The warm weather and spring flowers are so welcome. I am enjoying daffodils, tulips, violets and cherry blossoms as I begin gardening. The elderberry bushes in my backyard have produced well, providing berries for elderberry juice. I can the juice, and throughout the past months I have enjoyed adding a…
The Lord has blessed the earth with an amazing array of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Each produces seed according to its kind. I am thankful! I have begun to start a few tomato plants indoors, and I am looking forward to their fruit. I was happy to see that seed…
Green is the color of spring time. The snow is melting and snowdrops are raising their white petals to the sun. I am looking forward to tulips and daffodils. I give thanks for the seasons and all that God has created in nature. In the soil, below the surface, plants…
During the summer I have a bounty of fresh herbs. Sage, chives, oregano, mint, lavender and lemon balm are perennials in my yard. Sometimes thyme survives the winter and it comes back for a second or third season. Each summer I plant dill and basil. I am fortunate to have…
Owls have always fascinated me. I received a handcrafted owl, made in Finland, as a gift. This owl will make a hooting sound when you blow on the hole at its tailfeathers. At Christmas I enjoy taking out ornaments that have been packed away. I have a number of owls…
Thanksgiving was different this year. We exchanged dishes with my daughter’s family but enjoyed the meal in our separate homes. My granddaughter made a delicious bundt cake and dinner rolls. Another granddaughter made the cranberry sauce. I made my traditional cornbread stuffing. We all had a wonderful meal. In the…
The leaves are falling. Red gold and bronze. I have been raking the leaves, thankful for the outdoor activity. My miniature rose bush has surprised me, continuing to bloom even though we have had some nights of frost. The bright red blooms bring joy. The garden has been put to…
Northern Michigan is at the height of fall color. My sisters and I enjoyed a road trip, taking in the vivid, glowing colors of the trees. Sun and shadow played on the orange and yellow leaves, lighting them up like gold. Red and green provided contrast. We hiked through a…
One of the many blessings from a home garden is having fresh herbs readily available. This year I have three kinds of basil. I planted sweet basil from seeds. I purchased a bush basil plant at a farmer’s market. My neighbor gave me a lettuce basil plant. Basil is nice…
This past week I skipped my morning Bible study a couple of days. Instead I read a few articles in the newspaper at the breakfast table. The tension of our current time put my nerves on edge. I felt irritable. I drank more coffee and spent too much time on…