SUM & SUBSTANCE

 

SUM & SUBSTANCE

The largest of my hostas is aptly labeled Sum & Substance

which describes my life’s gardening experiences, in essence.

Using my parent’s experience (sum & substance) by asking,

and now wishing when a kid I had paid more attention,

equals about the whole (sum & substance) total of what I know,

then fitting what I know (sum & substance) into a book somehow.

The sum of my experience might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Observing the elements (sum & substance) – weather,

about gardening is rather

a unique experience (sum & substance) having lasting value.

Something passed on through generations – now there’s (sum) value.

The sum of all my observing might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Learning from many (sum) gardening magazines and books (substance),

I seem to have a large quantity (sum), if you look,

adds yearly information (substance) to what I know –

amounting to brain matter (sum & substance)…I have been told.

The sum of my learning at times might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

Collecting found materials (sum & substance) in my yard

become objects of worth (sum & substance). I’m not too proud,

to recycle other people’s discards (sum & substance), for instance,

into something of value having sum and substance.

The sum of my diverse collecting might be referred to as having some sum & substance.

* * * * *

One’s experiences make us who we now are.

Optimism or pessimism we bear.

If you tend to be pessimistic,

you can learn to be optimistic.

One simple way is to

count your blessings anew.

Observing one’s own surroundings

is one way to count your blessings

for when God created the world

He had us in His mind, we're told.

God created our world with beauty

so our hearts would be filled of beauty.

All of life we’re learning something new.

Everyday we learn or see something new.

Every time we read our Bible there’s something new

for us to ponder and wonder about anew.

Commit yourself to reading the Bible

for God’s promises will always enable.

Be careful what you end up collecting in this life.

If you collect the world’s garbage you’ll be full of strife.

One bit of the world’s garbage is “oh my god”

which is so defaming to the one true God.

Eradicate that phrase completely from your house

and start a campaign in your family to douse.

Blessings crown the head of the righteous.

Proverbs 10:6

A faithful man will be richly blessed.

Proverbs 28:20

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 24:1

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

My comfort in my suffering is this:

your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:50

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord you God,

for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless

who misuses his name.

Exodus 20:7

Our Father which art in heaven,

hallowed is Thy name.

Matthew 6:9 (KJV)

Took a photo of my Sum & Substance hosta tonight.

The deer haven't found this one yet.

I remember its name as I purchased many years ago,

whereas the majority here were hand-me-downs.

Years later the above story was formed

becoming both literal and figurative.

How did you come across your gardening knowledge?

Didn't Solomon study horiculture, then concluded:

"find satisfaction in your toilsome labor under the sun."

May that be your experience also.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

TEA PARTY

 

Tea Party

An afternoon tea is being prepared.

What will this afternoon’s welcome guests wear?

What color will be their dress?

Which tea will they like best?

On the wings of the wind floats

someone dressed in an orange cloak

stopping at the purple butterfly bush

where yellow striped guests also sip their lunch.

She’s dressed to impress

with a polka dot and striped dress.

She's not late for her afternoon cup of tea

which she's happy to share with hes and shes.

There's purple cone flower tea

and lavender blazing star tea.

She sips to her heart's content

then up, up, up she went...

to try another flavor -

zinnia tea she favors.

It's hard to decide

as she quietly glides...

to sample pink hollyhock tea

where she finds more hungry bees

sipping this nectar

for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

This tea party guest

wore an orange dress.

Did you guess a monarch butterfly?

There she goes, on the wind she glides.

Other teas await.

Guests are not late.

Yellow lily tea is sipped in my town

by someone dressed in a yellow and black gown.

Looking like she lunched on "Cheetos,"

she then stops at the cosmos.

Her wings are covered with golden pollen

as she sips from each, going round and round.

She, too, likes zinnia tea

as do the yellow striped bees.

Afternoon tea delights

these winged creatures in flight.

She samples each flavorful tea

sharing next to her friends, it's free.

Fragrant, colorful ambrosia *

uplifting, and refreshing, to all.

This garden guest

wears a yellow dress.

It was a swallowtail

who visited my dale.

Another guest prefers red tea

as they share alongside the bees.

A green vest is worn over a white tee.

They prefer a straw to sip their tea.

Around 4:00 they zoom in on sunny afternoons.

See. There. Look quick as its long sipper zooms

into red geraniums for more tea

before sampling red trumpet vine tea.

They especially love red bee balm tea, they do,

pleasantly scented with citrus flavored dew.

To cleanse their palate, a sip

of blue borage tea is sipped.

This afternoon’s guest

was a hummingbird.

Did you know? Did you guess?

Their favorite color is red.

Who likes sunflower tea the best?

It's the bees wearing yellow striped vests.

They also like squash blossom tea

while humming a morning song of glee.

This song of contentment is heard

at this tea party outdoors.

The crickets even join in

strumming a continual din.

Afternoon tea was a great success.

Whose outfit did you like the best?

Tomorrow more tea will be brewed

as more acquaintances will be renewed.

Do you have a tea party planned?

Please do take the time to plan

time to sit and sip

as your cup is tipped...

with a cup of lemon balm tea

full of Vitamin C.

Cheers! Cheers

to you, my dears.

*Ambrosia came to mind when writing this story. To me, ambrosia sounds like a dessert, as in fruit with whipped cream. (The definition of ambrosia is “food of the gods.)

When I used the computer thesaurus to look up another word for ambrosia, the first definition was beebread! How fitting for this story.

I then looked up beebread, which is a mixture of pollen and honey stored by bees and fed to their young. Isn’t God the Creator Awesome! Every detail was thought of. Because God cares for the smallest of creatures in this way, you can know for certain that God cares for each detail of your life.

* * * * *

I hope these tea party guests brought a smile to your face.

When they visit me, they bring a smile to my face

as one afternoon in August I sat

with pen and paper in lap

recording what I saw happening

as overhead fluffy clouds were drifting.

My heart was cheerful

as my yard was full

of winged guests -

can you guess

from the clues above:

butterflies, which I love,

bees and hummingbirds

quite often heard.

Various birds from dawn to dusk.

Even hummingbird moths.

Earthworms which aerate and fertilize

plus unwelcome insects, I realize,

but today my focus was on peace and happiness.

Tomorrow is soon enough to contemplate the rest.

Rather sitting or working in my yard,

it's an occasion to give glory to God:

“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 power throughout the universe displayed,

then sings my soul

my Savior, God to Thee,

how great Thou art,

how great Thou art!”

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.

Proverbs 15:13

The cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 15:30

A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

Here's blue borage, with a slight taste of cucumber.

Life Is a Garden Party 

is available via Amazon.

LIFE

 

Life

The garden is alive with the sound of bees

humming happily with a song of glee

in the golden squash blossoms and snow peas

where they thankfully work all day for free

pollinating while sipping morning tea.

It really is a pleasing sight to see.

Do be cautious, for though bees are wee

you won't want one to sit on your knee.

The garden is alive with singing birds.

From morning to evening music is heard.

A symphony of voices are on tour,

although sometimes it sounds like discord

when baby birds

learn to sing new chords.

Even so, their happiness does not bore,

each day it loudly and proudly soars.

The garden is alive with floating butterflies

which flutter down from somewhere high in the blue sky.

They never stay long, perhaps they are shy,

but when you do see them come down from on high

do take the time to go out to say hi

for all too soon they will wave bye bye.

Floating down to sip nectar, they flicker, flutter nigh

then, flicker, flutter to return high in the sky.

The garden is alive with numerous bugs -

beetles, worms, flies, gnats, mosquitoes, borers, ants, slugs – ugh!

There's even grubs

when the ground is dug.

Watch out, never a bug hug

for stinging ants create hubbub,

though earthworms and ladybugs

are good bugs gardener's love.

The garden is alive with a blaze of color

found in a rainbow of colorful flowers.

Hummingbirds know just when and where to come for dinner

as red bee balm and trumpet vine blooms in summer.

There's orange day lilies and yellow sunflowers,

petals of purple on the cone flowers,

white daisies and pink phlox, a stunner,

here at “Rainbow’s End” each summer.

* * * * *

The garden is alive with various forms of life.

Wherever you look green initiates the gift of life.

Unfortunately with life

comes assorted forms of strife.

In the garden it's insects

or weather not perfect,

though weeds survive

while other plants die.

In life

there's strife.

Everyday new problems

compound old problems.

It's hard to see the joy

when troubles annoy,

but God had a plan

for us humans.

Our problems mature us

and through them we learn to trust

in God's faithfulness

and inherent goodness.

Building a foundation of trust

will strengthen and encourage us,

growing our waning faith

through enabling grace.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its works so that you may be

mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

In this you greatly rejoice,

though now for a little while

you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that you faith -

of greater worth than gold,

which perishes even though refined by fire -

may be proved genuine

and my result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Though you have not seen him, you love him;

and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him

and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

for you are receiving the goal of you faith,

the salvation of your souls.

I Peter 1:7-9

Photo from yesterday.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

VEGETABLE HUMOR

 

VEGETABLE HUMOR

Can you guess who I am?

Lettuce now begin.

Plant either in a row or in a hill.

In a few days leaflets will spill.

One morning you’ll find bees in our blossoms.

Soon you will see our fruits of green loom.

If you carrot all for me

you’ll very cauliflowery

watch where you step, peas do not squash.

Otherwise I’ll end up squashed – ouch!

Look behind the cabbage.

To the right of the spinach.

You’ve now run out of thyme.

Just who do you think I am?

The corn is listening with their ears so don’t lie.

The potatoes are watching with their eyes, oh my.

You’ve bean strung along on a string in the heat.

If you goof you’ll turn as red as a red beet.

Here are clues to remember as I’m a good treat

when tomorrow I’ll be ready to harvest then eat:

I can be eaten raw, or fried, or steamed.

I can be grated for cake with ice cream.

I can be made into pickle relish,

even though I’m not very ticklish.

Try me with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and garlic.

I’ll be yum yum and so good to the last lick.

Here I am. It’s me.

Now do "zu see me"?

(I'm zucchini.)

(Maybe I’m just a little bit funny?)

* * * * *

Just a little bit of humor goes a long ways

as it will brighten any weary day.

Ecclesiastes says there’s a time to laugh.

Laughter can be quite healing. How about that!

I pray you’ll have more laughter than tears

for joy will lessen any fears.

I pray you’ll have more glad times than bad

so that you will rarely be sad.

I pray you’ll have much happiness

with peacefulness and quiet rest.

I pray you’ll have contentment.

I pray these blessings are sent.

You’ll find happiness, peacefulness, and contentment

are blessings from a loving heavenly Father sent

to everyone of us

when we learn to trust.

When you count your blessings

I know you’ll be filled with joy.

You might find yourself laughing

with much thankfulness and joy.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy…

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:2-3

…A time to weep and a time to laugh…

Ecclesiastes 3:4

Not certain which squash plant this blossom belonged with.

Intigued with how the morning sun filtered through at just that moment in time.

ZUCCHINI RECIPES

Vegetable Pizza

4 cups shredded zucchini

1/2 tsp salt

Let stand 10 minutes in calendar, squeeze dry.

Oil 9x13 with olive oil. Heat oven to 400.

2 eggs

garlic

1 cup shredded cheese of choice

Bake 20 minutes.

Cook 1# ground beef/turkey/sausage

Cook diced onions/peppers/mushrooms

Top with sliced tomatoes or tomato sauce

Sprinkle with garlic/basil/oregano/etc.

1+ cups shredded cheese or sliced cheese

Bake 20 additional minutes.

Or use one small roasted spaghetti squash with 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 2 eggs, and 1/2 tsp granulated garlic. Or use 4 cups mature summer squash.  

-----

Zucchini Bread

1 cup shredded zucchini

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup w/w flour

1 t baking soda

1/4 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 t cinnamon

1 1/2 t vanilla

2/3 cup walnuts

Grease pan. Bake 350 for 55 minutes.

-----

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

2 cups grated zucchini

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 t vanilla

1 cup flour

1 cup w/w flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

1/2 t baking powder

3/4 cup applesauce

2 T olive oil

2/3 cup cocoa

Bake 325.

GOOD FOR YOU

 (Paragraphs re-verbalized from another site.)

Good for You

Remember when mom said,

“Eat your vegetables, they're good for you.”

Chances are she repeated

what she heard when she was a child too.

But there's actually more wisdom in that statement than you might know.

God designed good-for-you foods to keep us healthy and to grow.

Be sure to pass on what you learn today

so others will be healthy everyday.

Consider the carrot.

Mom said they're good for eyesight,

for seeing in the night.

If you slice a carrot, what do you see? An eye?

There's a pupil and iris – just like the human eye!

Walnuts are special!

If you crack a walnut without breaking the meat

you'll find your brain in miniature, which is quite neat.

There's two hemispheres: the cerebrum and cerebellum.

And guess what? Walnuts help the human brain to function.

What about the tomato?

A tomato is red and has four chambers

just like the human heart has four chambers.

The red color of the tomato is called lycopene

which you'll want to be part of your heart-healthy team.

Have you thought about celery?

Celery is reminiscent of your bones.

Did you know there's sodium in your bones?

There's the exact same percentage of sodium,

it's true, in celery as there is in human bones.

How about onions and garlic?

Onions and garlic are kitchen staples

often paired with other vegetables.

Onions and garlic detox your system.

Do you need to buy more onions?

Examine kidney beans.

Notice the kidney bean's shape?

It's the same as your kidney's shape.

And kidney beans help maintain your kidneys.

Will tonight's dinner be homemade chili?

Dinner tonight:

Tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, celery, kidney beans

will make a pot of tasty chili and healthy genes.

(Don’t forget the fragrant and flavorful herbs.)

It's time to set the table and call your crew.

Mom was right! Vegetables are good for you!

* * * * *

Give us this day our daily bread...

with meat and vegetables and drink, we're fed

and oftentimes with dessert to top it off.

God graciously and daily provides a lot.

As a child we're taught to say “thanks”,

but do we remember to tell God thanks.

More than likely we say, “give”

which is a selfish way to live.

Start today by telling God “thank you.”

You'll find you'll be more appreciative, too,

for your heart will be grateful

for each and every mouthful.

I give every green plant for food.

Genesis 1:30

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love...

Proverbs 15:17

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

If we have food and clothing,

we will be content with that.

I Timothy 6:8

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

BEE BALM

 Saw the first hummer in the first red bee balm yesterday.  Didn't realize I already had a story pertaining to.

BEE BALM

Bee balm in the herb garden ablaze.

Scarlet red seen through this morning’s foggy haze.

Soon hummingbirds will come feed

then I'll take the time to heed

for God’s creatures are entertaining me

as I take time to watch them feed, you see.

Hummingbirds have set feeding times

when they come to the bee balm to dine.

I’ll stop my activity and watch from a distance

because when I get the camera they become distant.

But I know they’ll be back

for dinner or a snack.

If I’m quiet and still, I’ll hear them hum past.

I’m thankful bee balm has a long season and lasts.

I am entertained by my visitors for weeks

when red flowers hummingbirds look for and seek.

I believe they remember me

when my colorful garden they see.

Bee balm is also available in other colors.

You might buy it in shades of pink or lavender.

You'll recognize bee balm by its scent

as when touched it smells just like citrus.

Just beware of happy bees for they, too, like bee balm.

Bee balm also has medicinal qualities which calm.

Bee balm’s stalks are four-sided – square.

Now that’s something that’s quite rare.

Every year you’ll have a bigger spot

taking over your garden plot

but that’s okay with me.

There’s more to share, you see.

* * * * *

A delightful practice is to share.

Someone will know that you care.

We all need to know someone cares

for we all have burdens that we bear.

Burdens weigh us way down.

We’re seen wearing a frown.

Our shoulders slump down

from carrying pounds.

The weight of pains – physical,

or insecurities – emotional,

worry and anxiety – mental,

or wayward family – relational.

God does have an answer –

it’s Biblical and sure,

found in Scripture

to help us endure.

We all need help at one time or another

so God tells us to share with one another.

Sharing as in offering words of encouragement or

practical caring, from God’s storehouse of blessings poured.

Share with God’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13

Do not forget to do good and to share with others,

for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

Regarding bee balm and taking hummingbird photos, I've learned that sitting under the tree when hummingbirds are active will net some amazing photos, though it seems I miss the best shots. It takes patience and can be very frustrating. By the time I focus, they're gone - zip! Many times after they feed, then sit on the fence to preen. I need to refocus to capture their photo so quite often miss the best photos. If I'm wearing a red shirt they seem to approach quite close to me. Have yet to focus in time to capture one of these photos.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.