Last week-end I spent with my daughter in Virginia, Abingdon to be exact. We were there to say good-bye to a life well spent. Being with family and renewing our connections with cousins was an uplifting and affirming experience.
Learning things we had not known before about a family member is thought provoking. My thoughts are now reflecting on the life of one who did not waste his potential. Young people do not understand this, usually. They are busy learning the various approaches to living their life, being educated, developing talents, sharing time with others of like mind. The reflection on how a life has already been lived comes much later after years of observation.
How sad it is to see a life full of potential thrown away on frivolous pursuits. How does this happen? Probably the reasons are legion. It occurs to me that a life needs nurturing just as a garden needs nurturing. That may be why those of us who had a heavy dose of parental guidance and supervision feel more satisfied with our situations and are free to enjoy our later years in contentment.
I have learned that neglect in the garden rarely causes a good crop to appear. Some seeds may still come forth and produce beyond expectations. While others not expected to be spectacular , truly are. That could be compared to people and how they develop and thrive in a competitive world of wild weeds. As God has planned for good in all mankind how can it be that some do not live up to His expectations.
These thoughts come to me on a rainy day. When the sun is out it is easy to be cheerful and physically active, but when storm clouds gather whether in reality or in life's living it causes introspection, in me at least.
It must be a pleasure for God to see his seeds grow and develop and become what he had in mind. A life well lived, well balanced, which leaves behind inspiring memories is all which can be expected, don't you agree? I think God is well pleased with the life we gathered to honor last week, the life of my younger brother.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hoe and Shovel Time
April is half gone and today I determined to put some seeds in the ground outside. I already have some heirloom tomato seeds sprouted and growing in little pots in my sun room. I have four different types, red, yellow, orange, and purple. Most of the extra seeds have been given away as I will want new types next summer. Growing any color but red is a new experience.
Early this morning I did some watering for the blueberries and then hopped in my old work horse (golf cart) and headed down to the raised bed area. I had one of the largest asparagus spears I have ever grown just waiting to be cut. No simple knife for this job. I used my asparagus knife which I order from the Jersey Giant Asparagus farm two years ago. All along the three rows I saw purple looking shoots coming up, all fat as could be. Unfortunately I also saw the asparagus beetles hard at work on one lonely spindly asparagus. I made a race to my cedar house to get my home made sevin dust shaker (an old hose which covers a small plastic cup with the sevin dust in it). I shook it all over this aggrieved spear and also shook it along the ground. They had not yet made their way to the healthy thick spears so perhaps I headed them off at the pass.
With this chore behind me I went to the east side of the asparagus bed and along the side I planted some white Thai eggplant. This is new for me so I am going to have fun with this one. Next I made a hill for yellow squash, then another hill for more yellow squash and lastly a hill of zucchini. On the west side of the bed I repeated the same planting pattern. The three rows of asparagus will just grow on and by the time they have stopped bearing this spring the other plants will be ready to do some serious bearing.
The middle bed I plan to cover with plastic to hopefully kill any nematodes which are lurking in the ground. They got into my green beans big time last summer. So, while this bed is resting and trying to cure itself of the root nematodes I am making good use of the lower bed. Since the beds are separated by a row of fencing I planted burpless cucumbers along the north side of that bed. then in the center I planted Ky. Wonder Pole Beans. Bending over bush beans is a back breaker so why not reach up to harvest instead of reaching down!
It feels good to get back into gardening mode. I think the birds are all glad to be out and singing and flying about. Even the black snake visited my garden while I was there. He skittered away when he realized I was there. Last year and the year before I had little lizards which lived among the concrete blocks lining my raised beds. Hopefully they will reappear.
I am anxious for the praying mantis egg cases to give up their beneficial gardening friends. Two are tied up in the vineyard and one is just outside my window. How they know just when to come out I am not sure. I do not think it is the heat alone. They need a certain amount of time to develop. I would love to see them hatching. That would be a bonus indeed.
Even if I never see them hatching I will be sure to see them all about outside. It is just one more exciting event to make life interesting in the garden world. It will be a wonderful harvest if all of the expected fruits and vegetables will yield all that I hope for. Well worth the time and effort I use with that hoe and shovel. For there is nothing as tasty as fresh asparagus or squash, or beans or berries straight to the table from mother earth.
Early this morning I did some watering for the blueberries and then hopped in my old work horse (golf cart) and headed down to the raised bed area. I had one of the largest asparagus spears I have ever grown just waiting to be cut. No simple knife for this job. I used my asparagus knife which I order from the Jersey Giant Asparagus farm two years ago. All along the three rows I saw purple looking shoots coming up, all fat as could be. Unfortunately I also saw the asparagus beetles hard at work on one lonely spindly asparagus. I made a race to my cedar house to get my home made sevin dust shaker (an old hose which covers a small plastic cup with the sevin dust in it). I shook it all over this aggrieved spear and also shook it along the ground. They had not yet made their way to the healthy thick spears so perhaps I headed them off at the pass.
With this chore behind me I went to the east side of the asparagus bed and along the side I planted some white Thai eggplant. This is new for me so I am going to have fun with this one. Next I made a hill for yellow squash, then another hill for more yellow squash and lastly a hill of zucchini. On the west side of the bed I repeated the same planting pattern. The three rows of asparagus will just grow on and by the time they have stopped bearing this spring the other plants will be ready to do some serious bearing.
The middle bed I plan to cover with plastic to hopefully kill any nematodes which are lurking in the ground. They got into my green beans big time last summer. So, while this bed is resting and trying to cure itself of the root nematodes I am making good use of the lower bed. Since the beds are separated by a row of fencing I planted burpless cucumbers along the north side of that bed. then in the center I planted Ky. Wonder Pole Beans. Bending over bush beans is a back breaker so why not reach up to harvest instead of reaching down!
It feels good to get back into gardening mode. I think the birds are all glad to be out and singing and flying about. Even the black snake visited my garden while I was there. He skittered away when he realized I was there. Last year and the year before I had little lizards which lived among the concrete blocks lining my raised beds. Hopefully they will reappear.
I am anxious for the praying mantis egg cases to give up their beneficial gardening friends. Two are tied up in the vineyard and one is just outside my window. How they know just when to come out I am not sure. I do not think it is the heat alone. They need a certain amount of time to develop. I would love to see them hatching. That would be a bonus indeed.
Even if I never see them hatching I will be sure to see them all about outside. It is just one more exciting event to make life interesting in the garden world. It will be a wonderful harvest if all of the expected fruits and vegetables will yield all that I hope for. Well worth the time and effort I use with that hoe and shovel. For there is nothing as tasty as fresh asparagus or squash, or beans or berries straight to the table from mother earth.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Chimes of Time
Many years ago our family had a reunion at Pine Mountain Park in Kentucky. We had special things planned, as a talent show, a gift exchange and a special prize. We drew numbers for this special prize. The prize was a chiming clock made by my brother Gene. My sister Ruth was the lucky winner. She took it home in the back seat of her car, with a seat belt around it for protection. When she sold her house and went to live in a retirement complex she had limited space. Her daughter took the clock to her home for safe keeping. It is a beautiful clock as Gene was a very meticulous clock maker. He also made other reproductions of antique furniture for his children and grandchildren. He had a special shop built on his property for this specialized hobby.
When he saw how I was taken with this clock for Ruth he determined to make a clock for me. In due time the clock arrived in a special box made just for this clock.
He even made a shelf to hold it on the wall. He made me a part of the project by sending me the face of the clock so I could put decorations on it. At each corner I painted a rose. I engaged a glass maker to frost the glass except for the center where the pendulum could be seen. At each corner of the glass the glass maker put roses. It is a very personalized clock.
The other special thing is the Westminster Chimes inside the works. They announce the quarter hour, half hour, three quarter hour and chime the hour.
This clock is sitting on the little shelf on the east wall of my living room. Throughout the house I can hear the chimes. As time has passed I have become accustomed to hearing it and sometimes am not even aware it is chiming. But it is there and faithful to keep the time. About once a week I open the door and using a little key I rewind three different stems, which keep it going.
This special clock will have even more meaning for me now as the clock maker has passed on to assist the master carpenter. I think they both know the joy of creation, each in his own way. Each has taken pride in his work and blessed others with it. Each has passed on to the next generation a gift of himself to be shared and enjoyed. I am reminded of the gifts of life and nature that were given eons ago when I look out my windows. I am reminded of the gift of love made by human hands when I see this clock or hear the chiming of the hour. A gift that warms my heart and brings back memories of a life time of having a brother who makes me so very proud.
When he saw how I was taken with this clock for Ruth he determined to make a clock for me. In due time the clock arrived in a special box made just for this clock.
He even made a shelf to hold it on the wall. He made me a part of the project by sending me the face of the clock so I could put decorations on it. At each corner I painted a rose. I engaged a glass maker to frost the glass except for the center where the pendulum could be seen. At each corner of the glass the glass maker put roses. It is a very personalized clock.The other special thing is the Westminster Chimes inside the works. They announce the quarter hour, half hour, three quarter hour and chime the hour.
This clock is sitting on the little shelf on the east wall of my living room. Throughout the house I can hear the chimes. As time has passed I have become accustomed to hearing it and sometimes am not even aware it is chiming. But it is there and faithful to keep the time. About once a week I open the door and using a little key I rewind three different stems, which keep it going.
This special clock will have even more meaning for me now as the clock maker has passed on to assist the master carpenter. I think they both know the joy of creation, each in his own way. Each has taken pride in his work and blessed others with it. Each has passed on to the next generation a gift of himself to be shared and enjoyed. I am reminded of the gifts of life and nature that were given eons ago when I look out my windows. I am reminded of the gift of love made by human hands when I see this clock or hear the chiming of the hour. A gift that warms my heart and brings back memories of a life time of having a brother who makes me so very proud.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Spoiling or Affirmation
This Easter week most of the schools in this area are closed. The children are given a break as are the teachers. I enjoy this time as I can visit with my grandchildren and see how they are changing and just reconnect. One of my grandsons is no longer in this area as he is off in another state pursuing an advanced degree. The other two I was able to visit with up here at the lake. We did not go near the water but stayed indoors part of the day.
On Monday, Reed, my 17 year old grandson drove himself up here for the first time alone in his car inherited from his father. He wanted to help me with some of the work around here. He first set out bricks around a newly planted blackberry patch. These came from cuttings I took last year. I visited this road side berry patch with my neighbor Lisa. Parking near the site we picked for over an hour. Some little boys came along and told us where we could cross a fence and find the mother lode. Lisa gave me all she picked and they went into some fine blackberry jelly. I shared with her of course, but the other thing I did was to go back later in the cool of the evening with a bucket of water and take cuttings from the canes, about 20 or so.
I wanted to have some of this particular type as they had large fine tasting berries on them. The canes looked different to me as they were red. I had found some Navaho thornless berries at the nursery and planted them in a special bed, away from this new one. I think the new berries are from the same genetic line except the ones I cut have thorns. I was intrigued with the red canes as I had not seen them before.
Laying the bricks out around the berries was the first chore Reed did for me. We then went out with shovel and pick and he made two holes for two pink guara that had been wintering over in my sun room. They seemed so happy to be out of the pot where they could stretch their roots and lots of water made the move complete.
The next chore was to dig up some forsythia which was coming back up from a winter cutting. When a bush just has all of these dead branches there is nothing to do but whack it down. If it is forsythia it will surely come back up when the spring warmth comes along. This plant he put in a "skip" of these same bushes which he and his dad had planted two years ago. Along the side of the road leading up to my house I will soon have a line of fine yellow bushes each spring.
The next holes to be dug were for osteospermum, an annual which I picked up for $2 each at Walmart. They are the healthiest perkiest lavender daisy looking flowers I had seen in a while. Now I have two planted out back where I can see them from my kitchen window and two in pots at my front door.
Our next chore was to come to the computer and help me understand something that is second nature to him, facebook. Some members of my extended family invited me to come aboard on this social network so I am trying to figure it all out. I am way behind the much younger generations on this score.
I actually had about 30 daffodil bulbs which I had dug last year and for the first time in my life forgot to plant them. I found them in a box neatly labeled in my laundry room. I had planned to ask Reed to till a spot for them but thinking the tiller was out on loan I missed the opportunity. So, instead of more digging Reed sat down in a chair and I later saw him sound asleep. Teens are growing pretty fast and working pretty hard at school so they crash easily. After a good nap I suggested he work on his school project. It had to be done on the computer and involved comparing different analyses of John Milton's Paradise Lost.
While all of this was going on I was busy making one of his favorite meals, green beans with , potato salad, home made rolls and applesauce. I had prepared for his visit by making chocolate chip cookies earlier and also the rolls so he would have goodies to take back home with him.
The next morning around 11:00 my son Bruce and his other son Grant arrived.
After greeting and some conversation we had sandwiches and lentil soup (made the day before). I actually learned to like lentil soup by making it for them. I learned the secret is to add bay leaves and thyme then at the end of the cooking put in lemon juice. Of course I had to add tomatoes from my freezer (left over from last years garden. I simply must add tomatoes to soup !!
Grant had brought up some games so we got one memory game out. We used to call it concentration. Cards are laid out face down and you take turns trying to find two that match. He must have put out 60 cards. I knew I was beaten when I saw how many there were. What I did not know was how badly I was beaten. I ended up with four matches. It blew me away how he remembered each one that was turned over and would go back after several plays and get a match. I said to his father "Can't you figure out a way to make a Million out of this?"
Later while Reed crashed again his dad and I along with Grant got in the golf cart and drove around looking at what was blooming and what was just coming up. Bruce had his camera and took pictures of various things One joy was to see the peony on the third year with so many buds I could not count them all. Last year there were three huge red blooms. Lemon colored day lilies are up and looking so healthy, also stella d'oro, the ever blooming day lilies. Asiatic lilies that Reed planted for me about three years ago are pushing up through pine bark. Stone Mountain daisies are putting out leaves and gaining strength for the 6 to 8 foot stems with rich yellow blooms to come in the fall. The azaleas that Bruce planted at least 20 years ago are started to bloom, all eleven of them. They line the rail road tie walk that goes up the hill to the house the back way. Two huge pear trees are covered in blooms. The squirrels will be happy about that !
Up in the vineyard Grant was all excited to see if the praying mantises had come out of their egg case. On his last visit he first saw them tied to the vines. He also got to see them hatching thanks to google on my computer. I had transplanted a green grape called Niagra. It had not grown much in its old spot so now we are trying to see if it will flourish up in the vineyard. It has little green leaves so that is encouraging. Also a red raspberry all by itself near the kiwi has healthy leaves coming out. The kiwi is putting out leaves and at the beginning of May we will see its cream colored blooms.
The other thing we saw were how safely the blueberry bushes were growing inside the netting Jim put up. I had planted some sequoia strawberries in with them thinking they would like the acidic soil. What they needed most was more water so I made a mental note to do that in the evening. No asparagus was up in their raised bed. I was surprised as we had so much good rain this winter. If they fail to perform I can think of lots of other things to plant.
I am trying heirloom tomatoes like my niece Ann Lawson does out in Illinois. They are up and that is all I can expect for now. They are in the sun room and when they begin to look sturdy in May I will set them out in the raised beds.
It was a fun ride to share the growing things with my family. I get pleasure from being with my family and when my grandsons are here I would feel remiss if I did not do special things for them. Some call it spoiling, but to me it is just affirming them as part of our family and showing them how we live. Spoiling would be allowing misbehavior, and I never see that happening. Spring break is a fine time to take time to enjoy family.
On Monday, Reed, my 17 year old grandson drove himself up here for the first time alone in his car inherited from his father. He wanted to help me with some of the work around here. He first set out bricks around a newly planted blackberry patch. These came from cuttings I took last year. I visited this road side berry patch with my neighbor Lisa. Parking near the site we picked for over an hour. Some little boys came along and told us where we could cross a fence and find the mother lode. Lisa gave me all she picked and they went into some fine blackberry jelly. I shared with her of course, but the other thing I did was to go back later in the cool of the evening with a bucket of water and take cuttings from the canes, about 20 or so.
I wanted to have some of this particular type as they had large fine tasting berries on them. The canes looked different to me as they were red. I had found some Navaho thornless berries at the nursery and planted them in a special bed, away from this new one. I think the new berries are from the same genetic line except the ones I cut have thorns. I was intrigued with the red canes as I had not seen them before.
Laying the bricks out around the berries was the first chore Reed did for me. We then went out with shovel and pick and he made two holes for two pink guara that had been wintering over in my sun room. They seemed so happy to be out of the pot where they could stretch their roots and lots of water made the move complete.
The next chore was to dig up some forsythia which was coming back up from a winter cutting. When a bush just has all of these dead branches there is nothing to do but whack it down. If it is forsythia it will surely come back up when the spring warmth comes along. This plant he put in a "skip" of these same bushes which he and his dad had planted two years ago. Along the side of the road leading up to my house I will soon have a line of fine yellow bushes each spring.
The next holes to be dug were for osteospermum, an annual which I picked up for $2 each at Walmart. They are the healthiest perkiest lavender daisy looking flowers I had seen in a while. Now I have two planted out back where I can see them from my kitchen window and two in pots at my front door.
Our next chore was to come to the computer and help me understand something that is second nature to him, facebook. Some members of my extended family invited me to come aboard on this social network so I am trying to figure it all out. I am way behind the much younger generations on this score.
I actually had about 30 daffodil bulbs which I had dug last year and for the first time in my life forgot to plant them. I found them in a box neatly labeled in my laundry room. I had planned to ask Reed to till a spot for them but thinking the tiller was out on loan I missed the opportunity. So, instead of more digging Reed sat down in a chair and I later saw him sound asleep. Teens are growing pretty fast and working pretty hard at school so they crash easily. After a good nap I suggested he work on his school project. It had to be done on the computer and involved comparing different analyses of John Milton's Paradise Lost.
While all of this was going on I was busy making one of his favorite meals, green beans with , potato salad, home made rolls and applesauce. I had prepared for his visit by making chocolate chip cookies earlier and also the rolls so he would have goodies to take back home with him.
The next morning around 11:00 my son Bruce and his other son Grant arrived.
After greeting and some conversation we had sandwiches and lentil soup (made the day before). I actually learned to like lentil soup by making it for them. I learned the secret is to add bay leaves and thyme then at the end of the cooking put in lemon juice. Of course I had to add tomatoes from my freezer (left over from last years garden. I simply must add tomatoes to soup !!
Grant had brought up some games so we got one memory game out. We used to call it concentration. Cards are laid out face down and you take turns trying to find two that match. He must have put out 60 cards. I knew I was beaten when I saw how many there were. What I did not know was how badly I was beaten. I ended up with four matches. It blew me away how he remembered each one that was turned over and would go back after several plays and get a match. I said to his father "Can't you figure out a way to make a Million out of this?"
Later while Reed crashed again his dad and I along with Grant got in the golf cart and drove around looking at what was blooming and what was just coming up. Bruce had his camera and took pictures of various things One joy was to see the peony on the third year with so many buds I could not count them all. Last year there were three huge red blooms. Lemon colored day lilies are up and looking so healthy, also stella d'oro, the ever blooming day lilies. Asiatic lilies that Reed planted for me about three years ago are pushing up through pine bark. Stone Mountain daisies are putting out leaves and gaining strength for the 6 to 8 foot stems with rich yellow blooms to come in the fall. The azaleas that Bruce planted at least 20 years ago are started to bloom, all eleven of them. They line the rail road tie walk that goes up the hill to the house the back way. Two huge pear trees are covered in blooms. The squirrels will be happy about that !
Up in the vineyard Grant was all excited to see if the praying mantises had come out of their egg case. On his last visit he first saw them tied to the vines. He also got to see them hatching thanks to google on my computer. I had transplanted a green grape called Niagra. It had not grown much in its old spot so now we are trying to see if it will flourish up in the vineyard. It has little green leaves so that is encouraging. Also a red raspberry all by itself near the kiwi has healthy leaves coming out. The kiwi is putting out leaves and at the beginning of May we will see its cream colored blooms.
The other thing we saw were how safely the blueberry bushes were growing inside the netting Jim put up. I had planted some sequoia strawberries in with them thinking they would like the acidic soil. What they needed most was more water so I made a mental note to do that in the evening. No asparagus was up in their raised bed. I was surprised as we had so much good rain this winter. If they fail to perform I can think of lots of other things to plant.
I am trying heirloom tomatoes like my niece Ann Lawson does out in Illinois. They are up and that is all I can expect for now. They are in the sun room and when they begin to look sturdy in May I will set them out in the raised beds.
It was a fun ride to share the growing things with my family. I get pleasure from being with my family and when my grandsons are here I would feel remiss if I did not do special things for them. Some call it spoiling, but to me it is just affirming them as part of our family and showing them how we live. Spoiling would be allowing misbehavior, and I never see that happening. Spring break is a fine time to take time to enjoy family.
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