September 1st

This first day of September came fast, oh my!

There's not a cloud in the clear blue sky.

Autumn will soon draw nigh

as summer will end by and by.

Neither are there contrails from planes that fly

going somewhere traveling high in the sky.

On either end there's not a dry eye.

Some said 'bye-bye' while others say 'hi'.

Vines in the garden have died.

Soon we'll bake shepherd's pies.

A fat toad hops away.  He's shy.

When I saw him I was surprised.

Squash vines laden so don't have to buy.

A pumpkin will make Thanksgiving pie.

For sure a new recipe try -

something yummy steamed, baked, or fried?

A painted lady or maybe a guy

floats down to say hi.

Off she goes up high again as though shy.

Her wings wave 'bye-bye'.

Soon will have to deadhead flowers that died.

Most perennials are more than knee-high.

Will miss the rainbow of flowers tie-dyed.

I'll save seeds so someone doesn't have to buy.

This first day of September flew by.

In fact everyday time does fly.

Time is free.  You cannot ever buy.

Something everyone learns is 'time flies'.

* * * * *

Time is precious

and also priceless.

Time always travels forward

though we review time backwards.

Remember the good times

and learn from the bad times

for time also teaches us lessons

needed to mature us through the seasons.

Time, taken for granted when we're young,

gains respect as we mature for among

the seasons of our life we realize

time cannot be reclaimed, it takes wing and flies.

Time is said to heal all wounds.

In this case, time isn't over soon

for time lingers for wounds to heal

giving us time to recover and deal.

Be sure to spend some time today encouraging one another

for we all need encouragement from time-to-time from what bothers.

This time you spent will recharge your batteries

and is often repaid with sincere flattery.

And take time for yourself today

to recoup from the stress of the day

for someone will need you tomorrow

to help them deal with their sorrows.

Time for yourself is best spent

in quiet prayer and worship

for spending time alone with God

helps us endure when times are hard.

Time is the same for every one of us -

twenty-four hours entrusted to us

rather minutes 

or seconds

a day does fly by.

Gone forever.  Bye-bye.

Here's what Solomon had to say about the duration of time.

Apparently he had spent time thinking about time in his mind.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

at time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Hummers

When hummers come,
to watch is fun.
They dip
then sip.
Zip
zip.
Wings flick.
Gone quick.

Visiting the trumpet vine
at set times while the sun shines
into red clusters they dip,
from trumpet flowers they sip.
When hummers zip quick
do they wear lipstick
on their lips?
Who knows, they're quick.

I've seen them sit
on the fence for a minute.
As soon as I approach - zip
off quick
they went.
Zip
zip!

They'll be back soon
when bee balm blooms.
Several will dine
all at one time
in citrus-scented blossoms.
Who knows where hummers come from.
You know they're here when you hear their hum.

I'm delighted they remember me
and I'm glad when hummers I see.
I hear one now.
There he is - wow!
Dip
Sip.
Zip!

* * * * *

Be sure to take time from your busy day
to enjoy God's great creation today.
Creation was designed with you in mind
because God the Creator is so kind.

Whether it be birds singing
or hummingbirds zipping.
God created birds for our enjoyment.
One of His many blessings to us sent.

The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
Psalm 104:12

After the Rain

Raindrops falling from the sky.
A needed shower draws nigh,
offering much refreshment
and sometimes encouragement,
for oft times the earth is parched
as life can become too harsh
on God's lovely creation
and every man and women.

Light sprinkles or spring showers,
dark storm clouds or heavy downpours -
sometimes needed, sometimes not,
sometimes too much is our lot.
Sometimes without warning
other storms are forming.
Not always gone by morning.
Beyond our understanding.

Thunder roars and lightning cracks,
then the dark rain clouds burst.
There's a downpour on the earth.
Rivers rush for all they're worth.
Too much too fast comes forth;
earth overflows its girth.
It's beyond our understanding -
as problems are, notwithstanding.

As earth goes through a pounding,
in life there is suffering.
There is no one immune.
Oft times not over soon.
Quite often we ask why
from God who's way up high.
It's beyond our understanding.
There's silence from where we're standing.

When the sun comes out again,
after the rain has fallen,
God's rainbow is sometimes seen
promising blessings unseen.
Yes, God was there all the time
with a solution in time.
How great is God!  Outstanding!
He's beyond our understanding.

After the rain, rainbows are seen.
The flowers preen and grass is green.
After the rain much can be gleaned
for the earth is fresh and cleaned.
After the rain, lessons are learned -
from suffering patience is formed.
Joy comes out of suffering.
It's beyond our understanding.

* * * * *

Nature is a metaphor of life.
Much can be learned about life
as one studies nature at its finest;
perhaps lessons meant to refine us.

There's the marriage and parenting skills of birds
and their lesson to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Even how birds flock together,
teach us we need to stick together.

And today's lesson -
that behind the storm
the sun, hidden by clouds, still shines
in the sky the entire time.

Yes, God is always with us all the time,
even when it seems the sun doesn't shine.
Many times in the womb of darkness
God will shine forth His faithfulness.

Do take a moment to reflect
on how God does provide and protect.
You'll realize that God was there
and He sent others who care.

The clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers fall on mankind.
Job 36:28

He says to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour',
so that all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor.
The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
Job 37:6-8

How great is God - beyond our understanding!
Job 36:26

He does great things beyond our understanding.
Job 37:5

To order Life Is a Garden Party, go to WestBow Press.

Trimming

Into my back pocket goes
sharp pruners to clip what grows
up too high or down too low.

Dead rose bush canes are trimmed down low.
Other shrubs are shaped to grow.
Evergreen limbs are cut just so.

Then off to get the long loppers for wouldn't you know
what grows is up too high to reach standing on my toes.
Then carry limbs off to the new brush pile to stow.

An afternoon storm blows
leaving behind some woes
and more branches to tow.

Piled high in a big row
are branches and limbs now stowed.
They got there by being towed.

The wheelbarrow goes
with me and helps tow.
It reduces woes.

That shrub doesn't need to be trimmed for a doe
had a late night snack standing on her toes.
I wish I had known.  I would have told her "NO!"

The brush pile grows bigger as the year quickly goes
with limbs that have been cut off - some up high, some down low.
Next year there'll be a new brush pile to stow then tow.

Trimming what grows
against the flow
is right , you know.

* * * * *

Not only does something in the yard need to be trimmed,
usually there is something in our life that needs trimmed.

It could be words that ought not.
It might be actions that hurt.
It could be our train of thought.
Are there companions that plot?
What have our bad habits brought?

Something to WATCH out for
and to teach to others:
W words
A actions
T thoughts
C companions
H habits.

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil -
resist - don't give satan an opportunity to devour.

Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
I Peter 5:9

When you stand firm,
God's strength will come:

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength...
II Timothy 4:17

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth
to strengthen those whose hearts
are fully committed to him
II Chronicles 16:9

To order Life Is a Garden Party, go to WestBow Press.

Battling

Gardeners spend the season battling
yellow dandelions in the spring.
They might find grubs in the soil
making for more unwanted toil.
The battle has now turned to war
for dedicated gardeners.

Without fail slugs will find the hostas.
Gardeners devise ways to take them hostage.
After they think aphids are under control,
they soon find green worms on the flowering rose.
Yes, the battle has turned to war
for most dedicated gardeners.

Japanese beetles come every summer
making more work for the gardener.
Some years there are uninvited striped beetles and bugs galore.
For sure, the dedicated gardener is never bored.
Gardeners battle to win the war.
That's just part of being a gardener.

Not only do gardeners battle insects and beetles,
they declare war on weeds - a season-long battle.
Rather dandelions
or two types of plantain,
gardeners declare incessant war -
that's just part of being a gardener.

At my house there's unwanted purslane
and horsetails - both a genuine pain.
They both came in a load of topsoil
which now make for constant labor and toil.
Though war is declared, the battle is waylaid.
This warrior's combat has begun to fade.

* * * * *

Every day there's a battle of some sort,
though unwanted, I'm sorry to report.
Gardeners daily fight insects and weed seeds
but there are worse struggles to battle indeed.

There are physical, emotional, and mental battles.
Everyone fights the battle of gossip.  Please don't tattle.
Physical struggles come and are hard to deal with.
Emotional conflicts take longer to heal and forgive.

Mental battles with oneself even weaken the strong.
There are spiritual combats between right and wrong.
It seems we constantly fight something
as no one know what a day will bring.

We struggle not to eat too much
otherwise we might end up feeling stuffed.
We battle not to spend too much
even though we already have too much stuff.

Battles are meant to make us stronger
so we'll grow stronger faith and trust.
Pray that your battle does not linger,
that everything turns out fair and just.

Please don't give up on your battle
with whatever it is you are saddled.
Fight to win the battle by declaring war
then you'll learn the good things God has in store.

Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged...
for there is a greater power with us than with him...
With us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.
II Chronicles 32:7-8

To order Life Is a Garden Party, go to WestBow Press.

Borage

Borage is an annual that grows
wherever it wants to, not just in rows.
As it self-seeds itself each year quite abundantly,
you'll have many borage plants with blue flowers pretty.

These blue flowers that look like a 5-pointed star
not only attract me, but many bees from near and far.
Be sure to stand amidst the borage to listen
to the chorus these droning bees love to hum.

You'll find it is a song of gratitude
to God for providing nutritious food
and for their occupation which around-the-world reaps
the miracle of pollination and honey sweet.

The borage plant grows quite fast
and up until frost it will last.
In the right environment it will grow quite tall,
growing long branches that after heavy rain might fall.

As borage is a herb, it is edible.
The flowers have a slight taste of cucumber.
These flowers can be used as a garnish
or in a summer salad - delish!

My neighbor's nephew, Jonathan, likes the pink/purple blossoms best.
He samples these cucumber-flavored flowers to perform this test.
He made this statement one day while rubbing his tummy:
"There's a party going on!  Blue flowers are yummy!"

Oh, to have the attitude of a child
filled with wonder, not given to guile,
or even the work ethic of bees
whose industrious nature does please.

* * * * *

What a difference attitude makes.
Attitude is our daily choice to make.
To view each day with new-found wonder and joyful excitement
or to only concentrate on heartache and unfulfillment.

Thankfulness is a positive attitude
while worry creates a negative mood.
Not only does worry negate faith,
worry leaves a frown on our face.

This verse in Ephesians talks about the old self.
You'll find worry is a habit of the old self.
Worry is doubting God's goodness.
Worry leaves behind mental anguish.

Time for an attitude check:
Does worry give you heartache?
Start today by counting your blessings.
There'll be no time for worry or stressing.

Put off your old self,
which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds,
and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:23

To order Life Is a Garden Party, go to WestBow Press.

Green Thumb

Have you ever seen a gardener's green thumb?
I haven't yet.  I tend to have a brown one.
A brown thumb will the dry brown earth comb.
No weeds will escape from a brown thumb - none.

A brown thumb will plant seeds and seedlings.  Green plants will come.
When this gardener is working, you might hear her hum.
She's planning for harvest and thinking "yum yum".
She know that blessings from the Lord will soon come.

You'll receive a brown thumb when you plant flowering mums.
A brown thumb divides and transplants to share with someone.
How do you clean your well-earned brown thumb?
Scrubbing it and washing dishes helps some.

I also tend to have two green and brown stained knees.
I don't intend for this to happen to me
but each year another pair of jeans
ends up sporting green and brown stained knees.

It's so much easier to weed down on your knees.
You can pull out the tall grass and little weeds wee.
You can listen to the bees
and grubs in the soil see.

When you're done with the weeding, you'll be pleased.
Take a moment to stand back and look, see
your hard work paid off and thankful you will be
you're able to get up off your knees.

A brown thumb and green knees are a sure sign
of a dedicated gardener like me.
Next time you're at the nursery, find
those who sport brown thumbs and green knees.  You'll be pleased.

* * * * *

You and I were fearfully and wonderfully made -
for on the 6th day of creation plans were laid
to create male and female,
to be born without any ails.

When sin entered in
so did aches and pains.
Sin was the original cause of pain.
It has been said there's no gain without pain.

Gardeners know this to be true
for at the end of the day
when they finally sit down to survey
they creak and snap and have a few aches new.

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Some recent photos from my garden (July 2014):

To order Life Is a Garden Party, go to WestBow Press.