Anniversay

It was July 4th when in my mid 50s that I started writing Life Is a Garden Party.  What I wrote did not have a title at that time.  

I had visited with a neighbor a couple of days before.  I came away with a phrase in my head:  From dust to dawn a gardener's dream is drawn.  He also had the gardening bug! As I had a bit of sun poisoning that July 4th I sat outside to write that phrase down, which became my first "poem."

I kept writing non-stop for weeks as it was a very hot and humid summer.  I did venture out early one morning to make a list of subjects to write about but then scurried back in where it was cooler. 

In the beginning the stories were observations.  Soon an application was added, applying God's principles to nature.

One day I was coming in from the garden when the title "Life Is a Garden Party" came to me.  Weeks later I realized the not dear deer think my yard is a garden party also.  Many attempts have been made to foil their visits.

Writing became an addiction, even writing in the middle of the night but then not able to read it in the morning.

One poem was written in my head when coming in from garden:  Butterfly - way up high - in the sky - come on down - food is found - on the ground...  This story is written as if floating down and up in the shape of butterfly wings.

Overtime the stories became pages long.  

Currently 5 volumes have been published.  Future volumes have been written and are being enhanced on rainy or snowy days.  Mostly enhanced by adding paragraphs of what has been gleaned since written.

When I "enhance" I am reminded of God's past faithfulness which in turn reminds me of Lamentations 3:21-23:

Yet this I call to mind

and therefor I have hope.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

A hymnwriter wrote:

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in magnitude witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand had provided

Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Here's a story about favorite things. You, dear readers, are also my favorites.

FAVORITE THINGS

Sunlight through curtains and birds joyful singing,

waking before the alarm starts its ringing,

a hot cup of coffee to start each morning...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Spring appearing just around the corner,

before you know it summer will join her.

Colorful flowers blooming out my back door...

these are a few of my favorite things.

A walk around to see what's a-blooming -

daffodils, tulips, alliums perfuming.

A rainbow of colors for today's viewing...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Rainbows appearing after spring showers

greening the grass and brings forth bright flowers.

Quite soon bees and butterflies will take wing...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Forsythia, magnolia and dogwood bloom,

pink peonies scenting the air with perfume,

wisteria and clematis vines cling...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Pink crab apple trees and weeping cherry,

seeing them in bloom makes me feel merry,

watching birds building their nests high within…

these are a few of my favorite things.

Birds returning to build nests in the tree tops.

Noisy babies born with no fuzz on top.

Next week a tune they will begin to sing...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Seeds bursting with new life when green growth seen,

a shower leaving the air fresh and clean,

hummingbirds in red trumpet flowers zing...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Yellow and gold blossoms seen in the garden,

soon home-grown fresh vegetables we'll be eating,

a basket full makes one feel like a queen…

these are a few of my favorite things.

Iris and hostas making a memory

for they were once gifts from friends and family,

miniature roses, lilies, columbine...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Red raspberries ripening on their canes.

Black caps warmed by the sun taste mighty fine.

Picking ripe berries leaves ones fingers stained...

these are a few of my favorite things.

A tour around turns a frown upside down,

busy bees seen from sunup to sundown.

Quite often a song you will hear me sing...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Scented herbs in bloom, where bees are seen zoom

bring much delight morning, night or noon,

fresh herbs taste good in most everything…

these are a few of my favorite things.

Red, ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers,

fresh leaf lettuce and a shiny green pepper,

picked right before lunch, a fresh salad brings...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Taking time to sit awhile in the shade

at the end of the day when I survey.

Ornamental grasses swaying in the wind...

these are a few of my favorite things.

Listening to the melodic ding dong ding

of the wind chimes now chiming in the wind

in chorus with birds who joyfully sing…

these are a few of my favorite things.

Harvesting at the end of the season.

How quickly another year has come and gone.

New memories were made to which I now cling...

these are a few of my favorite things.

If a bug bites or a bee stings,

or if I'm feeling sad,

I'll simply recall my favorite things,

and soon I'll be glad.

Based on These are a Few of my Favorite Things from The Sound of Music.

* * * * *

Do you think God has favorite things?

You are one of His favorite things.

Not because of what you do but because of who you are:

you are loved, chosen, treasured – no matter who you are

or what you might have done.

All you need do is come.

It's not the wrongs

you have done

that the Lord sees.

It's Who you believe

and then receive.

This gift is free.

The Lord is waiting to hear from you.

Today accept His plan for you.

A plan of redemption and salvation.

A plan of forgiveness and pardon.

It's made clear to understand in God's Word, the Bible,

and to everyone, everywhere it's available.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”,

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

Romans 10: 9

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I Peter 2:9

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

SONGS

 

SONGS

A tweet

sounds sweet.

A chirp,

like syrup.

Unless it's 4:30 in the morning

when young ones start practicing their singing!

These young ones are not even on key -

sounding quite off key, according to me.

Eventually they will harmonize.

Eventually they wait until sunrise.

Eventually...but not today.

Today they can't wait to play.

They sound like a ruckus,

not a pretty chorus.

One is always louder than the rest.

One who probably thinks he sounds the best.

They call back and forth

as "good mornings" are versed

with each tweet, twitter, peep, and chirp,

thankful for another day on earth.

It's not the sound but the spirit of which they start each day,

this joyful spirit that we should emulate everyday -

happy to be alive,

knowing that God will supply!

It's an internal knowing -

like faith indwelling.

Knowing that God who is faithful today

will be faithful throughout all their days.

Now that's something to sing about!

Definitely something to get excited about!

And God will supply

for both you and I.

* * * * *

Do you awaken each morning

like the birds who start their day singing?

Even though they don't know what their day may bring

they start each day with a happy song to sing.

If each morning birds sing a new song of thankfulness to God,

then we, too, should sing songs of joy – in good times and in hard.

Singing will change our attitude

and erase any dour mood.

Turn on some music

and sing along with it.

Feel better? You'll find, if the truth be told,

this daily practice will lighten any load.

Wake up, wake up, break out in song!

Judges 5:12

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalm 40:3

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music.

Psalm 98:4

Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:13

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

New every morning

A walk about the yard here at Rainbow's End showcased several new buds this humid and hot week:

Prickly Pear filled with hundreds of buds. Yellow blooms forthcoming.

This hydrangea filled with globes of buds waiting to burst.

Not the Bittersweet I thought I ordered years ago, but the cascading canes make a nice arbor.

Canes tend to twine around each other.

Although trimmed extensively recently, needs again.

Oatleaf hydrangea foliage and bud.

Scotch Thistle buds forming.  Yellow finches love these seeds.

Rose buds turned into flowers.  These are miniature roses.

Can't forget the vegetable seeds.  Each one filled with a miracle. This is spaghetti squash.

Currants are turning red. Black caps forming.

Orange ditch day lilies have also formed buds.

Summer has burst into season...

New life reminds me of Lamentations 3:21-23:

Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope.

Because of the Lord's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are NEW every morning;

great is your faithfulness!

Despite whatever yesterday or the week before or the previous month brought,

tomorrow morning is a NEW day filled with precious promises and possibilities.

Recall to mind God's past faithfulness.  It gives birth to HOPE.

Excited to see these buds turn into blooms.

Anticipating prayers answered re a vertigo problem dealing with.

God's faithfulness is NEW every morning.

 

 

Ring-around-the-Rosie

After a needed rain came down,

soaking into the ground,

one moonlit night

when the moon shone bright

surprise visitors came

to play once again.

These visitors do not come out to play

on days when the sun shines bright, no way.

They only came after showers of rain

rained down on the valleys and mountains.

They only come when everyone is sleeping inside,

sung asleep by the lullaby of rain outside.

These visitors had a midnight party with dancing

and they played ring-around-the-Rosie, chanting,

as they frolicked in the grass

until the clock struck half past,

then they were magically gone;

that is, until the next rain storm.

How do you know they came?

What gives them away again?

They quickly leave when morning returns,

but they leave behind white toadstools newborn

in a ring-around-the-Rosie seen in the lawn

that you’ll see when the new day’s morning becomes dawn.

Who dances at night

under the moonlight?

They’re always merry.

It’s the fairies.

Even if you look quick

you won’t see them, they’re magic.

Next time you see toadstools in your yard,

you’ll know fairies came after it rained hard.

Though you won’t hear them singing in the rain,

you might start to sing a little refrain

from “Singing in the Rain”

and thank God for sending rain.

Here’s “Singing in the Rain’s” refrain:

Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo

Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo

Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo

Doo-dloo-doo-doo-doo-doo...

In your town do you call mushrooms toadstools?

Have you ever seen a toad sit on a stool?

Whichever you call them look for the ring

where fairies danced and sang before morning.

* * * * *

Do you think God has a sense of humor?

Is that why fairy rings develop or

does God desire that we laugh

and sing and dance and frolic?

Don’t let the burdens of life weigh you down.

Wear a smile. Get rid of those frowns.

Let laughter replace any stored up bitterness

and happiness take the place of sadness.

Don’t let ill will come in to dwell.

Eliminate it so you’ll feel well.

You’ll even feel lighter when you let go

of what causes you sorrow and woe.

Cast any burdens.

Let your heart be open

to the good things God has planned

for God does have a good plan.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs.

Psalm 2:4

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:2

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

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

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

The oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61:3

Fairies Ring

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

STORMS

 

Storms

Clouds gathering in the sky,

the sun now hidden by and by,

distant thunder draws nigh,

lightning flashes by and by.

The wind comes from who knows where.

There's the smell of rain in the air.

Raindrops

start to plop.

Raindrops turn into sprinkles, than

sprinkles turn into showers, than

showers turn to pouring rain.

Will the sun ever shine again?

The temperature cools

as the storm moves through.

Vegetation

takes a beating.

Limbs sway

every which way

as trees take a shower

from nature's awesome power.

Torrents of rain

and thunder reigns

as this afternoon's storm

leaves leaves and limbs torn.

Puddles form

before too long

then flooding from the downpour

as thunder continues to roar.

The sky is laden slate gray.

Nervous dogs are heard bay.

Although rain was needed, "enough already."

The storm turns into a shower steady.

Sooner or later the storm blows through

then gray clouds make way for skies of blue

for behind the clouds, the sun

was waiting to shine all along.

When the sun does finally shine through

a rainbow's spectrum will surprise you

with a promise,

nature's kiss...

lovingly bestowed

on everything below

assuring that God is in control

even when storm clouds continue to blow.

* * * * *

Yes, behind the storm clouds the sun

was hidden, but still there all along.

Yet our focus was on the storm,

of new fears being born.

Behind our personal storms the Son

is forgotten, but still there all along.

His focus is always on us

even when we forget to trust.

Sometimes it takes a storm

for us to finally learn

that the Son knows what is best.

It's when we learn His faithfulness.

Next time there's a rainstorm

think about this lesson learned,

that the hidden sun will again shine

and the Son is there for you - all the time.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.

Psalm 107:29

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging water;

the storm subsided, and all was calm

Luke 8:24

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son

and believes in him shall have eternal life.

John 6:40

The life I live in the body,

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,

and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

This is how we know that we love the children of God:

by loving God and carrying out his commands.

This is love for God: to obey his commands.

And his commands are not burdensome,

for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

This is the victory that has overcomes the world, even our faith.

Who is it that overcomes the world?

Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

I John 5:1-5

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

'Tis the season...for dill and chives

 

Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

2 cups flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 cup cottage cheese

2 eggs

1/4 cup plus 2 T milk

2 T sugar or honey

1/4 cup melted butter

3 T+ minced dill

2T+ dried onions

1/4 cup+ fresh chive blossoms, separated

1/2 t+ granulated garlic

Bake 50 min at 350 in buttered loaf pan.

Herb Butter

Whip room temperature butter,

adding any washed and dried fresh herbs,

including blossoms such as chive blossoms and stems.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain...

and bringeth forth herbs!

Hebrews 6:7

(Added 1/2 shredded cheese.) 

Thank You, Visitors

 

Life Is a Garden Party blog visits within the past 7 days:

You all are a blessing to me.

As Matthew states (paraphrased): go and tell all nations.

Sitting in the computer chair, in the dog days of summer in front of the AC, in the frigid days of winter covered with an afghan, writing gardening observations with a spiritual application began in my mid 50s after having surgery redirecting blood supply to brain. (There is a word for this phenomina - doing something after surgery you didn't do before.)

The Bible says, "encourage one another."  You all are my encouragers.

At the top left there is a left facing arrow.  If you click on that you'll see a window on the left side with the word "comments." Feel free to share comments.  I will always respond.

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God bless you as you have blessed me!