Inherit the Earth – WPC
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Wendell Berry*
MAGNOLIA IN MAY
This week as I was looking out my kitchen window I saw that our magnolia tree had presented us with a beautiful gift. As I admired the creamy white blossom, my eye was drawn to a second flower, shown below.
PAST ITS PRIME
“It’s not how old you are, it’s how you are old.”
Jules Renard
Clearly this second flower was past it’s prime, and yet in my mind it was equally beautiful in its own way. This set me to thinking about how gracefully we humans age, and how we perceive beauty in ourselves and others.
WOODPECKER SILHOUETTE
“Black and White are the colors of photography.”
Robert Frank
As I was enjoying my quiet moments with the blooms a movement on a nearby palmetto tree caught my eye. It was an energetic little red-headed woodpecker probably seeking its breakfast as I was enjoying mine. My thoughts turned to the simple yet beautiful scene in front of me, and the importance of preserving nature’s gifts for generations to come. After all, is that not the most important inheritance they will have?
FALLEN
“We inherit nothing truly but what our actions make us worthy of.”
George Chapman
As I moved from capturing the silhouette of the bird I noticed a fallen magnolia leaf below my window. The leaf clearly showed signs of its demise but also maintained an element of beauty in the patterns and colors it displayed. I was reminded of what a remarkable world we live it, and how important it is to notice the small things that make it so. Let us hope our children and our children’s children can say the same thing.
WPC: Heritage
*The opening quote has been attributed to many sources, including an anonymous Native American and several other sources. The first written version however, is attributed to Wendell Berry
Travels and Trifles 
You’re a master at linking concepts, words and images together. And aren’t magnolias wonderful subjects – leaves and flowers alike? But the woodpecker silhouette – that’s a knock-out, Tina!
Many thanks Lynn – must admit I liked the result on that one too 🙂
I hadn’t seen your post before I put mine up. I always love your quotes and decided to borrow that idea as I put mine together. Love your thoughts and photos!
No worries Lindy – Imitation, as they say, is the sincerest form of flattery!
loving the detail in these ….beautiful words…as always!!!
😊😊
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A lovely reflection on this week’s challenge.
Many thanks PJB
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Happiness reading the quotes and seeing such lovely pictures, loved this one too as always. The black and white pic is amazing. Thanks for sharing Tina 🙂 .
Thanks so much Ashu – seems to be the favorite this week. Mine too!
Hi Tina, hope you are well? I just love the Woodpecker photo, it’s very unique – it caught my eye right away. All the best!
Hey there Mark – great to hear from you! Glad you enjoyed that one – I had some fun with it!
The Earth is indeed the most preciousinheritance the future generations will have. A beautiful post, Tina.
Thanks Tiny – I know you are focused on preserving habitat as well.
Love the silhouette shot Tina and the quote that goes along with it…perfect!
Thanks Andy – I had some fun with that one 🙂
Seems like you had a wonderfully mindful morning allowing your thoughts to be guided by what opened up in front of you – those are the best mornings!
They sure are Annette! Here’s to being aware of them!
Pensive, reflective post …thank you always for making me ponder …
Ponder away GF, you always seem to find an interesting train of thought no matter where you begin!
A lovely photo series Tina, and a good reminder to take the time to notice the small things around us. I really like the first quote – hopefully more and more people will start seeing the world this way:)
If only, Inger! But we can hope, can’t we?!
Simply the best in every way. 🙂
Thanks Andrew – I know you share my pleasure in the smallest delights of each day.
I do indeed 😊
What lovely pictures and verbiage
Many thanks Little Voice!
Such a beautiful post Tina and deeply thought provoking. There is so much beauty in the world yet I am so worried about the health of our planet and what future generations will have.
Thanks Nicole – I think we’re all worried. Hopefully increasing attention will help slow the decline
A vignette of beautiful photos & words woven together. Unique awesome woodpecker take. Great eye & mind as always!!
Many thanks Diane – hope all’s well in Joizey 🙂
Such a wonderful start to your morning, Tina. It’s not how old we are that determines our beauty but rather how we carry ourselves. Love that orange flower you captured there, and I thought that shade of orange was lovely. Bravo with the woodpecker silhouette. Very, very creative and it looked like you drew it (did you draw it?). ‘how important it is to notice the small things that make it so.’ Agreed. It is little things that we have around us that ultimately gives us a sense of purpose and a sense of fulfillment in how we go about our lives 🙂
LOL, no, I didn’t draw it Mabel. I shot it in color and then played with it in B&W and liked this version. Glad you liked it! It was a lovely morning indeed :-). Appreciate your visit and comment.
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Isn’t it beautiful when your thoughts flow from one little moment to the next. Your photos are also beautiful, and I especially love the woodpecker.
Thanks Claudette – especially when the quiet surrounds you and you have the luxury of letting you thoughts go wherever they want! >
Great post, Tina. I especially like the silhouette.
Many thanks Jane >
I also love flowers “past their prime”. Some of them are prettier in this stage
Agree 100%, thanks Nora!
In 1988 I was standing in a que to enter the dining hall of our residence. Some students were debating and one remarked that we must protect the land inherited from our forefathers. It was the when when his oppenent stated the Afrikaans version (in my mind being original version) of the Berry quote – I was impressed
Woody does it for me as well.
And by the way I cannot understand why people claim you are are aging gracefully, you cannot be a day older than 30 🙂
Ahhh Abrie, if only it were so – actually 30 is truly my mental age altho my chronological years are a big larger LOL. Thanks for the fun background story! >
Some of my favourite quotes! Divine pictures as usual – my favourite is the wood pecker.
Many thanks Leya, mine too 🙂 >
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Lovely… both your words and your photos:)
Thanks Kimball – especially after a landmark birthday, no?
Especially love the woodpecker silhouette! I skipped the aging gracefully and just flat-out fell into old age!
T, you’re definitely doing the ” slowly and gracefully” way! 🙂
LOL, not sure about that ML but appreciate the thought! >
Especially loved the new and old magnolia flowers…
Many thanks Laurel!
I love the silhouette, too, Tina. Although I very much like the Berry/whoever quote, at my stage of life, the Renard quote has much more relevance. 🙂 Thanks for sharing both photographic and written beauty again this week.
janet
My pleasure Janet, thanks for stopping by! >
Wonderful selection, Tina!
Also, I have a question for you. I’ll ask it by email.
Thanks Svetlana, at your service! >
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Tina, your silhouette of the woodpecker is divine. Berry’s quote is one of my favorites that I often refer.
Thanks Sally–I love that quote too
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Loved your post, Tina. So beautifully presented. The Jules Renard quote is so true. Aging is a transition of the body and the mind. ❤
Thanks Olga–very true!
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The Wendell Berry quote is one of my favorites! Your photos are lovely too!
Many thanks Grammy!
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Your woodpecker shot is wonderfully creative, Tina. Beauty in your backyard. 🙂
Thanks Jane. Beauty all around us–wherever we are 😊
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Lovely post, Tina! I’ve been admiring rhododendrons and laburnum working together beautifully in mine too. We have all the gifts of nature. All we need to do is preserve them. It shouldn’t be too much to ask. X
Thanks Jo, not too much at all!
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Great response to WPC- heritage! It’s different from what I have come across from other bloggers, great work Tina!
Thanks Arv! Daring to be different😊
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That’s cool Tina 👍
Tina. Beautiful photos and commentaries Hope u are both well I am slowly emerging from my post surgery cocoon Take care T
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Thanks Toni, feel better soon!
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It’s not how old you are, indeed, Tina! And we should certainly take more notice of the small things…enjoyable post
Thanks Sue, working on that aging gracefully thing LOL
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Haha, you and me both, Tina!
Beautiful photos. I’m not sure how easy it is to age gracefully. In the early process of aging it is painful but the alternative is not good. I loved all your quotes. Thank you.
Thanks GF, my pleasure!
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