• Faith - Gardening

    It’s March and Spring is Coming!

    It is March 1st and spring is coming. The temperatures are still up and down, but I am beginning to have garden thoughts.  I am looking      forward to seeing the blooms from the bulbs I planted last fall. The delight offered by gardens has been expressed over hundreds…

  • Gardening - Uncategorized

    Garden of My Heart

    The spring garden catalogues are filling my mailbox and I enjoy leisurely paging through the offerings.   I am beginning to make     choices for additions to my garden.   God has given us an amazing   variety plants and fruit bearing trees and bushes. Before long tulips and…

  • Berries - Faith

    One Word for the New Year

    The practice of choosing one word  for  the  New Year  has been an    inspiration for me. Last year my word was gracious, and having this word in mind I was more conscious of my conversation and actions. I paused a little more, seeking kind words. I have been thinking…

  • Christmas - Flowers

    A Flower that Survives the Snowstorms

    It is December in Illinois, and throughout our neighborhood there are winter decorations. We have a wreath on our door. My display of angels celebrating the birth of Jesus is in our foyer. We have had two snowstorms and to my surprise the calendula flower has two buds. It may…

  • Faith - Gardening

    Promise of Spring as Winter Approaches

    The mild fall that we have had has allowed me to spend more time in the yard. I have been planting and transplanting and raking leaves. My husband was working also, creating piles of branches. He has a chain saw and after he took down one tree he found lots…

  • Faith - Family - Gardening

    Hope in Chicago and at Home

    For Chicago baseball fans, the Cubs are symbolic of hope. The excitement over the National league playoffs was vibrant this fall. Then four straight losses to the Mets.  Once again the refrain is wait till next year. In my garden I have many opportunities for hope. I have been  …

  • Berries - Gardening - Herbs - Recipes

    Preserving Herbs: Thyme Vinegar

    The mild fall weather is so welcome! Yard work is pleasant and I have found some fall raspberries to savor while I work. Wilting vines And a layer of leaves Yard clean-up Sweetened by fall raspberries My calendula is still blooming and my rosemary and thyme are still growing. I…

  • Faith - Flowers

    Lovely Aroma in a World of Conflict

    Are you discouraged by the conflicts and moray decay all around us? I am. The study of the book of Acts is giving me hope. I am glad that this book was chosen for the fall Precept Bible study. Sometimes political issues stir my emotions. Can political action groups solve…

  • Gardening - Herbs - Recipes

    Apple-Sage-Cheddar Muffins

    The sage in my garden is thriving. This summer it flowered. The beautiful weather this fall has extended our growing season. I have plenty of sage. The texture of the leaves has an artistic appearance, lovely to the touch. I am going to use it in some in apple-sage-cheddar muffins.…