There were several park benches placed sporadically around my parent’s farm. My dad loved to sit at them and look across the country side. The land in the area of North Central Iowa that I grew up in was primarily flat.
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A few weeks back our lawn mower died. It was old and running really rough. We had it worked on last summer and it did well for a little while. We had hoped to limp it through another summer.
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I became a grandmother for the very first time this past April. I have always heard that there was no way to describe the incredible joy of being a grandparent. That statement is absolutely true.
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I have many fond childhood memories at this time of year. All summer long my sister’s and I helped our mother in the garden. The front portion of our garden was the flower bed.
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As I was out watering my flowers the other day I spotted a familiar foe. It was a grasshopper. Grasshopper populations are known to be at their highest in hot, dry conditions.
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Marigolds are undoubtedly the most recognized of all annual flowers. The Farmer’s Almanac deems marigolds as “the easiest annual flower to grow.”
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Every year about this time I look over my garden and begin to take notes for the next year. My first note was to keep track of the application of systemic insecticide.
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I took an unofficial poll the other day. I asked some of my friends what their favorite time of year is. The result was unanimously the fall.
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As I was driving through a housing addition the other day, something caught my eye. There were many beautiful homes. Most of them were only a year or two old.
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I watched a program on TV the other day about the painting, “Portrait of a Young Fiancée”, also called “La Bella Principessa” (English: “The Beautiful Princess”.)
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As I was watering a planter of Coleus the other day, I noticed some insect damage on the leaves. When I potted it in the spring, I had added some systemic insecticide granules to the soil.
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Apples are one of the most cultivated tree fruits in the world. There are thousands of cultivars of apples. Apples are bred for various uses, including fresh eating, cooking and cider production.
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Years ago I sought the Lord about a specific need I had in my life. Like most people I looked up all the scriptures I could find on God’s provision.
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I love going to the mailbox this time of year.
The beautiful Christmas cards filled with photos of family and friends always warm my heart.
Today, however, something more was accompanying my holiday treasure;
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For almost ten years I have had a favorite yard ornament in my flower garden. I call him Mr. Squirrel. He is made of terra cotta clay and has a white wash finish.
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The early morning sun shone brilliantly across the backyard of our farmhouse. Drops of dew danced on each flower petal in the garden.
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One evening as I was watching TV a commercial came on that got my attention. It was a father standing in a swimming pool with his arms out stretched. Standing on the pool side was a very timid little girl.
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While working in a garden center I witnessed firsthand how the sight or smell of certain plants can instantly bring back a memory. A gentleman came in and wanted to buy a Night Blooming Jasmine plant.
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