Thursday, December 30, 2010

Seasons of Change--Reflections From My Garden

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • She openeth her mouth with wisdom...

Lately I've been feeling just a bit like my garden looks--sad and neglected.



There are some parts that are like this corner--it used to hold flourishing squash plants, but after a good frosts and a hard freeze or two, it's empty and full of dead leaves.

Other pieces of me feel overgrown and gone to seed, like the lettuce. Did you know that when lettuce bolts, even though it looks just as pretty and green and growing on the outside, it becomes inedible and bitter? There are some parts of us that need to be discarded and left behind--good for the compost heap, but not much else--to keep our hearts tender and tasty instead of tough and bitter.

The good news is, that there are pieces of me that are like this little patch of carrots--still green and pretty, and still giving little bites of goodness--I failed to thin these, so they don't have much room to grow, but even though the carrots they produce are small, they are sweet and delicious. And what's more, they're thriving, even with the wacky weather we've had--cold, warm, rain, no rain--doesn't seem to matter, they just go right on growing and bearing fruit.

We also go through seasons in our lives--some warm, some cold; some moist, some dry; some fruitful, some not. The Master Gardener sees the big picture--He knows that sometimes you have to let some things go dormant; others need to finish up and go to seed so that we'll have something to plant for next year; and others He'll make sure that they continue to bear, however small the fruit.

I'm praying that the Master Gardener will bring me through this season to another spring--one of growth and new life and bearing of more sweet fruit.

Until next time...

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Are You Waiting For the Light?

The house is quiet.

Everyone else is in bed.

The gifts are wrapped.

Most of the cooking is done.

It's raining outside, and the only other sound I can hear is the humming of the laptop and the sound my fingers make on the keyboard.

And lest you think that I have it all together, let me tell you otherwise. I have a small family, with no little ones anymore. We keep Christmas very simply these days. The gifts got wrapped today and tonight. The cooking is done because I just decided to call it quits and make do with what I've already done (which is plenty, don't get me wrong), not because I checked everything off of my list. I just shortened the list when I realized that some of it wouldn't get done.

Every year I tell myself that next year will be better. I'll be better organized; or maybe just more energetic.

Or maybe, just like this year, I'll do what I can do, and ignore the rest.

I haven't sent Christmas cards in years. Years.

I always intend to give goodie bags and little gifts to many, many people. In October I intend to. By December I'm just hoping they won't give me anything so I won't have to scramble to return the favor.

I've had a rough time the last few weeks. Not for any particular reason. My bark is worse than my bite. Or maybe it's just that I always, always, always, bite off more than I can chew. Or maybe it's that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. At any rate, I think it's in my nature to have Great Expectations that will never come to pass, at least not in this life.

But the house is quiet. What's bought is bought, what's wrapped is wrapped, what's cooked is cooked.

It's raining outside. And the house is quiet.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light....for unto to us a child is born, and unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.


I like that part that states that the government shall be upon HIS shoulder--not mine, not yours, HIS.

Thank you, Lord, that I don't have to take any responsibility that isn't mine. Thank you that you love me beyond my ability to perform.


Until next time...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

For Unto Us a Child is Born

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • She openeth her mouth with wisdom...
  • She looketh well to the ways of her household

It always takes me a while to get into the swing of the holiday season at Christmas.

I don't like the way most people rush the season.

This year has been the worst yet--stores had Christmas stuff out before Halloween had even passed.
Not to mention so-called "Black Friday" sales all throughout the month of November--and on every day of the week, not just Friday!

Our church had their church wide Christmas dinner over two weeks ago, to accommodate the folks who go out of town over the holiday.

Advent does start the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but the "Twelve Days of Christmas" were traditionally from December 24th through January 6th.

These days, most people are sick of the Christmas trappings by the time the big day arrives that they can't wait for a chance to take it all down again.

At my house, we just put a few strings of light up outside earlier this week; and while the tree is up, it's still not fully decorated yet.

I started my Christmas baking and candy making today. I may wrap presents tonight, so we'll have something under the tree when we finish it up.

I'm in no hurry, and that's the way I like it.

It really doesn't matter to me if my celebration coincides with the commercial parameters of when I should start or finish the holidays. I say a really neat sign that stated what I hope my whole life will reflect--that Jesus is the Reason for ALL Seasons.

For to us a child is born, for unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Until next time...

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Happy Hannukah

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22-23


Hannukah, the Festival of Lights, the Feast of Dedication--celebrated by the Light of the World.

Until next time...

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

How Does My Garden Grow?

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • ...with her hands she planteth a vineyard
From a distance, my garden is starting to look just a bit ragged. We had a couple of nights of pretty heavy frost, and although I covered everything as best I could, where the cover touched the leaves of the squash, the leaves turned black and then brown. It looks terrible, but I left the dead leaves alone, thinking that it would protect the underneath part of the plant...

..where it appears to be still growing strong, full of blooms and...

...the beginning of baby squash! There are several, like the one on the right, that look like they're suffering from blossom end rot, so I pulled them off. According to what I read online, this could be from inconsistent watering or lack of calcium in the soil. Adding eggshells to the compost will help for next year, but for this year apparently I need to get some calcium foliate that I spray on the plants. So I'll be visiting the feed store or maybe Tractor Supply and see what I can find.


Meanwhile the chard is thriving and ready to start picking the outer leaves, I think.

I actually thinned the lettuce, I harvested enough for a couple of salads for myself and some to share with my mom and dad, as well. I think I should be able to just clip the outer leaves and let the rest of of it keep going. The carrots need thinning badly, I just love their feathery tops, though. I wonder if I can eat the tops of the ones I pull?


I have two new additions in a couple of the empty squares--my mom and I ordered a few small fruit plants, and I stuck them in the bed temporarily. When my husband is home over Thanksgiving we'll decide on more permanent locations. These are several varieties of blackberries...

...and these are some blueberry plants. It'll be a couple of years before we get anything off of these, but I'm looking forward to harvests for many years to come!

Since that last heavy frost, we stuck a couple of old tomato cages in the corner by the squash, and then partway down by the lettuce, so I'm hoping having a raised cover will protect the squash plants a little better, at least until the blooms that are already there have a chance to make.

Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying the salad!

Until next time...

This post is linked to:
Garden Party Tuesday at An Oregon Cottage
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Thrifty Finds

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • She looketh well to the ways of her household...

My mom and I were out bright and early Saturday morning, headed to one of our local churches annual Women's Bazaar. We were after homegrown honey--a little birdie had told us that there would be a booth there with our new favorite "brand" of honey. Of course while we there we browsed the other booths, one of which had flea market/garage sale items for sale.

My first find was this hurricane glass--$.10! The picture makes it look like it's bigger on one end than the other, but it's actually symmetrical. And then I spotted this "fake silver" as I call it, chrome serving tray for $.50. By this time my hands were full, so I turned a blind eye to everything else, except the honey, of course!

I can't wait to use these in my holiday decorating!

What thrifty finds have you made lately?

Until next time...

This post is linked to:

Thrift Share Monday at Apron Thrift Girl

Nifty Thrifty at Coastal Charm

Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Giveaway at Secrets of a Southern Kitchen

I'm hosting a giveaway on my food blog, Secrets of a Southern Kitchen.

Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark will send one lucky reader a prize package of a bread basket, butter dish and spreader, coupon for one free bag of Pillsbury frozen Mini Grands biscuits, along with a $15 gift card to help you make a memorable holiday breakfast or brunch.

Be sure to drop by and enter, then check back again, I have several other giveaways lined up for the coming weeks.

Until next time...

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Garden Update

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • ...with her hands she planteth a vineyard...

Last night I woke up to one of the most beautiful sounds in the world--rain! I can manage to water my little garden with no trouble, but the farmers have been really suffering. Ponds are dried up, grass is dead in the pastures--so far we've gotten just over two inches of lovely, slow, soaking-in-the-ground rain, for which I'm very thankful!

Meanwhile, can you tell how much everything has grown since last week? We had a light frost last weekend while I was gone to visit my hubby, but it didn't seem to hurt anything...

...as a matter of fact, look what I found peeking between the leaves? Squash blossoms! (the yellow right in the middle) The leaves have all but swallowed up the whirly-gig I have stuck in the end of the bed.

The Swiss chard is coming right along...



...as are the carrots. I guess I'll try to thin them this week--I love the looks of the pretty, lacy greenery, though!



The bibb lettuce is beautiful...


...the onions not so much(!)...


...and I finally had enough of a show on my basil to bother taking a picture!

This post is linked to:
Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage
Three or More Tuesday at the Gypsy's Corner
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
Until next time...

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Heart of Her Husband

  • Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
  • The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, and he hath no need for spoil
  • She openeth her mouth with wisdom...

As I write this, I know that bright and early in the morning I'll be headed out, driving back home to Louisiana after spending the weekend in Texas with my husband. He's been here since right after we left Georgia in September, and hasn't been able to come home, even for a weekend, in over a month now.

It's hard holding down the home front while he's away, and I have a tendency to think sometimes that I have the worst end of the deal. This weekend reminds me, though that I have so much more to be thankful about than I ever give credit for. It's hard being alone in a town where you don't know anyone else. He is a much worse homebody than I am, and would like nothing better than to be home, working some where local, mowing the grass on the weekends and changing the oil in the trucks. Home is where his heart is, and if he had his way, that's where he would be. Instead, he works a job that keeps him on the road 95% of the time, all to be able to make a decent living and take care of the needs and wants of his family.

I leave here with a renewed resolution to do whatever it takes to make it easier on him. No more complaining. No more gripe sessions. No more pity parties. It's time to step up and be a virtuous woman--a chayil woman--a woman of strength and valour.

Not that I have it in me to be those things--but I was thinking again about the verse in II Corinthians 12:9, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (emphasis added).

I can't do it in myself--be those things. Strong. Full of valour. Virtuous. But when I give God my weakness, His strength is make perfect in weakness.

I can't. But He can.

And then the heart of my husband can safely trust in me.

Until next time...


This post is linked to:

Making My Home Sing Monday at Mom's the Word


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Do you know what this is?

Some of you country girls may recognize it...
Can you tell now?
It's a barn full of hay bales, but it's so much more.

That's my Daddy there on the tractor...


heading back to unload another bale.


And you can't see her, but that's my Momma driving the truck.



Daddy has always kept a few cows, at least ever since we moved to the country when I was a girl.


They built a house next door to my Nanny and Papa, and I became a country girl for the first time in my young life.



Last year he sold off a lot of his herd, it's just getting to be too much to keep up with these days.


But he still keeps a few, just because he loves doing it.




It's a lot of work, that's for sure.


But I think he secretly enjoys it.



Momma helps, too--driving the truck, or getting out and opening and closing the gates for Daddy when he drives.



It takes a lot of trips back and forth to the hay meadow to haul in enough hay for the winter months.


Even their Lady girl likes to go along.



I saw them last week, making trip after trip out to the hay meadow and back again...



and then Daddy made trip after trip between the truck and trailer and the barn.


Momma and I were standing in the shade while Daddy finished up.


I love my Mom and Dad, and they love me, too.


I thought about that last night, when I took a piece of good lean home raised beef out of the freezer and cooked it for my supper.
Beef Love. It's what's for dinner.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.
Until next time...
This post is linked to:
Just for the Joy of It at Good, True, and Beautiful
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life
Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Three or More Tuesday at the Gypsy's Corner
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails