Pumpkin Bread

Recipe for Pumpkin Bread

on Life Is a Garden Party

facebook page.

Recipe also in 

Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

available through WestBow Press.

Changes

Changes

Summer has ended.

Homework is tended.

Night time comes early

and becomes chilly.

Trees

leaves

are changing as if painted.

Each morning more tainted.

With a brush dipped

leaves are gold tipped

or painted red

or orange instead.

Colors only God could create

now humans try to duplicate:

burgundy, burnt orange, golden yellow -

though each tint and shade will turn mellow.

For you'll find these changing colors won't last.

In a couple of weeks the show will be past.

Even the sky is the bluest blue

this magical time of the year too.

These changing colors

attract travelers.

This rainbow now enjoyed

by ageless girls and boys.

A gift from Jack Frost

is free, at no cost,

as temperatures dip

and thermostats flipped.

Short sleeves exchanged

with sweaters arranged

or jackets worn

with flannel warm.

Ones

nose

is cold as the season changes

Change always rearranges.

* * * * *

Change often comes unannounced

then fear and worry will pounce.

Sometimes unexpected illness or lengthy unemployment.

Maybe devastation of belongings or relationships.

Change, unwelcome, can be for your good, though,

for that's when we learn God is always faithful

for God will uphold you

and will be with you through.

Look for the many ways God does provide

when you experience change by and by

for change or adversity is a fact of life.

Cling to God's promises and you'll avoid strife.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him.

Psalm 145:13b-20

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October Sunrise

Root Cellars and Well Houses

This selection is from Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

(available through WestBow Press).

ROOT CELLARS and WELL HOUSES

A root cellar with a dirt floor

to store fruits and vegetables and more

where temperatures are cooler

lasting through the long winter.

Summer's bounty is squirreled away

in pints and quarts – a vast array.

A root cellar full of groceries

without going to the grocery.

Every color of the rainbow

lined up on shelves in a neat row.

A harvest of fruits and vegetables

ready to fill this winter's table.

Peaches, applesauce and pears

earlier peeled or pared

then these jars are processed in the canner;

much prettier than tin cans at the store.

Jars with elderberries filled

for a pie shell to one day fill.

Homemade ketchup boiled until thick

made BBQ sauce on fingers to lick.

Corn, tomatoes, green beans

on other shelves are seen -

yellow, red and green

in jars that gleam.

Tomato juice

or vegetable juice.

Maybe piccalilli -

a tasty relish, yummy.

Pints and quarts of pickles

though not all were cucumbers -

tangy mustard-pickled vegetables

and clove-flavored watermelon rind pickles.

Perhaps pickled green beans

when cucumbers are lean.

Or pickled beets might fill up a shelf.

Yes, the root cellar is filled with wealth.

Of course, there's always garlicky dill

and sweet pickles to chose at will.

“Bread and butter” with onions and red peppers

satisfy anytime, not just dinner or supper.

Take a minute to reminisce

of pickles in the pickle dish

as you recall the flavors of turmeric,

pickling spice, dry mustard, and garlic.

There's pickle relish made from cucumbers or zucchini

on another shelf ready for picnics or summer parties

next to apple butter

for pancakes this winter.

Sweetened jams and jellies, too,

make up another rainbow's hue

of pretty purples, reds and blues

Most berries on briar bushes grew.

Strawberry, raspberry,

blackberry, blueberry,

rhubarb, currant, peach -

all within arms reach.

Pints and quarts filled with just-harvested fruits and vegetables

with vitamins and minerals which make our bodies able.

The root cellar filled with wealth

also supplies us with health.

Some years there are quarts of carrots and beets,

though often stored in the well house deep,

along with burlap bags of potatoes and apples

ensuring this winter your stomach will be full.

Quarts of venison canned

filled many a can.

Served with egg noodles on cold, blustery nights

filled our stomachs and tasted good to the last bite.

A well house dug below the ground

(at my parents', cement walls surround)

before ice boxes were invented

and sinks with faucets were installed.

Potatoes and apples filled many burlap bags

stored in the well house by gardeners who never lagged

for procrastination meant loss

if not squirreled away before frost.

Generations of able-bodied kids were formed

from these vegetables stored in various forms.

A long-lost art from yesteryear

now makes a memory dear.

* * * * *

This “story” was my mother's activity

in her 20's, 30's and 40's.

To me it seemed these jars of pints and quarts

magically appeared upon the shelves.

Perhaps many jars were filled in September,

come early autumn on the calendar,

though I do remember

helping fill up the canner.

Not only did she preserve fruits and vegetables

venison was canned each year when available.

Venison served with noodles was a treat.

There was always something filling to eat.

I used to play grocery store

with these pretty pints and quarts stored.

In my mind's eye I can still see

these shelves filled with summer's bounty.

I also remember Grandpa Janowski's well house.

When I was a toddler, stung by bees, at grandpa's house

he pumped water onto the ground

then covered me with mud brown.

My parents' well house in the ground housed burlap bags

of root vegetables in recycled cow feed bags,

along with apples that would last

long after winter was past.

Those “good old days” fill our memories,

though at the time endless work awaited daily,

but how satisfying to see

those jars filled with fruitful bounty.

The Lord your God will bless you

in all your harvest

and in all the work of your hands,

and your joy will be complete.

Deuteronomy 16:15

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

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Confused

Confused

I'm confused!

Are you confused?

It's not April.

It's still fall.

In fact, the month of October

according to the calendar.

Yet here and there are

spring-time flowers.

Bright yellow among decaying leaves.

I'm not certain if these flowers please.

They seem out-of-place

seen here at my place.

What flowers bloom in October?

I think you'll be bewildered.

Their saw tooth leaves are a give away.

Their bloom is bright yellow always.

In the spring their seeds blow every which way

though I prefer they leave and not stay.

To see the first one in spring is a treat.

To see on in October: trick-or treat!

Should you pick a bouquet

their beauty will fade away.

Did you guess dandelions?

I'm telling you, I'm not lying,

though it's October my yard is in bloom

from these weed seeds that came in the month of June.

Are these dandelions confused?

Or perhaps they seek to amuse?

They leave me rather bemused

as I rake leaves of chartreuse.

* * * * *

What confuses you?

What amuses you?

When life seems upside down

instead of wearing a frown

think of something amusing

then a smile you'll be choosing.

When you choose to smile it lifts your countenance,

our spirits are happy despite one's circumstance.

You'll feel better inside and out

when you wear a smile about.

So put on a happy face

despite what happens to take place.

You'll even find a smile is contagious

as others will return a smile to us.

Pay attention to your countenance.

It does display your hearts' contents.

It also sets the mood

for others attitudes.

Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick?

This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.

Nehemiah 2:2 (KJV)

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:

but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 15:13 (KJV)

Thous hast made known to me the ways of life;

thous shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Acts 2:28 (KJV)

The Lord bless thee and keep thee;

the Lord make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

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go to Amazon or B&N.

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Gala

Gala

Everyone's dressed in their finest

in burgundy, golds and rusts

as a celebrated guest

each year come Oktoberfest.

You'll see some, though,

wear emerald

and come as they are

to the gala.

The gala is held on a sunny day

and is free to all, there's no need to pay.

This gala might last for a few days.

Some travelers come from far away.

What is it these travelers come to see?

What is it that brings a sense of glee?

These travelers are sightseers, you see,

come to see the colors of the autumn trees.

For in autumn the trees are ready to party

dressing in pleasing colors, never gaudy.

There's goldenrod yellow to maize-tinted gold,

bittersweet orange to mulberry red, so bold.

Mixed among these autumn colors

are emeralds in multi-colors

of pine or forest green evergreens

towering throughout this stunning scene.

Soon the trees colors will change and drop

when brown siennas and umbers and chestnut

leaves fall

each fall.

Make a date today

to view the vast array

of autumn leaves this year.

Your spirit will be cheered.

* * * * *

And when you do go to this gala

take along some Gala apples

for an autumn picnic

or maybe you'll go pick.

Do something special to celebrate autumn.

You'll find there's so much to do for fun -

apple picking, leaf raking,

pumpkin craving, Thanksgiving.

A thankful heart

is just the start

of a celebration that lasts

long after autumn is past.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His loves endures forever.

Psalm 136:26

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

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Gold and Orange

Gold and Orange

Amidst the green

gold and orange seen

dotting the hill

in the still

of a October morning

where sunlight is shining.

For a few weeks

gold and orange seek

to dominate the green

trees on the hillside seen.

Earth tones

on loan.

Every day more colorful

falling by the bushel full

onto the woodland floor

where they'll decay some more.

Every year it's repeated.

This circle of life completed.

Come December all the trees will be bare

for gold or orange leaves they will no longer wear.

Stark against the winter sky

under falling snow by and by.

A time of rejuvenation.

Planned that way from creation.

Every season has its purpose.

A time of reflection for us.

As seasons change with each page of the calendar

seasons also come each year as we grow older.

Time rushes by

for you and I.

The gold and orange sunset at the end of the day

announces the end of another great day.

The gold and orange leaves turning in the fall

says ”welcome autumn” to one and all.

The golden years await

mixed with orange. It'll be great!

* * * * *

Seasons of life arrive suddenly.

Then winter sneaks up surprisingly.

There may be aches and pains

the day before it rains.

It could be you no longer recognize

who's looking at you from the mirror – surprise!

Who's that with the hoary head?

Just yesterday it was red.

Your children look old

if the truth were told.

Be encouraged

by this Proverb:

it says your gray hair

(or a hoary head)

is a glory to wear.

(Don't be misled.)

A sign of respect,

of intellect.

That's you.

How true.

Each gray hair you have was earned

as the hands of the clock turned

marked by many birthday celebrations,

and perhaps some somber occasions,

through happiness and tears

parceled through the years.

Let this season of your life

be the best one of your life

as you recall many happy memories

and share with others encouragement through stories.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is attained by a righteous life.

Proverbs 16:31 (NIV)

The hoary head is a crown of glory,

if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 16:31 (KJV)

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

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