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| Even a kid needs a helmet. Both kinds. |
As soon as I turned on the lawn sprinkler to water some newly-planted seeds, a blue jay sat in the tree above the garden area, and issued a stream of loud calls. Soon after he flew away, a number of birds of various kinds arrived to shower and have a good, long drink. Were his calls an alert to his friends and neighbors that he had spotted the location of some cool water on that hot day? It seems so.
s work was finished and they had eaten supper—I imagine—they went out into the cool shadows, unafraid, and talked with their Great Friend.
ook at. These often-arid strips are actually city property, but homeowners are expected to care for what grows there. I had assorted grasses, none of which thrived, and weeds. That's why these sections are frequently called hell strips; they are "impossible." This was the year to do something about the situation. It was going to take heavy-duty work, more than I am able to do: rototilling, leveling, installing edging, digging holes for the plants, laying weed barrier, covering the surface with a couple tons of pebbles and two large rocks. I called in a crew from the garden center.
bright and beautiful but there had to be tough plants that could tolerate some "neglect." He looked it over. "Well, I see yarrow here," he said. "About three brown-eyed Susans here, some Stella de Oro daylilies—I really like those—and probably over there an Autumn Joy sedum," and so on. I am not gifted with the insight to see what an area will look like when the plants are mature and blooming. But this experienced designer said several times, "I can see . . ." He had a vision of what could be.
nutrients and for space to grow. They're not unlike the many things in our busy lives, calling for our attention. Sometimes "good" is the enemy of "best."
if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.' " (Luke 14:28-30) Each person must consider the cost of following Jesus before beginning, for it involves taking up one's cross. We must count the cost first. I'm so glad that I chose long ago to walk with Him until we've finished the job—whatever that takes.MaryMartha
told me there were actually grasses that would grow in the shade, but I would be constantly re-seeding. (Besides mowing!) So I decided if I can't grow grass, I will grow rocks. I am deep into the project of placing pebbles and rocks and plants that love the shade.
say Theora lost the battle to cancer!" With a bit of fire in her gentle eyes and a feisty tone to her quiet voice, she explained that cancer may have broken her body beyond repair, but she wanted everyone to know that Theora—her soul, her spirit, the very essence of her being—won!
e was, to begin with, not permitted, but to run while carrying some sharp object called for a stern reminder. While painful damage can be done by crashing into a table or slipping on a rug, that still is minor compared to a deep stab wound or worse, the loss of an eye. We had to learn to handle helpful, but potentially dangerous, things with special care.
but I was feeling somewhat anxious about the lack of new shoots where I expected to see them.
