Showing posts with label abitosunshine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abitosunshine. Show all posts

May 24, 2015

Spanish Bayonet White Yucca Flowers

Spanish Bayonet Postcard by abitosunshine
Enjoy rainy day views of the various stages of a flowering yucca plant, but do beware the tips of greenery on this Spanish Bayonet.

Walking with my dog on a typical north Florida rainy day I found the yuccas in their spring bloom throughout the neighborhood. One particular plant grouping was most impressive as its white Yucca flowers were in various stages of development all at once.


An up-close view shows the plant's flowers white with a bit of purple bleeding through and quite fragrant too. When gazing at this floral beauty its softness belies the prickly tips of the yucca's green leafage.


Do not be fooled into getting close to those bayonet-like spikes — ouch! Even my dog Valentino knows to steer clear of this Spanish Bayonet.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Zazzle and may earn via purchases made through links in this article.


December 14, 2014

Sunshine Served On A Porcelain Plate

Years ago I had a large collection of decorative porcelain plates lining the ceilings of each room of my home. Alas, that was a lifetime ago and my collector plates are long gone. Of course, the memories served upon the designer plates is now held in a special place in my mind.

I recently began designing my line of decorator plate collectibles on Zazzle, a print on demand web site for buying and selling an array of custom-made products. Using my favorite pictures to create decorative porcelain plates for my home and yours is fun (as well as lucrative!)

Today's plate design is the image you now see as the background and header template for this blog, abitosunshine! I think my heaven-sent sunshine looks great no matter where it's found, don't you?




I am linking this article up with Noner Says for Share A Link Sunday, a blog hop for writers to share their writings. Come join us, won't you?

October 5, 2014

Sunday Morning Sol

In the spirit of sharing abitosunshine I bring you a bit of Sunday morning Sol.

The inspiration for this design presented in image and haiku came from thoughts on comments and discussions over the years about my so-called non-Christian attitude about church attendance.

For your information ... Yes, I am a Christian. And yes, I am a worshiper of Sol.

I do not believe I must attend church on Sunday mornings to call myself a believer of God. I do not believe I must sun bathe at the beach to call myself a believer of Sol.

I guess it fair to say I live a broadly defined spiritual life wherein I'm a believer of gods within. Thus, I consider myself a daily communicant with God and Sol—from the comfort of body and mind wherever I am.

To me, that sure beats heading off to church "to mess with the preacher" or telling someone they shall "rot in hell" for something they have done or not done. Yes, I've been witness to both sinful scenarios!

August 12, 2012

Squid Playing Cards on Deck

I have been remiss in my online activity of late due to personal issues and medical issues. However, I assure you I am back on deck with my blogging and other creative endeavors. In fact, I created something fun today, hooRAYo!

Introducing the first of what will be a series of Deck of Playing Cards by abitosunshine...

Squid Playing Cards
Squid Playing Cards by abitosunshine
Browse more Playing Playing Cards


As a child I enjoyed the card game "War" and as an adult I enjoyed playing "Rummy". At present, I enjoy playing, rather swimming, with the Squids as Squidoo Lensmaster Ruthi in hopes of winning a Squidoo Purple Star.

So tell me ... What is your favorite card game to play?

July 7, 2012

Giveaway Linky Lists

Are you hosting a giveaway? Are you looking for giveaways to enter with the chance to win? I host two giveaway linky lists to which you can post a link to your giveaways so that others can find them.



abitosunshine GIVEAWAYS

Whatever your giveaway--
Add it to the linky list at abitosunshine!





B-Y-G-B

Book-Your-Giveaway-Book
Linky List at Ruthi Reads!




Both of my giveaway linky lists are updated weekly (if not more frequently). By requiring that all giveaway submissions include the end date of the event in the title, it is easy for me to keep the lists updated to show only current giveaways for readers to enter.

I advertise these linky lists on a regular basis via Google+, Twitter, and Facebook.


December 13, 2011

Sticking it to my Car

I have been a hardworking gal, at my J-O-B and online, to earn the money needed to pay for my car repairs and or a new used car, whichever the case may be.

I have faith my new mechanic can get my car back on the road. So ... in good faith ... today, I created a bumber sticker and plan to stick it to my car as soon as I get back in the driver's seat!

In keeping with my goals to spread a bit o' sunshine into the lives of others, I think this bumper sticker will do the trick. What do you think? Would seeing this on my car, or your car, or any car, put a smile on your face?

November 10, 2011

Art and Sol

Giving Thanks Challenge
Day 9 and Day 10



I am thankful for...




ART and SOL
the heART and SOuL of LOVE


Design on ceramic tile, framed in cherrywood.
Created by and available for purchase at abitosunshine.

And I am thankful for my online friendship with artist Billy Frank Alexander and the use of his "heartwork".


October 29, 2011

Footloose and Fancy Free Contest



I am footloose and fancy-free!

(That's my six words for Saturday.)





I am just having a bit of after work fun and frivolity before I hunker down and busy myself with a long list of things I need to get done online today.

Head on over to Finger Click $aver and hop along in the Footloose and Fancy-Free Weekend Hop! It's a fun way to meet new friends while sharing your favorite links.

Then be sure to head over to Show My Face to link up your own Six Word Saturday post.

Both of these sites have a good thing going on for a bit of weekend fun!


Footloose and Fancy Free Query Contest
(Yes, that is another six words.)


Can you guess what my favorite song is on the Rod Stewart album Footloose & Fancy Free?

First person to answer the contest question correctly wins...

Sunshine Blessings Magnet magnet
Become a graphic design affiliate at zazzle.com


Note: Be sure to leave your email address in your comment so I can notify you when you guess correctly and win my magnet!

December 15, 2010

Trusting Sol

I planned as a today to-do to share a bit o' sunshine with you, but I was blinded by the light of wintry white. However, I heard the promise of golden tresses of tomorrow whispered within the wind...



December 3, 2010

For As Long As I Can Remember

For As Long As I Can Remember
©Ruth Cox

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. And trust me, Tom Turkey has blessed me with many a memory.
Not one Thanksgiving has passed by in the last thirty-five years without me thinking of, and sharing with another, my last conversation with my mother. Oh, so many suns ago. In fact, a few years ago I finally put it to writing. In case I lose my memory?

Here's the link to my Thanksgiving memory of the year 1975, when my mother was still alive: Practice What Is Preached: Better yet -- practice peaches.

Fast forward with Tom Turkey and me to our Thanksgiving memories of the past decade. The year 2004 stands out in my mind as another I shall never not remember. I was temporarily living with family, trying to get my feet on the ground having recently escaped a domestic violence marriage. I'd "come home" seeking comfort in the arms of the known.

However, the holiday plans of the house didn't allow for my drug-addicted adult son to be present, so I accepted an invitation to spend this Thanksgiving with my boss and her family and friends. Cynda welcomed my son with open arms, as she would again on Christmas.

Cynda was a treasure. Here she is Thanksgiving 2005, her last Thanksgiving alive, making a round of her eggnog specialties for patrons of the bar. She owned Rafters Bar and Grill and I was her favorite bartender. I smile. For the few years I worked with Cynda, I would always bartend Thanksgiving day, and she would have me close up in time for dinner at her home, bringing any of my customers with me who had no place else to go. She was a lady with a whole lot of class and a wee bit of sass to her spirit.

Added to my memories is another Thanksgiving spent with family-by-choice. I'd met Mark and Terry at Rafters and we immediately became good friends. They fell in love with a bartender named Sunshine!

Anyway, Thanksgiving 2007, Mark's mate, Terry, had to work, so Mark invited me to tag along with him to his family get-together. We had a fabulous time! Mark's entire family is wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of thanksgiving shared with southern Ohio style and comfort. Good food, good friend, good fun -- I couldn't have been more thankful for the day.

Last year, I discovered my Aunt Martha Bell would be alone for Thanksgiving. And my roommate would be going to his family get-together, which would have left me alone, too. Even though I was invited to go along with Scott, I chose not to let my aunt spend the day without family. She was ever so happy to have me spend half the day and half the night with her. And I was, I think, even more delighted than she, for it did my heart good to know how happy I had made her on what should be the happiest day of thanksgiving of the year.

Last week, I again spent Thanksgiving with my Aunt Martha Bell so she wouldn't be alone. This year, though, my roommate Scott joined us, as his family gathering would be in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had a wonderful time reminiscing, mostly listening to my aunt's homespun stories and looking through hundreds of old family photos, each with a story of its own.

Here are a few photos taken Thanksgiving 2010:






Thanksgiving will always be my favorite holiday, for as long as I can remember.

Submitted 12/05/2010
iWriteiBlogiWin


October 20, 2010

I'm A Grandmother!

Thirty-eight suns ago, life chose to give me a bundle of sunshine when I birthed my only child, my son William -- Billy, to me, to this day. (Unless I'm in the official Mother role, and then it's William!) Nothing could have prepared me for the instant love I would hold in my arms, in every ounce of my being. It is a forever love, a no matter what kind of love.

Yesterday, life chose to give my son a bundle of sunshine when his gal birthed him a son, Liam. As Billy says, "He's the second half of William." Billy and Christina did good, life blessed them with a healthy bundle of boy joy.
Today on the phone with my son, he described how he felt when his child was born: It's instant love. He got it right!

Life isn't always perfect, but a new baby feeling is as close to perfect as it gets. And I'm blessed to have shared this day with my son -- a day of perfection, as close as a day can be.

Holding my son's child for the first time was pure joy. It also reminded me of something my mother had said when my Billy, her first grandchild, was born: I hope he gives you back tenfold what you've given me!

I have to tell you that this nagged me from the moment she said it, right up until yesterday. You see, I was far from the perfect daughter and I really thought in her statement she was wishing a whole lot of pain on me, as I know I'd done a lot of things which had caused my mother pain.

My mother also referred to my Billy as her Miracle Baby and she made sure to shout it to the world. I never fully understood -- until yesterday, when I held my first grandchild.

Yesterday, as I held this new bundle of joy, I received the miracle of life and love, tenfold. Life has blessed me with a whole lot of sunshine. And I could wish for nothing more at this moment in time.

I welcome Liam Anthony to my world!







April 10, 2010

Night Watchman

Today' dose o' sunshine is for all who fear the dark, for those who cannot bear to close their eyes for fear of what comes in the night... let there be light.





photo used in this creation courtesy of morgueFile
photographer can be found here at Photo Daisy

March 26, 2010

Sunshine Bandit -- Child Abuse

This topic strikes very close to home for me ... in more ways than one.


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Dedicated to the Children -- Victims of Child/Sexual Abuse

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Sunshine Bandit
©Ruth Cox

To steal the sun from fertile land,
Leave in its place a cloud of gloom-
How dare you take me by the hand,
Walk me across the crowded room...


To whip the wind from pleasant hum,
Down to the dirt and cowed in space-
How dare you take songs that I strum,
String them along in shrouded place...


To slice the sky with frozen dart,
Douse my dreams with a silver storm-
How dare you take hold of my heart,
Bleed it broken in ploughed field form.


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Music star arrested on sex charge in Licking County
Teen boy accuses co-founder of KC and the Sunshine Band
Thursday, March 25, 2010 2:54 AM
By Josh Jarman
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Richard Finch was in custody on a $250,000 bond.
NEWARK, Ohio

February 24, 2010

Thank YOU!

Today's sunshine is inspired by each and every person who has encouraged Ruthi aka abitosunshine for the past decade.

This poetic creation is available for purchase as a greeting card, individually and in a Pak of 20 at CafePress abitosunshine!

Thank YOU!




February 11, 2010

Passin' To 'n' Fro

In times of economic and emotional need, the practice of  "Pay It Forward" is one of great importance. My poetic creation details my thoughts on passin' what little we have, to 'n' fro...


This poetic creation is also published here on my Gather pages, along with comments of readers there.

December 28, 2009

Orange Sunshine

Today's sunshine creation is not only poetic, it is also the first of my creations to be available at my Cafe Press shop...abitosunshine! The poetic creation is available as a framed tile wall hanging, with a mug and coaster, sold separately.