Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Every day is a gift

Yet another horrifying week. Prayers for all of the loss.

A recent work of fiction in a mystery series I read contained the question something along the line of “What would it take to stop this?” That question has come to my mind often these past weeks.

I’ve lately been reading a number of books about the World War I and II era – from the Great Britain and French perspective. I cannot help but see the parallels and it is pretty awful. At the time – especially pre-WWII/post WWI (the Great War) there was no idea what a Hitler/Mussolini world might be like. And there was a huge feeling of “let us not have another great war”. I have to wonder if we are in yet another time of naiveté.

And so, how do we go on? How do we live in our place in the world?

For me and mine, the choice is to look at each day as a gift.

A day with growing things.

A day with sunshine through the trees.

The first sweet cherries of the year!

A roll in the grass – dear Bear.

A peaceful Sunday: every day is a gift.

Phillipian’s 4:13 for pete’s sake!

This first week of June 2016 was kind of awful. Maybe more accurately, as my Mama said in a supportive email to me, “senseless” as in there is no making sense of what happened – re the UCLA shooting.

I have not been on campus for fifteen years, but I have consulted for a department of UCLA since 1991 … nearly 25 years and for several years occupied a cubicle on campus. I know many and although not of the academic population, some from the department I work with were at Engineering IV on June 1 and the building housing the department I work with is on campus and so part of the lockdown.

I was glued to the online news about two hours in. Although I was relieved that things were not worse … still: A good man lost: a father/husband/son/brother/uncle – a young woman left to raise a son and daughter without their father. It is beyond heartbreaking.

And the additional fallout of fear, insecurity, young lives disrupted: the students … especially those in Engineering, but also all of the others who dealt with the unknown on that day.

What to do, how to move forward? If it seems challenging to me, removed by 1500 miles, what must it be like for those closer. And for that young family of the professor.

I’ve written blog posts in my head about this week, but this morning I thought about Phillipians 4:13 and the surrounding verses. And knowing that I’ve include those in previous challenging times, I went searching my posts. And I found a post which said everything I wanted to say. It is repeated below but with different photos.

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The sorrows of our earthly world have been receiving an enormous amount of “press”. I, and I imagine every one of you reading this post also have some private sorrow, hurt or worry that feels overwhelming.

And, not that there is not a time for sadness or grief, but I believe that we are also called, by our Creator, to live with Joy and thankfulness, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Father Tim, a character in Jan Karon’s Mitford series, often said to himself or to one of his parishioners: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”

And earlier in Chapter 4:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Verses 5-7

Powerful stuff. When I feel like it is impossible to not be anxious, I hear Father Tim’s voice in my head: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”

And then a verse right smack dab in the middle of those above…

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. […] And the God of peace will be with you.“ Verse 9

I don’t need to look very far to find things that meet those conditions:

My choice on what to think on is these things and to lift all who have suffered loss and those who fear – in prayer to Him – who governs all.

Phillipian’s 4:13 for pete’s sake!

Last morning in May

We had a splendid three day weekend – a few chores, a lot of walks, some rain, some sun, naps – it was wonderful.

And it was cool. We enjoyed the cool … I kept telling myself to take in the cool. It is forecast to dry out and warm up for a week ending in the upper 80’s and perhaps a 90F.

Yikes.

But, this morning, this last morning in May – it was cool at 42F and perfect moisture from the bits of rain over the weekend.

The fuschia are happy.

The herbies are happy … Mr. Coleus is not doing that well and needs all good thoughts!

Yes, that says 54F INSIDE – I’m holding onto cool as long as possible.

Last morning in May.

A bit of sun

It rained in the night, but at dawn it was not raining and no puddles … the ground here on this foothill of the Rocky Mountain “back” sieves like a … sieve!

And though we needed all of this rain, I do confess that it was nice to have a break.

Bear is not sad … that is his “don’t keep pointing that darn camera at me” look. But it is natural light, i.e. early morning sunlight in the sunroom!

Sun and lupins and Auggie in the woods – glorious!

Yes, some clouds, but sun is shining on my little house and its front porch.

Some inside sunshine: fresh made Ghee.

The forecast for today was rainy…

but surprise… !!

After the early morning sun, it was cloudy and gray, but mid-afternoon it cleared. I could not resist. Bear and I took a quick trip to the dump and to Bigfork. We didn’t need to, but I wanted to and Bear is always up for a ride in the Jeep.

And it was worth it.

A bit of sun.

Got Fuschia

I have fuschia!

Not from the Kalispell Farmer’s Market as per last year ( Fuschia 2015), but from a local nursery: Swan River Gardens .

And yes, that is Auggie just to the right and aft of the front porch, next to the ladder holding a yellow jacket trap… the queens are out and about and we did not have ANY super cold over winter. With last summer so dry and they need water … don’t know what this year will bring. I told the yellow jackets that they were welcome in the woods but to please leave the yard and front porch to Bear, Auggie and me.

Back to the fuschia.

If you search on “fuschia”, you will see ELEVEN posts from last year: May through October. The 2015 Farmer’s market fuschia, my first fuschia in some years did beautifully on the front porch last year.

Last weekend was Kalispell Farmer’s Market opening for 2016, but a series of domestic incidents precluded me attending. This weekend, I just wimped out on a trip to “town” on a Saturday after hearing a LOT of early traffic on my own road home. I wanted just a few grocery items and the local grocery has improved greatly so Bear and I headed out in the Jeep with garbage to drop off, a planned reconnoiter of the local nursery and then the grocery.

But plans must often be flexible and to my surprise the nursery had fuschia, although not many and only a few with the Swingtime (white and pink)

– most were the Black Prince:

And the baskets were large and further along than those I purchased last year.

I looked at the baskets and thought about room in the Jeep AND the nursery was busy with other people getting things. I didn’t want to lose out so snagged a basket with all Swingtime and 2 baskets with a mix of Swingtime and Black Prince and away we went with a basket on the front passenger seat, a basket on the floor passenger side and 1 poor basket sharing the back with Bear. We headed straight back to home because there was no room for groceries and the poor basket with Bear…

I say poor basket because as we were leaving the nursery, someone arrived with a dog and Bear got excited and that poor basket suffered a bit of knocking about. But, it made it home. I apologized, watered and fed the poor thing, trimmed off some breakage and hopefully it will forgive Bear and me and flourish!

A bit later…

… gah!

“What ??? – I did not touch the darn fuschia!!”

Perfect Light

It is 38 days until Summer Solstice, the shortest day (daylight hours) of the year.

Currently, it is light before 6:00 a.m. and until after 9:30 p.m.

The light has been spectacular these last weeks. It is at an angle that is warm and gold and I enjoy it greatly as shortly it will be the harsh light of summer and potential heat and … but no need to go there! I concentrate on staying here and now and enjoying this time of beautiful light, cool-warm-blustery days with vivid blue sky and vibrant greens of grass, leaves and bushes.

This Friday morning wavered between sunshine and clouds as I made scones and a small frittata…

with Bear outside enjoying the morning air.

And then Bear and Auggie on Beardog Point.

Late afternoon, the light filtered through the blinds turns my work room to shades of gold.

Perfect Light.