Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Hearts A Busting!




I have spoken of seeing the Hearts A Bustin' bush on my blog before.  I first discovered it beside the trail at Panola Mountain State Park. The seeds are bright orange encased in an equally bright pink seed pod.  The bush at Panola Mountain State Park was cut down so I have looked for it on the other trails this Autumn.  On Sunday, I found it!  Walking at the Monastery with my son, I do fear that I let out such a cry of delight, he must have thought that I had discovered gold!
Did I have a camera with me?  NO! Luckily, my son had his phone with him and he was able to get a few photos for me!  Thanks, Christopher! (Notice, the few drops on the leaves...this was the same day that I had 17 raindrops, so the Monastery must have gotten about the same!)

See the sign above?  Let's get a bit closer...

Don't worry! I didn't go past this sign, I promise!


Richard and I went to the late afternoon/evening service called Vespers. At the altar, the cross has a light shining upon it and from a distance, where the dark meets the light, it looks like a shape of a heart, doesn't it?

Hearts! It is true that I see them very often, in places that are unexpected.  What if you were very tired and came home from work and saw a package on your doorstep, and when you opened the package...

You find a lovely package of hearts from your friend in Germany! (Herzen means hearts in German!)  Those are lovely soft cakes with a soft center and they are unlike anything I have ever had before! I have had only two...I am saving them to take to my family for Thanksgiving! My Dad will be so tickled to know they came all the way from Germany! See the soft red pillow at the back of the photo there...
It is not only a heart shaped pillow but it has holes at the side...so it is also a hand warmer!  Perfect for me and my cold hands!  Oh my, I loved the Autumnal note that was sent with this also and the PAPER it was wrapped in!  What did I do to deserve such a gift? Why, my friends, not one single thing... but I can tell you that I am very grateful for such a sweet gift!  Thanks, Meike!
Remember I told you I let out a cry of delight when I saw the hearts a busting bush?  I did the same thing when I opened this package.




37 comments:

  1. I think those would have been HEART-felt cries of delight!!! That is a fascinating plant-just lovely.

    What a GREAT gift to get through the mail. I love it when something unexpected like that brings you such joy. What a sweet package and I know how appreciative you are of things.

    Have a wonderful night- xo Diana

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    1. My heart is full when I think of all the friends I have made from my blog and you were one of the first!!
      Hugs to you! x

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  2. Dear Kay, the best gifts are those we have "done nothing" for - otherwise, they wouldn't be gifts, would they, but payment!
    I am so glad my little gesture made you happy enough to become part of a blog post - I didn't expect that.

    I remember you mentioning the hearts-a-busting before. Good to know you found another bush.

    What a nice image this puts in my mind - you having a family get-together for Thanksgiving, and sharing the Herzen between you!

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    1. PS: The autumnal card was part of a set I bought this summer at Ripon Cathedral's gift shop. You know I love foxes, so I simply had to buy this set!

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    2. Hey! I hope it's okay with you that I wrote this post, I truly was so tickled with your unexpected gift! And I recognized the card when I opened it, I remembered that you got it when you were in England!
      Of course, you remember the hearts a busting bush! I have been looking for it for since September!!
      And I will have to tell you what my folks will say about me having the Herzen on a plate at Thanksgiving!
      Thanks very much for this thoughtful gift!

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  3. Hearts a-Busting all over, Kay. What a heart-full week you have enjoyed. The heart of light at the altar is wonderful, what a great capture. You gift parcel sure is delightful - especially those heart-cakes :)

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    1. Richard (my husband) took the photo of the heart of light at the altar...I really love your words "heart of light", that is lovely!

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  4. Lovely! I have never heard of Hearts A Bustin' - it's simply beautiful. And I love lebkuchen - we can sometimes get them in the UK around Christmas. I felt quite uplifted having read your post - it just made me smile on a grey day.

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    1. Oh! Thank you, Mike, you have made MY day!!
      I discovered the hearts a busting bush at Panola Mountain State Park but it was cut down this past year. I had read that it was a native bush so I figured I would see one on another trail. I have looked and looked and looked...that was why I was so glad to see it on Sunday!

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  5. What a nice friend! An unexpected gift, for no particular reason, is the best of all, I think.

    I've never heard of Hearts A Bustin' either - and to think they are so close by at the monastery. A perfect place to discover them.

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    1. You should see them on trials where you are too, Lynn. Just keep an eye out for them! I think it was very late to see them, I saw them last year in September.

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  6. Those German candies look delicious. And those flowers are beautiful. I'm glad that you were able to spot them. These days you're never too far away from a camera if you carry your phone!

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    1. The colors are so bright, they look like flowers, but the photo is of the seeds and the seed capsule of this bush...the colors are even better in person!!

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  7. That bush is beautiful and so is your friend for brightening your day! Sometimes we do feel like our hearts will burst with JOY!

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    1. Hearts a busting with joy! I wish it for everyone!

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  8. Pretty bush, love lebkuchen, learned about it when we lived in Germany.

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    1. I am amazed at how many bakeries there are in Germany, I would love to visit there!

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  9. Oh, what a wonderful present. Such a nice friend you have.

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    1. My German friend is one that I have never met in person, she is a blogging friend, my first follower. She very politely made me start my blog!!
      Of course, she is friend from Germany, just as you are my friend from Hawaii! Aloha!!

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  10. "I let out such a cry of delight, he must have thought that I had discovered gold!" I was amazed by this bursting bud!

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    1. I know it looks like a bud, but it is a SEED inside a bright seed pod!

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  11. Looked it up and thought this was interesting:
    "CULTURAL NOTES:
    Hearts-a-Bustin' (Euonymus americanus) grows in shade to partial shade; prefers well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil; once established, can tolerate drought; will form colony from suckers over time; a favorite food plant for deer. The green stems provide interest year round; fruit provides interest in fall."

    lg

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    1. I had written of it before and I tried to link to my earlier posts but doggone it, this new computer, I wasn't able to do it! That is correct, it is a native plant and is a Euonymus americanus..and I am thankful it can tolerate drought, because we are in an exceptional one just now!
      So happy you took the time to look this up!! :-)

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  12. The hearts abusting bush brought tears to my eyes. I have never seen anything like it. Beautiful.

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    1. Oh! Thank you, you have brought tears to my eyes! I am so glad you love it too!

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  13. Wishing you a heart-happy Thursday!

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    1. Heart happy, we are in need of more heart happy stories these days!

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  14. What a sweet and heartfelt gift....And how happy I am that you found the hearts a'bustin. I've never seen it in person, just on your blog, though I know the European one which we call a name which means "priest's hat". How glad I am that Meike encouraged you to begin your lovely blog!

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    1. Kristi! I think my heart is busting thinking of you! It was YOU that identified this lovely plant for me and I
      will always identify you with the hearts a busting bush!Thank you!

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  15. Kay G. I tried using your "Search" button to look for the corn casserole recipe but it would not work?

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    1. I couldn't find it by using the search engine either, I went back and looked at my posts from past November...no luck. OH well, not to worry, I just did a post tonight and I hope you like the recipe, it's easy! :-)

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  16. A very interesting looking seed and seed pod.

    I've just been munching on some delicious dark chocolate-coated ginger! :)

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    1. Oh! I am a huge fan of ginger!! Covered in chocolate, oh my that sounds so good!!

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  17. I'd not heard of Hearts A Bustin, but it's lovely.

    At this time of year there are quite a few German Christmas Markets around (always lovely to visit) which have lots of goodies for sale including lebkuchen ...

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lucky you! You have your great English chocolate And treats from all over Europe! I have a dream of seeing the Christmas market in Ludwigsburg where Meike lives!

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    2. "I have a dream of seeing the Christmas market in Ludwigsburg where Meike lives!"
      May your dream come true ...

      All the best Jan

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    3. Jan, thank you! You are too sweet! If I ever get to Germany, I will raise a glass of German white wine to you! :-)

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