MONARCH SEASON

By: Just myself
Blog, , , Leave a Comment on MONARCH SEASON
Tiny fluttering beauty

It started with a science experiment with the kids. We gathered a monarch caterpillar, some milkweed leaves and carefully placed it into the insect cage.

We watched and waited. We waited and watched.

A chrysalis formed.

Wait some more, and changes started. The colour of the chrysalis transformed.

Then one morning it immerged. Wings kinked up. Unable to fly.

As the day progressed, the butterfly stretched it’s wings a little more and a little more. Fluttering and strengthening.

It’s favourite place to rest was in the sun, stretching and fluttering.

By the end of the day it stretched one more time, then it fluttered away.

Every year now, I watch and wait till the butterflies return. I leave a few milkweed plants in the flower bed so they know they are welcome here.

To understand the amazing transformation from ‘worm’ to beautiful butterfly a miracle of grand proportion. I stand amazed!

Today…

By: Just myself
Blog, , , Leave a Comment on Today…
A delight to the senses

Slowly assimilating back into the family. Still tired from the travel, physical work, and adrenaline crash from returning to the familiar.

Problem is that I do not want to go back to how life was managed before the mission trip. “But I am tired!”, whiny voice here.

The schedule was grueling while away, trying to complete as much as possible in as short of time as we could. The work was chewed through and the end of the days were wrapped up with a bow of satisfaction.

I don’t want that to remain there, I want it here also!

Diet was a huge part of our success I believe. We were eating keto with intermittent fasting. Well balanced, healthy, not processed food.

The fresh air, and physical labour made sleep sweet.

Making a grocery list today. Not breaking under the pressure of convenience and the desire for treats.

Fresh whole foods. Moderate quantities/portion control. No unhealthy snacking.

Getting outside into the garden. Absorbing the sunshine, breathing the air, stimulating the senses.

Wrapping the day into a bow of satisfaction of a job well done!

Surprise for me

By: Just myself
Blog, , Leave a Comment on Surprise for me
Sage

When I left my gardens in the care of my family, I was not sure what to expect when I came home.

This is only one little beauty, I happily discovered.

Probably should pick off the pretty flowers to keep the leaves growing. Not today though it’s too nice not to enjoy.

God’s gardeners

By: Just myself
Blog, , , , , Leave a Comment on God’s gardeners
Slow and meticulous

As I was working through the front gardens yesterday many bumble bees came along beside me gather pollen from the pretty flowers.

As I watched there were different kinds of workers. This one slowly went about it’s business going around the center of the flower not missing a spot.

Fast and flighty

This little bumble bee flew from flower to flower frantic in it’s search, barely landing before it was off to the next flower.

People are the same. Some take there time, delighting in the work, tasting the nectar as they go.

Others fly from spot to spot, getting flustered and having to go back to where they started to do things again.

Sometimes they are so quick you don’t even see them pass through. I wonder what they miss because of there haste?

The journey part 2: Change of pace, to bring light back into focus

By: Just myself
Blog, , , Leave a Comment on The journey part 2: Change of pace, to bring light back into focus
God is so good!

Stepped out of the rat race, to work extra hard for a week. Some how the Lord has come directly into view. Musing in the morning. Conversation and growth. A blessing upon me.

Before

The beginning of removing of the weeds that sneak into us, like weeds in this garden.

The journey continues…

Thankful The Creator Sent Rain!

By: Just myself
Blog, , , Leave a Comment on Thankful The Creator Sent Rain!
Clouds of promise

Yesterday was a beautiful hot sunny day, with a picture perfect sky, and not too many mosqitoes.

I was out working in my garden, weeding, watering and replanting my romaine lettuce that had failed to come up.

The reason I believe it had not grown was lack of water. I had been watering everyday but not nearly enough. The unseasonably hot and dry temperatures, and on somedays a steady wind, were not allowing the water to saturate into the ground.

When I started cultivating the surface and watering deeply, the ground sighed with relief. You could actually hear it drinking up the life giving liquid.

My heart could not help traveling to places of drought, where water is more precious than gold. Feeling thankful for our usual abundance, and asking the Lord for a little help to get fresh healthy food for my family and whomever He sends so that I can bless them with the excess.

Early this morning, before I was fully awake, I could hear the sound of a gentle rain tapping on my roof and splattering in my herb garden outside my window. All I could think was thank you Father, for sending a life giving drink, to this desperate earth.

The forecast calls for more rain tonight. We certainly need it. As the ground is turning to dust.

Sometimes my soul requires a little cleansing rain as well. My being becomes stagnant and starts to wilt. It becomes hard to shine and ‘be’ beautiful. (True beauty= kindness, gentleness, self control).

The world we live in seems to try to cultivate thistles. It is very good at growing thistles. It fertilizes with division and hate. It waters with government control and inadequacy. It seeds in destruction, jealousy, isolation and death. It is sometimes difficult to tell the weed from the flower.

Diligence and patience is required. We can’t rush through the watering and weeding process. We can not grow without drinking deeply of what is good, and carefully examining what is taking root, that we are allowing to grow within us.

May the Creator shower you with love and blessings, may He cultivate hope, peace, and joy in each of you.

Half way there, already!

By: Just myself
Blog, , , , , , , Leave a Comment on Half way there, already!
Wild red raspberry at home

June 1st, 2021

I remember when I was a child my mom helped out my Great Uncle George and Aunt Beatrice. They had the most beautiful garden, lots of gladiolus plants, nice and neat. Vegetables all in perfectly straight weed free rows.

They also had a massive row of big sweet juicy raspberries. It was always fun to ‘start’ picking them, one for the bucket, one for the belly, one for the bucket, two for the belly, etc, etc.

Always about half way through the task of picking, these berries would get boring and old. I remember whining about “how much longer till we get to the end?”

My mom would always say, ” instead of worrying how much we have left to do, look how far we have come!”

Today, right now, the half way point, it’s time to look how far we have come. What was sweet and juicy? What is not quite on track?

Regroup, refuel, strive for the prize but don’t forget how far we have come!

Spice of life, because everyone needs a little heat!

By: Just myself
Blog, , , Leave a Comment on Spice of life, because everyone needs a little heat!
Baby herb garden

Finding the balance between spicy and calm in life leaves me feeling bipolar. Just ask my best friend, when I can find the joy groove there is no stopping me. It’s always best to just hold on and enjoy the ride.

The flip side of me is the solitude I desire but don’t feel comfortable in for very long. If I don’t find that solitude ( which can happen even in a crowded room) I wither like a flower in the sun.

This is my favorite of my gardens. Although just babies now it’s full of basils, parsley, sage, chives, jalapeños, even a ghost pepper, some tomatoes, celery, and a few other herbs.

It’s my favourite because it adds flavour and depth to a simple meal or a banquet for friends new and old.

When it fills in it’s a mishmash of colour and texture.

It’s on a southeast wall and gets all day sun so it’s HOT, which is another reason I love this little taste adventure.

Even the simple can be spicy and solitude when you pour your heart into it!