After a long, gray winter, I finally clawed my way out of the seasonal depression I experienced. With it, came anxiety like I have never experienced before. The sun came out, the flowers bloomed and my mood lifted. I also shed the three pounds I gained because of carb cravings.
Almost every day I take a walk with my pooches. I bring the phone or camera along for when a photo-op happens. Seeing so many flowers this spring really did brighten my mood.
I really love this quote:
“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” Luther Burbank
One day, I noticed my neighbor’s azalea bush and immediately thought of a cake. That reminded me of the song MacArthur Park originally sung in 1968 by actor Richard Harris. The azalea bush looked like a cake with its icing (the flowers) melting onto the grass. Hence, these lyrics:
MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don’t think that I can take it
‘Cause it took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
MacArthur Park (1968), music & lyrics by Jimmy Webb. A disco version of this song was covered by Donna Summer in 1977.
I am linking this post to Hugh’s Views and News’ 51 weeks-51 songs. Below is a YouTube version someone put together. I prefer Richard Harris’ version, don’t you?
Here are more floral photos in the gallery below.
This is the last opportunity you can link up your April Flowers! The link closes April 30th. Next week, I will share the links of the April Flowers’ participants in the final post. Thank you to all who have participated so far.
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful post at #OverTheMoon. I look forward to what you will share next week! Like someone in person today! We hope you’ll come back again next Sunday when we open our doors at 6:00 PM EST. Pinned and tweeted!
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Well, I’d always wondered about those odd lyrics, so you’ve cleared up a mystery for me!
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Glad to know, not sure I do, lol!
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I am sorry you have not been feeling well lately, Terri. Anxiety is a nasty surprise always turning up when you least neeed it!
I love that quote about those flowers, and it echoes how I feel about them too! 🙂
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Thanks, Judy, I’m waaaay better than I was in February!
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That’s good 🙂
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Now you’ve got me in a quandary because I actually love the Donna Summer version of McAuthur Park. I remember dancing to it in my clubbing days. I’m sure there was a 15-minute 12inch vinyl version of the song which helped make me lose a few pounds, Terri. Of course, Ms Summer didn’t do her career very well when she had a bit of an outburst about gay people and then watched her sales figures plummet. However, she did the right thing and apologised.
Like warm spring days, flowers certainly do raise the spirit. But then (for me) so does a cosy night in with a big bar of chocolate, a bottle of red wine and a good sci-fi movie. I guess that’s why I’m always so pleased that us humans are all very different.
Enjoy the blooms of happiness, Terri.
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Oh, I loved Donna Summer’s version until I heard Harris! But I have to admit that your therapy is also effective, can’t go wrong with that combination!
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I am glad you have emerged from winter, the sun is a mood lifter. I love the quote about flowers. My husband bought me a bunch or red roses yesterday, for no reason, just being nice. I loved them and took photos so that I could keep the roses forever.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
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Thanks, Kathleen, I bet yours are beautiful and how nice of your hubby!
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
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Thanks, Danny, this was the post I wanted reblogged 😊
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I did good! lol
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Love the cascade of blossoms that looks like melting cake frosting as well as your other lovely shots. I’m sorry I couldn’t participate in your April flowers because we have had such a late spring there are no flowers yet in my back yard, though I did see a daffodil blossom the other day and my heart skipped a beat. If you ever do a May flowers challenge, I’m in!
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Thanks, Molly! We’re in full flower power mode this spring, more than I’ve seen in a few years. Hope it warms soon and more daffies pop up to greet you!
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Lovely post, Terri – I remember “Macarthur Park” very well from my childhood – so romantic. Glad the spring has lifted your mood – anxiety is something I think so many of us suffer from these days, including myself.
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Loved the cheery in this post Terri. Great photo of the azaleas and I love that song choice by Richard Harris. Glad you’ve found the sun again. 🙂
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Thanks, Debby, I’ll be crying for sunscreen by Sunday!
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That’s a good thing! 🙂
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What a lovely post, Terri. So glad Spring drew you out of seasonal depression. SAD can be debilitating. What a blessing that its effect lasts only a few months each year. The flowers and music in this post are uplifting. You have injected a sense of hope into our blogosphere, just as Spring brings hope of continuing life 💚
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Oh Tina, you are so sweet to say so! Thank you!
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I remember that song! I, of course, had a crush on him after he starred in Camelot. He didn’t have the best voice, but my little pre-teen heart melted, along with the cake (even though I had no idea what the song was about).
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I was pretty young when that song came out but I heard it on the radio–it was so long!! I still love it today! What IS it about anyway? LOL.
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I also like the Richard Harris version the best. Thanks for the uplifting song and great photos, Terri!
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How cool, thank you!
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We may “never have that recipe again”, but we can always look forward to creating a new one. Welcome back into the light, glad we all made it !! And love, love that song…1968 was a very good year, and the Richard Harris version reigns supreme.
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Yes!! This one is the best!!
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Love spring flowers and your pics are beautiful.
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Oh those flowers are so exquisite. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad you are feeling better. W is for Watch the Wordcount as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
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Thanks so much, Shirley!
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Terri Webster Schrandt celebrating the return of the sun… if anybody has any left over.. please can we borrow… thank you ..
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Aw, thanks so much, Sally!! Today the fog just now lifted (8:45am). It will be 85 degrees by next Monday! I’ll bottle some and send your way ❤
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Thank you, thank you….♥
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Seasonal depression is very common, Terri. I am glad your mood has lifted with the warmer weather. A lovely quote, song and beautiful flowers.
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Thanks, Robbie! This was the worst episode in many years! Glad to be out of it!
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Beautiful colors! Brightening my mood. Hopefully, the rains are done now. The forecast looks very promising, even fantastic. But, guess what? We are leaving the area just as summer starts. 😦 Enjoy!
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Thank you, Liesbet, I hope we are back to our sunny days. In three months after 90 degrees plus days, we’ll be crying for cool, gray days 😁 where are you headed?
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East Coast for three weeks, then Belgium for four. When summer officially starts, we will be back in the East Bay. 🙂
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Oh good! Safe travels and enjoy!!
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