Monday, October 26, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2002. This was Mattie's first Halloween, he was six months old. He did not understand what on earth I was doing, other than I sat him in a chair next to a large orange ball. A ball that he was fascinated with, but that was as big as he was. Mattie did not wear a costume or go trick or treating that year. We felt he was too young, which was the right decision for him. 


Quote of the day: There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery. ~ Dante

This morning after I woke up and went downstairs, I was hit by an intoxicating fragrance. I knew what it was immediately.... it was the aroma from our Butterfly Ginger Lily plant. Overnight one of its buds started blooming!

We got this plant two years ago in North Carolina, and what intrigued me about the plant was its name. I am drawn to anything butterfly oriented. However, when we got the plant it was tiny, around knee level! Now look at it, it is 6 feet tall. 

This is a bud of a Butterfly Ginger Lily. In my perspective this is the flower
that keeps on giving. It blooms in segments. As some of the flowers die, the other blossoms open up and we can have this amazing fragrance for at least a week. 

I remember when Peter and I purchased this plant, we were encouraged to buy it from a grounds caretaker at Elizabethan Gardens. He was a young fellow who was devastated over his grandmother's death. He was telling me how therapeutic gardening and being outside was for him after his loss. In any case, we had a meaningful chat with one another and I related to his feelings. 

I posted these flower photos on Facebook today, and my friend Lana sent me this picture of a Hawaiian Lei made from Butterfly Ginger Lily blossoms. Look at the intricate nature of this lei! 

This evening, as I was working by my computer, I looked up from my keyboard and out the window and here is what I saw.... a big Mattie Moon!

At the same time tonight, I received an email from Laura, an international airline pilot. She snapped a photo of Mattie Moon over India at 32,000 feet! What a special surprise and photo!

We have never met Laura in person, but she was a faithful reader of Mattie's blog during his battle. Though overseas she virtually supported us with lovely and caring messages. When Mattie was battling cancer, Laura was training to be a pilot. Now after all of these years, Laura still thinks of Mattie whenever she sees the moon.