Moss rose (portulaca grandiflora) a morning bloomer... the blooms will go away in the afternoon to show their beauty again the next day. This plant reminds me of my childhood, many houses had moss rose (11 horas in Portuguese) in the garden, they are easy to grow and there are many colors available.
This is my contribution to Today's Flowers hosted by Santilli.
This is what really soothes me: a view of green pastures, farm life, hills and mountains. I grew up on a flat farm but married a man from the mountains! I took this picture on the way to my in-laws' farm. We had to stop along the way because of some unexpected road construction... I was about to complain when I thought to myself... There is got to be something good out of this situation, we had been traveling for almost 3 hours, the kids were tired of being in the car and we were very close to the farm... as I got off the car I was presented with the most relaxing view!
A view from our balcony. I can see miles and miles away... We have gray skies today which is not unusual this time of the year and Spring is just around the corner! The trees are blooming all over. I can see mango trees, tabebuias of many different colors and sky rises surrounding the city...
Another view, to the right of the balcony, I zoomed in so I could show you a church that is across town, it takes me about 15 minutes to get there by car...
My mom gave me this trunk many years ago... it has a beautiful story behind it. When her father, my grandfather, made this trunk, her mother, my grandmother, was pregnant with my mom! I can imagine my grandmother wearing her long dress, and my grandfather carving the wood... Well, my grandfather passed away when my mom was only eight years old, and all I know is that he was a tall and very intelligent man, taught all his daughters how to read, and my mom still has his notebook with the birthdate of his children, they had 7 girls and only one boy. This happened in the 1930's... 
What a sentimental day... Robert at Thoughts of a father photo project for the day is to show an object of sentimental value and so many thoughtful and inspirational stories are being told...
Welcome friends to my home and stay for a while... We live in a 3rd floor (4th in the US) apartment and the front door is boring, so I am showing here the balcony door too, which has a nice view of the city.
I love coffee, tea, blue stuff, crafts and small things, such as the little guinea fowls in my kitchen. The old coffee pot belonged to my grandmother and I inherited it...
Annatto or achiotte, (bixa orellana L.) has the scientific name derived from a Spanish explorer in the XVI century. This plant is grown mostly in South America and Brazil is the main producer and exporter. Known here as urucum or colorau, the seeds are used as a natural red food coloring in the food industry, cosmestics (known as the lipstick-tree), to dye textiles and also for cooking, which I recommend. The color result is similar to paprika, it does not alter the flavor of the food though. Also, Brazilian indians and other Latin-American indians use the seeds to make body paint.
I find it hard to glorify nature without glorifying the Creator of all things... in the kingdom of nature there can only be a king... that shows us His glory and all things speak themselves to proclaim the works of God's hands...
Ecological Day is a monthly event started by Sonia, at Leaves of Grass, and the purpose is to write and post photos about anything related to Ecology. Let us reflect the love of the Creator for us by respecting and loving the planet.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul...