Autumn's Blanket

AUTUMN'S BLANKET

Rain came during the night.

Leaves now tumble in flight

weaving a blanket on the ground

where autumn's rainbow is now found.

Gently leaves float down, quiet

settling as a soft blanket

warming the ground

in rusts and browns.

Other leaves are bright burgundy,

or orange from sugar maple trees,

nestling together as they settle on the grass

where they'll slowly turn brown as autumn comes to pass.

The leaves will rustle when the breeze blows

making more work for someone to tow

but in the meantime they will cuddle

into a blanket in a huddle.

Covering the earth in a hug

waiting for someone to come lug

this blanket which gently settled

over the ground in a puddle.

Autumn's blanket in gold, orange, brown, or rust

with burgundy swirling around when a gust

of wind rustles the leaves.

A-choo! Someone just sneezed.

For autumn brings with it allergy season

until Jack Frost comes and it's freezing.

In the meantime someone snuggles,

under a blanket they huddle.

* * * * *

Snuggling under a blanket

at night when it's quiet

when the day is done

just before sleep comes

what do you think about?

Are you filled with doubts?

There's much uncertainty in the world.

Everyday more unrest unfolds.

There might be calamity

filling one with anxiety.

Many are in pain and distress

causing relentless ongoing stress.

Everyone everywhere has troubles

but bear in mind God is able -

for with God nothing is impossible.

God has an answer to your troubles.

He has a plan and purpose already in mind

to relieve you of the burdens on your mind.

The answer is found in patiently waiting

while everyday in faith believing resting.

Faith believing should be a place of calm assurance

that God is with you and will give you endurance

to battle whatever it is you're going through

and will bestow you with loving kindness too.

Yes, you are loved by God, it's true,

as each morning breaks anew.

Remind yourself, “I am loved by God today.”

It will help you cope with what comes your way.

And whatever comes your way might be God's way

to show Himself faithful to you everyday.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-26

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles.

II Corinthians 1:3-4

What is impossible with men is possible with God.

Luke 18:27

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

So we say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper."

Hebrews 13:6

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Morning Stroll 9/23/17

 Breakfast for the birds, the bees, and...me!

Morning glories and perennial sunflowers welcome the day.

 The last rose of summer!

 Hibiscus

 

Verbascum (a pretty weed). 

Angel Trumpet still blooming.

 

Fall snow (milkweed seeds).

 

There's always a dandelion to be found.

 

Burning Bush turning red.

Plan to spend the majority of this warm day moving the free load of mulch,
reminding myself that next year there should be a lot less weeding.
Grateful!

 

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Ablaze

From Life Is a Garden Party, Vol III

available via CreateSpace or Amazon.

 

ABLAZE

The hills are alive with a blaze of colors.

Among the green: red, orange, and golden yellow,

as if the painter’s palette had spilled

splashing the trees upon the hills.

The deep burgundy of the red maples,

the bright orange splashed upon sugar maples,

a magenta red drawing attention to the sumac,

autumn's golden yellow foliage never seems to lack.

When the sun shines, the hills are ablaze

under the autumn sun’s golden rays

calling attention to us today to gaze,

to take a moment to capture this blaze.

It will take your breath away

to see their beauty today.

Enjoy before this color leaves

when the rain falls on these leaves.

For when the rains come,

these leaves are soon gone.

Floating down they gather in a pile on the ground

where several afternoons of work will then be found.

Mottled leaves lie there,

crispy ones join in pairs.

The pile turns to brown

as these leaves pile on the ground.

Another year has come and gone,

another season is done.

A time of renewal awaits the trees.

A time of reflection for you and me.

A time to count our blessings

with a song of thanksgiving

from a glad, thankful heart.

Let's everyone now start.

* * * * *

Counting our blessings everyday

is a habit that will well pay.

One payment will be a happy heart

from the moment each new day starts.

You’ll discover more blessings to add,

even if the day turns from glad to sad.

Those with a heart full of thanksgiving

are thankful for their many blessings.

Counting our many blessings

causes us to look for blessings.

There’s always one more

around every corner.

Counting our many blessings

is much better than stressing.

You’ll find you’ll have more energy today

despite the ups and downs of the day.

Do you have a blessings jar?

If you don’t, it’s not hard.

An empty jar, slips of paper,

daily blessings written and dated.

One day you may take time to look back

and give thanks to God who never lacks

in giving many blessings individually

which, in turn, blesses others collectively.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth.

Proverbs 10:22

You will eat the fruit of your labor;

blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Psalm 128:2

I will bless them...

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Proverbs 15:13

You are my God, and I will give you thanks.

Psalm 118:28

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Crayon Colors

CRAYON COLORS

Red, orange, yellow seen

dotting the hills of green.

A crayon box of colors spills

over the mountains and hills.

Mottled, multicolored leaves

seen decorating the trees.

Pigments shining in the sun

dyed by Jack Frost having fun.

Other colors concealed in the shade.

Their intensity a muted shade

but all the shades, tints, tones, hues, and stains

welcome autumn with a cheerful refrain.

Burgundies, cranberries, crimsons, reds,

yellow, goldenrod, dandelion wed

with orange, bittersweet, copper, sienna,

rust, brass, tumbleweed, and brown sepia.

Notice over the course of the next few weeks

chartreuse, forest, shamrock will no longer peek.

They'll give way to reds, oranges, yellows, golds

shining in the bright sunlight so bold...

before they turn brown

and tumble to the ground

where they complete the circle of life

after shining in the sunlight bright.

* * * * *

The circle of life ends for leaves

when they fall down from the trees.

Someday your life will end.

Are you ready, my friend?

There is life after death, which is swell.

It's either in heaven or hell.

You have a choice to make

today, before it's too late.

Hell is promised for everyone who does not believe

that God sent His Son Jesus for us to receive

eternal life through Jesus' sacrifice.

Believe and you'll have everlasting life.

It's that easy for it's not what you have done

it's what Jesus Christ God's Son has already done

when He died and rose again

and promised a home in heaven

for all who believe

when in prayer receive.

For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten Son

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

If you confess with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart

that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

For it is with with your heart that you believe and are justified,

and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

 

 

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Garden Stroll 9/11/17

Welcome to Rainbow's End.

A gift from a cousin today.

 

 Autumn Crocus, from my Gram.

Another Datura bloomed last night. 

Cold nights weren't ideal for the Hibiscus.

 

Hibiscus going to seed.

Feverfew popping up here and there.

Surprise Morning Glory in the compost. 

Seemingly a mile long.

Autumn Joy Sedum shining bright

in the afternoon sunlight.

 Tansy will be composted soon.

 

Two types of perennial sunflowers. 

Grape tomatoes are huge.

 Two colors of Rose of Sharon.

 Welcome Garden Guest

 Holly

Hydrangea still producing. 

Hundreds and hundreds of sunshines!

Reminds me of the verse in Genesis re seedtime and harvest.

Angel trumpet has a few more buds to bloom.

Pumpkin gourds which surprised me this year.

Cooked down a pot of tomatoes this morning.

Collected seeds to share this sunny afternoon,

while chasing butterflies with the camera, and

cooking this supersized beet!

So sweet.  Hope it doesn't spike blood sugars.

 

 

 

Endings

ENDINGS

"Where did the summer go?"

Everyone is saying so.

Each year the same question is asked, you know.

Summer: now a memory that time stole.

Too soon September arrives aglow

with colorful leaves putting on a show

before falling down slow,

crunching under our toes.

This past summer was one filled with various foes

who ate vegetables faster than they could grow.

These foes were either bucks or does, to my woe,

and a 'possum was entrapped a few weeks ago.

A few miles up the road it was towed

to start its new beginning or no

thus ending the carnage daily bestowed

as it nightly crept in on silent toes.

I'm still combating moles or voles, though,

eating beets under the netted row.

One mole met its demise, ho ho,

when a mousetrap ended my woe.

Summer's ending means one won't need to mow

fast growing grass every weekend or so

though soon it will be time to rake then tow

a mountain of falling leaves, we know.

Another sign of summer ending is the garden slows.

Quietly withdrawing with fewer blossoms in each row.

Squash vines turn brown losing their healthy glow.

Tomato plants no longer produce or grow.

Before long it will be time to harvest and stow

as the wheelbarrow is piled high then goes slow

for each year a bountiful harvest makes a heavy load to tow

before freezing or canning vegetables lined up in colorful rows.

Harvest signals the end of summer all aglow

with colorful flowers and vegetables bestowed.

Summer ended becomes a distant memory of ago.

The summer to come, becomes a dream on which hopes will grow.

So endings become new beginnings we now know.

The circle of life completed as days and weeks flow.

Summer ends, autumn begins, winter comes around again when cold snow blows.

Before we know it it'll be time to hoe rows where summer vegetables will grow.

So a new beginning is sowed

where hopes and dreams begin to grow.

Soon we'll hear, "where did the summer go?"

Endings come to everything, we know.

* * * * *

As the seasons end,

so does life end.

Solomon, in his wisdom, talks about life ending

which is in actuality a new beginning.

A home in heaven for eternity

available to all – that's you and me.

When we believe that Jesus, God's Son, died on the cross

of Calvary in order that we not remain lost

in our sins

and rose again

we will have a new beginning

when we die, not an ending.

In time we will be forgotten on earth

with our name on a marker in the dirt.

But we're not forgotten in heaven for God has our name written in his book

if you believe Jesus died and rose again for your sins, that's all it took.

In time our time on earth will end.

I plan on seeing you in heaven.

There is no remembrance of men of old,

and even those who are yet to come

will not be remembered by those who follow.

Ecclesiastes 1:11

I declared that the dead, who have already died,

are happier than the living, who are still alive.

But better than both is he who has not yet been

who has seen the evil that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-3

However many years a man may live,

let him enjoy them all.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Then man goes to his eternal home

and mourners go about the streets...

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:5b, 7b

 

 

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September 1st

SEPTEMBER 1st

There’s not a single cloud in the clear blue sky

announcing autumn will soon draw nigh

for summer will end by and by.

This first day of September came fast, oh my.

There are contrails high in the sky from planes that fly

taking someone someplace far away by and by.

On either end there’s not a dry eye

when someone has had to say "bye-bye."

Vines in the garden have now died.

Soon we’ll make shepherd's pie.

A fat toad hops away. He’s shy.

When I saw him I was surprised.

Squash vines laden so I don’t have to buy.

A pumpkin will make Thanksgiving pie

or maybe 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 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 a lot of time thinking about time.

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 and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a proper time and procedure for every matter.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol III

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