Welcome to my musings on summer as a spiritual journey. This month is hosted by Carol Varsalona... find her blog and links to others on this journey HERE. Thanks for hosting, Carol.
Margaret Simon posted a video prompt on the summer solstice, and I wrote to it but never posted, so I will add it here.
I started spring with high intentions for my little garden. My best crop has been sugar snap peas. This is my second attempt at growing them, and I'm pleased to report a bumper crop. I had enough peapods to share with our guests on the 4th and still have a good bowl left.
My bee balm is beautiful now. Bees buzz around it, and I love the color.
I made a yummy cake with my rhubarb, and my parsley is gorgeous.
I had to restart my chives because of leaf miners, but the new ones are coming along nicely. I love chives in cottage cheese. Chock that up to my midwest heritage.
As you can see, I have much to be thankful for. The verse below asks us to give thanks in all things. That is my challenge in the summer, because there are bits of summer that aren't lovely. You know how it is. Summer has its ways.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
My one lonely beefsteak tomato plant, which yesterday had 13 tomatoes on it, the largest about the size of a lemon, today has only two marble-sized tomatoes. Some creature got them, and I hope it is happy. I am not. Bah!!!
Two streaks of poison ivy currently decorate my arms. Where did it come from? Nonetheless, I am thankful for the modern remedies.
The sun and the heat are very hard on me. Summer ends up a balancing act between full coverage and staying cool, and heat exhaustion creeps up more often as I age.
Oh summer! You are a beauty. You are a challenge. You are a time of growth, both in nature and in the spiritual realm. I am thankful for summer, and I appreciate its beauty, but I reserve my highest regards for the season to come.
Karen, I loved virtually roaming your garden and seeing your beautiful plants that were Godkissed! I am pausing now to reread the scripture and send my own prayer of thanks: In everything, life, family, nature, and faith, I will give thanks. I like how you ended your post. "Summer you are a time of growth, both in nature and in the spiritual realm." Let our community grow in faith and friendship throughout the summer months
ReplyDeleteKaren, your garden is definitely sun kissed and you are reaping it's rewards both in food and in splendor. Beauty does come with a price and I guess the price we pay for summer is the oppressive heat . May summer continue to offer you beauty and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLoved your gardening update. Those sugar snap peas are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDrat on those pesky critters who ate your tomatoes. Like you, summer's not my favorite season. Savor the beauty and best of luck with the challenges. Cheers to fall on the horizon!
Karen, how right you are - summer has its ways. So sorry about the poison ivy and that something got your little tomatoes! I hope by now your healing is complete and your tomato plants are full. There's really nothing like a homegrown tomato! The lushness of your yard and your skill with growing things are food for the soul - as is your poetic ode to summer at the conclusion: "Oh summer! You are a beauty. You are a challenge. You are a time of growth, both in nature and in the spiritual realm." This is profoundly true. I, too, am deeply thankful for summer...with all its ways.
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