Sunday, April 25, 2010

Almost wordless week

Clematis Montana


Clematis Montana climbing up the Noble fir outside gate  --  inside gate with new plantings
                         
Inside gate in back of the cottage,choisya, rhodys, and cornus hybrid"Eddie's white wonder"

clarodendrum bungii taking over in tall sprouts in the hot bed

Few words here because I again took advise from Billy Collins .

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Thoughts on nesting and families returning

Hanging ivy geranium basket with hidden junco nest

nest in basket

Last week, with the warmer weather, I moved the wintered over ivy geranium hanging basket from the greenhouse and placed it undercover on a hook by the back door. By the end of the day there was a junco nest in it.

I can see now that the junco had a sense of urgency since their usual nesting ground in the long border was disrupted this year in order to battle the bindweed.  It made me realize once more how much we need to be stewards of the earth. Where we take away habitat, we need to provide another spot so all can “be fruitful and multiply.”*  I didn't do this intentionally but see it was God's intention.

The nest boxes for the swallows and wrens were cleaned out last week just in time for the violet-green swallows return. How fun to see them return from the far south to our meadow for the first time since thy left last August landing right at the nest box entrances.

Our minds have been focussed on babies and families flying north. Our daughter and two babies flew north this week, returning to the area for a short visit. So we rushed down to see her and and spend time with grandkids and rest of family. So you can see why the blog focus is around families returning and nesting and babies.

Where and how have you provided important habitat for your family to grow and perhaps return?
How are you taking dominion over the land where you are placed including creatures on it?  Is it with love?

*God said,” Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:2





Sunday, April 11, 2010

Can you hear a quiet voice in a storm?

Last week or so, the temperature dropped, the wind came in force, and like snow, fuji cherry blossoms filled the air.

Then it hailed. Here are the large hail, day-after remains, on the shaded sedum

and on the shaded walkway amongst the self-seeded columbine

Dramatic weather changes catch our attention. In an extremely busy week, it made me stop and think. Elijah in hiding came to mind. God met him at his hiding cave after “first the great and very strong wind,” (it could have included rain and hail). Then came the earthquake and fire and next ‘a still small voice.’”* I thought of the earthquake because we are way overdue for one. So I stopped and tried to listen.

God asks Elijah the same question I have been asking myself, “What are you doing?” Am I where God wants me? This week we stopped, prayed and tried to listen as we made great changes in our operation of our church here on this island. Today we passed on our jobs to others so we can be quietly positioned to meet needs elsewhere. I believe a greater storm is coming where we need to hear the familiar, whispered voice of God and act accordingly.

Where are you? What prevents you from quietly listening? Where does God want to reposition you? What will it take? (Hopefully not an earthquake.)
* I Kings 19:12 “…first a great and strong wind, then an earthquake and then fire and after that the still small voice of God saying, ‘What are you doing Elijah?’”
Esther 4:14 “…yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Mordecai to Esther (NKJV)

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Happy Easter! The week in white


Here are pictures from this week in white



Blossoms on Fuji Cherriy trees that line our driveway




Hellebore Lenten Rose

I'll add pictures this week. In the meantime, Easter post from 2008.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Does what I do have lasting value?

Raked, weeded, mulched we started to lay a path with stepping stones

“The greatest thing a generation can do is lay a few stepping stones for the next generation.” Charles Kettering


Our garden stones are neither set secure nor step to somewhere special (We are working on it).
Stepping stones of value I believe must have a secure foothold and lead to something of lasting importance.


I continue to think, “Does what I do have lasting value or not? Do I create an easier pathway for others to follow or a rocky one? Does my life reflect Christ?
Lasting value seems to be first by our faith and dependence on Christ. Anything done by this prerequisite for the lives of our mate, families, our care for children and grandchildren, friends, and in our jobs, our life will be lasting.

  
Many would not know there is a path unless the visible stepping stones are laid in place.
Here are some stepping stones of value that we can set in place for the next generation:

An example of faith in Jesus that stands secure.
  1. Love and care of family and friends
  2. Prayer for His leading in all things: for our church Fellowship, outreach to the community, our lives.
  3. A trust in the Lord for His direction in hard times as well as good.


    What stepping stones of value do you place in your pathway?