Three on Thursday – Evidence of Fall

or Friday if you’ve procrastinated like I did, again.

Fall is my favorite season.
Cool days and cooler nights,
a relief after Sacramento summer days.
I found three evidences that it will soon be fall.

This vine, so dainty and fine, changes into its fall colors gently.
I don’t know its name.

Zucchini, cucumbers and marigolds have had it,
after working so hard all summer long!


Sunflowers, a summertime favorite. with her happy faces.
In the fall become food for the birds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 

Sharing with Carole ‘s Three Things this week.

August 11, One Hot Garden

I am joining Ginny at Small Things by sharing our garden.

Hot weather (102-106) this week in Sacramento and it shows in the garden

Saturday Morning’s   —  I am at the curb with VEGGIES FOR SALE!

Wish you could stop by. . .I’d make you a deal!

I’m thankful for the shoppers who come every Saturday.

Today was pretty warm.
I’m thankful for Travis and Margaret’s easy-up for shade,
a cool breeze now and then,
and time to sit and knit and listen to a book
while I wait for veggie loving customers.

Published in: on August 11, 2012 at 4:53 pm  Comments (4)  
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Planting

In the hazy “tea leaves” I see:

Planting

by Cinda Thompson

Two

Old people work

Side by side

She wears a hat

The old man boasts no hair

She moves

And he kneels

He digs

And she nods while

He speaks

To the seed

She ardently covers

Row by row

They rise and bend

Over their garden

On earth

Sunflowers will bloom

Toward

Late summer.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.For we are labourers together with God: ….1Corinthians 3:6 -9

(I like “tea leaves”.)

A Garden Door

A door shut in my life that I never thought would shut. I never dreamed it would shut like it did. I was in shock, I wondered why, I laid the door at Jesus’ feet. He picked up the door and carried it away. He opened a new door to a garden. What a Mighty God I serve!

Published in: on March 14, 2010 at 12:41 am  Leave a Comment  
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Velma’s 97th Birthday

Saturday, January 16, Velma Crain’s family met with her in Redding for lunch to celebrate her 97th birthday. Elmer, Mary, Emily, Melanie and I arrived at Velma’s (Elmer’s mother) about 12:00pm. Mary and Emily hadn’t been at Velma’s for some years, so I was able to give a tour of the home, the yard with about a half acre of planted gardens. Showing them the shed with our inheritance safe inside, different flower areas (bulbs, cut flowers, propagation pots), vegetable garden plot with fencing (deer out or veggies in), the potting shed and how the watering was done. Aaron and his family arrived about 12:30. So we did a repeat tour. Alyce found use for a shed in their yard after seeing Grandma’s. We then left to meet the rest of the family at the Redding Airport for a Chinese lunch. There were about 40 attending. Velma’s brother, Leonard, 4 of her children and their spouses, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a nephew with spouse and their grandchild, Sam, Barbara and several Garden Club friends. We had plenty of food, a delicious cake, much laughter and merriment. A very typical Crain get-together. We arrived home about 5:30pm, thankful for family and a safe trip.

Published in: Uncategorized on January 20, 2010 at 3:29 pm  Comments (2)  
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Prepare the Ground

Ecclesiastes  3:1-2  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

“If it is true that one of the greatest pleasures of gardening lies in looking forward, then the planning of next year’s beds and borders must be one of the most agreeable occupations in the gardener’s calendar.  This should make October and November particularly pleasant months, for then we may begin to clear our borders, to cut down those sodden and untidy stalks, to dig up and increase our plants, and to move them to other positions where they will show up to greater effect.  People who are not gardeners always say that the bare beds of winter are uninteresting; gardeners know better, and take even a certain pleasure in the neatness of the newly dug, bare, brown earth.”
–   Vita Sackville-West

In all the seasons of life there are times of needing to be prepared. After a bountiful summer, comes the time of clearing  the spent vines and plants; a time of rest and restoration. A time for considering what was successful, what could be improved, and what should be let go. May our hearts be open to God’s preparation, so we may be continurally fruitful for Him.

Luke 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Published in: Uncategorized on November 6, 2009 at 12:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Lingering Fragrance

October 8, Evening Tidbit

Flowers leave part of the fragrance in the hand that bestows them.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 8, 2009 at 10:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Second Spring

October 3,  Evening Tidbit

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 3, 2009 at 10:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Stars, Sparrows and Me

I spent Sept. 22-28th in Redding caring for my Mother-in-law. This is what my heart said:

Down a paved but pot-holed road on a mostly natural two acre piece
of land lives the “Flower Lady”. She has been taming this land by planting
flowers and bushes and trees and bulbs and grasses that would be good
to use in flower arrangements. Ground covers have been planted to help
keep the moisture in the soil. Fruit trees and grape vines are planted with
hope of a harvest, but the birds know exactly when the fruit is ripe.
A vegetable garden is found; fenced from deer and sun-screened from the
long hot days. This rocky, porous soil fights against taming, yet persistent
labor and a dream has worked a memorial to a great, grand lady.

In this place away from the busyness of life you’ll find peace and serenity,
birdsong and animal chatter. Here away from the lights of the world,
all the stars of the heavens can be seen. Here in this place faith assures us:
the God who knows the stars by name and watches each sparrow….cares for me.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 3, 2009 at 9:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Watering Gardens to Make Beautiful Bouquets

This would be my six word Saturday after spending 4 days watering Elmer’s mother’s gardens, picking flowers and watching her arrange them into casual flower garden bouquets. She picks a few of this type and a few of that, some greenery for filler and like magic a $75.00 arrangement.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 1, 2009 at 6:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s Writing Prompt: Odd plant

If you could plant something non-living and make it grow (such as planting a dollar and growing a money tree), what would you plant?

Health – A tree that would grow jelly beans that would taste like what good health feels like.
No more needles, tubes, bad tasting stuff, x-rays, operations, bandages…
Just pop a jelly bean!

Published in: Uncategorized on August 20, 2009 at 9:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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Another Journey

This is an exercise in writing. Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do, but always been hesitant, my great fears raise their hoary heads, what will she look like, what will people think, it’s not good enough, others can but not me.
Well, I just took a deep breath, let it all out , holding my nose I’m jumping in……

This exercise tells me to take a quote and just start writing, I don’t know where I’ll end up but surely the journey will be interesting, (the “U” is in journey because this time you are invited.

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present-love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.
Sarah Ban Breathnach

What do I have abundance of—in material things—cloth, yarn, books, audio stories. What is abundance; where do I draw the line? If I have more than two towels, one to use and one to wash is that abundance – it isn’t lack for I have some…I guess I’ll have to look up abundance.

I have abundant grace; there is always enough grace, especially if I reach out for it. I am loved abundantly, regardless of me, by my heavenly Father and my husband.

I try to see where is the lack – yes there are things I don’t have, but put on a scale-side by side-I am so blessed. I have more than two of everything, except a husband and one is enough.

Am I tending the secret garden of abundance? Am I nurturing, pruning, fertilizing, weeding or do I take my abundance for granted?

I have a choice, Isn’t that powerful? I can choose to focus on abundance not on what I imagine as missing. Are those things really missing or are they just hidden in a corner of the secret garden where it is sheltered and the most tender of plants grow?

“the abundance that’s present” I have today. What a present!

“The wasteland of illusion” how often I get bogged down in the desert land-the barren land of the “Isn’t”. Lift up your eyes! Don’t choose to try to bring to life a wasteland when a secret garden is right at my doorstep of the present.

Abundance n. – great plenty; more than sufficient quantity (see abound)
Abundant adj. – very plentiful; more than sufficient; ample; rich in something
Lack n. – the fact or condition of not having enough; shortage; deficiency

Whew! What a ride! Are you still there in the backseat? Are you carsick yet?
NO, we are not there yet!

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 9:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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