Morning

Yesterday a rain shower watered the earth.
Early this morning you can see new birth
for pretty flowers and green grass appear
after yesterday's shower disappeared.
Yesterday's falling rain worked its magic.
Listen, there's water babbling in the creek.

This morning the bright warm rays of the sun
chased away the gloom from the wet rain.
Together they work in harmony
to grow pretty flowers and greenery.
If you take a deep breath,
you'll smell earthworms in the earth.

Ones spirits lift
as the fog lifts
for creation in all its glory
seems to be somewhat in a hurry
to get another day underway
as the darkness quickly slips away.

The sun removes the remaining shadows
as morning peeks over the willow.
Yesterday rain everything fed.
Today a cloudless sky overhead.
It's the dawning of a new day today
seen in the morning's waking sun rays.

Morning brings
many blessings.
Is that why birds sing
early in the morning?
Perhaps they don't want to forget a one
for their song is one of thankfulness all day long.

Do they have a lesson
to teach us humans?
To look for blessings
instead of stressing
over what we have no charge of
but to trust in the Lord above.

* * * * *

Whatever a given day may bring
God is there with you in everything.
You are not meant to carry your burden alone
for God will be there with you, by your side all along
to comfort, strengthen, guide
when you in Him abide.

My devotions this morning were from I Corinthians 13
where Paul talks about "faith to move mountains".
That means believing faith to trust God to meet whatever our needs.
God is waiting to lift whatever burden when you in prayer plead.
If your mountain is physical, financial, or relational,
let God move your mountain for with God all things are possible.

He is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.
II Samuel 23:4

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

..faith that can move mountains...
I Corinthians 13:2

Games

Next to the compost pile
a hole or burrow or tunnel.
What furry creature resides there?
Quite possibly there's a pair.

This something only comes out at night
after I've retired for bug bites
chase me inside early each night
after the sunset becomes twilight.

He eats to his heart's content
from the compost's content
fortunately not realizing
fresh vegetation grew in the garden.

My neighbor told me it was woodchuck.
It might have been a ground hog.  Just my luck.
I needed to come up with a plan quick
to scare off this varmint, to outwit.

This woodchuck
did not chuck
any wood
that I know of.

He did, however, chuck
many, many rocks
with his nose and head somehow
that were wedged in the burrow...

for every morning those rocks
were again up on top.
He had come to chow down
some time before dawn.

Last evening's parings
he thought were for sharing.
Content he was
with peach skin fuzz.

Rather a woodchuck or a ground hog, I do not know.
I do know I'm thankful he has left town, though.
Hopefully he became
tried of playing the game...

of my wedging rocks in the burrow
then his emptying the tunnel
with his nose,
I suppose.

Woodchucks
do not knock,
they tend to invite themselves.
Gardeners might cry 'help'...

for lettuce and peas
and corns and beans
are no longer seen
in rows of green.

Ground hogs
don't jog
but can be seen
in fields of green...

where into their tunnel
they quickly burrow
after eating
from gardens.

* * * * *

Oh the joys of gardening.
Everyday something needs tending.
Oh the joys of aging.
Everyday something's aching.

Dedicated gardeners won't let a few aches
keep them from their morning-to-evening date
with what's waiting out behind the garden gate
for every morning new surprises await.

Wonderment is found so don't be late
for everyday miracles await.
The miracle of food upon your plate.
Awe over the assortment God did create.

Amazement over delicate flower blooms.
Everyday a rainbow of new blooms perfume.
There's much in one's garden to see and admire.
To talk about, gardeners never seem to tire.

And tomorrow they will be back again
to finish yesterday's chores in the garden.
A gardener's work is never, ever done
rather the gardener be man or woman.

Here's some words of wisdom direct from Solomon.
I think he spent some time working under the sun.
Isn't that what gardener's do -
work under the sun after the dew,,,

has dried upon the grass
for there's always another task
that awaits.
Don't be late.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find satisfaction in his work.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
To the man who pleases him,
God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness...
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

I know that there is nothing better for men
than to be happy and do good while they live.
That everyone may eat and drink,
and find satisfaction in all his toil -
this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

I realized that is good and proper for a man to eat and drink,
and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun
during the few days of life God has given him -
for this is his lot.
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions,
and enables him to enjoy them,
to accept his lot and be happy in his work -
this is a gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-19

I commend the enjoyment of life,
because nothing is better for a man under the sun
than to eat and drink and be glad.
Then joy will accompany him in his work
all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15

Bunnies

Despite hound dog, one day in the herb garden a bunny's nest is found.
A few weeks later cute little brown baby bunnies are found.
One day these bunnies chow down fresh vegetables they found.
Gardeners don't like having bunnies around, bunnies found.

Gardeners frown and find ways to deter bunnies they found
with fences or netting put around or box traps they found.
Chasing bunnies around and round might deter bunnies found.
Telling the hound dog to chase, sometimes works, the gardener found.

Sound might scare the bunnies away for awhile, it's found
but soon they bound around town without a sound, again found.
Hound dog gives up chasing around and round, gardener found.
Though a welcome sign is not found, bunnies again are found.

A plan:  hot pepper flakes sprinkled on the ground for bunnies found.
With frown, gardener bought by the pound in town where he found.
Here comes bounding bunny, though no sound on the ground can be found.
He nibbles on red hot pepper flakes down on the ground found.

Bunny bounds around and around.  With a big frown he's found
bounding round and round until right out of town he's found.
Bunny goes up the hill and down and is no longer found.
Gardener no longer wears a frown.  He sits down, where he's found.

* * * * *

Hopefully you chuckled over the misadventures of bunny.
When I composed this little rhyme, I did.  I thought it was funny.
Laughter is good medicine, we know.
It helps to lighten our sorrows.

May all your bunny troubles be solved this quickly.
You'll find a sense of humor eases burdens readily.
The burden may still be there
but humor lessens its wear.

Worry will take a back seat
when laughter and smiles greet
for a smile makes one feel better,
content, blessed, joyous, happier.

Sit for a minute and close your eyes,
concentrate and paste on a smile.
Don't you somehow feel better now?
Content, blessed, joyous, happier?  Wow!

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 cheerful heart is good medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

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.
When 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.
You know they're here when you hear their hum.

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 zip!
Gone quick!

* * * * *

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,
God created birds for our enjoyment.
One of His many blessings to us sent.

The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
Psalm 104:12

Supply

For breakfast robin redbreast dines on a worm
readily available after last night's rain storm.
Did she know that God would supply
with more than money can buy?

A yellow finch feasts on dried blue-it seeds.
Soon more yellow finches join in for free feed.
It sounds like a party atmosphere.
Their song of thankfulness always cheers.

Sweet chickadees come to dine
under the evergreen pine.
A smorgasbord of treats await
supplied by their Creator, who's great.

A flicker, speckled with an orange head
and a black beard, dines on bugs instead.
He's seen climbing for breakfast in a tree up high
where perhaps the best tasting bugs reside.

Titmice with their little crest
search for seeds that taste best.
God lovingly caters to their personal needs
furnishing an endless supply of weed seeds.

Papa blue jay seeks his breakfast
from a buffet of birdseed, hear him sass,
for his caw-caw is heard near and far
perhaps telling everyone he scored.

Canadian geese overhead fly
perhaps off to the lake to fish.  Bye-bye!
Wherever they land they know God will provide
for they've learned God has an abundant supply.

* * * * *

Each sunny morning, "It's a Wonderful World" is heard
outdoors from happy, contented, chirping songbirds.

Isn't it amazing how God supplies
breakfast each morning for birds that fly
just as God supplies our needs
and many of our wants, indeed.

Yes, there will be lean, hard-to-understand, times
when you wonder if the sun will again shine
but these lean times are when we learn God is faithful.
This head and heart knowledge is better than pearls.

Knowing that God has a good plan and purpose no matter what
is much better than playing the odds or wishing for good luck.
Know that God already has a solution in mind
and He's never late, His plan will unfold in His time.

Next time you wonder what is God up to,
think of the early morning birds who
do not worry, who start their day happy
with a song of thankfulness quite early.

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

Hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything
for our enjoyment.
I Timothy 6:17

He has shown kindness
by giving you rain from heaven
and crops in their season;
he provides you with plenty of food
and fills your heart with joy.
Acts 14:17

First of May

After a week of cold, rainy weather
a walk around the yard today gathers
enough rhubarb for a pie
and asparagus - surprise!

I find I've missed seeing what grows in my lot.
You can be certain much needs to be done - a lot,
for the rain has greened the weed-filled grass
where dandelions abound in mass.

Last week's cold weather brought with it frost.
I see there are lilies done in by frost.
The wisteria got hit hard.
The Sum and Substance hosta looks sad.

Other surprises along the way
are found this beginning of May.
There are buds on the day lilies already
and the neighbor's crab apple is sooooo pretty.

The bleeding hearts show off 20 hearts on a stem.
I saw extra plants I can share with my new friends.
Lilacs are ready to burst
as soon as the sun shines forth.

Sunflower seeds dropped last year by hungry birds
have turned into seedlings, I saw on my tour.
They're growing in the vegetable garden,
which needs to be tilled one day, then tend.

Yes, there are dandelions aplenty.
If only I had a shiny penny
for each one, I'd be quite rich -
though in blessings I am rich.

Songbirds and tree toads now heard in chorus,
together making quite a ruckus
saying it's the end of another day.
April has been spent.  It's already May.

Bothersome nasty gnats.
I'm thinking I'll scat.
Tonight's sprinkle turns into a shower.
You'll now find me heading for the shower.

 - - - - -

The first of May
is a glad day
for a gardener's pay
come with daily sun rays,
the caw-cawing of blue jays,
busy bees buzzing away,
later a spring shower on everything lays.
Before you know it, it will be time to cut hay.
I'll cut a tulip and lilac bouquet to give away
for fragrant flowers abound throughout the month of May.
As the season progresses there will be other bouquets.
Peonies, roses, cone flowers to brighten someone's day.
There's much to be glad about today.
I know you agree with me.  Hurray!

* * * * *

Do you keep a diary
of what makes you happy?
We tend to forget the happy days
when anxiety fills up our days.

There really are more happy days
then there are sad, worrisome days.
A diary will help you remember these
as happy memories always please.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.
Proverbs 15:13

Sunshines

On Sunday I saw the first one.
I thought to myself, "how fun!"
It reminded me of when I was young.

Monday I did not see a one
as we had an all-day rain storm.
We needed the rain more than sun.

Tuesday I saw a few.  I could count one plus one.
They looked like little smiley faces, little suns.
I told someone about them when I talked on the phone.

Wednesday I wasn't at home.
Didn't pay any attention.
I had spent the day on the run.

Thursday I thought, "where did they all come from?"
They were seen in the grass, the beds, the garden.
I needed to start removing one by one.

Friday more yellow than green did abound.
How come one was fun, but more was wrong?
It looks like they'll add up to a ton.

Saturday they were finally mowed to the ground.
Green grass appeared for a few minutes when done
before they popped up again, these little yellow suns.

Little yellow sun shines in the grass are dandelions.
Irregardless of what you might think, they can be fun.
What are your thoughts about dandelions?  Work or fun?

* * * * *

The Victorian meaning of dandelion is faithfulness.
Every time I see one I'm reminded of God's faithfulness.
So to see an dandelion has become a blessing
as God daily bestows me with many blessings.

Perhaps we should view dandelions as our blessings.
We can never have too many of God's good blessings.
For each dandelion write down a blessing
to put in a glass jar you've labeled "blessings."

It will be reminder when life is confusing
and you are prone to give in to stressings from testings.
The reminder jar will keep you from stressing
during the times you're experiencing testings.

Instead of living in much strife and guessing,
you can review your blessings and be resting
in God's promises - His many blessings,
for everyday we receive more blessings.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.
Proverbs 10:22