Morning Stroll 6/29/17

Morning stroll at Rainbow's End this morning.

Roses are still beautiful!

Daylilies:

 These next two surprised me this morning:

Lots more lilies appearing soon:

Off to a slow start, but vegetable seeds are starting to grow.

Love to watch the cabbage spiraling round and round.

Fresh cut grass provides nitrogen which grows foliage.

Potatoes are showing promise, but no new potatoes by the 4th of July this year.

When potatoes blossom, dig in the side for the best tasting new potatoes.

Hydrangeas:

Other flowers in bloom today here at Rainbow's End:

Mid-morning snack for me and the birds:

Lessons

LESSONS

Squawk, squawk, squawk. Squawk, squawk.

What's that? That's bird talk.

I'm being told off.

I'm picking currants – drop, drop, drop,

into my bowl which I brought

when through the wet grass I walked.

Up in the treetop sought

this loud bird that now sulks.

I find currants he dropped.

Perhaps I'm the one at fault

for I had seen birds had sought

these red berries amongst leafy stalks.

A lesson has been taught

to cover with a net taut

once at the store bought.

Otherwise currants will be naught.

There will be less on the stalks

to plop, plop, plop into the pot.

What about this chatty bird that squawks?

If he's patient there will be seeds atop

the tall yellow sunflower stalks.

In the meantime ripe, red currants drop

this morning from their little green stalks

because the bush is laden on top.

Then off to wash and freeze these round, soft

red ruby jewels for jelly one day wrought

from currant juice, sugar, and pectin bought.

To be given as a gift oft

in a surprise basket dropped

on someone's front door stop.

* * * * *

Isn't it fun to receive a surprise?

Isn't it fun to impart a surprise?

The next page contains a poem

entitled “Pass It On.”

Perhaps you'll fill a basket with a surprise

to give to someone you know as a surprise.

Like practicing the May Day tradition.

Perhaps you'll start a brand new tradition.

The gift opens the way to the giver.

Proverbs 18:16

He selected a gift for his brother.

Genesis 32:13

Everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

Proverbs 19:6

Pass It On                                                                                 Pass It On

This basket was made to pass around                                        This basket was made to pass around

so if on your doorstep it is found                                               so if on your doorstep it is found

feel free to fill then pass along                                                   feel free to fill then pass along

to someone of whom you are fond.                                            to someone of whom you are fond.

You will brighten someone's day                                               You will brighten someone's day

when you pass around today                                                      when you pass around today

this basket filled with a surprise                                                 this basket filled with a surprise

to whomever it is that you say 'hi'.                                             to whomever it is that you say 'hi'.

Fill with love and best wishes too                                               Fill with love and best wishes too

to whomever is a friend to you.                                                   to whomever is a friend to you.

When the basket is passed around                                               When the basket is passed around

blessings abundant will abound.                                                  blessings abundant will abound.

Four more cups added to the freezer today.

Should be more than enough for a batch of jelly 

after harvesting is completed.

Harvested this afternoon before the rains returned.

Noticed the birds were informing each other

either that I was taking their free dinner or to take cover.

When I have an abundance of currant jelly,
I have put in a basket with the above poem attached.

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At Rainbow's End 6/24/17

Go out to harvest the lettuce and spinach every other morning.  What an exciting surprise this morning.  Three cats on this dill!!!  Ran around to the other 100+ dill and also checked the milkweed but no other cats were seen today.  My friend, Laura Harris, identified these as Black Eastern Swallowtail cats.  (They are not attracted to milkweed.)

I had seen a black swallowtail with blue tails yesterday.  By the time I went to get the camera, I couldn't locate it.  Wondering if it might have been the parent.

Watched these cats throughout the day.  They are masters at gymnastics!  Seemed like they would chow down then rest awhile.  The last I looked the dill weed on this plant was completely gone.

Showed off my welcome garden guests to company.  They were excited too!

Be sure to watch the video above.  Check out their feet in the first pic.  Wouldn't it be neat if someone designed sneakers to look like cats.  An entertaining day, for sure!

Update:  they were chowing down another dill plant this morning.  See photo on my Life Is a Garden Party facebook page.  Bent over another dill plant for easy access.

First Day of Summer 2017

Started harvesting currants today.
Due to rains, large berries.
Due to rains, a lot of spoilage.
Need 18 cups for a batch of jelly.
Not forthcoming this year.
A bag of aged manure would greatly complement
as these bushes are more than 30 years old.

Neighbor's cat zoned out.
He's found the 'nip.

Garlic scapes.
Will be added to stirfry
with fresh asparagus.
Thankful still harvesting asparagus
along with spinach and lettuce.

Milkweed almost ready to bloom
will entice monarchs, hopefully soon.
Did see a black butterfly with blue tails this morning
but up, up and away before I could capture (with camera).

Did capture a moth nectaring.

Borage will attract the honey bees
which always pleases me.

This hosta has the prettiest flowers
and offers seeds which sprout easily.

Best year for roses.
Reminds me of a poem I once wrote.
In part:
If roses you love,
beware: never hug...
If roses you love,
beware: so do the bugs...
If roses you love,
give to someone you love.

Thank you all for following my blog, etc.
You all are a blessing and appreciated.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press.

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Of Thorns and Roses

OF THORNS AND ROSES

Every rose bears a thorn

for thorns roses adorn.

Just as in life, good times born

are adorned with many storms.

We moan, are worn, and forlorn.

Storms leave us alone and torn.

For good times we yearn.

A shelter in the storm.

There is a purpose in thorns

for patience and hope is formed.

Hope is a confidence being born.

Out of it blooms roses despite the thorns.

Every thorn wears a rose.

That’s just the way it grows.

Just as in life, every sorrow

can bear a joyful tomorrow.

So next time life sows woes

and you’re feeling quite low

remember the rose –

with thorns it does grow.

Your lows and woes

will someday sow

a lovely rose.

Beauty grows.

Half of the beauty from life’s roses

comes from thorns we’ve endured along the road

for thorns are what shape us into who we are.

In the end, we’re much better for it by far.

Instead of concentrating on the thorn,

look beyond it to the rose being born

for from thorns beauty is formed.

We are being transformed.

Being transformed through difficulties.

That’s what thorns are meant to do, you see.

Being made into a rose

where beauty is seen and glows.

It’s only norm

that every thorn

will one day grow

a lovely rose.

Growing beauty

is its duty.

Just as our trials teach us

patience and to learn to trust –

growing our inner beauty

so we will turn out lovely.

From lows and woes

a rose arose.

* * * * *

Right now, today, are you going through a storm?

Does it feel like a festering thorn?

Concentrate on the word “through”

as your storm will come to pass, too.

Though you may temporarily mourn,

in the end, beauty if being born

as patience

or kindness.

One day we'll see that Sovereign God

worked all things together for your good.

His holy purposes

were worked out through us.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze...

since you are precious and honored in my sight,

and because I love you.

Isaiah 43:2,4

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

God intended it for good

to accomplish what is now being done.

Genesis 50:20

And we know that in all things

God works for the good

of those who love him,

who have been called

according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

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Green Thumb

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 plants 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 knows that blessings from the Lord will soon come.

It takes a brown thumb to grow flowering mums.

A brown thumb divides plants to share with someone.

How do you clean your well-earned brown thumb?

Scrubbing and washing dishes helps some.

I also tend to have two green and brown 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

for being 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, make friends

with 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.

Gardener’s 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 too.

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

Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat of it

all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food.

Genesis 3:17-19

The herb garden here at Rainbow's End.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

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Showers

SHOWERS

Showers were heard during the night.
The grass and plants sing in delight.
The morning is cool.
Everything looks new.
The garden could use more rain
and it’s forecasted again.


The weatherman said more rain.
I've scheduled dusting – a pain.
It’s muggy inside.
There’s a breeze outside.
What will I do – dusting or weeding?
I prefer to do the weeding.


So off to do the weeding,
then to the compost dumping,
followed by time spent digging
around the flower beds edging,
there’s even time for transplanting,
before day is done and stopping.


A whole day of yard work just flew by
with hardly a raindrop in the sky.
Much was accomplished to my satisfaction,
though not the last time for today’s action,
for weeds will continue to grow
after the rain falls down, I know.


It’s far easier to weed after the rain:
creeping charley, dandelions, plantain –
all a big pain –
and I will gain
a suntan and fingers stained once again;
though I know in the morning I will feel lame.

* * * * *

Rain waters the earth
ensuring herbs give birth,
as well as plants, flowers, and greenery
providing a pretty scenery,
cultivated by gardeners working hard
who, in return, receive blessings from God
Who’s always near
year after year.

For the earth,

which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it,

and bring forth herbs fit from them by whom it is tilled,

received blessings from God.

Hebrews 6:7 (KJV)

For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven,

and returned not there,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater.

Isaiah 55:11

A man scatters seed on the ground.

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up,

the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

All by itself the soil produces grain -

first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it,

because the harvest has come.

Mark 4:26-29

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

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