Summer

Summer

Where did the summer go?

Each year it goes faster, you know.

There was grass to mow

every week or so

but now the grass is crisp under my toes

for the hot, dry summer took its tow.

There were vegetables to stow

that were once planted in rows

but now some rows

are brown, like moles.

Oh no! -

more foes:

beetles are foes

and slugs down low.

Other unwelcome foes

were tawny-brown bucks and does -

deer and rabbits that mow

what grows high and low.

Water from the sprinkler flowed

as the temps reached 90 degrees or so.

On those days some gardeners sew,

instead of weed out weeds that grow.

On cooler days gardeners may make dough

to fill with fruits of their labor that grow.

Perhaps pizza dough

or fresh pasta dough.

Maybe pie dough

or muffin dough.

Beware: juice from fruit pies overflow

and makes a messy oven, oh no!

Other days the gardener works with the hoe

to nab each and every weed that might dare grow

down by one's toes

where weed seeds grow.

For despite the heat, weeds seem to grow

faster than everything else that grows.

There goes Joe

with the hoe.

Despite heat, weeds, and foes

my basket overflows

with vegetables that grow

and flower seeds to stow.

Today I scared out a hoppy toad near my toe.

I'm thankful it wasn't a mole or a vole.

Hoppy toads will eat their status quo

of insects that reside down low.

It's time to compost some rows

where vegetables did grow

and deadhead flowers that once glowed

in red, pink, yellow, purple, or gold.

Summer is nearly over, to my woe.

At my house the summer heat took its tow.

I never did make any pie dough.

Neither did I find much time to sew.

Where did the summer go?

It went too fast, I know.

* * * * *

How fast time goes!

Not at all slow.

The trees are already turning gold.

Winter vegetables are ready to stow.

We'll be raking leaves down low.

Then make pumpkin pie to fill dough.

In a few short weeks – snow!

And cold winds will blow.

Then gifts wrapped up in pretty bows

under a Christmas tree that glows.

Then off to the shopping mall we go

to buy a new calendar, you know.

So time goes -

fast, not slow.

Each year we grow

the faster time goes.

To everything there is a season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There will be a time for every activity,

a time for every deed.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

There is a proper time and procedure for every matter.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

Pumpkins are turning orange!

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Respite

Respite

In a few minutes

I'll continue yard work,

but for right now I'll survey

seeing hard work does pay.

In blossom today

providing a bright array

are orange turkscap, purple phlox, purple coneflowers,

yellow lilies, heliopsis, sunflowers,

daisies, coreopsis, rudbeckias,

hydrangea, ladybells, hostas,

oregano, borage, red bee balm,

blazing stars, rose campion.

There's even vegetables in blossom.

My pots of gold – squash blossoms:

zucchini, buttercup,

summer squash, butternut.

There's a rainbow of delights

here at Rainbow's End tonight.

Something else that pleases me

is the drone of busy bees.

A swallowtail investigates

what's behind my garden gate.

Though he visits turkscap lilies and phlox,

it's the purple cone flowers he likes a lot.

There's a hummingbird in the yellow lilies.

A garden without lilies is just plain silly.

Now she's in the red bee balm

sharing with the bees without alarm.

A buzz close to me, an arm's length away,

is my special surprise of the day.

Around and around like a corkscrew

she sips refreshing afternoon dew.

The red geranium

had caught her attention.

It's a female hummingbird.

All to soon she's off, she soars.

Oh my, a chase ensures then a cry.

Two hummingbirds for flowers vie.

One is gone. One remains.

Seen in the bee balm again.

Another chase. Another cry.

"There's more than enough, you guys!

See, the red trumpet vine is in bloom now,

as well as the bonfire begonia."

If I hadn't been taking a respite,

I may not have noticed the fight.

Other birds are seen traveling on their journey through

together, not vying, as a general rule.

Yellow finches, wrens,

cardinals, robins.

All bring delight here at Rainbow's End.

And I find delight as I tend.

So this respite of writing is over for now.

Work before play was bred into me somehow.

Though I'd rather be writing,

must get back to the weeding.

Ta

Ta

* * * * *

Respite. A time to simply breathe and enjoy.

To forget about everything that annoys.

To rest body, soul, and spirit

of the problems life brings with it.

A respite

despite

stress

which tests

our faith,

but grace

enables

us able

to continue

to pursue

life's challenges

with a knowledge

that God is with us

and will grow our trust.

With Him

we win.

Don't quit.

Respite.

Through prayer

let God bear

your daily worries

and anxieties.

Meditate on God's promises

which are His assurances

that God has a good plan and purpose,

God's very best solution for us.

Until the day God calls us home

life will be filled with problems

but the Lord, who is with us,

simply invites us to trust.

And when that day finally comes

when our work on earth is done,

when God calls us to our heavenly home,

when we hear Him say to us "well done,"

on that day when we rest from our labors

our loved ones will recount God's gracious favor.

Daily came away and rest awhile in God's grace

as you allow God's faithful Word to worries erase.

God's faithfulness will encourage others, too,

when you testify of God's goodness to you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in our own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8

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

Plan to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

You whom I have upheld since you were conceived,

and have carried since your birth.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he,

I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:3-4

My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in my weakness.

II Corinthians 12:9

They will rest from their labor,

for their deeds will follow them.

Revelation 14:13

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Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always;                                                                  PROTECTOR

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land                                         PROVIDER

and will strengthen your frame,                                                                     PRESERVER

You will be like a well-watered garden,                                                         PRODUCTIVE

like a spring whose waters never fail.                                                             PROMISE

Claim God's promises.
He is our Protector,
our Provider,
our Preserver.
We will be Productive
because God's Promises
will not fail us.

Babies

BABIES

Off to water the new climbing rose,
someday up the arbor it will grow.
What’s that I hear? Sounds like it’s scolding me.
It’s a robin in the crab apple tree.


I see the twig nest there in the arbor high.
To see it you have to look up to the sky.
Mr. and Mrs. Robin were crafty builders.
Their round nest is neat and tidy with mud shoulders.


The mud is packed tightly inside the nest,
a comfortable place for blue eggs to rest.
I don’t know how many eggs there will be.
I’ll just have to patiently wait to see.


One day the little blue eggs will hatch
and babies will be born without thatch.
Ugly, hairless, with big beaks
waiting for something to eat.


Their parents will supply worms aplenty
and soon feathers will sprout. There’ll be many.
They will turn from ugly to cute
and learn to sing just like a flute.


One day loud squawking will be heard.
It’s coming from the parent bird.
Encouraging their young ones to fly
from their safe loft up high in the sky.


All children are meant to spread their wings
while in the background parents sing
encouragement often to them
while praying “God protect them. Amen.”


Squawking might not be heard as encouragement.
It might be interpreted as disagreement.
Parents only mean to keep their children safe
while trusting in the Lord and growing strong faith.


Rather squawking from birds or testing from your teens,
there’s a lesson in this story to glean.
Be sure to say “I love you” and “be safe”.
They might leave the house with a smile on their face.

* * * * *

The Bible tells us that God knows
the activity of sparrows.
If God is concerned about little brown sparrows,
He certainly is concerned about your sorrows.


So many problems are solved by just simply waiting
even though we want a solution without waiting.
In the meantime, pray for everyone’s peace of heart and mind.
God does have an answer because He is loving and kind.


When you’re waiting for the situation to turn out different
please know, though it sometimes seems so, God is never ever silent.
He’s working out the details through others.
Just keep praying, God is never bothered.


Pray “Thy will be done.”
Cast your burdens – gone.
Just trust in the Lord while you wait.
You’ll learn that God is never late.

Not one sparrow is forgotten by God.

Luke 12:6

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

Your will be done.

Matthew 6:10

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

This story is in Volume III

Life Is a Garden Party

available via Amazon.

Quick Garden Guests

What I've learned re talking hummer's photos:

I sit under the tree and wait for them to come because if I approach they are gone.

Pay attention to their feeding times.

It can be very frustrating as by the time I focus and click, they are out of the frame.

Expect a lot of unusable photos.

Wear a red shirt. Many times they approach me. Haven't been quick enough to focus and click.

Taking photos is my mini vacation. Allow yourself time.

Hummers

HUMMERS

When hummers come

to watch is fun.

They dip

then sip.

Zip zip

wings flick.

          Gone quick.

Visiting the trumpet vine

at set times while the sun shines

into red clusters they dip

from trumpet flowers they sip.

Then hummers zip quick.

Do they wear lipstick

on their lips?

Who knows, they’re quick.

I’ve seen them sit

on the fence for a minute.

As soon as I approach – zip

off quick

they went.

Zip zip!

They’ll be back soon

when bee balm blooms.

Several will dine

all at one time

in citrus-scented blossoms.

Who knows where hummers come from

wearing bright feathers and down.

I’m delighted they remember me

and I’m glad when hummers I see.

I hear one now.

There he is – wow!

Dip.

Sip.

Zip!

* * * * *

Be sure to take time from your busy day

to enjoy God’s great creation today.

Creation was designed with you in mind

because God the Creator is so kind.

Whether it be birds singing

or hummingbirds zipping,

birds have much to teach us.

Especially to learn to trust.

Do you realize birds do not gather

or store up for their future.

They do not worry, they sing a song of thankfulness.

A song that teaches us to have believing faith and trust.

The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.

Psalm 104:12

Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young.

Psalm 84:3a

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 6:26

You are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:31

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