What's your Joie de Vivre?

In response to my good friend's  blog Prairie Thistle and what I can truly say we share together from the moment we meet each other is  our Joie de Vivre.  Julie this one is for you!

As a small child I found miracles in certain trees.  They carry  magic in their roots and limbs of untold stories from years gone by.  Trees speak to me by the whispering of their leaves in the wind.  There in the yard standing small I looked up to the trees and listened, I saw the moon rest in  it's branches, while the wise owl hoots to me,  I've seen ghost walk through them.  Here in my heart is where I keep my  love and respect for these huge plants of the earth, the trees of many.

I love the smell of dirt to me it's healing and good for the soul.  When I breath in it's goodness I become one with the earth however cliche' it's true.  The musty woody scent that is so sensual triggers an olfactory moment, where there is no denying the power of dirt. The cool touch and earthy aroma of good dirt is a  key ingredient to my path in life.

The ephemeral lives of flowers, is my Joie de Vivre so much that I have dedicated years of my life to the floral  and garden industry. It has been a privilege to handle such fragrant colorful gems like Hyacinth, Freesia,  Japonica, Peonies, Passion Flower,  Mimosa and Ranunculus all steeped in lore, one cant' help but be enchanted and slightly intoxicated by their beauty.    I find comfort in  knowing I can always return to happiness when spring brings me Lilly of the Valley.  Flowers are truly one of the most incredible and beautiful living things on this earth.  An exquisite explosion the anemone flower with it's deep and darkest velvet like button center and crape like petals in the richest most vibrant blues and reds is more gorgeous  then anything I could ever imagine to make or create myself.  I am content and reside to be inspired by flowers.

Butterflies, hummingbird and bees these are my winged friends that without their busy bodies there would be no flowers.  It's an amazing cycle where trees, plants and flowers are fertilized by a highly social network of  winged friends.  It's something that works and continues to amaze me making my life a joy to witness natures little helpers doing what they do best.  To look a hummingbird square in the eye and hear it's dutiful tiny chirp makes my heart flutter.  To see the golden yellow clumps of pollen stuck to the back of a honey bees legs is a wonderful thing, if I could only have the energy of a bee.  Lastly the metamorphous  of butterflies  an incredible transformation and journey from caterpillar to cocoon then butterfly.   The butterfly is the symbol of change - which is ineffable. I think of the butterfly in my quest for change when I want  to better myself or know things are changing butterflies represent the constant journey  along the road of life.

I went to bed last night thinking about Joie de Vivre and there was a lot of things that ran through my mind, the perfect out fit, a great pair of boots but in the end none of that material stuff really matters.  A friend once told me she liked to shop to fill a void.

My Joie de Vivre is about a smile or a good laugh with  friends and having food on the table.  Hugging and smooching on my cats. The family bond and finding true love....  Living with nature in all her beauty and glory that's what inspires me and in turn gives me my gift of creativity.