April's Reappearing

 Ah Yes, the flowers of April! Everything was really in bloom.
The money plant




Tulips

Iris

 

Dogwood

 

Groundcover



 

Azaleas

White and Pink Petunias

And the kale I planted too late last year had grown and bloomed. We harvested and used it this year.


This was the month for planting a new garden with the kids and going to the park.

It Only Comes Once a Year

July 23rd -
Hannah, Josiah, and myself took the long ride out to Dallas, Ga.
We were greeted by this . . .

Yes, it was my birthday

and this . . .

Western Red Cedar garden bench

and my smiling mom. A note attached said, "From Dad". Inside the house was this . . .

Glass garden tower

The note said, "From Mom".

What makes these gifts so special is that they were made by the same hands that lovingly cared for me, that worked to feed me, that labored to shelter me, that were clasped in prayer for me, that held me and guided me. The hands that I looked to imitate as I sought my own way on life's road. Such precious gifts of life and creativity.

"And pick one more," my mom said.

So I picked one more glass tower for the garden. ". . . because you need one that has a light in it," she told me. Those hands that didn't let me leave home without first giving me The Light of the World, continue to give and give and give.

Back home in my own little garden, I remember them and feel the glow of love in my heart.

There is nothing like a parent's love especially on your birthday.

A Look Outside

Iris blooming in December

Wildflower

Peas in bloom

One pink pea bloom?

Nice green lettuce

No standing water on this pool cover!

The key? Height and tight!

Hope you enjoyed our little walk.

Wordless Wednesday - Bubblegum Garden

May is for Strawberries and Swimming!

Our strawberry plants have been bearing for a week or so now. We try to beat the chipmunks and squirrels to them, if the slugs don't get them first. I guess we just have to share with the wildlife. I'm getting a good bit to freeze for our smoothies, though.

The kids started getting in the pool during the first week in May also. The water was chilly, but the weather was SO HOT it felt good.

We took a break from regular schoolwork this week to enjoy a trip to Grandmother and Grandfather's. We got in a little Test Prep as Hannah will be taking the ITBS next week. When we got back home the kids immediately wanted to hit the water. After a day of taking care of business, including more Test Prep, I let them get in again.

See ya later, Alligator!

So Much Purple in God's Palette

From the wild ones that carpet the yard . . .

to the ones that bear money in the fall . . .

to this one that's not purple at all, but white and yellow that will become RED someday.

Another purple one with beauty all it's own.

Now for the greens - some that give us their lovely leaves (a surprise that came up from last year's seeds) . . .

Some that will bear us Sweet Peas to see, full of color and delight . . .

others that will offer us Peas we can EAT! (Hannah planted these and was very resourceful, using sticks to make a teepee for them to climb.)

Toad in the Garden - Perspective of a Boy

As the sun began to set and the day grew cooler, Mom planted lifeless looking seeds into fresh soil. I, on the other hand, chased after adventure. My efforts were rewarded with the capture of a half a dozen sparkling bugs, glowing with fire. Then, to my delight, my mom calls with a new pursuit, a frog hopping in the garden. Now in my hands! I put him in the observation chamber. He's a toad, not a frog. He's so cute. Maybe I can keep him as a pet.

I watch as he snaps up his fellow captive fireflies. I hunt for more to satisfy his appetite, but find none. Mom says toads eat hundreds of bugs a night and I probably can't find that many. She says he'll eat mosquitos, too, those things that leave itching welps on my skin. I decide to release him so he can get back to his job and devour all of the mosquitos that come into our domain!

Maybe I'll see him again soon on night patrol. Wonder if he'll be glowing.

No More Magic?

I tried several times to download my video and it just wasn't happening, so we will do something different today.
It is good to give thanks!
Today, I am thankful for . . .
the fact that a boy can have so much fun with a stick! . . .

that a few minutes of outside play can change our outlook. . .

that there are bright colors in our world. . .

little blessings of lettuce,

and peas. (Sorry it's fuzzy.) . . .

and new things to discover! What is that tiny bug?

Fall for the senses

These always remind me of fall growing up,
exploring in the woods,
finding and eating the fall fruit.

Jasmine growing on top of the vines of scuppernongs.
My memories are of wild muscadines,
but these are similar enough
to take me back.
These are growing in my mom's yard in Dallas, Georgia.

Rainy Days and Mondays

With this weather,

I'm thinking I should have planted rice!

If You Homeschool . . .

. . . you will probably study plants,

and if you study plants,

you will have to grow some things.

And if you grow some things,

you will have to watch for the sprouts to come up.

And when the sprouts come up,

you will have to take one inside to examine it closer.

While you are in the garden,

you will probably find an insect.

When you find an insect,

you will have to catch it and take it inside, too . . .

to examine it closer.

And then you might see an insect in a picture that you took,

that you didn't know was there when you took the picture.

(Do you see it?)

And if you homeschool,

your younger brother will get to do stuff that looks more fun to you. . .

and other stuff that doesn't,

(like folding clothes)

but if you ask,

Mom will probably let you use the fun-looking blocks, too.

Well, we finished another week.