August 4, 2009
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Pictures & Garden Lessons
Yes, I’ve been talking a lot about pictures lately. On Sunday, I figure I took at least 1500. No, I didn’t accidentally type an extra zero. Thankfully, my camera has a setting on it that will take five pictures as I continue to hold down the shutter button, which comes in *terrifically* when I have kiddos moving around or when my camera, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 that the seller on ebay (where I *did* get it for $650 off retail pricing) failed to disclose the facts that 1.) it was Refurbished and 2.) it ‘freezes up’ when it (ironically) overheats. Literally. With the whole ‘five pictures of one event thing, I then, go back over alllllll the pictures taken, deletes the unusable and proceed. Anyways, that allows me to hopefully get some good pictures…and I did, especially on Sunday.
The first set of pictures on Sunday were of ShillVester and I, and then of The Little Mister. They were lots of fun and turned out well, if I do say so myself. The second set were of Daniel and Kristin, as they’re preparing for their wedding, and as I owe Daniel quite a whole lot, particularly when it comes to houses, I took a set of pictures for their engagement. In spite of some *major* fritz from the camera, I was thankful to find that we did get some nice pictures. They’re on my facebook if you wish to view them.
What this all means, however, is that my camera is back and I can simply have it available for *any* picturetaking…which also means pictures of the garden.
I was out watering this morning and God convicted me in regards to living in the moment. This has been my first year to garden…and I’ve loved it. I’ve been SO thankful for the therapudic elements of it, for the fun of it, and not the least of all, for the good food and definitive beauty of it. And yet…human that I am, almost *all* I’ve been thinking about is “Next year!” “Next year!” “Next year!” “Next year I’ll know better what to do!” “Next year I’ll start my garden in the dining room MARCH FIRST!” “Next year I’ll have fabulous compost up & running!” “Next year I’ll dig up the rest of the yard!” “Next year my garden will do so much better than this year and I’ll enjoy it so much more!” Danger. Definitive danger.
James talks about that–in chapter four, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Or how about Paul? And learning to be content whatever the circumstances? And then, my friend Melissa posted information on how she and her husband lost all their tomatoes in their garden and possibly their potatoes to weather and insect related problems. And at that point, God gently but clearly reminded me that I alive today because He has work for me to do, and I need to live, today. Or, as Mr. Elliot so eloquently stated, “Wherever you are, be all there!”
I am so thankful to get the opportunity to learn at home, in my own garden…and I am so thankful for the gentle reminder that I am not to tackle tomorrow–I am simply to walk in joyful obedience today. And for that time in the garden, at least, I did…and was glad.
P.S. Pictures of the edible parts of the garden to follow soon.
Poppies!!
If I were a bee, I can think of few happier places to pass a morning than in a gigantic pumpkin blossom.
Sam & Steph’s beautiful purple clematis.
I planted a ‘shade mix’ behind my impatiens. The impatiens blossomed, bloomed & took over. The shade mix remained undeterred and pushed up through the impatiens. This is one stubborn, beautiful piece of sunshine.
Another piece of ‘shade mix’ sunshine. This one is temporarily home to a green-fly-looking-thingy.
Another beautiful sunflower, not of the ‘typical’ variety.
One of the beautiful, true blue flower that grows like a weed…and it just may be…but it’s beautiful!
Sunflowers!
Two beds of shade mix and impatiens…so fun!
Comments (3)
a) came here from marla’s site to say that what you said was very well said.
and 2) your pictures are GORGEOUS!!!!!
While these pictures are way fun, I still must say that the flowers are way more beautiful in reality! I’m so glad I got to see them with my own eyes and the other growing delicacies in your garden
Thank you for your delightful comment on my page and I was glad to have our conversation and am looking forward to chatting with you again, soon. Thank you for your ideas and encouragement; I’m working on applying them! I LOVE YOU 
Hello Lady of the House,
You made your site simple yet elegant. The pictures are a nice touch. I see that you have a wide variety of interests and observations here!
Now is a good time to learn about the true God, Jehovah. 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:2-3) (KJV)