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.

One's

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 your 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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Ode to Old Red Barns

As this story was in paste, I thought I would share it on my blog as well.  Enjoy.

Feel free to leave comments below.

Ode to Old Red Barns Everywhere

Held together by nails and old caulk

if only its walls could somehow talk.

Now forgotten though no ones fault

for its caretakers are now naught.

What lessons within were taught?

What deep burdens had time wrought?

Today a photographer sought

for his attention it has caught.

Somehow he could not balk

this grand old red stained hulk.

Wearing a weathered weather vane

withstanding cold harsh winds and strain

under pouring morning rain

its roof now leaks and drains

where once it had stored new grain

and cattle had ate than lain.

The photographer hopes to now feign

a new use for the old barn again

though no longer bright red stained;

without paint it looks quite wane.

Weathered by time

and hot sunshine

time hasn't been kind

though sheltered by pines.

In the photographer's mind

the old red barn looks just fine.

The photographer doesn't think anyone will mind

if he takes a few pictures today as he takes time

to capture the beauty found off the beaten road behind

the new housing development built where new ties will bind.

The grand old barn had once held someone's dreams

before forgotten and stared to lean.

Perhaps it held a horse-drawn team

that plowed the fields where oats would gleam.

Perhaps new calves were born there and weaned

while its cold floors were daily swept clean.

Inside it today you can see the sun beams

shine through the seams in the roof and dust mites gleam.

The photographer still sees it as a grand old queen,

this old red barn which leans -

though still beams

in the sunbeams.

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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 sawtooth 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 your 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)

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Pumpkin Bread

Red and yellow, gold and brown -

leaves are falling down, down down...

and it's also pumpkin season.

Here's my pumpkin bread recipe.

Thank you J+B for sharing your harvest.

2 1/3 cups unbleached flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 1/4 cups sugar

2/3 cup oil

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

2/3 cup water

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Grease loaf pan.  Sift together dry ingredients.  

Add wet ingredients until well blended.  Stir in walnuts.

Bake at 325 for 75+ minutes.

Two times the recipe will make 5 loaves, 

using 2 1/2 cups dough per loaf.

To make pumpkin pie spice:

1/4 cup cinnamon

1/4 ginger

1 tablespoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cloves

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Hoarfrost

Hoarfrost

temperature dips

frosty air nips

the air is crisp

one's breath a wisp

flowers wilt

for no quilt

ghostly white the grass

though it will not last

icy brittle is the grass in the lane

icy pattern on the windowpane

crunch heard when walk

breath seen when talk

hot soup tonight

will taste just right

in crock pot all day

chases the chill away

thermostat turned up

or fireplace stacked up

crocheted afghan hugged

hot chocolate in mug

old Jack Frost

left hoarfrost

late last night

everything's white

* * * * *

Pure, clean, spotless, without blemish. Completely forgiven.

We are seen as white as snow when we are forgiven.

Forgiven for every time we fall short of God's commands.

Forgiven for every offense we've made against humans.

There's absolutely nothing you can't be forgiven of

for Jesus Christ is Lord and has only a heart of love.

See yourself as the Lord see you.

Pure, clean, spotless through and through.

He giveth snow like wool;

he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Psalm 147:16 (KJV)

...the hoary frost of heaven...

Job 38:29 (KJV)

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:18

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October 12

See my Life Is a Garden Party facebook page for this afternoon's activity.

Sharing some last-of-the-season mid-October flower photos.

 Phlox

 Butterfly Bush

 Rose of Sharon

Marigold 

 Perennial Sunflower

Montawk Daisy 

 Clematis

 Clara Curtis Daisy

Hardy Mum

Appropriate scriptures for this time of the year:

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,

a 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...

Ecclesiastes 3

Sunsets

Sunset photos from this week:

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 8:3-5

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:5

For great is your love,

higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 108:4

Crisp

This was written the October my Gram passed in 2008.

I had walked around their homestead -

the orchard, the pond, the walnut tree,

and smelled woodsmoke in the air.

Hence, this story...

Crisp

Wood smoke a wisp

on a day crisp.

Off to the orchard to pick

apples night-visiting deer missed.

Walk by the pond where fish

are deep in the mud in bliss.

Leaves underfoot crisp.

Black walnut kicked.

High in the trees apples list.

An apple picker picks.

Into a bucket when picked.

Apples bitten juicy crisp.

Here's one on the ground missed.

Too many for my fist.

Bucket soon full with apples picked.

Some nipped by birds but still crisp.

What will taste delish?

Applesauce, apple butter, yes?

Apple pie or apple crisp?

All good to the last lick.

Light a candle wick.

For a midnight snack, get out a dish.

Don't make yourself sick.

Blow out the candle as you make a wish.

* * * * *

If every man, woman, child

could pick apples on a day mild

enjoying the wonderful outdoors

given to us by God the Creator

their stress levels would then be lessened,

if everyone could learn that lesson.

When you look into someones face

you'll see worry that can't be erased.

It's etched into their brow,

brought on by stress – and how!

Worry causes stress, you'll find

and prohibits peace of mind.

If there are more worry lines than laugh lines

brought on over the years through one's lifetime

then you need to be reminded

what God the Father says, so kind.

It's: “Do not worry about tomorrow,”

for you'll find worry leads to sorrow.

When you worry joy is unattainable

for worry renders you quite unable

to see the good things that abound

when you wear a great big frown.

So forget about your worries and put on a smile.

Your smile will become a habit after awhile.

I will forget my complaint;

I will change my expression and smile.

John 9:27

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