Tag: tiny blessings

God’s Goodness

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Saturday I witnessed a health care worker in action. I was both amazed at her quick decisions and her patience in turn. The fact that she is my niece and “watch” caring for my mother makes it only more blessed in my mind. While everyone is feeling the loss of the changing of seasons in my mother’s life, I am going to focus on the blessings. I want to taste God’s goodness during this season. One time nearly 24 years ago, I wrote a poem that I turned to song about these seasons.

The Spring of the year does not seem quite like the right time to begin seeing the autumn of one’s parents. But along with the fall comes the harvest. And Harvest is everyone’s favorite of gathering up all the goodies that God has blessed us with. So while my parents (all four of them in fact) are going into their season of fall in life, I want to focus on the bounty that God’s goodness has given them all these years.

Railings are such good help when we use them and when they are there. Our back porch and front deck went without such things for the first ten years or more while we lived here. The railing on the front deck was put up first. And we adjusted the steps to make them wider and more functional. The back porch “basket” was done a little later. My eyesight was failing in peripheral enough to make the railings necessary. No more running down or up the steps for me. So getting the railing down the basement steps in my mother’s house was a necessary item that we felt should not be delayed. My husband installed it on Saturday

Keeping aging parents in their home as long as possible can be somewhat of a hardship on the children balancing the watch care. Life becomes something of a juggling act as each one takes turns. There is no sense that life is on hold as the days come rushing by and things need to be done faster that one can think to schedule each day into the calendar. No one is particularly just waitng for the “big fall” rather we are all trying not to miss the balls as they fly through the air to us.

Knowing that my eyesight plays a pivotal role in me even catching one of those flying objects, I hope the others will be nice and roll the ball to me and let me know when it’s my turn to catch something. So here I go trying to schedule my greenhouse care and my doggie duties around traveling. And I’m not a very good traveler. I have already begun preferring to stay home.

I found this verse in my reading time the other day. Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me: Your steadfast love, O Lord endures forever, Do not forsake the work of your hands.” There are verses about us being the “workmanship” of the Almighty. This verse really brought me peace when I was thinking of the days that God has ordained for each of us to live.

My hubby found a little saying that was a gardener’s “ excuse me.” Many times in life for some no apparent reason something in the greenhouse or in the house, plants just dies. The saying was another persons take on the situation. “You are a really good gardener, that plant should have tried a little harder.” But plant’s aren’t like people. And while some plants tell you that something is wrong, most of the time the disease happens way too quickly for me to respond in appropriate care. Having bad eyesight in the gardening field can cost me a whole crop. Preventive maintenance has to be part of my routine. So this winter and early spring I found a dish soap insecticidal spray and cinnamon are doing their job well to keep away some pest issues in the greenhouse.

Of neglected plants… Here below the first picture on the left is a Kalanchoe that my mother in law was “not” nurturing well. The little thing bloomed it’s head off for over three months. Finally after not receiving water on a weekly basis it decided to start dyring up. Then there is all the tulips at our place that came up the first two weeks of March only to get froze off not just once but three or four times. The first plant to show stress of my mother’s lack of “time” concept was her holiday cactus. She did get it moved out of the house last summer to finish it’s slow death outside. Plants in distress can make such a mess in the house.

Leaving the elderly alone for the holidays is also a “slow” death process. I blame the pandemic for the “keeping everyone safe” mentality that left far too many people alone for too long. I think I’m going to adopt my daughter’s mindset that says life is for living not for trying to stay safe all the time. Most of the elderly I know would rather just see their family than NOT see their family.

This week is the Easter Season, or the Holy Week. I have not been able to focus on the Scripture study that I normally do this time of year. So I’m glad that our Pastor chose a familiar text for his sermons around the special holiday. The 23rd Psalm has been one of my focus studies many times. It seems doubly important during this season of our lives.

I use to ask people around me what “season” of Psalm 23 did they find themselves in?… And right now I find myself longing for the Shepherd’s tender leading as I try to find the right paths to take each every day. The words “lead me” occur twice in the passage, so that’s what I’ll focus on asking Him. Lead me softly, Lord, Lead me gently. Just Lead me!

Side note: Kona got his first professional haircut yesterday. He won the cutest dog of the day award. What an enjoyable little bit of goodness in this season of changing goodness!

“Lord help me to taste Your goodness through each and every day. Even if there are some bitter herbs, lead me through the entire path that You have for me Don’t let me miss anything You have for me to taste!”

‘Twas the week before Christmas

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‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through our house

Three little grand children were chasing a black puppy with a toy mouse

The children were nestled in their pajamas with much flare

In hopes that a special delivery soon would be there

The children were tucked away snug in there beds

With visions of the ginger bread man ran through their heads

Then Honey was wearing her Christmas kerchief and Charlie with Tabitha in his lap

And Melody and Lalah went down for her nap

Then Oma’s cell phone arose such a chatter

That Opa sat is his his easy chair to see what was the matter

The children came running and the camera’s did flash

The special delivery was here early at last!

Though the sun was shining and we hadn’t any snow

Their mother’s face was shining over a beautiful baby in arms below

What wonder an awe were in their eyes as the peered

At their miniature sister that was now finally here!

With her ten little fingers and ten little toes

Here round little cheeks and her round little nose

With all of the “aahhs” and “oohhs” that came

She blinked her little eyes and they whispered her name

Noelle, Noelle, Noelle Kazuko, Noelle they sang

You are precious and cute! We love you! Their voices rang!

Then out on the porch and down through the hall

The puppies did bark, and they dashed away all!

The excitement and happiness and glee was now high

Soon they would see mama, and daddy, and their baby-bye!

Now up to the hospital the visitors nearly flew

With their arms ready for hugs and baby snuggles too!

Then we heard raindrops and tinkles up on the roof

The coyotes and doggies all cried out woof-woof.

As we counted the presents and bundled up the toys

We thanked our dear Lord for three grand daughters and their brother ALL Boy.

Now we had more blessings from above

A new precious grand daughter to love!

Where there’s a …

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“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is the old saying. And it was meant to mean doing something really difficult because one’s determination is insurmountable. This week has been a different sort of will and way in my determination observations

Where there’s a basket there’s a cat . I put the basket out on the deck the other day to return it to the vehicle for “containment” of items while we drive. It seemed the basket was always finding it’s way back to the house. And cluttering up our allready very messy entry way in the kitchen.

Where there’s a fence, there are weeds. These Bicycle tires make a great visual guide for me when I am walking from the greenhouse to the barn. So of course for the first three months of summer I had to pull bind weed out of the spokes. Finally now that fall has officially arrived the flowers are showing their little faces through the fence. I think it looks so fun!

“Moon garden delight” is what I call this next photo. The fact is I was supposed to be helping hold the tomato containers while my hubby did the picking. But when darkness set in and the solar lights came on, I could not resist trying to get a picture of the mass of blooms. I really need to get after dead heading the blooms but sometimes it’s fun to let them go a little longer.

And now for true confessions of deep desires and companionship. Yes, I spend a lot of time alone. A LOT. The last six months have found me bringing Zucchi or Pepper or Tabitha in the house during my afternoon rest / crochet time. About three weeks ago Pepper found her life’s end on the pavement by the mailbox. It was a sad day, but she was not real attached to me. Then just the other day, yesterday in fact, one of the four year old spayed females died on the road also. Lela was old enhough to know better I had hoped. She was not real friendly as cats go, but she was a good mouser. I hope the mouse she was after tasted good. It certainly does not seem worth the rest of running across the road for it

So while I spent the afternoon digging a five gallon sized hole, I made my final decision to spend no more money on cats when we live so close to a busy paved county road. And it turns out that one of our neighbors has been raising small lap dogs for a few years now. As a bit of side income and enjoyment, small dogs do make a lot of people happy.

I have been looking at small dogs for a couple of years, I so miss the companionship of a little thing on my lap or next to me. Yes, I know it’s a lot of work up front for a couple months. And yes, I know I didn’t really want a black dog. But little Shih Tzus are such an attachment to their owners, that I’m not to worried about having a ton of eye contact. And now for the name…

At first I wanted Ebony after the black keys on the piano. I like to caress them also. Then I thought of Kona, after one of my favorite dar roast coffees. Then our daughter texted “I WANT SNUGGLES!” And we thought maybe that would be a good name. Bugger but it’s important to get a name right. We’ll be saying it for the next fourteen years or so.I’m

So this little eight pound hairy thing will be mopping up a lot of pollen over the next few weeks until frost. And he’s way too small to do the stairs. He does well on the leash / follow thing so that’s good. And so far in less than 24 hours of “gotcha” I have only stepped on him once..

Kona (the coffee) has a light, delicate sweet and fruity flavor with less caffeine than roasts made from beans picked later . So we think the name fits a little black pocket puppy quite well. He’s pretty light, you can carry him with one hand. He’s very delicate because of his size. but actually quite well proportioned. . And yes, he’s very sweet and it’s going to take a lot of will power to keep up with the training and not let him be naughty. He’s also a little fruity when he gets his energy spurts. But that’s just the nature of a happy little Shih Tzu.

Next up: how to train a puppy if you are blind. I wonder how that one will read.

Kona’s Journal: Thus began the life of little black mop in my empty nest life. How will the family put up with my lonely decisions? Surely we will all fall in love with my need for a therapy walk with a little outside time thrown in for some fresh air. Puppy love is very time consuming. Puppy parenting is bound to show the flaws in anyone’s character. Here goes a new challenge!

“Ingenting Hage Port”

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The “Gate to Nowhere” and the “Butterfly that Does Not”…

The “Nowhere Garden Gate” needs a name right? Grandma’s gate remake turned out quite well. The original little gate was made by Great-Grandpa and had seen much better days. We tried using it as a garden gate for a few years, but it just did not survive the weather. So I asked if we could copy the pattern and make a gate to nowhere.

Ingenting Port sits next to the greenhouse and the tire bed. The little flower bed ended up being a makeshift thing, not intended originally. But it’s so difficult to mow in the area, that I made a bump out bed. The Snap dragons need a little support, right? We won’t ever use the gate, so hubby put some fence posts directly into the design and I can just push the support rods into the ground. (I am learning that white shows up really good for me in the summer time. So having little “land-marks” all over the place gives me something to aim for when I am walking about the acreage doing garden chores. This blind thing sure trips me up sometimes.) Whalah! An Ingenting Port!

No one will even remember the name. But I though we should use some Norwegian for the little gate.

We already have a Bridge to Nowhere! So why not? Well, maybe the bridge is on an island of rocks, but… The landscape plan just failed me at the moment when we needed a home for the bridge where it would not sit in dirt or lawn and rot. Right now it is the home for some other plants and the new tree.

Cocoa’s tree is purchased. We picked a Prairie Gold Aspen. Not sure if that was a good one, but it looks like if the tree stands alone it can be quite a specimen. We will plant it in our pet cemetery. I have some other ideas for the landscape in that area also. But for now it will mark our beloved pony’s resting place.

The Butterfly that Does Not is looking better. We put some seed out over a month ago in the large wings and though there is much green the flowers are slow in coming. Of course the runaway Black Eyed Susan’s are all along the perimeter on the outside. I dug up some of the runaway Susan’s and put them down south next to the Cottonwood that survived from my plantings a few years ago.

The Peacock / chapel plant that has not been real happy in my house might actually make it. I finally decided to put some pebbles on a tray and keep water under the pot. The plant desires such high humidity that it often dies off in the winters around here. Next time a plant says “experienced gardener” I will probably pass if up!

Still very hooked on the mosaic crochet back pack bag. I just love this pattern and the color coordinates are endless. Don’t think I’ll ever be the same again. This is so much FUN!

Greenhouse Februrary Update

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The temperatures are so cold I had to walk backwards from the barn to the house this morning. And I just looked up my weather and found out that was the warm hour. It is only going to get colder. Thank goodness it is only for a day or two. The winter week of windy blast did happen in December-January. The roller coaster weather continues.

Along with the cold came some snow and with the interstates closed down, my hubby is at the desk in the library. So I am back tot he little secretary in the kitchen. A bit of a “catch-all” the desk always has to be cleaned off just to do anything.

My little fig tree in its first year is so adorable. I moved the most ardent growing one into a square planter. I have to find one more for the other one. It is a little slower in its growth. The tree on the right is older by another year. Last year it tried to fruit. So I am hopeful for some fleshy figs this year.

Shared some greenhouse updates on social media and enjoyed the interactions. Geodesic dome gardening is a class of it’s own for sure. And learning how to balance the plant life is a challenge. I sure hope I get some edible greens going in there soon. I miss them. The little fig trees are fun to watch grow. Keeping the roots capped seems to be the key to a smaller “bush.”

My greenhouse has many little turtles or tortoises in it. I is because I think of the story of the hare and the turtle when it comes to things green. The hare thinks of everything as a race to the finish, rushing about and such. Whereas the tortoise knows that slow and steady wins the race. So last fall I buried these little grape hyacinth in the soil hear in the grow bed just in front of the little turtles nose. To my delight the little bulbs put forth their green sprouts this last week during the last bitter cold of the winter!

Above are two of the sweetest geranium blooms I could find the other day. The one on the left is a new cutting rooted from one of the host plants that I received from a neighbor. The little plant is such a vision of hope! And the one on the right is another cutting rooted form a friend who is my longest plant host. The plant just blooms and blooms and never seems to tire of putting forth the beautiful peaches and cream blossoms.

My experiment with the Tabasco pepper plant is working well. And I did survive planting them. I would like to try growing one in the greenhouse since I have so many. The night time temperatures are still hovering at 45 degrees so It will be another month before it can be re-homed there. The house will just have to find another shelf for the temporary garden growing.

My mental road block continues on the crochet thing. The mittens are a disaster so even though I keep ripping them out to try again, “Michael Finnagin” seems to be winning. I made a little basket in between the attempted mittens. But I am determined to try again. Success in one area is often off set with failure in another area. But just like Edison I’ll get that light bulb one of these days!

The Story of Now

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As told by my daughter to her two oldest little ones (the third was napping.)

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Isabelle and her little brother named Isaac. (And the little girl boldly stated her name, “ISABELLE!” When it was her name, and the little boy shouted his name “ISAAC!” When it was his name.). And the little girl and the little boy played and they played and they played and they played while their mommy had to run to the store and do some errands. Their Oma stayed home with them so that they could be safe while mommy was away. And then their mommy came home from running to the store for her errands. And the little girl and the little boy greeted their mommy with enthusiasm and excitement when she came home. They said, “Mommy we’re hungry!” “MOM!” “Mom, I’m hungry!” “Mom!” “Mom, i need a snack-Mom, I need a snack, Mom I need a snack!” And so their mom gave them a snack. And then they said, “Mom, I’m thirsty!” “I’m thirsty MOM!” “Mom, I need a drink!” And so their mom got them each a cup of thir favorite juice. At this point the little boy and the little girl both shouted “APPLE!” Then, the mommy sat down in her chair to rest for a spell and tell her little munchkins a short story. And the little girl laughed. And the little boy laughed. And they giggled, and they giggled, and they giggled until the story was all done, and the snack was all done, and the drink cups were all empty. The End. At this point the little girl and the little boy both parroted in unison, “THE END!” And they ran off to play again.

When I heard my daughter tell her children “The Story of Now!” I was really so impressed. No, it did not take imagination, but yet it did. And the five minute rest that she gave herself to pay some mindful attention to her little ones as they grow and live was so cute. I just loved that moment being a part of their living room furniture and hearling their glee and giggles.

How many of us take the time to really be in the moment? Do we really focus on living NOW? What story does my life of now have to tell? Am I living for me, for others, for the future, for the past? Am i really living right now in what I am doing? Or am I so distracted by all the voices calling out top me that I can’t even smell the coffeee on my mug warmer?

So, today, I will try to be more aware of now. I will try to live today.y

And if you have kids and grandkids, try telling them “The Story of Now” sometime and see how well they take it. Enjoy living today.

Carpeting day

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In the greenhouse it was carpeting day recently. The geraniums were beginning to shed their petals all over the place, so to beat them at their game, I helped. Usually carpeting day is done monthly, but this time six weeks had passed. Winter is like that though. The cloudy days of this cold time don’t produce as many flowers. So by the time the “beheading” occurred more flowers were poking through. The little I-think-I-can blooms are so fun to see after the floor is all swept up and I make my rounds checking soil moisture et cetera.

In the cat huts the felines take up naps at sentimal watching. It never ceases to amaze me how many kittens can be in one hut. One day their were four in one hut and the last one had to keep poking a head in to see if there was room yet for him. It is funny to watch. This boxed foam cooler makes a “pur-fect” watching spot for Tabitha. She has become my new petted pet after Autumn left us.

In the barn, or shall I say “mouse house” we are busy watching out for the rodents now. They recently ate a hole in the horse feed bucket. Might have to get a metal can with a lid to keep them out.

In the starting tent installing lights was not cheap. I am considering letting them go much longer on. I think tomorrow is one week and nothing has popped through the soil yet. Patience is difficult when it seems like time is wasting away while I wait. There are so many more seedlings to start in the next month. I have an empty shelf at the moment and may find something to begin there.

In the people house the blanket is just about complete. Of course deciding how big to make it is the question. I am still doing a google reader on the tabernacle book that my mom gave me. But I also began L.M. Montgomery’s “The Story Girl.” It keeps my mind occupied when my hands are twiddling.

Allergic reactions are part of my new normal, I guess. And I had another one last night that required a Benadryl for relief. So I am missing out on my usual weekly visit with the grand children. It’s making me feel a little bummed. But the allergic reaction about had me in tears. So much for planning my days and weeks.

This entry took me a few days. The blanket is finished. And there are seedlings popping out of their tomb’s in the growing tent. The rose bush in the greenhouse nearly died of over watering-oops! And we are are now on season 2 of the Chosen. Now what? I ask myself this often these days. Now really following a daily list of any sort. I hear my hubby’s work calendar and my head spins. Simple life for me please.

Autumn meets winter

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October 2018 until January 2023 might not seem like a very long time. Sometimes life passes by us in blinks and dashes. Sometimes it seems like the days crawl by. Lately, the winter has roared it’s ugly windy howl and it seems as though old man winter has come to snatch away much of the pleasure that arrives with the winter wonderland. Today was one of those days when another dash happened.

While much of the last year the wind was in a bit of a hurry, tthis monring was not one of those days. The lull before the storm made 30 degrees feel very mild. Until I walked out the door and found this poor kitty in desperate health.

No Mr. Flurry here, the snow was not to arrive for another five hours. But Autumn knew that she was not in good health. She came to the house with such trust that we would know what to do.

October 2018 was when this little purr mobile arrived at our doorstep. she took a ride in the bottom or the vehicle some how not getting smashed like any other cat who has tried to do the same. Of course, I could not let her get picked on by all the large cats at the time, So i took her into the house for about four months to grow up.

The first month or so was quite the learning curve. But she was nevertheless way too messy with the litter box. So outside she went when my husband began to have sinus challenges.

Warm thoughts might be my memory of her, but hubby was a bit of a love/hate memory. Of course, Autumn was also the “cat walker” in the family. She never could resist going along to toe the line when we went to the corner and back home again. The first few years she was pretty good at stopping traffic. The local farmers thought it was real funny to call me the “cat walker lady!” Everyone enjoys watching the catwalk apparently.

Autumn was pretty attached to my happenings. She followed me around everywhere outside. Always keeping a close watch on what I was doing and joining me if she could. The picture on the right is her in the greenhouse on the bench. She was a rare greenhouse cat, not bothering any plants or growbeds. She usually hopped right up on the bench if I had a coat layed down on it.

Missing a shadow cat will be my new normal. And the other thing that was her nowmal was sneaking back into the house for a nice nap. The sofa was her favorite nap zone. And it did not take her many seasons to learn not to meow in the house or she would be put back out. And yes, I cried for a few hours.

We will miss Autumn. She will be a good memory and yes, I will miss her. “We’re sorry winter had to take you away. Goodbye girl. Thanks for being my shadow cat for the past four years.”

Naming Kittens

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Boomerang sits guard as Boston, Java, Zorro, and Latte eat their kitten food. These four kittens are the offspring of Lela, the daughter of Autumn. Two summers ago, the result of kittens mostly black drove me to the neighbors to pick up a new color combination. Boomerang and Tabitha are the only survivors of the migrants. We already renamed the little grey one from this litter. She is happily homed at our daughter’s in laws and named Freya. Rightly named as they picked her up on a rainy day from the greenhouse. I worked in there all morning most days and it was an easier place to keep them boxed and on guard.

Latte and Boston are the friendliest of the four kittens. Latte will sit right in the walking path, which is not real wise with a blind lady running about. So I just pick her up and walk around a while doing my chores with a single hand. Java and Zorro are very jolted and playful. They are much harder to catch. At the food bowl is the best place to nab their little fur bodies and get them use to being handled.

This is my last phot op. These six little kitties belong to Stitch. She had them in the bucket and I moved them to this box. It must be roomy as they are still there. Even through all the stormy weather last week, she kept them put! I get a kick out of the markings. Five of them are all yellow and orange. And then this one… “One of these things is not like the other ones…”. We find ourselves attracted to the unusual markings in kittens. And I was already told that we have to give some of these little things away. Of course…. Our acreage is not going to hold more than six to nine cats. I thing these is enough out buildings, but its the feed bill that gets speedy!

Back to the garden…. The butterfly patch received a new sprinkler stand. My husband welded up a horse shoe and ready rod tripod for the sprinkler. It will still be on the sensor. Any animal attendance will set of the motion. It might not be the best option, but I do not want this flower bed to be the litter box! Then there is the “Bridge Island” that we completed the other day. We dug out the soil and put down weed barrier and rocks. This should keep the bridge from rotting in the moisture and soil. For now I sill use flower pots to dress up the “Island.” The storm did some hail damage to our front window frame, siding, skirting and plants. The wind may have done more damage but we hope all remains minimal in nature. This little pansy survived the hail and is looking quite lonesome!

May showers, dusty gusty wind, and unpredictable temperatures are delaying the garden a bit. However, the greenhouse is doing well and those tomato plants will be rather large by the time we get them outdoors.

I spend an entire day planning the garden row by row. One row of flowers, one row of veggies will be the sequence this year. We are slimming down our garden zones and hopefully my husband will be able to help with the drip line system to watering. I wanted to start building growing boxes for the garden but everything is in short supply and a little too expensive. Priorities will have to be elsewhere.