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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Beautiful, thoughtful question. Sometimes the umbrella doesn’t help or it’s broken and we must endure the pain from the heat or be drenched from the persistent rain. Thankfully, we are durable. Mostly.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Yes, thank goodness for the "mostly." Thanks for reading and commenting. ❤️

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

I particularly like this Monday morning cup of thoughts too! It hits home.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you, Paulette. Your post from yesterday also hit home for me! ❤️

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Lynn Ellison's avatar

Nurturing all things including ourselves with love, kindness and caring encourages growth.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Absolutely, Lynn, thank you❣️

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sallie reynolds's avatar

A particularly lovely start to the week! I have an orchid someone gave me for rescuing their dog. For a year it languished. Then I read up on orchids and starting spraying it daily, sometimes with just a hint of fertilizer. And lo! It produced a long, long stem of buds which now have been blooming nearly a month. I think that the spraying was like your umbrella. The opening in the life of a fellow-creature that encouraged a wonder.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Oh, that's so lovely, Sallie, "The opening in the life of a fellow-creature that encouraged a wonder." ❣️❣️❣️

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Laura W.'s avatar

I like this idea. I think I'll try that for my Christmas cactus. It barely blooms but I've had it a year now. Xoxo.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

From the internet Thought I'd check for myself too ❤️❤️❤️

Holiday season

Christmas cacti typically bloom from early to mid-winter, but can also bloom in March.

Spring

If given the right conditions, Christmas cacti can bloom again in spring. To encourage spring blooms, you can place your cactus in an east-facing window that receives lots of sunlight during the day and 12 hours of darkness each night for 6–8 weeks. You can cover the plant with a black garbage bag or place it in a room that's rarely used at night. The ideal nighttime temperature is between 50–68°F. Once buds appear, you can move the plant back to its usual location.

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Trula Daugherty's avatar

This is a beautiful post, Sue.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you, Trula! ❣️❣️❣️

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Donna McArthur's avatar

Thanks Sue. Personal care, that deeper sense of moving into our body, is a beautiful way to move through the world. It's always important but especially when the road seems extra bumpy. Times like that we can nurture ourselves in the simplest of ways by simply caring for our physical being.

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Absolutely, Donna! Thanks for commenting! ❤️

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Liz Flaherty's avatar

We all need umbrellas sometimes, don’t we?

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

We sure do, Liz!!! 💕

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Luisa Handem Piette's avatar

I am so glad you wrote about our struggling flowering plants this season, Sue. I have a similar situation here and I am at once celebrating the new buds and sadly looking at the pots with dry and most certainly dead plants. Such is life, and your allegory is timely and reassuring. Thanks as always for keeping us grounded!

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

You are so welcome, Luisa! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!!! ❤️

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Laura W.'s avatar

Beautiful writing. Shared to my Twitter aka X. @me0wmixlaura xoxo 😘

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you so much, Laura❤️ I appreciate you!

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Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

A perfect cup of Monday morning thoughts!

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you, Leslie! Hope you are enjoying your visit with family❣️

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you, dear @Mickey Borello for your restack. I appreciate you. 🥰

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you, @Liz Flaherty for the restack!!!

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Thank you @kurt westphal for the restack!!! Appreciate your support.

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Patricia Meier's avatar

Second chances. Nurturing. Turning the other cheek is what came to mind as I read this.

I am in the midst of providing second chances on a personal and professional level. I wonder what might bloom. 🌷

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