ANNOUNCEMENT

God's Gift to Us - Christmas 

Available November 1st

may be pre-ordered from 

Amazon or Barnes & Nobles.

To teach your children about Joseph's obedience, Mary's reverence, the shepherds witness, the wisemen's perseverance, and much more; including blessing your children based on Zachariah's, Simeon's and Anna's examples.

There are recipes to bake, songs to be sung, memories of days gone by, but mostly to rediscover how the course of history was changed by the birth of a baby - God's gift to us.

Yes, it was for YOU!

CHANGE

 

CHANGES

Summer has ended.

Homework is tended.

Nighttime comes early

and becomes chilly.

Trees

leaves

are changing, as if painted.

Each morning more tainted.

As if a brush dripped,

leaves are gold tipped

or sploshed magenta red

or burnt orange overhead.

Colors only God could create

now humans try to duplicate:

burnt orange, magenta, golden yellow -

though each tint and shade will soon turn mellow.

You'll find these changing colors won't last.

In a couple of weeks the show will be past.

Even the sky is the bluest blue,

this magical time of the year, when viewed.

These changing colors

attract travelers.

This spectrum now enjoyed

by ageless girls and boys.

A gift from Jack Frost

is free, at no cost,

as temperatures dip

and thermostats flipped.

Short sleeves exchanged

for sweaters arranged,

or jackets worn

with flannel warm.

One's

nose

is cold as the season changes.

Change always rearranges.

* * * * *

Change often comes unannounced,

then fear and worry will pounce.

Sometimes unexpected illness or lengthy unemployment.

Maybe devastation of belongings or relationships.

Change, unwelcome, can be for your good, though,

for that's when we learn God is always faithful

as God will uphold you

and will be with you through.

Look for the many ways God will provide

when you experience change by and by

for change, or adversity, is a fact of life.

Cling to God's promises and you'll avoid strife.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him.

Psalm 145:13b-20

Life Is a Garden Party 

is available via Amazon.

According to the calendar, fall has officially begun, and the temperature attests to that!

Summer

Where did the summer go?

Each year it goes faster, we know.

There was grass to mow

every week or so,

but now the grass is crisp under my toes

for the hot, dry summer took its tow.

There were vegetables to stow

that were once planted in rows,

but now those productive rows

are brown like unwanted moles.

Oh no! -

more foes:

beetles are foes

and slugs down low.

Other unwelcome foe

were tawny-brown bucks and does -

deer and rabbits that mow

what grows up high and down low.

Water from the sprinkler flowed

as the temps reached 90 degrees or so.

On those days some gardeners sew

instead of weed out weeds that grow.

On cooler days gardeners might make dough

to fill with the fruits of their labor that grow.

Maybe fruit pizza dough

or fresh pasta dough.

Perhaps blueberry muffin dough

or just harvested fruit to fill pie dough.

Beware: juice from fruit pies overflow

and might make a messy oven, oh no!

Other days the gardener works with the hoe

to nab each and every weed that might dare grow

down by one’s toes

where weed seeds grow.

Due to humidity weeds seem to grow

faster than everything else that grows.

There goes Joe

with the hoe.

Despite heat, weeds, and foes

my basket overflows

with vegetables that grow

and flower seeds to stow.

Today I scared out a hoppy toad near my toe.

I’m thankful it wasn’t a mole or a vole.

Hoppy toads will eat their status quo

of insects that reside down low.

It’s time to compost some rows

where vegetables did once grow

and deadhead flowers that once glowed

in red, pink, yellow, purple, or gold.

Summer is nearly over, to my woe.

At my house the summer heat took its tow.

I never did make any pie dough.

Neither did I find much time to sew.

Where did the summer go?

It went too fast, I know.

* * * * *

How fast time goes!

Not at all slow.

The trees are already turning gold.

Winter vegetables are ready to stow.

We’ll be raking leaves down low.

Or make pumpkin pie to fill dough.

In a few short weeks – snow!

And cold winds will blow.

Then gifts wrapped up in pretty bows

under a Christmas tree that glows.

Then off to the shopping mall we go

to buy a new calendar, you know.

Yes, time goes -

fast, not slow.

Each year we grow,

the faster time goes.

To everything there is a season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There will be a time for every activity,

a time for every deed.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

There is a proper time and procedure for every matter.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

 

Look Up

Gray skies are gonna to clear up,

put on a happy face... (Copied)

Gray skies overhead.

A day to stay in bed.

Slowly the gray sky gives way to light.

Before you know it, the sun shines bright.

Gray laden skies have turned to sky-blue

with a few puffy clouds blowing through.

Look up to enjoy the view

now stunning azure or sky blue.

Azure – a bright blue -

makes a spectacular view,

interspersed with white puffy clouds,

sometimes condensation endowed.

This azure blue so clear it hurts your eyes –

look up, heaven come down to earth in the skies

held up by “angel wings,”

or clouds, this morning.

Look up, you’ll notice the clouds do

have numerous colors to view

of whites, creams, and grays,

a vast and changing array.

Take time to look up throughout the day

for the sky changes it’s display

of clouds and colors

which for a moment hover.

From sky blue to the bluer blue of sapphire.

You’ll find these heavenly colors will inspire.

Colors only God could create

when He hung the world in place.

And at the end of the day when the sun goes down

look up to see behind a sun-lit cloud found

a silver lining

brightly shining.

So bright it might hurt your eyes,

this promise of a home in the skies,

reminding us of heaven

and of Jesus, God’s Son.

Come night you’ll see the sky change to midnight blue.

Do look up to see the twinkling stars shining through.

Yes, the skies hold promises, they do

of God’s blessings to me and you.

Blue skies always cheer up;

happy to see your smiling face.

* * * * *

Remember the story of Elijah in I Kings

when he sent out his servant one morning

to look for a rain cloud in the sky -

a sign of coming rain by and by.

Seven times the servant was commanded to look

for Elijah knew that God would not overlook

his prayer for rain

to come again.

Rain did come.

It came from

faith believing, for Elijah

knew that God would send an answer.

Look up, God is there

waiting to hear your prayer

and He’ll send an answer by and by.

Look up, God is waiting to hear your cry.

And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink,

for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

So Ahab went off to eat and drink,

but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,

bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant.

And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

The seventh time the servant reported,

“A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab,

‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.”

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose,

a heavy rain came on...

I Kings 18:42-45

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

Psalm 19:1

Would you believe Crayola Crayons have come up with 19 variations of blue. Here are some of the more unique names, I think: cornflower blue, blue bell, robin’s egg blue (is that like Tiffany blue?), wild blue yonder (perhaps a dreamy color?), blizzard blue (is that more gray?), outer space blue (maybe very navy?). And paint stores have even more variations of blue with outstanding names to choose from.

When I choose the color for shutters once upon a time, I chose majestic mountain; not blue, but purple even though those colorblind call it blue. The front door color is pretty peacock, in the teal family. Those who name colors must have an imagination and a fun job.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

New Publication

 Excited to showcase the cover of my new upcoming publication.

Will let you know when available.

 

Fall Rains

Raindrops

heard plop

on treetops

then leaves drop.

Leaves drop

like raindrops -

plop, plop, plop

then stop...

resting atop

grass and rocks

in my lot

round the clock.

Morning rain stops

though raindrops drop

from the leaves atop

trees wearing lots.

Squirrels come out and hop.

Seen hop, skip, jump, hop.

They play in my lot

while the clock ticktocks.

Up the treetop

they nimbly hop

from limb to limb atop,

then a walnut drops.

Then down the treetop

the squirrel hops

to find where the nut dropped.

Off he goes – hop, hop, hop.

Crows seen when the rain stops.

Their black wings flop as they drop

down from the sky in my lot

for they saw something they sought.

Squirrels scamper then stop

to watch crows in my lot.

Will they share or not?

Crows heard caw and mock.

When raindrops

again drop

squirrels hop

and crows flock.

Raindrops drop,

more leaves drop.

Soon treetops

are bare on top.

* * * * *

Rain is one of the Lord’s many blessings,

so why is it we’re often found grumbling

when rain rains

on our plans.

Our plans, temporary in nature,

while rain benefits all of nature

causing gardeners crops to grow

becoming sustenance below.

We often forget God’s plans

are higher than our plans.

He also sees the bigger picture

which contains a plan to bless us, for sure.

Next time it rains, look up rain in your Bible’s concordance.

You’ll find rain was ordained as a good thing, of importance:

for our sustenance

and our continuance.

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,

I will send you rain in its season

and the ground will yield its crops

and the trees of the field their fruit.

Your threshing will continue until grape harvest

and the grape harvest will continue until planting,

and you will eat all the food you want

and live in safety in your land.

Leviticus 26:3-5

Let us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds.

He gives showers of rain to men,

and plants of the field to everyone.

Zechariah 10:1

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.

The threshing floors will be filled with grain;

the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

Joel 2:23-24

Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,

and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

Isaiah 14:24

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.

Isaiah 55:8-10

This year has been a dry year. Despite watering daily, vegetation suffered greatly. Potatoes were small and few. Squash vines were scant and not leafy. Very few fruits. Though beets seemed to appreciate lack of rain as there are three pounders, according to a friend’s kitchen scales. Daily watering did benefit the tomatoes, thankfully, despite cracking. Be sure to focus on the positives.

Then when soaking rain showers finally came in September, vegetation grew by leaps and bounds but too late for fruits to mature. This week the scarlet runner beans look like red Christmas lights among the green leaves. Adored by hummers. When I share the dried beans I recommend planting where you can watch the hummers zoom as red is their favorite color. Just this week a chase ensued.

The aeronaut squash planted on top of last year’s compost pile finally took off running (across property lines) in September after the soaking rains came. A few male blooms but no squash will be harvested this year, unfortunately, even if frost holds off until October.

Grass was mowed on Saturday. On Monday it looked like it needed mowing again. What a marvel rain is! So appreciated, but also increases the work load.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.

PATCHWORK

 

Because it's harvest season:

PATCHWORK

Gleaming fields of ripening grain

nurtured by the sun and rain

swaying in the breeze:

oats, corn, soybeans, peas,

wheat, barley, silage, clover,

timothy or alfalfa.

Yellows, greens, and browns.

Patchwork on the ground.

Fit together to form a whole

by several hardworking souls.

Squared corners or curved

filling in the grooves.

Golden oats shimmering.

In the breeze sashaying.

Music is made

then comes the blade

to shock into piles

mile after mile.

Parcels of soybeans and peas

where bees buzz and stop to tease

pollinating

the blossoms

waiting to mature and age

in fields of green foliage.

In the plot over there leaps

tasseled corn ready to reap.

Planted in straight rows.

Eight feet high it grows.

When the frost comes down

the stalks will turn bronze.

Flaxen heads of wheat

soaking in the heat.

Kernels gleaned in the sun one day will make flour

after combining hour after hour.

Up, down, and around

from sun up to sun down.

Down the road a stretch

more grains for market.

Glistening with dew

under skies of blue

or tawny-gold becomes

under the setting sun.

As far as the eye can see

are fields of green barley.

Squared off into acres, the fields

will produce a bumper yield.

Bordered by a black ribbon road

leading to market where sold.

Miles and miles of acres

waiting to be sun-cured

after seeds were planted

and the good Lord watered

form patchwork pieces gathered together

joined by family, friends, and neighbors.

Several acres of clover, timothy,

alfalfa ready for baling early

under the noonday sun

right up until sundown.

This parcel owned by generations

of farmers making a living.

There's a tract of pumpkins

turning orange before harvesting

next to a cornfield where a maze

will soon confuse and amaze.

You might even buy maize

with kernels of gold and maize.

Patches sewn together by hedges or creeks

or babbling brooks which quietly speak.

Patchwork pieces of greens and golds

or brown when the earth is unfurled;

there are squares and rectangles,

and irregular triangles.

All these pieces together make a whole,

even the ones containing a fishing hole.

All have a purpose, these patches, of earth

waiting to nurture and new birth bring forth.

Next time you see a furrowed field planted,

look to see patchwork. You'll be enchanted.

* * * * *

Patchwork earth neatly arrayed.

Patchwork lives from disarray.

Patchwork overalls from tears.

Patchwork everyone wears.

Patchwork puts back together

what has come untethered.

Rather lives or acres,

patchwork holds a cure.

Acres planted with grains

comes to life again.

Lives patch-worked back together

grow healthier and stronger.

Patchwork neatly forms

a beautiful new form

for pieces are stitched making something new

out of rips and tears and furrows, who knew?

Patchwork makes whole

what used to be holes.

The pieces of your life form a whole

where joys and sorrows daily flow.

In the end someone beautiful is formed

like unmatched patchwork pieces being sewn.

All together more pleasing than plain,

the patchwork of our lives made right again.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

When a farmer plows for planting,

does he plow continually?

Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil?

When he has leveled the surface,

does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?

Does he not plant wheat in its place,

barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?

His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.

Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,

nor a cartwheel rolled over cumin;

caraway is beaten out with a rod,

and cumin with a stick.

Grain must be ground to make bread;

so one does not go on threshing it forever.

Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it,

his horses do not grind it.

All this also comes from Lord Almighty,

wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

Isaiah 28:24-29

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.

Isaiah 55:10

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.