be purchased from Sheree directly so she can autograph for you!!! Visit her facebook page at Sheree K Nielsen, Author.

Why are people nicer to you when you have dogs?

Sabrina and Bordeaux loving their car ride

Have you ever noticed when you’re motoring around with dogs in your car, other drivers seem to be more respectful – allowing you to go first at 4 way way stop signs, or not getting too close to the rear end of your automobile, or even pulling alongside you in traffic giving you and the dogs a big smile?

I think it’s because you’re carrying precious cargo.

I know my dog babies love to feel the fresh air on their fur as they poke their heads out the car window. My blue-eyed mini-Aussie loves to look back at other drivers…the corners of her flew upturned in a grin. She even studies the traffic lanes inquisitively.

Red Dog’s caramel-lemon eyes soak in and memorize the route from home, to the park, to the nearest coffeehouse drive-through, and back again.

The fur kids even know which drive-throughs supply treats – whip cream at the local Starbucks, and dog biscuits at the bank.

Back to being respectful when dogs are in the car…

A few months ago, lovely people in separate SUV’s, going in the opposite direction in the parking lot by the local Starbucks, waited for me to back out of a parking spot when they saw the pups in the car.

I gave the kind spirits a hand wave, showing them I appreciated their gesture.

Such simple random acts of kindness from strangers are a gift and a positive start to your day.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.”

~Aesop

Peace, love, and sand dollars,

Sheree

****************************

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

Her newest book, Coffee Coma – poems and photographs about our love affair, and life with coffee is due out by Shanti Arts Publishing – tba

Water is Life

Just wanted to share some of my favorite images from my trip to Door County, Wisconsin in September.

Hope you enjoy the bay, the reflections, the boats, and the serenity.

Peace. love, and sand dollars,

Sheree

________________________

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

Her newest book, Coffee Coma – poems and photographs about our love affair, and life with coffee is due out by Shanti Arts Publishing – tba

Today I See With My Ears

I wrote a poem about a week after my eye surgery to repair a macular hole in my left eye at the beginning of October. This surgery comes with very strict recovery instructions. Although, I don’t want to get into that at this time, because it is too painful to write about, I did pen a poem about the process. Hope you enjoy it. Thoughts….

“Today I See with my Ears”

By Sheree K. Nielsen

A wind chime of metal

behind my left shoulder

whistles down the wind.

Two songbirds

meep and chirp a morning song

keeping time

with the distant

highway noises.

A single crisp sienna pin oak leaf

lays beneath my feet

casting shadows on the

porch pavement during golden

hour, moving ever so slightly

The wind chime tings, tings.

Pauses.

I hear cardinals and chickadee banter.

My neighbor’s rubber tires creep up the

aggregate driveway.

The comforting rays of the sun

nestle the nape

of my neck

like sunbathing at my favorite

beach on the Carolina coast.

I only see what’s at ground level,

daring not to cast eyes up….

concerned about the eye’s healing

process

that has consumed my life for the last

eight days…

A gust of ethereal air pushes the crisp pin oak leaf

out of my line of vision and into the shade.

The bright ray of the sun caresses my cheek bones

on the left side…near the eye

that needs healing.

A crow squawks to another in search of sustenance.

The wind chime tings as a strand of strawberry blonde hair brushes

my skin.

Today I see with my ears.

Sweet Serendipity – Finding surprises when you least expect them

 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, serendipity is the ‘faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought after’.

I’d like to call serendipity the element of surprise – finding something you’re not looking for. I love the thought of serendipity, and I love how lyrical the word sounds when I say it – SER-EN-DIP-ITY.

A few days ago, while deadheading my hot pink knockout roses, I noticed what appeared to be a butterfly lilting across the rose bud tips. Mistaken for another creature, it turned out to be a lovely indigo blue and ash-hued dragonfly, with icy sky-blue eyes alight on a bud.

How sweetly serendipitous! The dragonfly just happened to be visiting the roses at the same I was dead heading them. Worried that I wouldn’t be able to capture the image of this beauty, he even waited for me to go inside and grab my Nikon camera.

The dragonfly was delightful, and I would experience serendipity just a few days later while meandering around Heritage Park lake with the canine kids. I happened upon a teensy yellow wildflower in a sea of tall meadow grasses, so I snapped a pic for posting later. Scrolling through my phone photos yesterday, I stumbled upon that photo, and discovered something on the delicate wildflower. As I zoomed in closer, I was surprised to find a perfectly round droplet of water clinging onto three of its petals. In the heart of the tiny translucent masterpiece, lay a mirror image of the wildflower, its leaves, surrounding vegetation, and the sky.

Serendipity had struck again, and it was the best feeling ever!

It’s funny how I can get so excited at such a simple thing such as –

• Finding a rushing creek hidden behind a wonderful coffee house in North Carolina
• Driving back roads past a secret field full of sunflowers on my way to a boat harbor
• A micro painting left in a tree trunk at Towne Park during a walk
• Motoring through the Exuma Cays and your guide drops you off at a disappearing sand bar (see photo)

In these trying times, isn’t it wonderful when you find something that makes you smile?

Most of my serendipitous moments seem to involve nature.

How about you?

How have you accidentally stumbled upon something wonderful when doing something else?

Please feel free to share.

 

Peace, love, and sand dollars

Sheree

________________________

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

Her newest book, Coffee Coma – poems and photographs about our love affair, and life with coffee is due out by Shanti Arts Publishing – tba

 

 

Planting Seeds – Part Two – Hope in Bloom

 

In mid May, I found some flower seed heads in a clay pot that had been sitting in my garage for several years. I planted the seeds in two cute ceramic containers – one the color of butter, the other a biscuit hue. A couple weeks later, I checked on them, and they were flourishing…packed together in one space. (See my first post titled Planting Seeds)

At the end of May, I set them free in the garden.

On June 23, I snapped these photos.

Their daisy-like neon blooms of blood red orange, magenta, and tangerine brought a smile to my face. The intricate star-like pollen florets (technical name) and long spider-like stigmas were no doubt, crafted by God’s hands. I spotted my first monarch butterfly sipping their dulcet delight last week.

As I take respite in my wicker recliner on the front porch, my sweet little zinnias are always within eye shot. That makes me happy!

What are you doing to bloom this summer?

How have you found hope in nature?

Peace, love, and zinnias,

Sheree

 

 

 

 

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

The Sunset Inn – Just Like Coming Home

Good morning everyone,

I love everything about Sunset Beach – its charm, the homes, the yummy seafood, the two lane roads…and walking the shoreline with the hubster and the canine kids.

Recently, I had the pleasure of writing this sweet article about my favorite beach town for South Brunswick Magazine in North Carolina. I’m lucky that Justin Williams, the owner and publisher, allows me to write about almost anything I’ve suggested to him over the past few years .It’s a great freelance gig. I have to admit though, I knew little about The Sunset Inn. But now, I have a greater appreciation of this beautiful gem.

At the Sunset Inn, Andrea Ward and Dave Nelson take great care in making their vacationers feel like they’re right at home. Take a peak at story by clicking on the link, and feel free to leave a comment below.

Just Like Coming Home

The photo of the inn was taken by Andrea Ward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planting Seeds

From my front porch, the mellifluous sound of a steady summer rain rustles through the Bradford pear and maple trees, tip-tips on the leaves of a Rose of Sharon bush, and gurgles through the gutters. Rain’s constant melody reminds me of standing on a Caribbean beach, getting caught in an unexpected shower, water embracing my skin, soaking my hair, and trickling into my eyes.

The morning sparrows and warblers sing their song in harmony, as if to ask, “More rain?”

A cool, yet warm breeze stirs the rose bushes, lavender and tiger lilies. If he could talk, I’m certain even the garden frog statue would say he’s refreshed.

I love rain, as long as I’m not driving in it. It reminds me of growth, and promise of new hope…a cleansing.

A few weeks ago, I found some old cone flower seed heads in a clay pot in my garage. Heaven knows how long they’d been sitting there – maybe three years. I planted the seeds in two cute ceramic containers – one the color of butter, the other a biscuit hue. I just wanted to see if they’d grow.

Well, they’re flourishing. So many of them now packed tightly together in one little space. It’s almost time for me to set them free in the garden…give them more room for those beauties to grow. This week, I’ll be replanting them. I can’t wait to observe their beautiful bird-like leaves and soon-to-be buds sky bound. I’m sure I’ll be surprised by their color.

What ‘seeds’ are you planting now that will change your life…someone else’s life?

Seeds to provide sustenance to your family in the form of flowers, fruits or vegetables?

Seeds of hope in someone’s else mind? Seeds of kindness in their hearts?

How have your seeds grown lately?

Feel free to share you story below –

 

Peace, love, and sand dollars

Sheree

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer semifinalist Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

I Had This Dream – Rainbows at Night, and Shooting Stars

A shower of shooting stars burst forth from the night sky, like sparklers on the Fourth of July, and rained down from the heavens, and the full moon was so happy it winked.

A rainbow so big and thick, like the kind of orange slice candy with sugar from the corner confectionery you bought when you were just a child, reflected on the clouds, turning them Crayola colors of blue, pink, yellow, green and lavender. The clouds were rainbow hues!

People gathered in their back yards, standing in awe, snapping photos of this wonderful phenomenon.

This was a dream of mine from about two weeks ago.  So moved by it, I felt the need to illustrate the images.  This is a rough draft. (chuckle)

Normally, my dreams are about conflict or mystery. But this time, the dream was positive and uplifting. I awoke smiling.

I’ve been seeing rainbows everywhere lately – on social media, on sidewalks, on my doors, and in windows of homes. Since there is a Full Pink Moon tonight, I felt this post was appropriate.

According to dream-meaning.net,

Dream Rainbows represents hope, success and good fortune in the form of money, prestige, or fame. Your dreams and wishes may come true.

Rainbow at Night

“A rainbow typically cannot be seen at night because it is a reflection of the light. Thus, seeing a rainbow at night can be interpreted as divine interventions that offer you a glimmer of hope at the time of trouble. When you are not experiencing waking life difficulties, a rainbow at night can represent a perfect ending that you have wished for your own life.”

And according to spiritualunite.com

Due to the fleeting nature of shooting stars, their rarity and their associations with love and romance, a dream about a shooting star could also be a simple reminder to cherish the time you have on Earth with the ones you love.

But of course, these are just symbolism, and we should not put our faith in symbolism. We can choose to look at the bright side of the dream, and think that good things are to come.

In light of the world right now, and uncertainty of when the Corona virus will end, maybe it’s best that we just put our faith in God.

I opened my Bible last night, and a piece of paper fell out. On it was written Deuteronomy 31:6. I forgot that my previous life group gave me this paper when we met a couple years ago.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Stay strong, stay healthy, social distance, and be kind.

Peace, love, sand dollars and full pink moons,

Sheree

_________________________________________

Sheree is the author of four books –

– 2019 Royal Dragonfly First Place for Poetry, First Place for Fine Art/Photography, Honorable Mention for Coffee Table Books Mondays in October

– Chanticleer nominated Ocean Rhythms Kindred Spirits

– 2019 Chanticleer Little Peeps First Place Winner for Early Readers, Montaigne Medal Finalist, and Foreword Indies Finalist Midnight the One-Eyed Cat

– 2015 Da Vinci Eye Award Winner Folly Beach Dances

 

https://amzn.to/2wMXzeo

The River – Going With the Flow (Ethel + Robert Mirabal)

This was such a great post from last year….sharing again.

#waterislife #theriver #healing #mamabear

Sheree's Warm Fuzzies

My long friend Tina, surprised me with tickets to see The River performed by Ethel + Robert Mirabal at the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center on February 24 at UMSL. I really had no idea what to expect as I’d never heard of the group before, so I settled into the comfy theatre balcony seats.

The River embodied the ritual of the Native Americans gathering near the water for events – the the birth and baptism of a child, a celebration, washing their clothes and bathing, among others. The river forged a sense of community among the people, as they would always return to the water, creating an essential spiritual role in the Native Americans lives.

Mellifluous sounds expressed through violins, flutes, and spoken word about how the river connects people throughout their life, was blissful solitude to hear. Robert Mirabel shared stories about his Native America heritage as well.

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Love Letter to My Husband

For all those lovers out there…a Valentine’s Day post from a couple of years ago…

Sheree's Warm Fuzzies

As I sauntered into the kitchen this morning in my pink robe and Chocolate Labrador themed slippers, I noticed a single piece of paper placed on the kitchen table were I normally sit for breakfast. My attention was drawn to the big red font on the signature line that read, Happy Valentine’s Day, from Russell.

Taking a seat at the table, I lifted the paper and read the words my husband penned. Countless emotions filled me – joy, happiness, thankfulness, gratefulness, love, forgiveness, and understanding.

Still sobbing, I walked the hallway to the bedroom and stroked the white-gray hair of my friend, lover, and partner for life.

I whispered in his ear, “That was the sweetest thing…that was the sweetest thing.”

Tears still flowing, I showered him with kisses. He smiled.

While I won’t divulge the contents of the letter, he expressed more than once, I was the only one…

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