Five displays of Spring garden yellow to cheer you.

Facing the morning sun

Narcissus along the split rail fence in the meadow. I gather them twice a week to send to friends that need cheering

Bursting into bud

My husband planted a row of Norway maple along the entry road. Yellow pollen fills the air.

The daffodils in the potager

 Cheering and crowding a spring bare spot under the frost crumbled bird bath

Mounds of mosses

The Dicranum (I think) on the cobblestone raised bed tweaks my interest because I am reading

Gathering Moss : A natural and Cultural History of Mosses, by Robin Wall Kimmer.

Windmill palm ready for Palm Sunday frond cut

It looks stressed in the hot border. I'll give it more water and fertilizer this week.

I hope this week will not be a stressed one for you. May you enjoy the beauty around you and be fed by the living water.

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Jesus  in John 7:37-38

Three questions when considering time and effort

Rock wall built this week using found field stone, old pump and older stone trough

How many times must I replant the peas? Every day for the last few weeks, as I checked out the garden in the morning I found the peas uprooted, what was left of the pea seed eaten and leaves cut off. So I replant the remains...every day.

 

 

Last year it was the mink, the sightings and the footprint size betrayed it. This year with a closed cage made out of wire fencing curved to fit across the row there are no footprints. The peas are still dug up and cut off. I shout, in frustration, “Peas Please!"*

 

  

While I seemingly waste my time, my husband has planned and hired Dave, Stonebridge Masonry, to build another garden rock wall. He finished it last week, adding beauty and structure to the garden. It will last long after we are gone not like the peas that don’t even last a day’s growth .

 

Consider these questions regarding time and effort in your life as well:

1. Does what I do have any lasting value?
2. What can I give up so that my time will be spent for something more lasting?
3. Are frustrations because I am doing the wrong thing or because I am doing the thing wrong?

  

Give me your thoughts. I will post another blog this week on one of these questions.

 

 

*John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” NKJ

 

Happy St Patrick's Day

We're off island this week to a St Patrick's Day party with my former music group, Homespun.
Enjoy the one day that we all become a little Irish. I'm taking a wee break.

A new blog design will be uploaded tonight. Tell me what you think.
Thanks for stopping by.

Taking control of our borders

Bare for a season with ninebark cut back

The long border is out of control. The bindweed has broken the barriers, taken over, and settled itself in. We were too busy to watch and deal with it. Now it’s hiding around every plant to emerge with strength and force when the conditions are right. We know its plans with its binding tendrils to take away unique identity and force all other plants to bow to its methods.


We have dropped other jobs and consorted to take a concentrated effort to remove all but the garden’s bare bones.

1. We cut back more than half the red and yellow twigged dogwood and physocarpus (ninebark) so we can see bare ground.

2. We cleared the way, putting in pots artichoke, lilies, alliums and other plants to freely watch and wait for the emerging green bindweed shoots.

3. We keep watch, painting or spraying bindweed shoots at their appearance with roundup. Be gone bindweed.


We, as people of this nation, have let our borders go. We’ve lost the original vision of man’s loving dominance over the earth. The plants have taken control over man. Trees can’t be cut, pesticides can’t be used - man’s hands tied behind his back. I have loosened the ties, the reigns to fully charge ahead to take back the borders… in more ways than one.

How about your life?

What in your life do you need to get control over? What are you willing to sacrifice (time, money, energy) to do so?

“Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed (or bindweed ignored) can ruin a whole garden in no time.” The Message Hebrews 12:15

“Jesus, show me what to cut back and clear away in my life in order to change. Show me and set me free from the past that binds, old hurts that take away identify and keep me stuck and ruin my life. I ask forgiveness for holding onto any resentment or unforgiveness. I bring this to your cross for healing and freedom."

“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” Psalm 41:10 The Message

Inspiration from Olympians and Steven King

Stephen King book On Writing outside on chair with helleborus

I counted on a rainy winter week to hunker down and work on writing, but the woods in our backyard are full of bird song, the hellebores, daffodils, crocus, tulips and forsythia Plum and pear trees have also blossomed. It feels like May. I couldn't stay inside.


While working outside I started thinking about my lack of writing discipline compared to the discipline of the athletes of the 2010 Olympic games, in our backyard to the north. Bodie Miller on the downhill, back after terrible injuries to win the bronze, Canadian skater Joannie Rochette, whose mother died suddenly, yet went on to skate beautifully and many more with determination to proceed no matter what the emotion or pain. It seems to be the message of these last weeks.


On the previous week of bad cold, slight fever, aches and brain mush, which caused me to lay on the couch, I picked up a book from the coffee table that a friend lent to me, On Writing, by Stephen King. His perseverance to write, overcoming tremendous obstacles from a near fatal accident inspired me but once again pointed out my lack of persistence. I want to strive for the following:

1. Write every day no matter what (even sunny days)

2. Set up a space and time of day and stick with it no matter what.

3. Show up at the page and just write.

4. “The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things only get better.” P.269

I want to be tough for you Lord. Strengthen me to do your will. I do not want to cave in to the least pressure. Help me to get beyond my fear.


“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2a

Is fear keeping you from doing what God is calling you to do? What is the next step to overcoming it? Do you have anyone to hold you accountable and to encourage you?

February Weekend Photo Clips

A fun weekend with a surprise visit from our son and grandson. Here are some pictures. Will post blog later this week.

Teaching grandson Dylan about flickers with found feathers

Chef son Chris’ Kiwi Pineapple jam experiment for his restaurant

Chris brought this so Neil could experiment with a fried clam dinner

Summer-like weather brought out the bees

Batman visits too

God's heart for you

Sunday,  I looked for a garden Valentine heart that I could post, asking God, "Where might I find one?" No answer until yesterday as I came through the gate into the  garden, there in front of me, the wind had blown the dead pampas into a heart.  

Honestly, I didn't do this, and I didn't expect Him to answer in this way. God who controls the wind and all the ways of our life (if we ask) has abundantly more for you than you could ever ask or imagine.

What in your life have you asked God for but He hasn't answered? He wants you to have the mind of Christ not our "in the box thinking" God's timing is not my timing and I am thankful for it....often after the fact.

This heart is sent to you as a reminder that you are on God's heart every day.