Flowerbeds, Gardens and Rain, oh my

Flowerbeds, gardens and rain, on my!, flowerbeds, gardens and.. . ..

RAIN!

oh my!

I am not the most patient of people, just ask my husband. It seems that with all the rain we've been having I've learned a few lessons.

Lesson 1: After the rain, do not attempt to weed the garden as your boots can and most likely will get stuck in the mud.
Lesson 2: Do not mow the lawn immediately following the rain as it leaves horrible large clumps of grass all over the yard. {which then need to get raked creating even more work}
Lesson 3: Do not leave clothes on the wash-line during the rain. Not only will it not dry, it will also wrap itself around the line making it quite difficult to remove.
Lesson 4: Do not ask your husband to get things done before the rain, cause he might get caught in.

Lesson 5: Be patient. Because even though I have a list of things I'd like done outside, I need to wait until a) it either stops raining or b) it drys up enough from the rain.

I have a Type A personality, which Wikipedia describes as "Type A individuals can be described as impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about their status, highly competitive, over-ambitious, business-like, hostile, aggressive, incapable of relaxation in taking the smallest issues too seriously; and are somewhat disliked for the way that they're always rushing and demanding other people to serve to their standards of satisfaction.[1] They are often high and over-achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays. Because of these characteristics, Type A individuals are often described as "stress junkies." ouch, that was a little harsh, and unfortunately true ^.^

It's a little easier to understand then why this weather has been so frustrating for me. I have my lists of things to do and a timeline to have them done and the weather is totally not following those plans.

Lesson 5 is probably the most important one and I figure I better learn it quick, cause I am not enjoying all the opportunities presented to me to learn it.

Blessings

Pampered

This morning as I was waking up and slowly getting ready for the day, I heard my son in the kitchen. Figuring he was getting himself something to eat I really didn't pay that close attention to all the noise he was making. Imagine my delight when he came up the stairs with breakfast. Lately we've discovered how much we both like Eggs Benedict and have made them together a few times. These are alot of work {I guess that's why they can be so expensive in a restaurant}, so I was quite surprised that he made me Eggs Benedict, and served it with a glass of Orange Juice. What a GREAT way to start the day! Thanks Darcy, what a blessing you are to me.

Blessings

Bride to be

This afternoon I was at my niece's bridal shower. Marcia & Brennan are to be married in July 2011. Watching her open the many gifts reminded me of Krystle's bridal only one year ago. The support that the brides from our church family receive can feel somewhat overwhelming. Not only do you get alot of great gifts, you get the love & encouragement from such a supportive large group of friends.

These days many brides & grooms create their own wedding website click here; and you can read all about their engagement story, where they are registered and to RSVP. Plus it gives a countdown to the big day. So with only 63 days left, I'm sure there are many final preparations moving from the back burner to the forefront to get ready for the big day.. . ... we're so--o-o--o looking forward to it!

Blessings

Country Living

Wayne & I were extremely fortunate that we were able to raise our family in the country on the family farm. Now that the kids are grown, I will admit that there are days when I think I'd like to move into town and enjoy all the luxuries that that can offer. But then I realize there's nothing quite like the quiet of the country. Without neighbours in our back yard, I find it to be a restful place that's a little more tranquil to spend a prolonged amount of time. Which allows me the opportunity to get a clearer perspective on my life and those that I interact with.

Blessings

On this day.....

in 1987, God gave us a beautiful little girl whom we named Krystle Ann-Marie. At her wedding to Gerard almost one year ago, we played a DVD slide show of pictures of Krystle growing up while playing Tim McGraw's song "My Little Girl"

We found the lyrics to be very appropriate in expressing our thoughts.

As I sit here trying to write about all the thoughts and feelings about my daughter, I find myself overwhelmed with such emotions. So before I start blubbering, I guess I`ll just say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY! dear daughter, may your day be full of love and many blessings!" Daddy & I are tremendously blessed that God gave you to us.

Blessings

Wet Paint!

With the beautiful summer-like (finally) weather, I was excited to get outside and start setting up the yard. I brought out the BBQ, the patio furniture set, the hammock, and then the white plastic lawn furniture. ugh! This old furniture has seen better days. It wasn't broken so I was having difficulty with just throwing it away, and yet, it was too unappealing to set it out.

Then I remembered we had a can of tremclad paint, and thought I'll try painting the furniture. I figured if I don't like it afterwards, I can still throw it away. But wow'zer's - what a difference one can of paint and countless hours of painting can make. It transformed the ugly old white lawn furniture into beautiful new blue lawn furniture. It adds a splash of colour to the front porch. I'm looking forward to many afternoons sitting on the front porch watching the incredible sunsets.

Blessings

Field Stones

One of the many tedious jobs that a farmer has is picking stones. Each year we tease each other that if we'd only pick all the little stones we wouldn't have to pick as many the next year.

You see it's a joke around here about whether or not stones grow. As a young girl with two farming uncles, I was told that stones grew. And yes, I believed them for about 20 years - no that's not a typo. It wasn't until after Wayne & I were married and we were picking stones that I mentioned, if we would pick all the little ones, we wouldn't have as many to pick the next year. Well, first he just looked at me, then he laughed, then, he tells me in no uncertain terms "that stones do not grow". Of course knowing that my dear uncles would never lie to me, we argued and disagreed for quite some time.

A few years ago I found an article in the "Rural Voice" about stones.

Stones multiply and grow. It is not known exactly how, but it you leave a stone long enough it might become a boulder. Stones are probably male & female - the male stones would be the darker heavier ones and the female stones the sparklier pretty ones. How they mate is not known for sure.

As I show this article to him, I declare that "HA, I was right!" with a mischievous grin on my face.

But in all sincerity, I really do like stones. In fact, as the boys grew older and helped their dad pick stones, they would begin to see which ones I would like and began saving them for me. So while my stones might not grow any bigger, I keep collecting them and find it amazing how becoming the landscape is when their put all together. Blessings

Tea-time

Tea, disguised as a cup of warm liquid is really an invitation. When someone invites you to tea, it isn't because they're thirsty. It might be because they're cold, but more likely it is because they want to spend time with you. You can't drink tea quickly. You hold it. Sip it. Sit with it. Savour it. Most people never pass up the opportunity to sit with a cup. It's a universal welcome and it is available to all of us. But how many of us are so busy rushing to the next appointment in our day-timer that we lose the opportunity to sit, holding that cup?

My dear friend Deb and I meet once a week for tea. We chat about everything ~ families, joys, sorrows, world events, politics - both government and church ~ if you can name it, we've likely talked about it. No subject is taboo. We're just two women wanting to invest in the lives of each other. Our friendship is something that cannot be defined. Something inside just clicks.

If you have one close friend, consider yourself blessed. If you have two, stand up and shout!!! If you don't, then why not issue an invitation to a woman you have been wanting to get to know. You might be surprised to find out that she too has been waiting for an opportunity to get to know you. oh and by the way, I am blessed.

Blessings

21

It's hard to believe that our youngest son is celebrating his 21st birthday. I mean, wasn't it just yesterday that we brought this tiny (although his birth weight was 8lbs and 14oz) little person home from the hospital? There are so many, many memories going through my mind as I think over his life.

Darcy has always been quite independent and a free-thinker. Not wanting to conform to the ways of society he takes his own path as he journeys through life. What a blessing he has been and will continue to be as we walk together towards his independence. He has given us so many joys..... Happy 21st birthday Darcy.

Blessings

Hired Man

or to be politically correct it should read hired woman.

Wayne & I own a 150 acres, of which 135 are considered to be 'workable'. After the dairy barn burned down in 1998 we became cash croppers. Which means that we grow our crops for money instead of for feed for the cows we used to have. Quite often it's on a crop rotation of soy beans and wheat, however this year he's planting corn.

As our boys grew older they helped their dad in the field, whether it was picking rocks or driving tractor. As time passed and the boys got off-farm jobs, the driving of the tractor eventually fell to me. I don't mind really, it's sort of like mowing the lawn only a bit better since the tractor has a radio to help pass the seemingly endless hours in the field. In fact tonight as I was cultivating, I had a little puppy along for the ride.

Blessings

Next Day

After the day I had yesterday, {we had Wayne's brothers funeral and hosted the luncheon for family & close friends} I knew I needed some mindless activity for today.

And what can be more mindless than mowing the lawn? We have a fairly large lawn that takes quite some time to be mowed. So for almost 4 hours I sat, moving back forth across our yard thinking over the past few days, praying for strength for the days to come and trying to add some normalcy back into our lives.

A few years ago we bought a brand new John Deere lawn tractor. I admit that I do enjoy riding around on it - since "nothing runs like a deer"; or so the slogan goes.

Blessings

the beginning of a very long week

Originally this title was going to be called "at the end of a very long week"; and I was going to post it on Saturday. I had started work over at Huron Ridge Acres, while still putting my regular time in at the office. This makes my work week around the 45 hour mark. Needless to say I was very tired and just a wee bit sore on Friday night. Since I like to use either a picture or a video to go with my post, I had remembered this song by Carolyn Dawn Johnson and thought I'd wait until today and use the this title for this post. Mostly it's these two lines "I know I should get some sleep I'm at the beginnin' of another long week" from the chorus that were stuck in my head.

Little did I know .. ... .. . {sigh} that on Saturday at 7:15 am, I would receive a call informing me that my husbands younger brother Paul had suddenly passed away.

It's funny how our brains process information. My initial response was WHAT!!? what??!.......... then the tougher thing was to tell my husband. Men must take a course before marriage called "Understanding Hysterical Wife 101.... because I have no idea how through the heart-wrenching sobs, the incoherent words that were coming out of my mouth that he was able to understand what was being said.

Since we lived next door it seemed natural that our home would become like grand central station once our extended family, community and church family heard the news. So many wonderful people came with their sympathies and soon the food was pouring in. After two days of hosting family and planning the funeral service, to say I am exhausted is an understatement. It's unbelievable that grieving can take that much out of you.

As I write this post I listened to the song previously mentioned and as I focused on the chorus:

I know I should get some sleep
I'm at the beginnin' of another long week
But I don't want you to go
No I don't want you to go
I guess another minute wouldn't do no harm
Why not spend it in each other's arms
Cause I don't want you to go
No I don't want you to go

I didn't realize just how fitting this song is.

Please pray for us and our family as we journey through this difficult time.

Blessings

Mom's Day

When I saw this on facebook I had to share it.

It reminded me so much of my boys, because this is totally something that they would do.

Happy Mom's day everyone!

Blessings

Birthday Tribute

Most of the family was able to get together {on Sunday} to celebrate my Mom's birthday. Since her birthday is so close to Mother's day we tend to celebrate the two together. In a way it seems unfair that she gets cheated out of one of the days.

Did you know that a tribute is "a gift, testimonial, compliment, or the like, given as due or in acknowledgment of gratitude or esteem"; according to dictionary.com anyway.

So here is my tribute {such that it is} to my mom - who's birthday is today!!!

My mom, the one who gave me the gift of life. Who taught me to cook, clean, sew, bake, all those things girls need to know. She by her example showed me how to be a wife and mother. But probably the most important thing she ever gave me was to teach me about God; so that we can, not only in this life be together, but to spend eternity together too! Thanks Mom! May you be blessed today as you celebrate the day of your birth, but know that we are blessed to be able to celebrate you.

Blessings

May the 4th

be with you.......

Did you know that today is National Star wars day? Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise conceived by George Lucas. The first film "Star Wars" was originally released on May 25, 1977, it became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. Followed by two sequels, "The Empire Strikes Back", released on May 21, 1980, and "Return of the Jedi", released on May 25, 1983. More than two decades after the release of the original "Star Wars", the film series continued with the long-awaited prequel trilogy, consisting of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace", released on May 19, 1999; "Episode II: Attack of the Clones", released on May 16, 2002; and "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith", released on May 19, 2005. One of the prominent elements of Star Wars is the "Force", an omnipresent energy that can be harnessed by those with that ability. It is described in the first produced film as "an energy field created by all living things [that] surrounds us, penetrates us, [and] binds the galaxy together." The Force allows users to perform a variety of supernatural feats (such as telekinesis, clairvoyance, precognition, and mind control) and also can amplify certain physical traits, such as speed and reflexes; these abilities vary between characters and can be improved through training. While the Force can be used for good, it has a dark side that, when pursued, fills users with hatred, aggression, and malevolence. The six films feature the Jedi, who use the Force for good, and the Sith, who use the dark side for evil in an attempt to take over the galaxy.

Most of my family are die-hard fans, watching episode after episode multiple times over. I don't know if it's because of the story lines, the great action scenes or the good vs. evil triumph. I'm just glad to have these classic movies in my repertoire.

Blessings

Month of May

or the month of crazy as it's known around here. For Wayne it's the month to cultivate the land, pick rocks, plant the seed, milk the cows, cut the hay, drive tractor and that's all in one day!!! For me, it's work at the office, come home for a short breather and head to work at the greenhouse, add to that, the laundry, cleaning, cooking, mowing lawn, flowerbeds, garden and if I'm really lucky {not} I also help in the field.

We also will be celebrating two of our three kids birthdays this month - needless to say we'll be busy - so forgive me if I neglect to blog.

Blessings