Life is a Garden Party

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

August 31st

Can you believe it's the last day of August already?

August 31st

Gray squirrels are busy today
squirreling black walnuts away
or maybe hickory nuts burying.
Several seen this morning scurrying.
Their checks are full.
Their tails curl
as they find a spot
in my little lot.

They're providing winter's dinner.
There's no charge at this diner.
They are watching me watch them
as this little rhyme is penned.
Other garden guests catch my eye
as I sit under the blue sky.
Each one of these creatures are busy
in their various activities.

A hummingbird sips from the butterfly bush
then off he goes seemingly in a big rush
when he hears the cawing blue jays
who's come to feast on seeds today
from sunflowers ripening under the sun.
They'll eat their full before this day is over and done
then returns tomorrow
for he does not borrow.

The yellow finches have already found the stash
of ripening sunflower seeds out back.
They are greedily eating lunch
while on the ground falls a bunch
ensuring next year more sunflowers will appear
and perhaps enticing furry rodents near -
that is, chipmunks and such.
Hopefully not mice – yuk!

A hummingbird returns with a zip
where from the trumpet vine he sips
but not for long.
Off he goes...so long.
In the sedum, a bee
as busy as can be.
Autumn Joy Sedum smells like honey.
Through a miracle, bees make honey.

If you listen closely you might hear the bees hum
though today their hum is drowned out by the crickets strum
for late summer crickets practice day and night.
It's as if they know autumn is in sight.
Autumn means the hummingbirds will fly south,
along with V-shaped formations headed south
for when you hear honking in the sky
it's the geese honking their yearly bye bye.

The hummingbirds,
the smallest of birds,
travel alone
on their way home
while large geese need each other
to migrate southward together
as they soar with the wind
beneath their flapping wings.

Brown-eyed susans shine
even without sunshine
for gray clouds are moving in.
Leaves are rustling in the wind.
A leaf tumbles down
now laying on the ground.
Though August 31st, it feels like autumn.
Soon buzzing bees will no longer hum.

Raindrops descend.
It's time to head in.
Inspiration
from my Eden
has penned another rhyme
in today's sunshine.
Tomorrow there will be more
observations to store.

* * * * *

Love the inherent wisdom found in nature.
Do take time to watch as creatures nurture.
Nature does have much to teach us.
Yes, it even teaches us to trust.

Harmony is found in one's garden
as the gardener faithfully tends.
Not only nature's musicality
but also compatibility and unity.

Compatibility and unity is seen
in the bird kingdom's domain
as geese flock together
whatever the weather.

Trees provide nuts
for squirrels and chipmunks.
And various seeds are found
by hungry birds the world around.

Many birds seen dine
in today's sunshine.
Their lesson: "Do not worry," it only brings trouble.
A command often repeated in the Bible.

Industrious is another lesson that is key
as gardeners observe busy honey bees.
Off to work they go,
humming as they go.

Do take time from your busy day
to observe how God provides today
for your garden visitors.
You'll be pleasingly blessed, for sure.

Do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink;
or about your body,
what you will wear...
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:25-26



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Friday, August 26, 2016

Seed Giveaway

Collected rose campion seeds this week to one day give away.
My friend, Lesley, shared these with me many years ago.
Many of my flower garden plants were once given to me, now making a happy memory.

Seed Giveaway

Many perennials will bloom continually
if given a haircut quite regularly.
Just cut off the spent blooms
and then more will zoom
but be sure to save the seed heads
to be given to someone instead
of disposing
or composting.

Store the cut seed heads in a box.
Soon you will have collected a lot.
After the saved cut seed heads have dried
it's time to give away or at least try
for you'll find many gardening friends
prefer to buy flowering plants to tend.

Put the seeds in an envelope
which is labeled with a note
telling what it is
(not the time for a quiz),
if it's sun or shade
and what color made.

These seeds you save and give away
will be worth a fortune someday
for each envelope contains
memory seeds bearing your name.
Your friends will remember you
as they tiptoe through the dew.

In a couple of years they too
will try to give away to
friends whenever they can
making memories again.
The nicest thing about sharing
are the memories in the making.

* * * * *


What will you be known for?
Sharing and caring and more?
Despite circumstances are you joyous?
Or do you worry out loud quite frequent?

Can others see God's peace in you
regardless of what you're going through?
Are you known for your unerring patience?
Do you radiate kindness and goodness?

Will you be remembered for your abiding faith
or will a spirit of fear take faith's place?
Will you be remembered for your gentleness?
Can others see the fruit of God's spirit?

Do you hold your tongue in self-control
or are your words often out of control?
Everything we do and say
will be recalled someday.

It's not too late to begin
to grow God's fruit within.
Check out Galatians 5:22-23
which telsl us how to live cheerfully and be free.

...what she has done will also be told in memory of her.
Matthew 26:13

The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23


Re saving seeds to give away,
these datura seeds were originally given to me
by a facebook friend, Sheri, from Texas.
Thanks, Sheri.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II
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Saturday, August 20, 2016

Morning

Morning

Yesterday a rain shower watered the earth,
early this morning you can see new birth
for pretty flowers and green grass appear
after yesterday's shower disappeared.
Yesterday's falling rain worked its magic.
Listen, there's water babbling in the creek.

This morning the bright warm rays of the sun
chased away the gloom from the wet rain.
Together they work in harmony
to grow pretty flowers and greenery.
If you take a deep breath,
you'll smell earthworms in the earth.

One's spirits lift
as the fog lifts
for creation in all its glory
seems to be somewhat in a hurry
to get another day underway
as the darkness quickly slips away.

The sun removes the remaining shadows
as morning peeks over the willow.
Yesterday rain everything fed.
Today a cloudless sky overhead.
It's the dawning of a new day today
seen in the morning's waking sun rays.

Morning brings
many blessings.
Is that why birds sing
early in the morning?
Perhaps they don't want to forget a one
for their song is one of thankfulness all day long.

Do they have a lesson
to teach to humans?
To look for blessings
instead of stressing
over what they have no charge of
but to trust in the Lord above.

* * * * *

Whatever a given day may bring
God is there with you in everything.
You are not meant to carry your burden alone
for God will be there with you, by your side all along
to comfort, strengthen, guide
when you in Him abide.

My devotions this morning were from I Corinthians 13
where Paul talks about “faith to move mountains”.
That means believing faith to trust God to meet whatever our needs.
God is waiting to lift whatever burden when you in prayer plead.
If your mountain is physical, financial, or relational,
let God move your mountain for with God all things are possible.

He is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.
II Samuel 23:4

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

...faith that can move mountains...
I Corinthians 13:2


German Marigolds

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II
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Monday, August 15, 2016

Sunlight

 Sunlight

The day's first light streams
when the new day's sunbeams
brighten the sky
then morning is nigh.

There's a brightness over the hill
where sunlight awakens and spills
its light and warmth
over the earth.

Morning with all it's rush
comes in with a hush
before the birds announce it's a new day -
come on everyone, get up and play!

Quietly rising
through song birds vying
for the first glimpse of light rays
announcing a brand new day.

Then you'll hear the day announced
from birds who you'll hear loudly mouth
through chirps and trills
and cheeps and trills...

that morning has come -
everyone, come on,
get up, let's have fun
under the sun.

Perhaps you'll get up tomorrow
to view the sunrise that burrows
up over the hill
where sunlight spills.

It's a glorious sight to see
for it's God's awesome might you see
since the beginning of creation
when God spoke the sun into creation.

* * * * *


The Bible says Jesus is our light:
“I have come into the world as a light”. (John 12:46)
With Jesus for us our future is bright
as He desires to bring us delight.

Yes, there will be times when finances are tight.
There will be temptations you'll need to fight.
Life on earth was never promised to be always right.
There will seemingly be many a long, dark night.

But remember you are not alone in this fight.
Jesus has an answer to whatever is not right.
He is teaching us to live by faith, not sight
as we learn to abide in Him, so sit tight.

Jesus is our light.
Everything will turn out right.
Your future is bright.
Look for God's delights.

At the beginning of the day it's His sunlight
reminding us that Jesus is our light.
At the end of the day it's the starlight
reminding us Jesus will keep us through the night.

All through the day look for God's many delights
even during the times you pray with all your might
to overcome the temptations you fight
for those are the times that bring God delight.

It's when we seek God whatever the plight,
when we give Him whatever we fight,
when we go the source which is our Light,
that our troubles change and turn out alright.

And God said,
...and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day,
and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.
And to rule over the day and over the night,
and to divide the light from darkness:
and God saw that it was good.
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Genesis 1:14-19

He is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.
II Samuel 23:4

I have come into the world as a light,
so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
John 12:46


Sunrise

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Thursday, August 11, 2016

Ode to Dill

An author friend saw a photo I posted re a dill head in my garden and wrote a poem about it.

It inspired me to write again also.  I haven't written anything new in quite some time.

May you be blessed by both of our poems.


The first poem posted here is by Lucinda Berry Hill.
Be sure to check out her facebook page.
Little Dill Hey little dill, Right in the middle, Whose branches reach so high. You look so big From underneath. Like you almost touch the sky. I see your friends On the other end Of the garden that you fill. Brussels sprouts, Broccoli crowns, And onions for the grill. God's sky so blue And distant too But you I get to touch. I can rinse you. I can mince you. And have you in my lunch. Corn will grow. Beans will show. And some will give a thrill. But none quite shine Beneath the sky Like you do little dill. Lucinda Berry Hill Author of "Coffee with Jesus" AND "A Second Cup with Jesus" ©

Here's mine.



Ode to Dill

Take a couple of minutes to till
a space in your garden to sow dill.
Every year to return it will
for it self seeds readily, it spills
from dried seed heads a summer breeze will dispel.
Yes, dill is an annual which self-seeds at will.
Its frilly green foliage will thrill.
Its pungent scent will your nose fill.

You can hardly wait until
potato salad with dill
your plate fills
or better still
an egg salad with dill
and spinach sandwich chilled.

Take a minute to plant dill
this year and from then on dill's
brown seed pills
will spill
later popping up wherever to fill
your garden twice yearly with fresh dill.

Dill seeds were once shared for free, without a bill,
to make dilled green beans which a mason jar filled.
Good on the side with a burger grilled
or with a glass of tomato juice chilled.
Go harvest your garlic and dill
to make pickles. You'll be thrilled.

Gardeners will appreciate that unwelcome garden guests will
be repulsed by dill's pungent scent when they come to nibble what spills
from their vegetable garden's till.
Other herbs will also fill this bill.

All throughout history,
as one relays stories
from folk tales and the wise,
dill has symbolized
good fortune and wealth,
as well as promotes health.

Dill tea is said to soothe stomach aches.
Trouble sleeping? Dill will induce sleep.
A dill pickle as a bedtime snack, anyone?
Low in calories, you can have more than one.
The verb dill means to still, calm, soothe.
Be sure to plant this herb to prove.

* * * * *

The herb dill has been around since Biblical days.
Love how this passage in Isaiah is paraphrased:
"His God instructs him and teaches him the right way." (28:26 NIV)
God instructs and teaches us the right way each day.
Right in the middle of this passage re tending a garden,
when our minds are quiet, we can hear God speak quite often.
Isn't that special!
Yes, God thinks you're special.

You'll find gardening is therapeutic or healing
for mind, body, spirit, and soul all-encompassing.
Let the fresh air and sunshine,
the stretching of your tendons,
release healing endorphins
reducing physical pain,
as you give God your Creator praise
for feeling well enough to garden today.

And be sure to listen to that still, small voice
that will cause your soul and spirit to rejoice
of God instructing you for whatever it is that troubles
with encouraging words and promises from the Bible.
Do you have a couple of minutes to kill?
Take time to dally awhile among the dill.
God just might have a message for you
that will change and uplift your view.

Give ear, and hear my voice;
hearken, and hear my speech.
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow?
Doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
When he hath made plain the face of it,
doth he not cast abroad the dill,
and scatter the cummin,
and cast in the wheat in rows
and the appointed barley and the splet in their place?
For his God doth instruct him to discretion,
and doth teach him.
For the dill is not threshed with a threshing instrument,
neither is a cartwheel turned about upon the cummin;
but the dill is beaten out with a staff,
and the cummin with a rod.
Bread grain is ground,
because he will not ever be threshing it,
nor beak it with the wheel of his cart,
nor grind it with his horsemen.
This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts,
who is wonderful in counsel,
and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28:23-29 (KJV)

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin.
But you have neglected the more important matters of the law -
justice, mercy and faithfulness.
You should have practiced the latter,
without neglecting the former.
Matthew 23:23

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II
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Saturday, August 6, 2016

August 1st

August 1st

Been too hot to go outside.
For days now stuck inside.
Think I'll go investigate
what's behind the garden gate.

Though too hot to cook
I'll take time to look
at which vegetables are growing
and perhaps do some needed weeding.

The humidity doesn't stop the bees.
Seeing them is always pleasing to me.
Both the summer and winter squash
are filled with buzzing bees – don't touch!

Humidity seems to grow the summer squashes fast.
Unfortunately I need to add another task
for these squashes are being attacked
by cucumber beetles with striped backs.

These beetles like the squashes better,
it seems, than the trellised cucumbers.
The first year cucumber beetles appeared
though probably not the last, I fear.

There's cucumbers to share
with neighbors who care
and green beans too,
still wet with dew.

Tomatoes are turning red
inside the vegetable bed.
Later this week, a tomato sandwich
will be eagerly fixed for my lunch

I'm going to check the Yukon gold potatoes.
I dig in with my fingers down by my toes.
Here's one bigger than my fist
for a baked potato, the best!

Unfortunately
the humidity
has caused unwelcome weeds to grow
faster than everything else grows.

There's even a dandelion in bloom
even though it's August 1st, not June.
Sweat's dripping already today.
These weeds will stay another day.

* * * * *

There's still controversy,
many people would say,
over what we should eat -
just vegetables or with meat.

Daniel and his three friend proved
eating only vegetables for food
and drinking only water
that they would be healthier.

This diet is still the best
for we eat too much of the rest -
non-nutritious junk food laden with
preservatives and additives.

Substituting vegetables for junk food
will certainly improve our groggy moods
causing us to be more energetic
and quite possibly less unfit and sick.

And drinking more plain but pure water
will cause everyone to feel better
for water is necessary for good health -
which is like acquiring endless wealth.

So fill you plate with vegetables
when you sit down at the table.
Rather orange, green, red or white
you'll find each one will delight.

To improve your mood,
instead of junk food
try crudites -
a vegetable tray.

Quite often when we think we're hungry
your body is telling us we are thirsty
so keep a bottle of water nearby
and especially when you go bye-bye.

What vegetables will you eat today?
There really is a wide array
for our Creator God made it that way.
Let's now thank God as we pray.

Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then compare our appearance with that of the young men
who eat the royal food.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished
than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Daniel 1:12-15



To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II
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