The Little Flowers

07/27/2025

During World War I, a remarkable group of heroes worked quietly in the shadows of no man’s land—mercy dogs, also known as casualty dogs or Red Cross dogs.

These specially trained canines ventured into the most dangerous battle zones, searching for wounded soldiers among the chaos. Outfitted with saddlebags filled with water, liquor, and first aid supplies, the dogs brought critical help to injured men who were often stranded and alone.

If a wounded soldier was able to help himself, he could use the supplies the dog delivered. For those too badly hurt to move, the dog would bring back a piece of the soldier’s uniform to the trenches, guiding medics straight to him. Most heartbreakingly, when a soldier was beyond saving, these loyal animals would stay by his side, providing comfort and company in his final moments a gentle presence in a world of violence.

It’s estimated that 20,000 mercy dogs served across both World Wars, their instincts and loyalty saving countless lives. Surgeons even remarked that these dogs could sense signs of life that humans missed. Silent, steadfast, and brave, the mercy dogs of WWI were much more than helpers they were lifelines, bringing hope and comfort in humanity’s darkest hours.

Sources: HistoryNet, military archives, World War I animal hero stories.

07/21/2025

Squirrels are Nature’s Nurturers

Squirrels aren’t just cute—they’re compassionate. When they find an orphaned baby, some step in and raise it as their own. It’s a rare glimpse of kindness in the wild.

They show love through grooming, playing, and building strong bonds—not just with family, but with their whole community.

Every time they bury a seed and forget it? They’re helping grow new trees and forests. 🌳

Squirrels are the Johnny Appleseeds of nature.

07/21/2025

Long before children fell in love with the world of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter was kneeling in the woods with a sketchbook and microscope—documenting mushrooms.
Not for fun. For science.
A self-taught naturalist, Potter was fascinated by fungi. She spent years collecting specimens, observing them with a steady hand and an artist’s eye. While male scientists overlooked their subtle forms and fleeting colors, Potter captured them in hundreds of illustrations so accurate, they’re still used by mycologists today.
She wasn’t just drawing—she was thinking.
Potter developed her own theories about how fungi reproduce, studying spore germination under her microscope. In 1897, she submitted a paper to the Linnean Society of London, one of the most respected scientific institutions of its time. But because she was a woman, she wasn't allowed to present it. And without a voice to defend her findings, the work was dismissed.
Still, she didn’t stop.
She kept studying. Kept drawing. Kept learning. But eventually, she realized that the doors of science would not open for her.
So, she built her own.
She turned her skills to storytelling—still rooted in nature, still observant, still meticulous. Her animal tales weren’t just charming—they were grounded in biology, behavior, and detail. And through them, she reached millions.
Beatrix Potter was more than an author.
She was a scientist silenced—and a creator who found another way to be heard.
~Old Photo Club

07/17/2025

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“The dandelion is the only flower that represents the three celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars: The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moons, and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine, and dye for colouring.

Up until the 1800s, people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “w**ds” like chickw**d, malva and chamomile.

The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves. 🦁

Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.

Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as five miles from their origin!

Birds, insects, and butterflies consume nectar or seeds of dandelion.
Honey from bees pollinating dandelions is quite delicious. 🐦 🐛 🐜 🦋 🐝.

Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seeds.
Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee.

Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as a diuretic.

If you know dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.

Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist. They are masters of survival worldwide."

~ Author Unknown

The Dandelion does not stop growing because it is told it is a
w**d .
The Dandelion does not care what others see .
It says ' One day they'll be making wishes upon me '... ~ B Atkinson

07/14/2025

Happy Feast Day
A very blessed St. Kateri Day

I nearly chose her as my confirmation name. I love her and feel very connected to her. Somewhere along the line, on my French side, a Native American married in. I’ll never know if they (possibly a few individuals) were Abenaki or Mohawk. Many records were destroyed in Canada. Ive gone through records from Vermont and had a hard time looking in Quebec records. Some of my ancestors were Acadian and made their way down to Vermont and some to Louisianna. It was a fun yet frustrating search. Regardless of records, I love my connection to St. Kateri and the deep history my French ancestors gifted me from all the way back to the mid-1600’s in North America.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Feast Day: July 14

Informally known as "Lily of the Mohawks", she is the first Native American saint from the territories of the future United States and Canada, she is popularly venerated as a patroness of ecology. Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk Chief, in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her mother was an Algonquin, who was captured by the Mohawks and who took a Mohawk chief for her husband. When Kateri was four years old, a smallpox epidemic took her parents, along with her baby brother, leaving her with pocked skin and diminished eyesight. We can sense how much of her vision she lost from the name “Tekakwitha,” literally, “One who walks groping for her way.” What spiritual seeker cannot see themselves in that name? The disease also attacked Kateri and transfigured her face. She was later adopted by her two aunts and an uncle.

Kateri was known as a skilled worker, who was diligent and patient. However, she refused to marry. When her adoptive parents proposed a suitor to her, she refused to entertain the proposal. They punished her by giving her more work to do, but she did not give in. Instead, she remained quiet and diligent. Eventually they were forced to relent and accept that she had no interest in marriage.

Kateri became converted as a teenager. She was baptized at the age of twenty and as a result, incurred great hostility from her tribe. Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. Kateri went to the new Christian colony of Native Americans in Canada. Here she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices and cared for the sick and aged.

Every morning, even in the most bitter winter, she stood before the chapel door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified. She died on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four. Witnesses described her smallpox scars disappearing, and her face shining with a holy radiance. And in her saintly legacy, she has made a way for countless seekers to follow.

Despite the lack of a formal education, and Christian scriptural materials being rare and suspected, Kateri became a living Bible and living catechism. “Kateri, tell us a story,” her Mohawk companions would ask her, and she would share stories from scripture, and joyfully tell them of God’s plan for humankind, of his love and mercy, of the great dignity of each human person.

The Church finds God’s grace in the cultures of all believers. And in Kateri, we have found the grace of her Native American peoples, who have long modeled the call to be stewards of Creation, seeking to live in harmony with nature. The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) tribes had (and retain) a deep connection with the land, managing resources carefully, and following closely the rhythms and patterns of nature.

Kateri embodied this, often going into the woods alone to seek God’s voice in nature, leaving behind crosses formed with twigs as “stations” for those who followed her. Stanislaus Brzana, bishop of Ogdensburg, anticipated her canonization when he declared, “Kateri was a child of nature. Her sainthood will raise the minds and hearts of those who love nature and work in ecology.” She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012.

Devotion to Kateri is responsible for establishing Native American ministries in Catholic Churches all over the United States and Canada. Hundreds of thousands have visited shrines to Kateri erected at both St. Francis Xavier and Caughnawaga and at her birth place at Auriesville, New York. Pilgrimages at these sites continue today. She is the Patron Saint of the environment and ecology.

"Look at this Cross; Oh! How beautiful it is! It has been my whole happiness during my life, and I advise you also to make it yours.
I am very affected by the three nails which fastened our Lord to the Cross; they are but a symbol of my sins."
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha

+ Prayer +

St. Kateri, Star of Native People and Bright Light for all! We thank God for your heroic courage, constant perseverance and deep love of the Cross. Pray for us that our love for Christ may deepen. And may we imitate you in following God's Will even when difficulties arise. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

07/14/2025

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“In Italy, particularly in regions like Abruzzo and Sardinia, an age-old tradition involves donkeys carrying newborn lambs down mountains to lowland pastures during the grazing season, typically in spring.

This practice, rooted in pastoral culture, addresses the challenges of rugged terrain and the lambs’ inability to make the journey on their own.

Shepherds rely on donkeys, known for their strength and sure-footedness, to transport the fragile lambs in panniers—saddlebags or baskets—strapped to the animals’ backs.

This ensures the lambs’ safety while allowing the flock to access fertile grazing lands.

The tradition reflects a harmonious blend of practicality and cultural heritage. Donkeys, integral to rural life, are well-suited for navigating steep, rocky paths where vehicles can’t go. The journey is too harsh for newborns to make on their own. So shepherds trust their loyal, sure-footed donkeys to do what trucks and machines can't safely transport fragile lambs across rugged terrain. As the donkeys walk, the mother sheep follow close behind, keeping the flock connected as they head toward fertile grazing lands.

The journey also fosters bonding between lambs and their mothers, who follow closely, ensuring the flock stays intact. This practice supports sustainable farming, preserving ancient transhumance routes and local ecosystems.

While modern methods exist, many shepherds maintain this tradition for its efficiency and connection to their history.

It’s a vivid example of how Italy’s pastoral communities balance tradition with the demands of modern agriculture, keeping alive a practice passed down through generations. In the mountains of Italy, every spring tells a story of tenderness, tradition, and a deep bond between humans, animals, and land. This beautiful tradition does more than just move animals. It helps preserve ancient transhumance routes, supports sustainable agriculture, and keeps alive the wisdom of generations who lived in harmony with nature’s rhythms.

Though modern technology is available, many Italian shepherds choose to keep this ritual alive not just for efficiency, but for the rich cultural heritage it carries. It's a reminder that in some places, the old ways still work best, and the journey matters just as much as the destination.

In every hoofbeat, basket, and bleat, there’s a love story between land, animal, and tradition.”

07/13/2025

🌿 Powerful Herbs for Healthy Lungs
Breathe easier and support your respiratory system naturally with these herbs:

• Dandelion Root – Helps clear toxins and supports lung detox.
• Mullein – Soothes cough and reduces inflammation.
• Peppermint – Opens airways and eases congestion.
• Elderberry – Boosts immunity and fights respiratory infections.
• Echinacea – Supports the immune response and lung health.
• Calendula – Gentle support for inflamed tissues.
• Ginger – Breaks down mucus and improves circulation.
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) – Known for respiratory protection and stress relief.
• Licorice – Calms irritated airways and supports healing.
• Cinnamon – Antimicrobial and warming for the lungs.
• Long Pepper & Cardamom – Help clear mucus and improve breathing.

✨ Tip: Use as teas, tinctures, or steam inhalations to make the most of their benefits.

07/12/2025

For over two decades, the skies above Croatia witnessed a love story that defied instinct and time. Klepetan, a white stork, flew nearly 9,000 miles each spring from South Africa to a small Croatian village just to reunite with Malena, his injured mate who could no longer migrate. Malena had been grounded by a hunter’s bullet in 1993, but her life was saved by retired school janitor Stjepan Vokić, who gave her warmth, safety, and eventually, a soulmate.

Klepetan and Malena raised 66 chicks together. While Malena stayed home caring for their young, Klepetan taught them how to fly, hunt, and journey into the wild. Their bond wasn’t built on biology alone it was built on loyalty and sacrifice. When winter came, Malena stayed behind with Vokić, and Klepetan braved the journey south alone. Yet each spring, he returned never late, never lost. Even after Malena passed in 2021, Klepetan still visits her resting place beneath an apple tree, a ritual now continued into 2024.

This is more than a bird story. It’s a reminder that love can cross oceans, defy survival instincts, and persist even after death. In an age of fleeting connection, Klepetan and Malena proved that devotion has wings and it never forgets where home is.

📚 Sources: Wikipedia (2023), Asian Age (2018), Total Croatia News (2020), Croatia Week (2023)
🕊️ Names: Klepetan & Malena | 📍Location: Brodski Varoš, Croatia
📷 Caretaker: Stjepan Vokić

07/12/2025

👩‍👦 When a mother kisses her son, it’s not just a tender gesture — it’s biology weaving an invisible bond.
In that simple moment — lips to skin — a cascade of extraordinary things unfolds deep within the brain:
💡 Neuroimaging reveals the hidden symphony:
— The nucleus accumbens and dopamine pathways light up, wiring joy and reinforcing the primal connection.
— The amygdala and hypothalamus, architects of emotion, ignite to nurture safety and belonging.
— Oxytocin, the famed “love hormone,” floods both bodies, lowering stress, sealing trust, deepening attachment.
For the child, that kiss does more than soothe:
It quiets the stress circuits — regulating cortisol, calming fears, nurturing emotional resilience.
A mother's kiss isn’t ordinary. It’s ancient biology — a whispered promise of protection, of unconditional presence.
In that fleeting second, a shelter is built in the brain… and the roots of lifelong security begin to grow.
Love leaves traces science can finally see — but a child feels them long before they understand.

07/12/2025

Happy National Simplicity Day!!!
Happy Birthday to a man I admire deeply. Simplicity Day honors the birth of Henry David Thoreau, who was a naturalist and philosopher who advocated living simply in natural spaces. Simple Living has been a philosophy and practice that is near and dear to my heart. Its a practice that brings you into complete gratitude for who you are, for what you have, and the blessing of this beautiful natural world that surrounds us. Simple Living can help to take your eyes off of material possessions, technology, and competing in a fast pace society.

This is not an attack on lifestyles but an opportunity to reflect on simple living, and participating by doing one of the following: unplug from technology, declutter your home, unwind or pray/meditate, get outside and celebrate nature.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
-Henry David Thoreau

"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen."
-- Henry David Thoreau

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." ~ Henry David Thoreau
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07/11/2025

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When birds migrate, they tend to follow one of these four major routes...

07/11/2025

🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌🌝🦌
The Full Buck Moon, Full Thunder Moon, Full Oak Moon, Full Blessing Moon, Full Meadow Moon, Full Herb Moon, Full Calming Moon will bless the skies this evening.

I love summer full moons. Since childhood I’d love to sit outside enjoying the peace the summer evening and full moon brought/brings to me. Much like the moon, my heart feels full at these times. I feel God does a magnificent work in all with the help of all of His beautiful creation. Some feel it a little more and some need guidance. Both are a blessing.

The simplicity of it all is such a joy. What if we take these small moments, like full moons, to just sit back and really enjoy being present with no worries of the past or future and soak up all the joys of the season, family, friends, nature, and love. What if we walk mindfully in sync with all of God’s beautiful creation? It’s called La Dolce Vita, the sweet life. In place of wanting more, wanting bigger, wanting better, working harder, staying busy; try contentment, peace, giving, sharing, embracing, being and loving in the moment. What if we sent a prayer out for others during this beautiful moment so they may find that peace, healing, comfort and love? If you feel the energy then become guide for those that struggle with being still. Send a prayer. These simple little ripples sent out have profound energy for all. What if we enjoyed the simple life and simple pleasures for a moment in stillness under tonight’s beautiful full moon?

Enjoy this Beautiful Full Moon and all the Moondance Magic she brings.
~Melissa🐝*•.•*🌝