LOOK CLOSELY II

Yesterday, I noticed one sunflower that was in full bloom, but was not facing the sun. (see directly in the arch of the shepherd's crook that holds the windchime)
I was a bit puzzled about this, so moved in closer (see between the windchine and the bird feeder.)
















And then moved to a completely different angle. (see directly behind the post holding the birdfeeders)


I have several theories:

1. For some unknown reason she has been disciplined, and has been given a "time-out" facing the fence.

2. She is extremely bashful.

3. She forgot her sunscreen and is protecting her lovely face.

4. She has overslept!

5. She's a non-conformist.

6. All of the above

7. Other

What do you think? Will be awaiting your thoughts.

LOOK CLOSELY

There's a beautiful garden visitor in this shot. Can you find it?
The wings are truly "gossamer".















This is the back of the head. There was a very gentle breeze blowing, and as each small gust came through, the "arms" reached out to hold on to the leaf.
















"Because God created the Natural--invented it out of His love and artistry--it demands our reverence." C.S. Lewis

This picture was taken in Jerry's garden. Check out "Ladybirdinagarden" July 25th entry.

COMPLETED

Not my kitchen...but reminds me of my childhood one.

Actually it's a puzzle.

Peggy finished it Tuesday.

I helped. : ) (very little)

We had several lovely afternoons finding puzzle pieces and visiting.

She's really a good "puzzle-putter-togetherer".


TTOF: "A friend's handwriting on an envelope lifts the heart of the rainiest morning" Charlotte Grey

MORE FROM JERRY'S BACKYARD

Two climbers (a morning glory and a hyacinth bean vine) have joined forces and are reaching for the sky.
This is called a pineapple plant. It doesn't produce the fruit, but certianly looks like it, don't you think?
A pleasant spot to rest for awhile and enjoy the garden.
















TTOF: "Friends have a sixth sense about each other's needs. We understand the value of a comforting word, a heartfelt prayer, a reassuring smile...a quart of Rocky Road!" Julie Sutton

I'll get the spoons! :)

MY NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND'S GARDEN

My friend, Jerry has a beautiful garden. Here are just a few of the incredible wonders that grow there.












Don't know the name, but the fragrance is heavenly.












It's called an Empress Tree and has just begun to grow! He tells me it will have large purple blooms.

TTOF: "Friends help us with our problems because they listen. And as they listen, we begin to hear the language of our own hearts." Susan S. Florence

BRAVER THAN ME!

These men have been working on the church roof for days now. Can you imagine what it would be like to be up there when those bells are ringing?

Today's thought on friendship: "A true friend is one who, if they call too early in the morning, you don't have to say you were already up" :)

Never really thought about it, but you know, I think this is really true.

AT THE END OF THE PATH***

Carolyn came for a visit last weekend.

We had a wonderful time..as always.

She brought the Birthday Basket stuffed full of surprises she had been accumulating since July 20, 2006!

Among the wonderful goodies were two little books on Friendship.

I opened one yesterday afternoon and found such delightful, insightful, and hilarious thoughts on the subject that I am going to be sharing a selected few with all of you this week. Hope you enjoy.

A friend: "Doesn't think you need a shrink...just come out for the weekend and relax!"

ps: It works!

*** See Wednesday, July 11, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Saw this little creature on the daisies this morning and just couldn't resist taking a few shots.

Don't know who or what he is, but I suspect he's up to no good!

Does anyone have an idea?


Peggy is taking me to lunch, and Curtis is taking me to dinner. What a blessing are all my sons and "daughters".

AMAZING IS A GOOD WORD FOR IT

"There is nothing but God's grace.

We walk upon it;
we breathe it;
we live and die by it;
it makes the nails and axles of the universe." Robert Louis Stevenson

VISIBLE LOVE

"Sometimes I wonder if we don't see Christ's love as much in the people He tolerated as in the pain He endured. Amazing Grace." Max Lucado

"Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him." Mark 15:19

My prayer: "Lord, I Want To Be Like Jesus In My Heart" UMHymnal #402

LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING *

"God will do what it takes---whatever it takes---to bring His children home." Max Lucado

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him>" 1st John 4:9

*UMHymnal #384

IT SURELY SPELLS SOMETHING...

"I often think flowers are the angels' alphabet whereby they write on hills and fields and gardens mysterious and beautiful lessons for us to feel and learn." Louisa May Alcott

What do you suppose they are teaching us today?

SHINING THROUGH

Last year, my lifetime friend, Carolyn, sent me this entry from The Upper Room .

I've been waiting for the sunflowers to bloom in order to share it with each of you.

It seems appropriate because she is coming to visit tomorrow. Can hardly wait!

"My teenage daughter and I sat in the garden one cool morning, weaving together garlic stalks to prepare the bulbs for storage.

Purple asters, tall sunflowers and mist surrounded us.

We worked in silence, enjoying the tasks and the beauty of the morning.

After a while, she stopped clipping, looked around, and said, 'I like sunflowers'.

'Why?' I asked.

'Because they're so loyal.

They keep their heads turned to the sun, waiting, even if it's foggy.'

We continued working, and I thought about my struggle to stay loyal...waiting for the unseen God.

I desire to be as vigilant as the patient, nodding sunflowers.

The mists will clear; I will again look upon God's brightness.

God is ever-present, but sometimes my worries, egotism, and busyness can fog up my life to the point that God's presence is hidden.

When I still my mind and focus with expectation, I find God in my everyday life, shining through the people and world around me."

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for constantly being present in this world. Help us to quiet ourselves and to find you in each of our daily actions and in the people around us. Amen.

Thought for the Day: Look for God and rejoice.

Written by Karen Kirkwood (Washington)

THE PATHWAY TO THE GARDEN

"Teach me your way, O Lordl
lead me in a straight path..." Psalm 27:11

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105


A prayer of request and a plain and true answer.

Thank you God

RAINDROPS FROM HEAVEN

I've heard it called "liquid sunshine". But by whatever name we choose, it is a constant amazement to me the way in which the garden responds to the rain.

"The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land...
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

AND A BRIGHT MONDAY MORNING TO YOU!

An elderly woman walked into the local country church.

The friendly usher greeted her at the door and with a smiling face asked, "Where would you like to sit?".

"The front row please" she answered.

"You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."

"Do you know who I am?" the woman inquired.

"No," he said.

"I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"No" she said.

"Good" he answered.

TFT: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.....

Blast from the past: Mother used to tell me about the first time she went to visit Dad's folks after they began dating. They lived on a farm in Gordonville, Mo. and were faithful members of Zion Methodist Church.

They arrived on Saturday, and one of the first things Grandmother Rasche asked Mom was if she had brought a hat. (Of course she had)

And before they left for church the next morning, Grandmother very quietly shared with Mom this good bit of advice. "Don't say anything bad about anybody, because everyone's related!"

If Grandmother Rasche had known Mother better at the time, she would have known that just like the inquiry about the hat, this was a good piece of advice, but not really necessary.

Oh for the grace to be a bit more like my Mom.

THE SOUL OF AMERICA V

"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God...

lest, when you have eaten and are full,...

and your silver and your gold are multiplied,...

when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God...

and say in your heart,
'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'...

If you by any means forget the Lord your God...

I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish." Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17, 19 (see also July 2)

"A democracy cannot exist as a pernament form of government

It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury.

From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by dictatorship." Alexander Tyler

"The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years.

These nations have progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith,

from spiritual faith to great courage,

from courage to liberty,

from liberty to abundance,

fron abundance to selfishness,

from selfishness to complacency,

from complacency to apathy,

from apathy to dependency,

and from dependency back to bondage."

"Their inward part is destruction...
Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels." Psalms 5: 9-10

In "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:, the thesis is this, 'That it fell, not because of the superior enemy on the outside: but because of the decay of Rome on the inside.' "

Rome was not murdered, she committed suicide! David Jeremiah

Where then shall hope be found?

"If My people who are called by My name
will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

IIChronicles 7:14

Please hold Debi in your prayers.

THE SOUL OF AMERICA IV

America: Her Failures

"Where is the God of our fathers:
the God of America's birth?

The God that we once believed sovereign,
and maker of heaven and earth?

We now have found us some new gods,
which we worship and serve as a slave;

For the God of the Bible's forgotten
in the land of the free and the brave." author unknown

"For My people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,

and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisters that can hold no water.". Jeremiah 2:13

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

The Soul of America III:

Her Families:

Concerned about our country?

Maybe we are seeking answers in the wrong places.

"So long as we have homes where lamps are lit and prayers are said,

Although a people falterr through the dark and nations grope,

With God, Himself, back of these little homes, we still have hope." Grace Noll Crowell

"Unless the LORD builds the house,
they labor in vain who build it;
unless the LORD guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain."

Psalms 127:1

THE SOUL OF AMERICA ii

America: Her Faith

"If continental expanse made a nation great, Siberia would be the mightiest country.

If concentrated population made a nation great, India would be the greatest nation.

If ancient culture made a nation great, China would be the leader of all the families on earth.

What makes a nation great?

It is the character of the people.

A nation is made not by its fruitful acres, but by the men who till them; not by its rich mines, but by the men who work them." Author unknown

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" Proverbs 14:34