Thorns

Bad things do happen to good people
for we all go through trials and troubles.

Everyone everywhere bears
heavy heartaches and deep cares.
Everyone everywhere wears
intense sadness mixed with tears.
Ofttimes heartaches are not fair.
Sometimes sadness lasts for years.
Ofttimes it's all we wear.
Sometimes life doesn't seem fair.

Life is often filled with strife.
It seems nothing turns out right.
There's no relief in sight.
Finances are tight.
Perhaps you had a fight.
You cannot see the light.
There's no longer delight.
When will life be all right?

Every lovely rose bears a thorn
as a rainbow follows a storm.
So next time you're forlorn,
heartsick, weary, and worn,
remember after the storm
one day comes a bright new morn.
The rose with the thorn adorned
reminds us of life - it's norm.

Every thorn in life wears a rose.
Beauty from ashes, I suppose.
Verse for many poets' prose
or so the saying goes.
You need not be old to know,
just smell a rose with your nose.
The thorns will prick and goad.
We forget the lovely rose.

A lesson from the thorns
perhaps will now be born.
Look beyond the storm
to a bright new morn
where joy adorns
those who are worn.
Beauty from ashes born
out of all of our thorns.

Don't forget the rose
in front of your nose.
Look beyond the lows.
Don't dwell on the woes.
A lovely rose knows
one life's journey goes
from story to prose.
Lovely it grows.

If it weren't for thorns, there would be roses.
Beauty for ashes.  That said this poem closes.

* * * * *

Are you focused on your thorns
instead of on your roses?
I know I tend to be,
unfortunately.

A new attitude needs to be formed
instead of focusing on the loses.
I'll find a new attitude is free.
I'll just need to open my heart to see...

how God has daily and faithfully
provided for and protected me
and that the thorns were sent to prove to me
that God has His best in store for me.

My writing is taking my thorns
in the form of my life's storms
and showing me that God has a good purpose and plan
that hopefully will encourage generations.

In God's time He will bring to pass
His good purpose and plan at last.
In the meantime God's maturing me
to be the person God wants me to be.

...to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...
Isaiah 61:3

Be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:23-24

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Zucchini Season/Recipes

1st picking 2015

Zucchini Pizza (Gluten Free)

Dough:
4 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 tsp salt
Let stand 10 minutes then squeeze dry.
Mix in:  2 eggs
granulated garlic
1 cup shredded cheese of choice
Oil 9x13 with olive oil.  Spread dough.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Assemble toppings:
Sliced tomatoes or sauce
1# cooked ground beef, turkey, sausage, etc.
with diced onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc.
Sprinkled with basil and garlic, etc.
1 cup shredded cheese of choice
Bake an additional 20 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.


Summer Squash Casserole

4 summer squash, sliced thin.
1 large onion, sliced thin
In large saucepan, cook vegetables in 1/2 cup water until tender.
Drain. Cool slightly.
Heat oven to 375. Butter 9x9 baking dish.
Stir in: 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter
1/2 t seasoned salt
1/2 t granulated garlic
4 ounce shredded cheese
Spread in baking dish.
Bake 1/2 hour or until puffed.
Optional, top with crumbled butter crackers before baking.


Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes (One Bowl)

2 cups grated zucchini
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 t vanilla
2 cups whole wheat 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
3/4 mini chocolate chips, if desired

Mix until well blended.
Bake at 325.
Makes 26 cupcakes.


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 chopped walnuts
Grease loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for 55 minutes.


All recipes freeze well.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

July Garden

This bed started as an oval shape.  A weeping cherry tree was planted with a hydrangea underneath.  A stone path with a chair as the destination was added.  Eventually orange day lilies given to me, a hosta, korean bells given to me, crocosima given to me, ligularia filled in the oval shape but as more was given to me this bed morphed into an organic shape.  There are foxgloves given to me, a light pink peony given to me, two hibiscus, tri-lobe rubeckias given to me, gloriosa daisies given to me, alliums which seeded in on their own, grape hyacinths, more. Now the goal is to keep it under control by giving multiplies away.

Favorite Flower

 Tree Lily (very fragrant)

 Day lily from neighbor

Asiatic Lily

 Asiatic Lily

Day lily which is a cross breed from two nearby.

 Day lily

 Tree Lily (very fragrant)

 

 Day Lily

Common Ditch Lily

Strongholds

A sunny spring afternoon
weeds await, to be soon doomed.
Each and every plume
will be gone soon.

Down on my knees
watching out for bees
these unwanted weeds wee
will no longer be.

Armed with the dandelion digger
and gloves covering ten fingers
these weeds will be uprooted.
Something you don't mind looted.

A yank, a tug, a pull
and soon one and all
of these unwanted weeds will
the wheelbarrow fill.

This afternoon's sun will warm
after yesterday's rain storm.
There's even some brown earthworms
for fishing tomorrow morn.

A yank, but no movement.
A tug, but nothing bent.
A pull, but not a dent.
Would I, would you, vent?

My fingers seem weak
as my hands seek
to tweak
these roots deep.

I'm annoyed.
But wait, a ploy.
The dandelion digger is employed.
Out comes the root, yes!  Success is enjoyed.

The wheelbarrow is filled
as several songbirds fill
my ears with trills
as I weed at will.

Though many are pulled up today
more will appear another day
as each day's sun's rays
entice more weeds to stay.

Weeds, or strongholds,
if truth be told,
take hold
and grow bold.

Before long
my strength is gone.
Unwanted in my garden, weeds don't belong
but will continue to grow big and strong.

* * * * *

In life there is a positive Stronghold
and there are many negative strongholds.
The positive stronghold
is Jesus Christ the Lord.
A would-be negative stronghold
is an an addiction (bad habit) that takes hold.

Jesus, our (+) Stronghold, on whom we can depend,
is able to help us defeat any (-) strongholds when
we rely on Him
to always defend
by believing in God's power to conquer sin -
not our own limited power within.  Amen.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior.
II Samuel 22:2-3

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10

For though we live in the world,
we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapon of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
II Corinthians 10:3-4

You, dear children, are from God
and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
I John 4:4

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

New

The purchase of new seeds or plants
or even the gift of new transplants
instills new hope within the gardener
no matter which month on the calendar.

That new little seed containing life
will surely be buffeted with strife
from new spring rains which pelt
before new growth is felt.

But to see new growth miraculously appear
brings a sense of excited hope each year.
Anticipation fills the gardener
as new dreams of harvest are garnered.

Soon two new little leaflets poke through
followed by stalks or stems anew
growing under sunny skies of blue,
nourished by showers of rain or dew.

Golden blossoms providentially appear
inviting bees to come pollinate each year.
Each new blossom contains a promise, a hope,
bringing forth smiles from ear-to-ear evoked.

This new hope does not disappoint
for soon the new blossom becomes fruit:
cucumbers, squash, tomatoes.
A new miracle each year bestowed.

A new plant that is purchased or received
contains a new promise within conceived
for new life continues on
this year and even beyond.

For each new passing life begins again
from planted perennials when
green leaves poke through the earth
bringing new-found hope birthed.

This fulfilled hope promises a miracle
evidencing God's faithfulness to all
though there will be seasons of buffeting
which you'll find are really faith strengthening.

Yes, as with life,
there are days when strife
makes the struggling plant wilt
or burdens cause it to tilt.

Cooler temperatures
or a drink of water
will revive the wilted plant
and maybe drown a few gnats.

Just a little drink of water,
like a little encouragement offered,
will perk up that plant -
a new beginning grant.

New beginnings - to start over,
as each new spring uncovers
a joyous new-found hope
for us gardening folks.

* * * * *

As with plant life,
human life
can be filled with turmoil and strife.
Some of which cuts deep like a knife.

Sometimes people's action are not at all kind
causing us to lose trust we once had in mankind.
Tempers flair, hurtful words are spoken,
trust in someone we love is broken.

If truth be told, everyone everywhere has issues.
Everyone has experienced misuse or abuse.
Because of abuse, misunderstandings prevail
causing broken hearts to strike back with hurtful wails.

It's too late to take back hurtful words
often spoken from brokenness stored.
Angry words which now refuse to be ignored
for they echo louder than any roar.

Most likely it was not the current situation
but a festering unresolved compilation
of emotional pain
that explodes and boomerangs.

You see, we are all broken people living in a broken world
though the Bible promises trials will refine us like gold.
Just how can a verbal attack be beneficial?
How can trust be again restored once fizzled?

Someone long ago once said that time heals all wounds.
Another healer is prayer, though not always soon.
Prayer can heal a hardened heart
and restore families split apart.

It's only God who can change one's hardened heart attitude.
Only God can restore the spirit of a joyful mood.
Let God heal broken hearts -
yours and the one who was tart.

In the meantime, realize that someone needs to be shown love.
What better way than seeking God in prayer, for it is God above
who understand that person's need more than anyone.
God is in the business of restoring broken hearts.  Amen!

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 our faith -
of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire -
may be proved genuine
and may result in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
I Peter 1:6-7

Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:44

I will give them an undivided heart
and put a new spirit in them;
I will remove from them their heart of stone
and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19

Pray for each other.
The prayer of righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon, or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

Work

Who can't wait to start their day
each morning even though they
don't receive sufficient pay
at the end of the long day?

They're happy to be able to work.
Their job is to joyfully contribute
causing this gardener to smile
though others are sometimes riled.

Who gets along with their neighbors
and each and every coworker,
always sharing, never fighting,
as they joyfully start working.

As they work they're known to hum
though there's no name to their song.
Yet there's a certain sing-song
heard throughout the day long.

They work all day in the sunshine.
If it's raining it's their quitting time,
but they'll be back before too long
singing the same happy song.

These workers are the gardener's friends
causing gardeners to have less to tend
for these workers gladly pollinate
so that food ends up on your plate.

Who is it that can't wait for morning?
Who is it that starts their day humming?
Just who might it be?
It's the beloved bees!

* * * * *

This year there seemed to be an absence of bees.
It was said the late winter killed many bees.
So prayers were offered,
"give me a sign, Lord,
let me see
honey bees."

When the sunflowers started blooming
and the yellow squash blossoms
were seen among green leaves,
there were the beloved bees.
an answer to prayer
showing me God is there.

You love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love!
Psalm 36:5-7

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.