Descend

Descend

Fall officially descends this week.

A few chlorophyll-less leaves today peek.

Soon golden yellow and burnt orange trees will peak

in multicolors, along with magentas deep

before turning into crunchy brown under ones feet.

Their descent means it will be time to rake into a heap.

Then you'll find your elbows may feel weak

and possibly your knees will creak.

Dry, crispy leaves smell autumn sweet

as more leaves descend on your street.

As you rake you'll be serenaded by tweets

as many colored birds descend for treats.

You'll find music makes any day less bleak

as the rake descends to sweep and sweep and sweep

keeping its own yearly harmonious beat.

These treats from sunflower seeds are also reaped

by little brown critters that sneak and squeak.

If I see one, beware I'll holler "eke"

unless it's a bold chipmunk, so sweet,

racing away on its four little feet.

How quickly the sun descends, for time doesn't keep.

The older you become, the faster time leaps.

Just think how quickly a week

descends, it doesn't creep.

Gone are the days of summer heat.

Soon it will be time for trick or treat.

One winter day there might be sleet,

while we long for last summer's heat.

But time, we find, we cannot reap

except in the memories we keep.

Before I head in I'll harvest some beets.

They'll be good roasted in the oven's heat.

Roasting makes them taste more sweet.

Perhaps I'll roast chicken to eat

or maybe chowder made with leeks.

As the day descends it will be time to eat

as another rosy pink sunset streaks

the sky with colors too awesome to speak.

Be sure to take time to watch the sunset descend and peak

for it's over in a moment as dusk another night greets.

Soon another daily twilight greets

for the sun from east to west did creep.

Hopefully you'll find time to put up your feet

as you descend into a comfortable seat

perhaps to enjoy the fireplace heat

or to review the day's many peaks.

Soon it will be time for sleep

as you listen to the clock beat

as time descends, it fleets,

never to be captured again, we weep.

* * * * *

Fall brings with it the passing of time

despite daylight savings time.

Another year three quarters gone.

We find seasons do not last long.

After this season of harvest,

follows a season of rest.

Fall brings with it leaf raking

after multi-colored leaves falling

turn into dry shriveled nothingness

to make gardener's gold, it's the best,

repeating the circle of life

as there's life after death.

Someday life for you and I will end.

Will our sojourn on life simply end

or will there be a legacy to pass on

to those who are yet to come.

A legacy of faith that stands the tests of time.

A legacy that others will seek after and find.

It's never too late to start.

Make a commitment in your heart

to stand in faith

then share that faith

always giving God glory.

It will be your life's story.

We all shrivel up like a leaf...

Isaiah 64:6

They will rest from their labor,

for their deeds will follow them.

Revelation 14:13

September Dawn

SEPTEMBER DAWN

Golden leaves seen raining down.

Soon there’s a blanket on the ground

to be raked one sunny autumn day

while serenaded by the blue jays

for blue jays will find the stash

of ripe sunflowers seeds out back.

Here comes a squirrel with a hickory nut

now digging a hole in which to put.

Preparing for winter

with the fruits of summer.

His fluffy tail foretells

of winter snow squalls.

Sunlight is now seen shining through the foggy morning gloom

welcoming a September day where rudbeckias bloom.

There’s also yellow marigolds and mums seen

above the green grass still springtime green

for it’s been a rainy summer,

albeit a seemingly short summer.

White cabbage butterflies flutter

where the morning sunlight enters.

Bees are beginning to stir

seeking out bright flowers.

Last night’s rain drips from the eaves.

Needed, this rain does please.

Crickets chirp

giving birth

to a new day

where hard work pays.

Time to get started cleaning or deadheading or weeding

or canning or freezing or sewing or crafting or writing…

My day is never boring -

just too short and tiring.

Perhaps like me your work is never done.

Tomorrow there will still be a ton.

It’s my sanity

and my insanity.

* * * * *

Every dawn is a new page

to be filled with something sage -

something exciting to engage -

rather to begin a new phrase

or off each day to earn a wage,

every dawn begins as a blank page.

Your empty, blank page

may seem like a maze,

you hear yeahs and nays,

it leaves you in a daze

as commotion fills your days.

Please don’t end up in a rage.

Consider how you want your blank page

to read at the end of the day.

Select what you want to stay.

Reject if it isn’t okay.

Keep what is sage

for being sage pays.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

the one who gains understanding.

Proverbs 3:13

(Wisdom) will set a garland of grace on your head

and present you with a crown of splendor.

Proverbs 4:9

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

September 10

Was looking for a story to post this week when found this one, today Tuesday, September 10, 

although this story was written years ago.

September 10

After several chilly, cloudy, sunless days,

the sun peaked out for a moment on Friday

beckoning visitors to take a tour

before rain showers begin to pour.

The butterfly bush begins the tour

where winged creatures are often lured.

Today there's monarchs and bees

and hummingbirds come to tease.

Are they filling up before they venture south?

They certainly will be missed in the north.

I'm off to get my camera

to enjoy their pictures this winter.

They must have eyes in the back of their heads

or maybe they caught an odd scent instead

for before I could zoom

they were airborne - zoom, zoom.

The sunflowers beckon next.

Bees never seem to take a rest.

All day long here they reside

on days when the sun doesn't hide.

The bees have an important job to do

beginning long before the morning dew

dissipates,

as if in a race.

A photo shows three or four bees

working side-by-side happily

always sharing

while humming.

Today these yellow sunflowers have another guest.

This Friday afternoon yellow finches come on a quest

to dine to their stomach's content

on the sunflower head's content.

Though I try to take a picture,

they're quickly off to the neighbors

until I turn my back on them

then they suddenly fly in again.

Shy

guys

these feathered friends

with yellow and black plumes.

Checking out the zinnia border,

I see monarchs. Three...four...or more.

Flying flowers these monarchs are

for when I zoom in, they zoom afar.

They're seen sharing with the bees

though sometimes they disturb the bees.

The bees are as happy as can be

heard humming loudly and merrily.

In a few short weeks they'll be sorely missed,

these butterflies and bees who today kiss

a zinnia of every color

in this colorful flower border.

Today visiting hummers are attracted to me

as I'm wearing a red top with sleeves.

Just inches away from my face, I hear loud humming

and I can feel a breeze from their fluttering.

It's magical to stand among

winged creatures having such fun

who all around me float, buzz, and hum

this afternoon under the welcome sun.

Another visitor on today's tour

was a dragonfly who perhaps was lured

by the rainbow of delights

under the sunlight bright.

Yes, red and yellow

attracts winged fellows

as does pink, purple, orange, and gold, too -

and, of course, morning glory blue.

Though not seen today,

on other sunny days

I've seen a hummingbird moth

as the butterfly bush it sought.

No pictures taken to date

as it zooms through the gate

faster than I can zoom

the camera zoom.

A lovely afternoon, it was,

trying to capture bees that buzz,

butterflies who act shy,

and hummers zooming nigh.

Soon these special flying friends

will float along on the wind

on an adventure southward bound

bringing delight to another town.

* * * * *

How wonderful that God created our beautiful earth

where bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and dragonflies bring mirth

as they entertain us each summer here in the north.

And I know whatever turf

you happen to inhabit

gloriously exhibits

wondrous winged creatures births.

How Great Thou Art

by Carl Boberg

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed.

When thru the woods and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died To take away my sin.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art! How great thou art!

How great you are, O Sovereign Lord!

There is no one like you,

and there is no God but you.

II Samuel 7:22

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth

by your great power and outstretched arm.

Nothing is too hard for you...

O great and powerful God,

whose name is the Lord Almighty,

great are your purposes

and mighty are your deeds.

Jeremiah 32:17-19

There's something even more wonderful

than having a flower garden full

of pollinators

each and every summer.

It's knowing that God call us His children.

We, though quite rebellious, are God's children.

Here's a variation of the above chorus:

Then I shall sing, how wonderful God is

that I am His, that I am His.

Then I shall sing, how wonderful God is

That I am His, that I am His!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

I John 3:1

To all who received him,

to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

Garden Tour 9/10/19

It's September.  The gardens are looking wane.
Rains forecasted next three days.  Needed.

Pumpkins are showcasing their autumnal outfit.
I didn't plan to plant pumpkins this season.
I thought I was planting butternuts.

However, last year's compost pile is boasting several of these huge squashes.

Years ago I purchased seeds called argonauts, larger than butternuts.

Hopeful that is what these are.

But the season might not be long enough to these to mature.

The burning bush is changing its dress as well.

Each passing day more red.

And filled with bright red seeds,

meaning lots of baby burning bushes to share some day.

The next two photos are mums, which bloom late summer.

Dahlias also bloom in the fall.
All of these were gifts.

Love seeing plants purchased in years past have self-seeded elsewhere:

Bees sing their loudest symphony early morning.

I like to think they are thanking their Creator in song.

Notice its left pollen sack is full.

Autumn Joy sedum blooms in the fall.  A bee favorite.

In the same bed as the sedum, are ornamental grasses.
Some needed to be divided - somehow.

Some summer flowers are still hanging on:

Phlox

 Feverfew

Petunas

Gloriosa Daisy 

Other flowers still adding color but due to insects or lack of rain, not photo worthy.

Two late summer flowering bushes:  Rose of Sharon

My goal was to grow Heavenly Blue morning glories up the tree trunk.
The surprise was on me, not Heavenly Blue, though my idea worked well.

Sunflowers looking wane from lack of rain.
Morning glory vine on fence was planted by wind.

Harvested another huge bowl of tomatoes today.  Will cook down another pot in the morning.
Will be sad to see the season ending.  Tomatoes have been very fruitful this year.  Thankful.
Have shared with many.  The largest ones weighed almost 1 3/4 pounds.

Potatoes were also very productive this year.  Shared with someone recently that digging potatoes is like an Easter Egg Hunt.  She agreed with my analogy.  When I was a kid, I didn't have the same appreciation for what seemed to be a half acre.  Of course, it wasn't a half acre, but it did seem like work.  Today I look forward to seeing what the "mother hen" has laid.  A friend weighed two of the largest ones.  They were just about 1 1/2 pounds each.

It was also a good year for summer squash.  Made several summer squash casseroles for the freezer.  It freezes well.  Will certainly enjoy the fruits of summer this winter.  For those who are gluten free, almond flour works well to replace bread crumbs.

The beets and carrots are waiting to be dug.  I'm already wishing they made refrigerators with four crisper drawers to store the abundance.  My parents stored in the root cellar or the well house.  There's a "story" about these in Vol II of Life Is a Garden Party, available via Amazon.

Will bring in herbs for herbal bouquets of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, as well as the scarlet runner beans to be shelled, before frost.

Headed back outside.  It seemed too hot to be out earlier.  Been nice sharing with you all.  Feel free to share how your gardens fared this season.

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop

and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

James 5:7

Autumn

Autumn

It's sad to see the garden yellowing

these beginning days of autumn.

Turning yellow already are hostas, the sugar maple,

lily of the valley, peonies, the white crab apple.

Though come autumn other flowers showcase yellow

for golden mums make handsome bedfellows

as does the perennial Maximilian sunflowers

and the remaining rudbeckias with gold flowers.

Some bushes are turning red

in their various garden beds -

Moses' burning bush, dogwood, forsythia,

and red berries in the barberry, hallelujah!

Red geraniums are filled with blooms

and red zinnias attract bees who zoom

in for a sip of nectar sweet

for an afternoon tea party treat.

Crisp red apples adorning apple trees

though gold or green ones will also please:

red delicious, fugi, gala, honeycrisp, cortland, golden delicious,

ida red, macintosh, northern spy – the varieties are endless.

Purple concord grapes ready for harvest.

Those warmed by the sun do taste the best.

And have you noticed - the sky is the bluest blue in October.

Do schedule a picture-taking day so you'll have photos to remember.

Chinese lanterns and pumpkins turn orange

as each year autumn's silent clock turns.

The late afternoon sunset displays rosy pink

often tinged with orange rays, then gone in a wink.

Overnight tree's leaves will turn

from green - to gold or red or orange.

Autumn dresses in a vast array

of colors that takes one's breath away.

Daily this kaleidoscope changes

over mountains, hills, and ranges

with every tock

of the clock.

Before you know it, leaves will turn brown

then begin their tumble down

making a blanket, a comforter covering the ground

while other frost-bitten plants are piled in a mound...

to compost into black gold

during the winter season cold

then in the spring heaped in the wheelbarrow then towed

to enrich the soil where flowers will again grow.

Autumn, the most colorful time of the year.

Not just the leaves but the blue sky so clear.

Autumn, each year a season that means an end to summer

with a colorful celebration ushering in winter.

Autumn's palette is wiped clean

when the first snowfall is seen

replacing autumn's rainbow with a blanket of white delights

inviting play, then hot cocoa - before day turns into night.

* * * * *

Autumn is a time to reflect

on God's abundant faithfulness.

Truly we're grateful for yearly harvest

and especially God's watchcare over us.

Everyday God himself has blessed you

with many great things proving to you

that He loves you

through and through.

Not because of what you have done

but because of life through God's Son:

love, mercy, grace, kindness, forgiveness,

salvation, eternal life, righteousness.

Our reason to rejoice and be glad

for these blessings are ironclad,

unchangeable,

always available.

Thank you, Lord, that your love for us

is ever-present, changeless.

May our every word, thought, and deed

showcase your love, becoming our creed.

Surely he has done great things.

Be not afraid, O land;

be glad and rejoice.

Surely the Lord has done great things.

Be glad, O people of Zion,

rejoice in the Lord your God,

for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.

He sends you abundant showers,

both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Joel 2:21,23

I the Lord do not change.

Malachi 3:6

Every good and perfect fit is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will live in hope.

Acts 2:25-26

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.