Weeds !

It is truly amazing how fast weeds can grow, both in the garden and in our hearts !  Today, much of my day has been spent out in the garden, using the cultivator to do some serious weeding.  Its wonderful though, to see all the seeds we planted, sprouting out of the ground.   Corn, potatoes, broccoli, beans, peas, kale, cucumbers, zucchini and so much more.  I was able to pick about a pound of asparagus today too.  
And, after all that hard work, it was time for a break.  Afternoon tea always hits the spot and gives us that bit of a rest we need in order to gear up for the next round of garden work in the late afternoon.  

Morning Walk

On a morning walk, Mei-Ling discovered that Vultures eat stinky skunks for breakfast and that baby dolls quite enjoy a walk in their Pram. You can really find shamrocks and that lavender from the garden smells really good.

Spring Break Means A Sleepover at Grammie and Grandpa's

Wednesday Afternoon Tea with Chocolate cups filled with a bit of chocolate cake and topped off with Mint Mousse and a piece of an Andes Mint.  
This morning we woke up and Mei-Ling set the table with some of her treasured rocks and a few Easter Eggs to help make the table look pretty.  Breakfast of fresh strawberries, English Muffin bread toasted and topped with Lemon curd.   Earl Grey tea, watered down for a wee girl.

Spring Is In The Air

With all the rain we have had in the past week, things are springing to life in the garden.   Along with the seeds we planted, there are twice as many weeds growing, but, that is what keeps us fit, doing all that weeding and cultivating each and every morning.  I love seeing the "new" green color on the trees.  Its so bright and yet not in the least bit garish.  Gods color choices are so perfectly pleasing to the eye.   Yesterday, when I was hanging up clothes, I was barefoot.  The grass so tender and soft.  It was still early in the morning so the dew was heavy in the grass, a bit chilly, but not uncomfortably so, more like refreshing.  I read once in a natural health book that walking barefoot on dew laden grass was good for you and it seemed so as I went about my business with the soft green grass under my feet.  Invigorating !   This is a wonderful time of the year.  A time of planning, a time of being outside after the cold of winter has kept us in more than usual.  Planting the gardens is a time of hope.  Its a time when you can so clearly see the wonder of  creation everywhere you turn.  Nothing seems haphazard to me or just the result of evolution.  It is so orderly, so planned, so intricate, so complicated, so perfect, so much the work of a true Master.    

This week we ordered more rose bushes.  6 total.  2 Big full cabbage type roses called "Eden" and 4 old English rambling roses from David Austin to climb along the fence line.  I have already planted 2 fairy rose bushes and three pink climbers along another fence line.  The rose garden will be a place of pure delight when all are in bloom.   If I had my way, there would be a hundred rose bushes planted in that garden so that there would be enough roses for every room all summer long.   Life is good.

Lemon Lavender Scones And The Company of A Dear Friend

What a perfect morning I have had.  Tea and scones with one of my dearest friends.  Its good to take time to visit and enjoy some morning tea.  
Just hot from the oven....Lemon Lavender scones with lemon curd.  Lady Grey and Rose Petal tea accompanied the scones.  So much to talk about that the morning turned into afternoon without any notice.  The company of a good friend is a very precious thing.

KONY 2012

Lavender Day

While I sat at the spinning wheel, spinning some lavender roving, I sat some lavender blooms, newly picked right in the center of the wool.  With each draw, I could smell the sweet scent.  What a great way to spend a gray, drizzly day !

In His Care

“God’s hand that holds the ocean’s depth can hold my small affairs. His hand, which guides the universe, can carry all my cares.” ~Amish Proverb~
There will always be challenges in life, always an obstacle to overcome but God, in His unending love is there to hold us.   
The 2nd of April will be the day of Mei-Lings surgery.  She will be hospitalized three days prior to the surgery so they can prep her.  The Doctor told my daughter that the surgery itself will be a minimum of 8 hours and that she will spend a couple days in ICU then 5 days in a regular room.  Two weeks later, she will need to have another surgical procedure to remove all the tubing.   They will be creating a bladder for her from her intestines which is a big job.   This sweet and compassionate child of 4, will need to spend a total of 4 weeks in bed.
My heart aches to think of the difficulties she will be facing in the weeks to come.  We are all hoping she will be ready to celebrate her birthday at the end of April with no pain.
I know God will watch over this precious child.  I know she will be in His care the entire time, yet, this grandmothers heart aches to think of Mei having to suffer for one single second.
We are all working hard to think of ways to entertain her while she is recovering.  I have made some pretty pillowcases, and little hospital gowns for her and her doll.  We are stocking up on quiet time activities too.  Books to be read, etc.  Prayers will be appreciated in the coming weeks too. 
We are thankful to know,  that as Psalm 91:4 says.... He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; 

Busy Busy Busy

Spring time is such a busy time for us.  Planting the vegetable gardens, pruning trees and of course planting lots of flowers.   This morning we finished up planting the Hollyhock garden.  I love hollyhocks and never can have too many of them it seems.  Today we planted pink, white, red, peach, yellow, black and a deep pink color.   Yesterday was roses and lavender planting along with moving lots of lilies.   We have a pretty good chance of rain each day for the next 5 days so I wanted to get as much in the ground now.   Most days, I get about 4 -5 hours of serious garden work in.  But, how rewarding it is.  Things will slow down in a couple weeks and then we can just sit on the porch and watch it all grow...well, not exactly since we plan on painting the house this spring.    So, maybe this summer we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.   Yesterday, I painted the clothesline poles with a new coat of shiny white paint, next I will paint some vines and pink roses climbing up them for fun, and thinking about that now, gives me an idea for a new clothespin bag, one with roses to match the poles.   With this new way of eating, a plant based diet, I have more energy then I have had in decades.  I feel so good and my recent lab work shows how good it is for me.  Even though I have always maintained a nearly meat free diet, my cholesterol has been borderline high for years now.  I wonder if its because my Vit D is so low, hard to know, but as I loose more weight, and watch ever so closely what I eat, the numbers are improving, slowly, yes, but they are improving.   
Life is good as Emery is fond of saying, and it is.  No matter how busy we are, we still find time for a cup of tea on the porch !   

Genesis 2:8

New International Version (NIV) Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.