Say It With Flowers
Gardening is very therapeutic. Those of us lucky to have enough space can grow fruit, veg and flowers.
I have always enjoyed time outside tending flowerbeds. It’s a great way to clear your mind and just enjoy some fresh air and gentle exercise.
Many flowers make wonderful cut flowers, to bring into the house or to give away to friends, relatives, or neighbours.
And there is a whole language of flowers - known as floriography - and so many flowers have hidden meanings when given by one person to another.
We all know red roses mean romantic love, with the number of roses adding a deeper meaning to a bouquet. But what about the other colours of roses?
Yellow roses are a warm and happy colour, so they are used to convey friendship.
Orange is a stronger form of the same happy and energetic colour, so orange roses are used to emphasise something exciting!
White roses convey purity, positivity, and eternity, so they are used for weddings, anniversaries, and to wish someone luck with a new start in life or a new job. White flowers are also very popular in sympathy bouquets.
Pink roses are also used to convey love, particularly for good friends and family, and are a great way to say thanks!
Lavender roses symbolise admiration, whether for a possible romance or just to say what a great person you are!
Other flowers that convey love are dahlias, red tulips, peonies, carnations, and lady’s mantle.
Freesias, stocks, and lilies symbolise friendship.
Gratitude is easily conveyed using hydrangeas, both blue and pink.
Orchids, camellias, and amaryllis convey platonic or romantic admiration for another person. And if that person is a male, sweet Williams are the ideal choice to give to any knight in shining armour!
And nothing brightens a home up more than sunflowers, gerbera, chrysanthemums, daffodils, yellow tulips or pink hyacinths.
And we mustn’t forget nature’s own contributions in the form of wildflowers. I can never call those weeds!
Do you grow flowers in your garden, buy them for your home, or give them to someone dear to you?
What are your favourite flowers?
Today’s theme is anything floral, so post images, gifs, and music and chat with friends.
No religion or politics please, and respect all commenters.
🎁 It’s Lian’s Birthday Bash 🎉
Tomorrow, 31st August, is Lian’s birthday, and she’s 21 again!
And it’s time to show our good friend how much we love and appreciate her with the ultimate birthday bash.
So let’s cut the cake - gluten-free, of course!
And we can’t have a party without some great party music!
Dig out those dancing shoes and hit that floor!
The Drifters - Come On Over To My Place
You can’t beat a little twist, but just make sure you don’t twist the wrong thing!
Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away
Or maybe, jumping and shaking is more your thing…
Let it all loose!
Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line
This world has so much going on, and it’s nice to have an excuse to have some good old-fashioned fun and kick our heels up a little.
It is easy to lose sight of it sometimes, in all of the craziness, but we all have much to be thankful for - our families, friends, having a roof over our heads, food to eat, etc. - and not least, this little oasis of fun and friendliness. Where would we all be if we hadn’t met Lian, who makes friends wherever she goes, whether that is human or the feathered, furred and four-legged variety?
The Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Somebody
So this week, let’s celebrate all that is good in this world!
The theme is thankfulness, positivity, but most of all, showing Lian what a fantastic lady she is, today and every day with gifs, memes, songs, or positive quotes. Let’s make this a great party post!
Remember, no politics or religion, so chat with friends and enjoy!
Lian and Kieran.
Like A Circle In A Spiral, Everything Has Changed
Do you like or dislike Change? Could you really manage going back in time?
As a teen, I often lived on my stepfather's boat. I never considered it spartan or difficult, yet it was. Then I was on a film set for narrow boats, and it was one of the best experiences ever: cold, frosty mornings, watery sunrises, no hot water, and a log stove.
Although I chose a boat to live on recently on the waterways, because of airport restrictions, I was only allowed 10 lbs of hand baggage, barely a change of clothes.
From a hot climate to a chilly UK, I was, of course, somewhat unprepared. At least I got my summer duck down through security to sleep fairly warmly.
I met a guy on the towpath one morning, and he took me to a shopping centre to buy a warm raincoat. I was walking miles to shops from my boat.
Things really must have changed as I asked him where to buy a hot water bottle.
‘I will go and buy you one in the cafe over there!’.
Language has obviously changed; it’s a rubber bottle you pour hot water into to keep warm at night, not a drink. How I laughed.
The next day, he turned up at my boat with an orange hot water bottle as a present. LOL
Well, I don’t have an electric kettle yet, for my all-electric boat, but I do have an orange hot water bottle, but no kettle to boil water. Central heating, not yet switched on, and a tv, same not yet working. It’s an adventure, just like my teens.
I had to borrow a knife and fork from the boatyard; they are not allowed through airports; toothpaste was also highly suspicious and tested in the airport. LOL. Everything is considered dangerous these days, even soap.
Cities which were once exciting are full of people who don't make eye contact and have no time to stop for anything, full of the homeless, all nationals of their countries, sleeping in the streets.
Most towns in the country I left had beautiful historic buildings being trashed to make a new kind of little boxes twenty two stories high, some with no windows in some rooms…That isn’t exactly progress.
I’m passing pretty thatched cottages, rolling hills, sheep and cows, small pubs and cafes.
Although I am originally from a capital city, I was utterly bewildered by shopping centres and large shops. Everything is done by phone here, including appointments.
Some changes are for the better, many are a challenge.
Pete Seeger - Little Boxes
There are still endless wars, and now huge influxes of people crossing borders from countries where wars took place who are being asked to join our armies???
The sixties were full of hope for peace, now the countries that were warring are crossing borders. Will they adapt?
Many nationals are now buying boats to escape cities. There is some degree of freedom on a boat; if you do not like the place, move on. Maybe some are living in vans?
Travel is not so free. Airports are hell, IMO.
Many small businesses have closed. Many are stretched financially.
Being on a boat is a challenge and lots of exercise. But people still say hi and chat, even help each other. I’ve met a few new people in the boating community.
Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
Noel Harrison - The Windmills Of Your Mind
The theme is ‘Change’ within your life. Do you enjoy change?
Are many changes for the better or worse? Does negative change to positive? What is your conclusion?
Post images, gifs, and music, chat with friends, enjoy, and base all comments on respect.
No religion or politics, please.
Lian and Kieran
Bridges Are Important, So Let’s Build Bridges Of Friendship
Many musicians have been inspired by bridges, artists too.
As I am on a canal and crossing a small bridge about five times a day to go to my boat, I find the waterways and the life style an inspiration, also the people I’m meeting. I feel I’ve come home.
Wherever I go, there is always a symbolic bridge, be it the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, or the Suspension bridge linking Europe and Asia in Istanbul straddling two continents.
I feel LFE is also a bridge of friendship between different peoples in different countries. We all have different cultures and find a common thread with music and conversation, ideas and thoughts…its fun.
Pink - Bridge Of Light
The Pogues - Misty Morning Albert bridge
Garth Brooks - Burning Bridges
Meadow Mountain - The Bridge
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Inspire with a bridge you know, with a gif, meme, song, piece of music or movie, even a painting.
Remember, no politics or religion, chat with friends and enjoy.
Lian and Kieran.