Friday, June 22, 2012

Computerless garden

This was my morning to be totally frustrated since I just lost my post I was working on.  Too bad because it was my best ever....Sorry you will never see. 

Now I'm going out to pick blueberries and be in my happiest place...in my garden where there are NO computers.

Have a fabulous Friday.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Perking up the sad spot

Perked up the sad spot in my front garden with some new friends on Sunday evening.  Sad spots only make me happy when they are in pound cakes.  You may have to be from The South to get that?? You  can post a comment if you live in another country and that happens to your cakes too.  I know my niece, who is a cake baker and a recent transplant to Colorado, has had several sad faces when she's tried to make cakes at the high altitude.  She did have a recent success though with a cake that looked like a giant hamburger.  Way to go Jen!

Back to my new happy spot...we visited the new Southern Living Show House in Senoia, GA on Father's Day.  It is worth the trip to see this great town and what they are trying to accomplish with restorations and new ideas.  The designer house is a relocated, restored farm house with several additions.  Father's Day was a great day to visit for Duke boy and Hedgie Boy since they are both into what makes a home look beautiful in a livable way.  Not that all men don't think that way--but it wasn't too crowded--we did see a few men. Enough about all that sexist talk...The rugs were one of my favorite things about the house.  Favorite flower in the garden there was Queen Mum agapanthus.

Happy spot in garden---Black Eyed Susans, Orange variegated blanket flower--called sparkle something--I threw away the plant marker--I planted these to encourage Duke boy's peony to get happy.  It is so unhappy.  If it never does anything it won't be for lack of friends.  My pink cosmos is still tall and beautiful and producing new flowers daily.  Note to self is to apply bug spray before evening gardening.  After I took the time to slather myself in some family Off I didn't spend as much time nearly hitting myself in the head with my trowel while shooing mosquitoes from my ears. 

Yesterday morning sitting on my front steps with a cup of coffee I had a delightful visit with a hummingbird.  He swooped in to stick his beak into a nearby yellow cosmos.  He wasn't happy with that and flew to my purple tall verbena--I think that's what it is?  I shall try to repeat that experience this morning--after the sun comes up.

Looking forward to another beautiful day in the world.  Did you see that blue sky with all those little perfect fluffy white clouds yesterday?  Amazing!  It was just the shape of the little clouds that I drew on my paper when in school you had to draw a happy picture.  I know you know what I'm talking about.

Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.
I Peter 4: 4 or so   The Message

Sunday, June 17, 2012

War Hero Daddy Rule

Amazingly beautiful day today.  Spent my time trimming bushes.  Yesterday spent my time boating riding, swimming, and having fun with friends.  I like swimming better than bush trimming. All that glorious rain on Thursday made my flowery friends very happy.

Those above comments are the remains of yesterday.  I was too pooped to finish it.

Henry Eugene (Red) Erwin
Medal of Honor Recipient

Today is Father's Day and I honor and miss my Daddy.  He was a war hero which I never thought was odd growing up.  Daddy never made a big deal of it so I thought every body's Daddy was a war hero.
Kinda like I thought ever home in America had weenies and kraut on Sunday nights for supper--like it was a rule or something??  He and my Mom, and Grandmother Starnes, passed on the love of gardening and making your yard a beautiful place to hang out.  I never understood all that "yard work" when I was growing up. I do now.  I also know that the yard or garden you work so hard in is worth hanging out in when your not working in it.  Sit a spell and enjoy all that hard work. 

Hope you will sit a spell today some place beautiful.  If you are fortunate to have a good Daddy to sit with then I hope you will do that too. 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Bitterness management Day

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you...and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...Ephesians 4: 31&32
This is a tall order for the day.  Perhaps we could just try this at home...for those of you who live alone...Wal-mart trips...church...work.  ?? Where are you most prone to bitterness, wrath and anger.  Anger is the go to word--rarely do people seek my assistance and call it "bitterness".  Do you have a "bitterness management class?"  Nah--don't get those calls...perhaps there would be fewer calls for anger management if I did.  Usually there are layers of bitterness under the anger. 

Where does my tender heart need to beat today?  Lord, you have exposed yours to me in my garden this morning.  Thank you for layering my heart with your beauty in my garden.  Blueberries in my tummy to sweeten my day.  Chipmunks running to hide.  Birds singing.  Lilies, hydrangeas, daisies, cone flowers, zinnias, butterfly bushes.  Tomatoes.  Grasshoppers eating everything in their path--really???  OK, no bitterness.  It can hit before you leave the yard--see!

Peaceful Tuesday. Be kind. 
Welcome Italy and Lebanon--21 different countries--golly. 

Work is slower due to clients taking time to do summer stuff.  My garden is faster due to the rain.  Having difficulty beating the birds to the blueberries.  Only got 1 this morning.  Sad. 

Peace to all.  Have a restful evening.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Scones with a royal subject

Wonderful day with Hedgie girl in Carrollton.  I was the chauffeur for school today.  Just piddling while Hedgie got educated--had scones at "Piece of Pie" with a British subject who shared her story about  moving to this country and settling in Colquitt, GA.  Many lovely shops and friendly folk in that town.

Have a wonderful sleep and wake up refreshed for a lovely June Saturday.

Peace.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Walking in the Divine

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.   Romans 8:26  (NRSV)
This scripture reminds me that many times in my work that I can just shut my mouth and wait for the Spirit to intercede where I am unable to go--because some of that suffering is just too deep for words.  Those are the daily divine interventions that I  miss because in the next moment I am running my mouth again to try and soothe--the Spirit has already moved.  I can relax and just be present and pray for my own intercession.  I pray for an awareness of the divine today not just in my office. 

The Spirit is see and feel in my garden.  I am open to an intercession.  Fresh blueberries, a ripe tomato, beautiful lilies, even those well made grasshoppers.  My hydrangea to remember sweet Thomas putting on new growth. 

Peace for your day.                          Walk in the Divine.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

French gardens

Hello Kenya and Turkey and the new person in France.  Bonjour.

You will be happy to know that Paris, my hydrangea, is joined by a
new day lily, French Lingerie.  Oo la la. 

 Bought it on Saturday at the home of the other flower nut--like me--he just knew all the names--very impressive. 

All three of my gorgeous lilies are open--all burgundy, purpley.

Flowers in the house today.  Love my cutting gardens--not Martha Stewart designated area--mine are all the gardens here at Chatt-a-while. 


A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
                                                      Washington Irving

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Vegan cereal

Good laugh but not so funny at the time.  If you are trying to be vegan the vegetable broth comes in a box that looks--from the side--like almond milk.  When your chef husband graciously cooks your supper and then puts the vegetable broth right next to where your almond milk is---makes for icky bowl of cereal--luckily I was able to rinse off my freshly picked blueberries and regroup. 

Garden is looking super today.  Watered all since yesterday's rain didn't last long enough to make much of an impact.  The grasshoppers haven't located my new lilies yet.  Don't tell!!!!

How about that gorgeous orange full moon last night.  Wow!!

The heavens are telling the glory of God.  Look it up!

Peaceful Tuesday.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Turtle parade

China and Denmark.  17 Countries clicked on this page.  Never cease to be amazed by that. 

Watched a turtle parade on the river last night.  Dusky dark and they all slid off rocks and followed each other down river.  Very cute.( I have to admit before I looked upstream thought it was an alligator.)  Always look twice.

Used up all my bend-overs in the yard yesterday.  Duke boy and I bought plants Saturday from two other plant nuts.  One was a day lily nut and the other just a flower nut.  Got the most gorgeous burgundy lilies from the latter.  Hope the grasshoppers aren't chewing on them as I write.  I know I said I wasn't going to buy any more flowers---I think I can hear Dionne Warwick singing "Promises, promises..."

Hedgie girl returning to  school today to put some finishing touches on her degree.  Pray for safety and great teachers who want to see their students learn.

Peacefully Monday to all.