Natural Designs

Good Morning Lord by Sheila Walsh

2010-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Thomas Nelson graciously allowed me to read and review for free this book. The title is " Good Morning Lord: I don't know where you are going today but I'm going with you. " written by Sheila Walsh. I found this to be a lovely book to open up after my Scripture reading in the morning. A fresh cup of Expresso and this journal helped center me and my thoughts on the most important visitor at my table: Jesus Christ our Lord. Many prayers helped me to see the morning and the day ahead in a positive light. There are areas for your own private reflections. I found this journal along with my personal one were great companions. Sometimes putting our thoughts into the written word clarifies our own prayer journey. I wanted to keep this book but gave it to my sister for her birthday. she is a member of our prayer group and recovering from Brain surgery. I hope in the week ahead this book will be opened when she sips her first cup of coffee! Check it out and get a copy for a friend or loved one.

Dad's Bible

2010-06-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Thomas Nelson let me read and review the "Dad's Bible." What a good Father's Day gift for Dad, Husband or Grandpa. There are notes by Robert Wolgemuth. This Bible offers some advice on how to help Dad's on their Faith Journey. How often do Dad's think about the authority God gives to parents, especially Dads? Modeling Christian behavior and talking to our children about the Bible are just two ways to gain a deeper understanding of our Christian beliefs.Young Father's would find many wonderful insights in this Bible that would help them when their children start asking why? There are also stories of our Biblical Fathers to read. Father's everywhere would enjoy this Bible.This book is a great addition to any families book shelf. I would suggest it for all Dad's.

Book Review - Jesus Manifesto

2010-05-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of reading another free book from Thomas Nelson Publishers titled " Jesus Manifesto - Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ " written by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. The books emphasis is on our relationship with Jesus. He is the alpha and the omega and the true source of everything in the Bible. Perhaps one of the most important and powerful phrases Jesus ever proclaims is " Who do you say I am?" This simple question is one that each Christian might ponder and discern becauses how we answer indicates our relationship with Jesus. Is Jesus the light, the Word, the breath, the everything that makes up our Universe? The authors' questions and proclamations are heavy with the idea that Jesus is in you and me and all of creation. They feel that many Christians have lost their way and don't follow the core values of Christ's message. This book offers another path to understanding Christ. I found the book to be quite enlightening and would suggest this book to all people interested in Christianity.

kidskastleplans

2010-05-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

My Dad is 83 and he designed a darling "kids kastle" for my grandson, Blake. Blakes' Great Grandpa, Popo, and Daddy
built the kids kastle and Blake just loves to play in his own special playhouse with all of his friends even his Nona. Dad just created four new special playhouse plans for other families to build and enjoy.

If you ever dreamed of building a "kids kastle" this is the way to go!

http://www.kidskastleplans.com/

Isaac Newton

2010-05-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Thomas Nelson Publishers sent me a free copy of Isaac Newton in the Christian encounters series. The author, Mitch Stokes, writes about one of Great Britain's scientists and his life. I learned that Isaac always had an insatiable curiousity about the world and an intense dedication to learning about mathematics, physics, optics, alchemy and theology.He truly was a man whose genius shines over the centuries. His fortitude and creativity lead him to create clocks and sundials, kites, and mix ointments in order to become familiar with time, wind and chemistry. He was so organized that his notebooks were indexed and revealed an innate tendancy to try to fit the world of knowledge into an understandable mold. He did this by conducting many experiments.He became a leading authority in mathematics, optics, physics, and astonomy. His treatise "Principia" stands out as one of the most important books in history. He developed the theory of gravity.
Little did I know, Isaac wrote more words about theology than all his other writings. Newton said the goal of his studies was to know God and " give him honour & glory." He believed that through our knowledge of God we worship God. He thought that " it is God's person and his actions that especially command our adorations." Newton struggled with the doctine of the Trinity and only after his death was his position publically examined. Newton said that " the Father and Son were one, but this unity was not a metaphysical unity; rather, it was one of dominion and purpose." He felt that the words of Scripture didn't support the idea.He went on to try to decipher the Bible to struly try to understand God's word.God has vreated our world and Newton wnated to know as much as he could about God's plans. This was a rather short read that opened up a world of discovery for the reader to delve further into Newton's writings. I recommend you read this book.

The Litugical Year Book Review

2010-02-26T13:40:00.000-08:00

Thomas Nelson Publishers graciously allowed me to review( for free) the book "The Liturgical Year." The book was an intelligent, well-written chronicle of the Christian Liturgical Year. The author , Joan Chittister, was very knowledgable about each step along the faith journey. She explained Lent as a " Symphony in three parts." and I found this a wonderful way to think of the the living memory of Christ and the last supper.I expecially enjoyed this statement : " Lent is not a ritual. It is time given seriously to think about who Jesus is for us, to renew our faith from the inside out."We journey to the desert for forty days and fight off our lusts and temptations just as Jesus fought off the devil!Lent is just one part of the Liturgical year. The author speaks of the celebration for fifty days of Paschaltide or Pentecost.This is a time of great joy when the Christians experienced Jesus and his resurrection.The living God walked among us.She goes on to discuss Ordinary time Feast and Advent.Understanding the Christian year was a map of our soul journey. This was a book I would highly recommend.I am going to share this book with my Prayer Group in hopes that the other members will enjoy the explanations of the Liturgical year and find deeper meaning and understanding of our Christian faith.memebers will look beyond themselves to the glory of Jesus and his resurrection.

Fall Pruning and Garden Cleanup

2009-11-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

Results Achieved with Natural Harmony in Mind

Natural Designs Landscaping wants to help you with your Fall pruning and garden cleanup. Give me a call at 831-338-4080 for all your gardening needs. Just ask for Trace.

2009-11-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook

2009-11-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

Thomas Nelson kindly let me review this cookbook and I get to keep the cookbook for free!

The " Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennesse Cookbook" by Lynne Tolley & Pat Mitchamore is full of great southern recipes. Here's some of the titles, just to tickle your fancy:" Uncle Jacks Red Dogs, Country-fried Corn,and Intoxicated Chicken." Included with these delicious recipes are historical pictures and old time wisdom. Have you ever wondered how to kill a hog? Read " Hog Killing Time in Tennessee"? Mr. Erskine H. Early describes " The way it was done when I was a lad." Granted I am a generation from the farm but this explains a childhood remembrance of a time long gone for most of us. Another recipe that made me hoot was "Possum and Sweet Taters ".I don't think I would want to try that recipe since I like Possums but the story is like reading B'er Rabbit or another tale of southern myth or legend. Since I enjoy ham, I was interested in the story "How to cook a country ham." How could I resist these tantalizing " Sinfully Good Roast Pork?","Country-Style Steak and Gravy and how about "Tennesse Holler-Puff." This book is not for vegetarians or whiskey haters. Wonderfully interesting stories and yummy recipes. I really enjoyed reading this cookbook and I bet you would enjoy it too.

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook, Volume 1

2009-10-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook, Volume 1
By Lynne Tolley and Pat Mitchamore this is the next book I am reading. Stay tuned!

Kabul 24 Review

2009-10-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Kabul 24 by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson, is an enthralling true story. Eight Christian aid workers and sixteen Afghan workers are seized by the Taliban shortly before Sept. 11, 2001. Thrown in the most horrible, filthy conditions, the eight rely on their intense faith in God to comfort them through many harrowing experiences. Never knowing when they may be moved to another prison, isolated from outside news, an Afghan angel appears in a human form and tries to improve their captivity. Georg, the leader of the aid workers, angonizes over his friends, the sixteen Afghan prisoners, and prays they are freed and no one dies.The story revealed the insanity of the Taliban and their strange belief in Sharia law. Women are so minimized as to be shadows in a burka, and any form of dissent is cause for a trip to the Vice and Virtues prison for rehabilitation. I found the Taliban's attitudes totally frightening and could not imagine ever living under such restrictive conditions. Our political leaders, especially our president, should read this story and then make their decision about sending in more troops to finally defeat the despicable Taliban regime.

"In accordance with the FTC regulations, I inform you that I received a copy of this directly from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for review purposes. I review only books I have read, and only state my honest opinion of the book.”

Kabul 24

2009-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

This is the next book I am reading from Thomas Nelson. The title is Kabul 24 and it is the story of a Taliban kidnapping by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson. It looks rather chiling but well worth a read. I will let you know what happens!

Five Words

2009-09-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Terra over at Terragarden.blogspot.com shared a game where you get five words from her and I respond to the words. Here I go:
why? Why is there such turmoil between nations? Why do people let their dogs bark ?Why are there so many public service ads on the radio!
cottage: My home is a cottage and place of refreshing refuge where I renew myself.The floors slope and the doors creak but there is a contented, warmth in my cottage.
cat: Living with cats means trying to see life from their vantage point. Get down on the floor or climb up on the fence whatever it takes to see their point of view. My cats are sparring lately.BlackJack tries to eat Diamond's food and Keiko the neighbor's cat tries to eat Diamond's food.I stand between them so she has a full belly. They are bad boys.Tankene Ice Mist has manners and eats his food but Mr. Chub has to be put in a separate room so he won't gorge. Princess Sinatra is a dainty eater.I guess I am thinking about feeding my cats today!
popcorn: memories of sitting in the dark, rocking in the loge seats at the Garden Theater in Willow Glen with the butter dripping on your hands as you scoop up more yummy popcorn.I see a cowboy movie on the screen and notice the high velvet drapes on either side of the screen.This was a fancy place to go on a Saturday afternoon and so much fun.
rain: pitter on the roof starting like a twinkle, growing, booming thunder and snapping branches, earth moist and smelling sweet. I love the first rains and the wild rains of the mountains.The redwoods flourish all around my cottage because of the rain.

Let Go by Sheila Walsh

2009-09-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading " Let Go live free of the burdens all women know" - by Sheila Walsh and published by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I would recommend this book if you are feeling burdened by the bad news that is hammered our way daily about the world. According to Sheila our vision is clouded by the heaviness of the past and the stress of the present. She advises learning to let go of these worries and let God prove his love by trusting in his goodness. Sheila wants women to feel free on their faith journey and walk proudly knowing we are all God's creations. If someone worries about their physical looks she suggests "letting go of what we wish was true and learning to accept what is true." There are many examples from Sheila's life that serve to illustrate her message and show God's hand in how things turn out. She offers spiritual quotes from the bible at the beginning of the chapters and probing questions to help women critically think about their decisions. Part self help and part spiritual this if a good read for all people but especially women.

The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee: Daring Little Darla#links

2009-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee: Daring Little Darla#links

THese are the cutest kittens besides my own.

Aug. Flowers

2009-08-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here it is the end of August and I wanted to share my gardening highlights. We planted Sunflowers from seeds and they are towering at ten feet. Some face the morning sun and others the west depending where they are located in the garden. The "Touch-Me-Nots" Impatiens Balsamii have performed like troopers. Our Hummingbirds visit the flowers every morning and evening. The Morning Glory seeds from last year that I replanted this Spring are doing great. I have tried many varieties but this is the best one to germinate and grow so lushly. I think its a Mixed Giants but I have to check. My purple Dahlia is blooming and all the Coleus are very showy. I have made up some tasty Spagetti Sauce with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, onions, parsley, assorted meats, and olive oil. Yum!.

Prayer Power Blog Tour

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

About the Book:

In the crazy world around us, our prayers may too often seem ineffective. Do you want to connect with God when you pray and receive more direct answers? PRAYER POWER is the tool you need to build a more powerful and dynamic life of prayer.

Intensely practical and straightforward, PRAYER POWER helps you improve on thirty essential facets of prayer such as passion, routine, fasting, praying with others, listening to God, handling distractions, and spiritual warfare. In each brief chapter you'll be inspired by stories of people whose lives of prayer give us powerful examples.

PRAYER POWER can be used as a month-long devotional, a prayer guide, or a reference for help in specific areas. Whether you're a new believer or think you've heard it all, this book's refreshing and honest insight will guide you to a deeper connection with God.

About the Author:

Peter Lundell, a former missionary to Japan, is a pastor at Walnut Blessing Church in Walnut, California. He has an MDiv and DMiss from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the founder of the Walnut Valley Pastors' Prayer Network. Lundell is the author of two books, and his articles have appeared in magazines such as Guideposts and Pray!

Interview Questions

1. Many Christians don't talk about hardships with prayer. Why do you open up about the struggles you have had drawing close to God in prayer?

My first draft of the book read like an instruction manual of all the things you ought to do to be spiritual like me. I realized that the more spiritual I tried to sound, the less honest I was being. I was hiding behind my words. No reader should have to put up with all that. And besides, it was boring.

So I determined to be totally honest. I rewrote the book and openly shared my doubts, struggles, and failures, because everybody goes through the same things. And if I’m not honest with readers, how can I expect readers to be honest with others or even themselves?

I take sort of an “I mess up and you mess up, but God loves us anyway, so let’s connect with him” approach. Readers often tell me how much they identify with that. And when they read about how God still worked amazing things in my life and in others’, it gives them hope.

I’ve discovered two things: First, honesty is liberating, and I don’t want to live any other way. Second, when we stick with prayer and don’t give up, answers and victories rise from our struggles. Answers and victory never rise from pretending.

I hope to connect with readers so that they’ll in turn connect with me and the victories I’ve experienced—so that they will experience their own victories.

2. What are some of the things God has taught you about prayer over the years - especially from the perspective of your leadership roles?

It’s good to listen before I talk. If I always dive into prayer and never spend time listening, I only dump my own “give-me list” on God. But his word says in 1 John 5:14–15 that when I seek and pray according to his will, my prayer will be answered. So the key is to first get in sync with God.

We’ve got to have a hunger, or thirst, for God. Without hunger, no program or technique or anything we learn will go anywhere. But with hunger for God, we could know almost nothing and still have a great prayer life. Hunger is singularly important—which is why it’s the first chapter.

When I pray with faith and don’t get what I ask for, God will soon show me why. There is always something to learn in unanswered prayer.

3. What do you mean by "praying boldly" and how can Christians learn to do that?

Praying boldly is the opposite of excessively polite prayer and of—I’ll just say it—wimpy prayer. Praying boldly is praying without intimidation, not caring what other people think, expressing ourselves to God without concern for being appropriate or religiously correct but rather with a passion from our guts that pours out, unashamedly. Bold prayer is not arrogant. It’s humble and faithful, because of its self-abandoned focus on God and expectation of what God will do.

People often assume they must be polite or solemn before God. Nowhere does the Bible teach this. Two thirds of the Psalms are complaints, and they are not polite. Most prayers in both Old and New Testaments are bold, expectant, and to the point. When Jesus teaches on prayer in Luke 11:5–10, he talks about an obnoxious guy who bangs on his friend’s door at midnight. Then he says we should bug him the same way by continually asking, seeking, and knocking. I often wonder if God gets tired of diplomatic prayers. Why else would he actually tell us to be bold and persistent—and use examples that, if we were on the receiving end, most of us would say are obnoxious.

There’s no real method to doing this. It’s a mindset that chooses to free itself from previous assumptions and uses the Bible as a model of how to pray.

4. How can we practice the presence of God and include him in everyday tasks?

Practicing the presence of God primarily has to do with developing an attitude, a continual awareness that God is always with us, and that in turn, we always incline our attention toward him.

The first thing most of us need to do is to slow down or cut unnecessary activities from our calendar. Busyness is an enemy to practicing the presence of God. Jesus repeatedly blew off other people’s agendas for him and continually focused on his purpose for being here. Pastors who do the same are always happier, closer to God, and more effective. And when we practice the presence of God, we increase our ability to be intimate with him when times do get busy.

Here are some practices that may help develop that attitude: My last thought before I sleep and my first thought when I wake up is centered on God. When I get mad or stressed, I try to see things from God’s perspective. When I am waiting for someone, I use that time to pray. I do menial tasks with an awareness and love of God. I often have a praise song on my mind as I go through the day.

5. You're a proponent for creating a place of prayer and establishing a time of prayer. Why are these important elements for prayer?

These two disciplines are the most important external helps for maintaining a strong prayer life. Without them, our good intentions eventually drown under the assaults of busyness and distractions.

A place of prayer helps us concentrate in the face of distractions. That place could be the church sanctuary, an empty room in the house, a spot in the back yard, or even a rug laid out on the floor, on which the only thing we do is pray. The physical surroundings of a location devoted to prayer tell our brains, “Focus on God.” And if we ever feel bored or in a rut of over-familiarity with a place, a change of location can be stimulating.

Establishing a set prayer time engrains a habit of prayer into our minds, such that if we miss it, we feel anxious because something is missing or wrong—and it is! A set prayer time is not to force ourselves to pray as much as to create a boundary of protection from busyness. That boundary of time is like a protective fence around a garden, where we give ourselves freedom from intrusions to spend unhindered time with God. Preferably we’ll do this as early as possible in the morning, so we can lay the whole day before the Lord. And unlike a prayer place, I have never found benefit in changing my prayer time, so I highly recommend keeping it sacred, especially if we’re travelling or really busy. Whether short or long, this protective fence of a set time must be intentional, because no one else can do it for us.

6. What advice would you give to people who struggle with God when they pray?

True men and women of prayer will sometimes struggle in prayer, as did many figures in the Bible, like Jacob’s symbolic wrestling with the angel and Jesus’ wrestling over his fate in Gethsemane.

Like anyone else, I struggle with unanswered prayer or major decisions to do something by faith, when tragedy strikes, problems of injustice, and healings that take a lot longer than I’d like. The key is to keep struggling—don’t give up and too quickly assume something is God’s will before you know for sure. The angel commended Jacob for not giving up until he got a blessing. God the Father actually sent an angel to help Jesus wrestle in Gethsemane. Sometimes wrestling in prayer is God’s will for us.

Wrestling in prayer is actually a good thing. It draws us closer to God. And it changes us in the process. And that’s what most of us hope for!

Author Peter Lundell

Bonus Material

Top Ten Reasons Prayer Doesn't Get Answered

Lack of faith --A much-abused idea, but essentially still true.

Effects of sin separating us from God --The Bible says that God sometimes won't listen when we wallow in sin.

Unforgiveness / Emotional wounds / Self-pity --A weird dynamic, but scary in how powerful these emotions are.

Unhealthy lifestyle in disagreement with prayer --Don't pray to lose weight, then eat donuts.

Demonic affliction --Satan and his demons are deceptive and merciless.

Strongholds in the mind --People allow attitudes and beliefs to block out the truth.

God's working behind the scenes --Sometimes God is in a process of answering before we can see it.

God's chastisement --Sometimes people bring punishment upon themselves, and it's for their ultimate good.

God's classroom of testing and faith building --The way God answers prayer may test you and build your faith.

Old age or time to die --Sometimes it's our time to go!

GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE INCLUDES:

(leave a comment for an opportunity to win this great package)

Prayer Power by Peter Lundell

When God Turned off the Lights by Cecil Murphey (Cec is one of Peter's mentors)

Committed but Flawed by Cecil Murphey

Also includes: Prayer Journal, Pen, and Candle

Free Books Aug. 20th

2009-08-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

Want a chance to win free books?
GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE INCLUDES:

(leave a comment for an opportunity to win this great package)

Prayer Power by Peter Lundell

When God Turned off the Lights by Cecil Murphey (Cec is one of Peter's mentors)

Committed but Flawed by Cecil Murphey

Also includes: Prayer Journal, Pen, and Candle

Check out the "Power through Prayer" blog tour Aug. 2Oth.on this blog:
designsnatural.blogspot.com

hosted by Sparkles.

Update from Tankene

2009-08-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Five days with grumpy Popa and MaaMaa- finally returned from her vacation.I felt like it was a miracle but I turned up my nose and didn't purr for a full hour. She did bring me special treats and I warmed up to her after lots of cuddling. Why I even regally sat on her shoulder as she walked through the house. I really am a special big. snowy, white furbaby to Mama.
Love, Tankene ice Mist.
p.s. Popa got me 5 free Peacock feathers from the nice lady in town and I only tore apart three so far. What a life I live as a Norwegian Forest Cat. How 's life going for you?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28)

2009-08-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the next book I'm reviewing:
Let go and live free.
Sound impossible? Sheila Walsh thought so – until God proved himself again and again through his Word, his people, and her life.

In Let Go, the bestselling author and speaker walks readers through the journey to freedom in Christ. Along the way, she tackles some of the toughest struggles that weigh women down, answering them with overwhelming truth, promise, and hope.

You can lay down your burdens. You can rest. You can find peace. You can live free.

Start here. Let Go. And see what God can do.

Between Wyomings My God and the iPod on the Open Road

2009-08-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thomas Nelson Publishers' book " Between Wyomings " is a story written by Ken Mansfield. Ken takes us on a journey in the way back machine to the tumultuous 60's. Ken was a music producer who worked for Capital Records in its heyday. He worked with the Beatles, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and many other well known bands. The LA, London and Nashville music scenes are the backdrop for Ken's musings about his past life. He sets off on a spiritual journey with his wife and an old Volkswagon bus named Moses to discover his way back home to Jesus. His music stories are honest and capture the essence of the crazy 60's. Interwoven between are Ken's thoughtful insights into his relationship with God. After a journey through his past, Ken comes to the realization the : The first step in forgiveness is to forgive ourselves" and "the good thing about our past is that it has passed." His humble acceptance of God's power are encouraging to us Christians who struggle to find the answers along our faith journeys. A good read.

Peter Lundell Blog Tour- Free Books

2009-08-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

Power through Prayer
I will host the Peter Lundell Blog Tour Aug. 20 . His book is " Power Through Prayer" aand if at least five people leave a comment on Aug. 20th, one lucky person will be entered into a drawing for free books. Just leave a comment however short!

Glorious Coleus

2009-07-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

This morning our favorite hummingbird was humming around all the brightly colored Coleus that I planted this week. Mr. Chub was totally oblivious but The Princess and Tankene loved the hummingbird.

Tankene

2009-07-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Tankene Ice Mist on June 24th. What a beautiful purbaby I am. I call for my Mom like this: " Ma-a-a-ah" and she comes running and answers me with her own reply. I have been chasing Princess Sinatra hoping she'll be my girl but she is a " princess" and refuses my loving gestures. I just met another NFC who lives in Germany who is just beautiful. Hello to Siena Snowfox-you are so foxy! Hope we can be friends.Keep thoses purprints coming. Signed, Tankene Ice Mist

Hummingbird Gardens

2009-07-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

some ideas for plants for a hummingbird garden:

Bee Balm, Butterfly Weed, Cosmos, Fuchsia, Columbine, Hollyhock, Foxglove, Geranium, Coral Bells, Foxglove, Safe, Speedwell, Verbena, Cardinal Flower, Dahlia, Delphinium, Flame Acanthus, Lupine, Monkey Flower, Penstemon, Red Hot Poker, Scarlet Sage, and Jewel Weed.

Mountain Garland, Four O'Clocks, Impatiens, Nicotiana, Nasturtium, Petunia, Spider Flower and Zinnia.

Tuberous Begonia, Iris, Canna, or Montbretia.

Hawk Sighting

2009-06-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

While walking today, I heard a raucous squawking and gazed up a dense Redwood tree. Two small birds were the cause of all the noise and I searched for a bird nest. The noise continued and I stopped and looked over by a small water feature. Sure enough there was a magificent Hawk. He or she was eyeing the noisy birds and upon seeing me gracefully swooped off for greener pastures. What a rare treat to see this bird so closeup! Magical moments like these are one of life's blessings.

The Wackiest Wildest Weirdest Animals in the World

2009-06-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading another great book from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The Wackiest Wildest Weirdest Animals in the World by Jack Hanna is just perfect for youngsters ages 3-7. Talk about some weird animals!Have you ever seen a Binturong? Don't take this little fella to the movies because he smells just like popcorn. He's a cross in looks between a cat and a bear and is called the Bearcat.Children will be astonished by the "facts" about these wacky creatures. Included with each animal is "What they eat, Where they live, and How big they get." Wonderful photographs capture the only beautiful-to-their-mother Naked Mole Rats. Now here's an unusual weird fact. These mole rats are eusocial. Here's a new word for me that means " each individual is set to perform a certain function-breeder, soldier, worker - for its entire life." Reminds me of bumblebees and ants but these are the only mammals with this characteristic. This is a fun book to read and share with your kids or grandkids. A DVD is also included with Jack Hanna's Blunders, Bloopers, and Behind the scenes.I plan on giving this book to my grandson for his birthday.

Birthday Blessings

2009-06-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

My birthday falls in June along with my husband, two daughters, grandson, sister and Tankene, my new kitty. It is a crazy month. The first part of the month began like this: my dear friends suprised me with gifts on my desk at work, a yummy lunch, more gifts, and my family had a surprise party Friday evening. Here's a note I wrote my friend explaining some of the details:
Good afternoon Sunshine, It sure was great to share some laughs and food last Friday! Many thanks for the dazzling blue pottery and the pink forget-me-nots, so -exquisite- I planted my reluctant-to-bloom, Christmas Cactus in my new pot with lots of rich soil. Did anyone hear my 911 message I sent out over the windwaves on Sat.? "Help Sunshine- I am working too hard in my garden." I over worked my hands and back and ended on a heating pad Sunday evening-ahh--as for the "surprise " party on Friday evening, Trace cleaned the house and made delicious chicken, my girls decorated the house, complete with balloons, butterflies, and sparkles. Blake blew up balloons and put sparkles in some mystery balloons- I had to "guess" which balloons had the sparkles inside, stomp on the balloon and collect the sparkles. Blake ended up throwing sparkles into my garden-- so one morning I may see a little flash of light and "Voila" a tiny sparkle will light my way! My winner's prize was a corn plant! What a blessing to have such loving friends and family! I really had a Happy Birthday.

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His Name is Jesus by Max Lucado

2009-05-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

His Name is Jesus The Promise of God's Love Fulfilled arrived in a lush brown box-like packaging with the cover picture on the top. This was such a lovely way to present this book because the packaging emphasized the importance of this treasure.What a great gift for someone's birthday or graduation. Thomas Nelson publishers' religious books have such stunning photographs. Each section begins with an announcement about the following pages: as an example : " His Birth- Jesus ...he could hold the universe in his palm but gave it up to float in the womb of a maiden." This is an opportunity to compare and contrast the biblical Jesus,God's son, with the human person of Jesus of Nazareth living his life with Joseph and Mary. Jesus is presented as another person who was much like you or me. He felt emotions, loved, and knew despair.Imagine what Jesus thought about when he left Nazareth and gave up his life as a wood worker. Max Lucado said in this story that "Jesus entered the Jordan River a carpenter and exited a Messiah." How powerful to think about how he gave up his life so that we had the promise of eternal life! Another wonderful story that should be placed prominently on the coffee table for all to enjoy.

Crickets

2009-05-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Blake spent most of the Memorial Day Weekend with Nona and Popo. They were a bit hesitant to tell him "Mousey" had died but according to Blake, " Mousey was just sleeping". Popo said " Blake, Mousey is dead. Do you want to feel him?" Blake told his Popo " Yes" and to his dismay, Blake discovered Mousey was indeed stiff but insisted Mousey was asleep. Some time later, Thursday evening, Popo and Blake buried Mousey in the soil around the Hebe bush near Sly.
Friday Popo took Blake to the pet store and asked Blake if he wanted another mouse. Blake replied " No, Popo I want some crickets!" Popo paid 9 cents apiece and bought 6 crickets for Blake. Blake, Nona and Popo enjoyed the cricket's song all day and night.Tankene, the big white cat, couldn't understand what happened to his sweet " Mousey." He really missed him but was fascianted by the hopping crickets. The crickets were the size of a quarter and jumped all over the cage. Blake scrunched his face up to the cage and imagined that the crickets could turn Mousey's wheel.
Sunday morning Blake's Moma and Daddy arrived early, gathered up all of Blake's clothes and took Blake back home. Nona and Popo decided to listen to the crickets lovely chirping song one more night because it reminded them of the sounds of summer campouts when they were young. Monday evening the crickets were still singing. Nona set the crickets free out by the compost pile and cleaned out Mousey's cage. What adventures Nona and Popo have with Blake!

Mousey

2009-05-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

A picture of Sly at 6 months old.

Our sweet little Mousey passed away last night. Blake and Nona looked inside the cage and Mousey was "sleeping". At least that's what Blake thought. Trace and Blake buried Mousey last night by the light of the moon near our beloved "Sly's" grave. How ironic for a black kitten and a tiny white mouse to spend eternity together! We all felt very sad about Mouse's death because he was such a playful little guy.Tankene had finally quit harrassing Mousey. Now we have an empty cage and a little sad place in our hearts. We said a little prayer for our Mousey and hope he is with Sly and Jesus.

Blueberrries:nature's super fruit!

2009-05-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Blueberries come in many varieties but we settled on the 'SharpBlue' and O'Neal because they are supposed to be delicious and easy to grow. The botanical name is ' Vaccinium corymbosum ' and they are a nutrious addition to the garden. One of my gardening friends said to plant them with peat moss on the bottom of the hole and some orchid bark on the top of the surface so I'll have to give that a try!

The Grogood Pledge

2009-05-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sadly there are many hungry people in our abundant land. How about helping out in a small way to alleviate this problem. Go to www.groGood.com and pledge that you will plant an extra row or so of edibles this gardening season. Donate the edibles grown with love to your local food bank and help stamp out starvation.Think of the joy you will feel helping others.What a blessing to try in a small way to fufill Jesus's promise to love one another!

His Name is Jesus

2009-05-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

His Name is Jesus
The Promise of God's Love Fulfilled
By Max Lucado

I am excited that this book is on its way and I will be reading it soon.

Read and share DVD Bible

2009-05-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

I finally had a chance to review the Read and Share DVD Bible from Thomas Nelson. Here are 13 stories from the Bible told in a gentle and loving way by the various narrators. The background music is so soothing that I found myself nodding off a bit but that's probably because it was Sunday afternoon. Children from babies up to about five years old will enjoy hearing the stories from the Old and New Testament. The stories are told in such a way that children will probably understand scripture better than some adults. I especially like the Story of Noah with all the animals of the world pairing up two by two for the voyage of forty days and nights. I got a sense of the enormous task poor old Noah took on to please God.I also like "Mary's Big Surprise" about when the angel came down to give her the news she was going to be pregnant with the son of God. What a dilemma! How would she say yes to God and explain the news to her husband to be, Joseph? Good thing Joseph also got a visit from an angel or he might have been an real angry man. I am looking forward to sharing this DVD with my grandson and would heartily recommend it to parents and grandparents of young children.

Just what every home needs: a white mouse!

2009-04-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Blake came to spend the night with his Nona and Popo. Every visit was special and seemed to end up with some wonderful adventure. Blake loved lizards and Popo told him a lizard was hiding under a planter box. Blake and Nona lifted up the box and the lizard scampered off. Blake continued to search, telling Nona "Come on Nona, let's find that lizard!" The lizard hid in some brown leaves but Blake caught him barehanded. Nona had never seen the beautiful Blue-Belly lizard. the lizard was fairly small and had a gorgeous set of blue stripes on his belly.
Oh boy that was all Blake talked about for the rest of the day. Nona, Popo and Blake put the lizard in an empty 50 gallon aquarium.The sun was warm and all three sat on the patio and "watched" the lizard. Blake rubbed the lizard's tummy. " Nona I rubbed his tummy because it helped the lizard sleep." Around 5:00 the weather turned cool, everyone went inside the house but Blake checked on the lizard until nightfall.First thing Sunday morning, Blake ran upstairs to see the lizard. It was still in the aquarium. He really wanted to take it home but his Mom and Dad said "no". Sunday,after Blake went home, Nona and Popo drove to the pet store to buy the lizard some food. Popo returned with crickets and a paper bag. Nona said " What is in the bag?" Something was something trying to get out of the bag. It was a white mouse.Popo said the mouse was oblivous to the fact he was food for a Python. All his other mouse friends were huddled together frightened but this little mouse was happily playing away. Once they got home, Popo set the lizard free and put the white mouse outdoors in the aquarium. Trouble was the temperature dropped to 40 degrees overnight and Nona was afraid the mouse would die from the cold. So Nona and Popo bought a fancy cage with a wheel and a condo that looks like a spaceship for the mouse, food, bedding and spent $62.00 for a $2.00 white mouse with pink eyes. Tuesday morning, the indoor cats could not believe their eyes...... There was a tiny mouse playing on his mouse wheel in a colorful cage on top of the microwave.The Norwegian Forest cat,Tankene, jumped up and opened the microwave door trying to get to the mouse. Sinatra and Mr. Chubs proweled the kitchen. Since Popo was still asleep, Nona put the the cage in the bar and shut the door. What will happen next?

Earth Day

2009-04-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is on April 22 and my dear friend is graduating from work to play. How joyful to have more time. Enjoying family, friends, and pets, gardening, creating, writing, and helping others are just some of the blessings of taking off the yoke of daily work and putting on the welcoming cloak of play.Congratulations!

Arbor Day and the Dogwood

2009-04-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Arbor Day is April 24th this year and what a great time to plant a dream tree from your garden wishes list. There are a few I would love but number one is a Dogwood. These trees are dressed up with elegant pink or white blooms covering the entire tree. In front of St. Michael's Parish in Boulder Creek is an amazing Dogwood that blooms with both colors and seems to be in bloom right around Easter time.
According to Wikipedia, "there is a Christian legend of unknown origin that proclaims that the cross used to crucify Jesus was constructed of dogwood. As the story goes, during the time of Jesus, the dogwood was larger and stronger than it is today and was the largest tree in the area of Jerusalem. After his crucifixion, Jesus changed the plant to its current form: he shortened it and twisted its branches to assure an end to its use for the construction of crosses. He also transformed its inflorescence into a representation of the crucifixion itself, with the four white bracts cross-shaped, which represent the four corners of the cross, each bearing a rusty indentation as of a nail and the red stamens of the flower, represents Jesus' crown of thorns, and the clustered red fruit represent his blood ."

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The ancient Druids honored a wee small green plant called a Seamroy because it had three distinct, green trefoil-like leaves representing a triad. The pagans also thought of this plant as a harbinger of spring. Later St. Patrick of Ireland called it a Shamrock and said that the leaves represented the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.He used it while preaching to show the pagans the Triundum of God. Whatever you call this plant, I found one today and it is actually an Oxallis much like the pretty yellow ones that dot the Santa Cruz fields. My Shamrock plant is very green with white flowers and will be the centerpiece of my St. Patrick's Day dinner. Do you plan anything special for St. Patrick's Day?

Children's Bible DVD

2009-03-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

Read and Share DVD - Volume 1
DVD
By Gwen Ellis
Share the joy and wonder of God's Word with the children in your life.

Thirteen essential lessons of scripture starring the Bible's best-known characters. The Read And Share™ Bible on DVD combines an enchanting art style with a warm narrator and gentle musical underscore to transport kids back to Biblical times. The bite-size vignettes are perfect for the attention span of little ones, and give parents maximum flexibility to fit any time-frame.

Stories include: The Beginning, Adam & Eve, The Flood, Abram, Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob & Esau, Rachel, Jacob & God, John the Baptist, Jesus is Born, Jesus is Tempted, Jesus Love Children, and One Lost Sheep.

Additional Information
Check for Amazon.com Reviews
Check for Reviews on GoodReads.com
Other Books by Gwen Ellis

The Great Eight

2009-03-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "The Great Eight" written by Scott Hamilton with Ken Baker. Most people know that Scott won Olympic Gold in 1984 at Sarajevo for his figure skating.His amazing agility and focus captured the hearts of most Americans. Later he skated as an entertainer in the Stars on Ice tour and accumulated wealth and fame. In this story, Scott shared his personal struggles as a young boy sickly and isolated and how skating opened up the door to opportunities most people never experience. Finding happiness was another thing. Scott struggled with prostate and brain cancer, many life disappointments, and the deaths of loved ones. He developed eight secrets to happiness that shaped his life and lead to him becoming a Christian. Scott discovered that fighting against God's plan was useless and that making the decision to change was a challenge. One of Scott's secrets was to "keep the ice clear". This meant keeping the lines of communication open so others were aware of his needs. Always afraid to confront an issue, Scott allowed anger to fester instead of sharing his thoughts with others. Once he broke through this barrier, his relationships became richer. Scott found that being authentic meant any misunderstandings were avoided because of the free flow of information in his interactios with people. This book was a good read and I appreciated Scott's ideas for achieving happiness. His approach was easy to understand and offered insight into the life of a sport's celebrity on a life long faith journey.

Snow Peas Germinated

2009-03-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Great gardening news. The snow peas planted LAST MONTH germinated and poked their heads throught the soil on Sat. Feb. 28th. I was afraid they had drowned with the over 17 inches of rain that fell during Feb. Looking forward to see how this cultivar grows. Have you planted any seed yet?

Feb. Dream Gardens

2009-02-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

My dear gardening friend, Sunshine, and I picked our dream plants today over coffee. They are Forsythia, Lilacs in pink, purple, and white, the Snowball Bush, and lots of Wysteria draping through the lath house. These are all plants that remind us of our youth and other gardens in long ago time. Aye we were a wee bit wistful for those days of yore and the special people who tended our dream gardens so lovingly. Jesus thanks for all the flowers you let us enjoy. I forgot to add cherry trees to the dream garden.The cherry buds are almost ready to burst into bloom - so enjoy this picture of last year's glory and the blessings of the flowers of Spring.

Norwegian Forest Kittens

2009-02-09T15:26:00.001-08:00

Our gorgeous, black, feral kitten Sly died last Oct. from Lymphoma. What a terrible disease!Our house seemed so quiet without Sly.Crazy as it seemed we decided we needed another kitten to brighten up our home. Trace insisted on a Norwegian Forest cat since he thought Sly exhibited some of the characteristics of this unique cat breed.
I searched the Web looking for Norwegian Forest kittens and found the perfect kitten. He was called Vishnu and he lived far away but his lovely gold eyes spoke to me. The Sangha Cattery in Hermosa Beach specialized in white Norwegian Forest kittens and this 4 month old was up for sale. I never intended buying a kitten since all of my cats were rescue kittens but his golden eyes and pink ears endeared him to me from the start.After some haggling and emails back and forth, his "mama" Melissa agreed to deliver him to my home the following weekend. Vishnu quietly slept in her lap driving from the LA area, refusing to sleep in the cat carrier.When I saw the SUV pull down the driveway, I excitedly ran out to the car. Vishnu stared up at me with those golden eyes and that was it!What a sweet boy! He was so fluffy and white! So now we are the proud owners of Tankene Ice Mist, a registered NFC.
What a personality! Some of his games are chasing Sinatra, our Tuxedo cat,attacking Mr. Chub, our Ginger Tabby, or chasing his tail for five mintes after his bath. Yes these kittens like water. He has "fallen" in the bath two or three times. Last week end he actually took a bath with Trace. Good thing he likes baths because with all the white hair he needs one. So here's pictures of Sly and Tankene Ice Mist.All of my cats have been blessings and brought me so much joy. Does your cat like water too?

The Great Eight

2009-02-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

The next book I will be reviewing is The Great Eight by Scott Hamilton, the Olympic skating champion. It sounds fascinating so I will update you once I receive it in the mail.

"Think and Make It Happen"

2009-02-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

Dr. Augusto Cury, a famous psychiatrist, writes about his "breakthrough program for conquering anxiety, overcoming negative thoughts, and discovering your true potential." There have been many books written on this subject but Dr. Cury offers a unique approach. He believes that Jesus Christ is the perfect example of someone who "thinks correctly." Someone who has learned to "think correctly" takes charge of their life, experiences emotions,and doesn't allow anything to get in the way of who they are. Jesus allows nothing to interfere with his course in life. Whether suffering or facing difficulties, Jesus models correct thinking.When faced with the poor, afflicted or downtrodden members of society he embraces them always seeing the hidden treasure in their hearts. One example is found in the Gospel of St John. An adulterous woman is brought before Jesus and the elders ask Jesus what should be done. Typically adultery was a crime punishable by stoning to death but Jesus couldn't possibly do that because it would go completely against his belief in forgiveness. Faced with a dilemma that seemed unresolvable, Jesus did something unusual: he was silent.His silence allowed him to gather his wits and disarms his critics. After writing some words in the sand, he said: "If any one of you is without sin,let him be the first to throw the stone at her." Jesus invited his accusers to participate in the drama and remained true to his message. He took charge of the situation by "disarming [his] aggressors with the unexpected." I really enjoyed reading this book and appreciated Dr. Cury's insight into how we can learn a new way of thinking that will allow us to be free of anxiety and live our lives joyously like Jesus.

Bareroot Planting

2009-01-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was unusually warm for January. The thermometer registered about 68 in the sun.The sky was a cerulean blue and my hands started itching to plant something in the moist earth. "How about we get a bareroot peach I asked my husband?" Trouble is we would have to travel about ten miles to get to the nearest garden center and neither of us was into driving. After all it was Saturday and we were feeling lazy. Trace had an idea! "I'll call Richard in San Jose and ask him to pick up a bareroot peach for us at Home Depot." Richard answered the phone from Starbucks and said he'd take a look for us. The next thing I know, Richard had bought us a tree and a bag of good manure and driven all the way up to the mountains to deliver it to us! What a guy. He refused to take any money and all we could do was marvel at his kindness. Now that's a good friend with a great heart. The bareroot peach is called a "Red Haven Peach" It should have medium sized fruit and is considered one of the best tasting peaches. We planted it Sunday and I can see it from my bedroom. It should be very lovely when it's larger and in bloom.I discovered a cool website: Trees of Antiquity that sells heirloom trees and berries.

Nature's Treasures

2009-01-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

We took a nature walk with Blake and found lots of treasures.
Here we are starting on the walk.
Here's Popo and Blake looking for wild animals.
A beautiful mushroom.

January is a great time to take a nature walk.

Angels and Dreams

2008-12-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the scripture " The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream" from Matthew 1:20? Dreams can be powerful conduits for God's voice. So often we forget them and lose a powerful insight to ourselves and spiritual lives. Keeping a dream journal is a lovely way to keep track of our dreams. Later I like to reflect on the meanings...some literal, but often very symbolic. Start the new year with a journal and record your dreams. Notice when God speaks to you. Here's to 2009!

Global Warming

2008-12-12T14:40:00.001-08:00

Picture courtesy of:
From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press.
In 1985 a geological team discovered an ancient fossil forest. The trees were from the Eocene period about 45 million years ago.The large mummified stumps were discovered to be the Dawn Redwood (Metasequioa glyptostroboides) a tree now only found naturally in China.Scientists estimated the climate was sub-tropical somewhat like Florida today. On a nearby island they found the fossilized remains of alligators and rodents. The climate was much warmer 45 million years ago in the Arctic Archipelago and leads me to wonder? Have we caused the climate to change by our actions here on earth, are we in a warming cycle that occurs naturally, and why not call this Climate Change instead of the ominous Global Warming. What do you think about this issue? Is global warming a climate change that occurs naturally in the big picture of our earth's evolution. What do you think?

Advent Wreath and our special blessing- Tankene the Norwegian Forest kitten

2008-12-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

Advent wreaths are easy to make and a great way to celebrate this spiritual season. Gather some evergreens or other native plants common in your area and shape them in a circle. Place the candles around the wreath, evenly distributed. There should be three purple and one rose. The first Sunday of Lent, light one of the purple candles.This is to symbolize prayer and penance and remind us to prepare for the coming of Christ. On the second Sunday, light another purple candle and reflect on the hope Christians find in Jesus. The third Sunday, light the rose candle and rejoice that our savoir's birth is near. I think of this as the candle symbolizing the joy we find in Christ. Another purple candle is lit on the last Sunday of Advent reminding us that Jesus is King. On Christmas Eve, a white candle is set in the center of the wreath to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world! Merry Christmas.
Our home is again filled with a special light with the new addition of Tankene Ice Mist- our new Norwegian Forest kitten. Mr.Chub already is his best friend and the Princess Sinatra is hissing less and less. More about him next post.

Advent Season

2008-12-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Advent
tt=80
(Latin ad-venio, to come to).
From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
According to present [1907] usage, Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays. The first Sunday may be as early as 27 November, and then Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late as 3 December, giving the season only twenty-one days.
With Advent the ecclesiastical year begins in the Western churches. During this time the faithful are admonished to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.

Next Book I will be reading is:

2008-11-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

Think and Make It Happen
The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Overcoming Negative Thoughts, and Discovering Your True Potential
Jacketed Hardcover
By Dr. Augusto Cury
Take control of your past, your memory, your emotions, your life!

While in medical school, Dr. Augusto Cury became fascinated with the impact a healthy mind can have on emotions and life. After many years of research and founding The Intelligence Institute, he concluded:

Every person is a genius because everyone has the power to think.
Harnessing "mind power" has been scientifically proven to enhance a person's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
The human act of thinking is the greatest wonder of the universe.
In Think, and Make It Happen, Dr. Cury unveils the multifocal intelligence process showing readers how to master their emotions, stress, thoughts, and relationships, as well as how to become creative thinkers and revolutionary leaders. Complete with a 12-week program, participants will learn to apply the universal laws for quality of life to their own lives: authorship, beauty, creativity, sleep, thoughts, emotions, memory, listening, dialogue, drive, and spirituality and celebration and start experiencing the life they desire.

Reflections of God's Holy Land- Book Review

2008-11-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have the honor of reviewing a special book titled "Reflections of God's Holy Land" written by two women, Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feingold Vamosh. Eva is a Christian and Miriam follows the Jewish religion. They both bring a unique perspective to this lovely book published by Thomas Nelson.I discovered the book to be an inspiring faith based trek up the hills and down into the deserts of the Holy Land with two incredibly, knowledgable Biblical thinkers.The depth of their faith is apparent on every page.
The book is divided into sections beginning with sacred scripture. Pictures reveal the topography, climate and geographic features of this ancient land. I appreciated the historial information found on the "Did you know?" pages and the "Reflections" pages quite insightful.Just imagine Jesus spending 40 days and nights in the desert tempted by the devil. Travel the man-made trail to the great, crumbling fortress of Masada. Marvel at the sacrifice of the early Chistians when faced down by the Romans. They literally gave up their lives for their belief in God!
Stark images of eroded hills are contrasted with hidden green meadows and palm silhouetted horizons.The photography illuminates the spiritual light of this wild land. The Reflections pages are a place to pause on this faith journey and ask ourselves how would we respond to the challenges faced by our biblical ancestors? Historical stories are masterfully interwoven with the photos.I felt the rough cobbles traveling down to the old wells and heard the tinkling waters.I marveled at the deep faith of the people of the Holy Land.I continue to seek the spiritual well to quench my thirst for God's grace much as the ladies drawing water for their loved ones did long ago. I would recommend you take this journey for yourself and buy one book for yourself and more for your loved ones. Terry Haugen

http://thomasnelson.com

Goodby Sly

2008-11-12T14:46:00.001-08:00

They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.

-- Author Unknown

Check out
Sly's Angel Story published on the following blog:
http://thenalongcameanangel.blogspot.com/

Jack O' Lanterns

2008-10-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

Aye- have you ever wondered where the tradition of carving a pumpkin came from? According to Irish mythology, there was once a greedy, cruel man named Jack who fooled the Devil twice! Stingy Jack was so cheap that he asked the Devil to turn into a sixpence and Jack would pay their bar bill. Stingy Jack pocketed the coin and placed it next to a silver crucifix. The devil couldn't change back into his original form until he agreed to leave Jack alone for the next year. So the devil agreed and left Jack alone. Stingy Jack kept up his drinking and carousing. One dark evening, the devil appeared along Stingy Jack's path and once again was fooled by his lies. " Go up in the apple tree devil and bring us a nice juicy apple" said Jack.The Devil foolishly slithered up the tree and picked some fruit. Meanwhile Stingy Jack carved a cross at the foot of the tree and the Devil was stuck! This time Jack made him promise to leave his soul alone for ten years if he wanted to get down from the tree. Well once again, the devil was forced to agree. Less than ten years passed and Jack's drunkeness caught up to him and he died a miserable death. St. Peter wouldn't let him in through the pearly gates because Stingy Jack was a miserable, cruel, worthless being beyond redemption.The devil had made the promise back at the apple tree and couldn't let Jack into Hell but he took pity on Stingy Jack and tossed him a burning ember from the depths of Hell. Turnips being plentiful in Ireland, Jack placed the hot coal inside a turnip and carved out a face. Jack was left to wander the world for the rest of eternity. When the Irish immigrated to America they found the native pumpkin and began carving " Jack O' Lanterns" to place at their front doors on all Hallow's Eve to ward off the evil spirits.As for Stingy Jack... he's a wandering spirit on his never-ending journey caught between Hell and Heaven. So now you know why we carve pumpkings on Halloween!

Halloween or All Hallow's Eve

2008-10-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a free fun site I found that is decorated for Halloween. It's http://www.catster.com/cats/56453

Falls Fiery Colors

2008-10-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

My favorite tree for Fall color is the Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum). This tree goes through a transition from the soft green of Spring to the flaming yellows and oranges of Autumn. I am blessed with four of these beauties and each one has a slightly different hue even though they are the same genus. My oldest tree is 32 years old and it lives in a custom wooden box my husband created. The largest is one I planted from a baby and now it has spread to almost reach my kitchen window. God has given us so many free blessings like these fiery colors of Fall. What is your favorite for Fall color?

Sly Update

2008-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

My pretty Sly, died peacefully last Tuesday and I have felt so grief stricken. I look for my boy at the top of the stairs, by his window, sleeping with Chubby, jumping up on my chair, scratching at my oak cabinets, and he is gone. I couldn't write. My wise husband told me to go to church Saturday and the peace and comfort of Jesus helped.Even our Priest found a special Pet Prayer. Sly is a kitty angel now. My other cats are doing a wonderful job of loving me as well as the kind wishes of friends and family. Our oncologist even sent a syympathy note.Thanks to all for your comfort. I met many lovely people on the Feline-Lymphoma Caregiver's List who are still battling this aggressive disease.Sending blessings their way and wishes for a cure for Blood Diseases like Lymphoma and Leukemia.

Falls first rain

2008-10-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the beginning of the rains here in Central California. All the plants are in need of a wee bit of water. Our last rainfall was in April so it has truly been a drought all summer. Don't forget to blow the leaves off the roof and clean out your gutters now to avoid doing this later in the season. Make a nice fire and enjoy the pitter patter on the rooftop.Thanks be to Jesus for the nourishing rain!

Oct. 4th

2008-10-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

Oct. 4th is the Feast of St. Francis ....... all over the country pets are blessed in various kinds of churches on his Feast day.. Our kitten, Sly, was blessed yesterday by our priest during Mass .A moment of silence was observed to pray for Sly. Today Sly went to the Oncologist because we think he has cancer. So say a little blessing for Sly and all the other pets we love.

Christmas Blog Blast

2008-09-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

A SCRAPBOOK OF CHRISTMAS FIRSTS

(Leafwood Publishers, October 2008)

A wonderful new gift book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, is available in October for Christmas giving. Today, I’ve invited the six coauthors to share their unique story of how they came together to publish this exciting book full of stories, recipes, tips for simplifying the holidays and so much more (click on bookcover to see the trailer!).

First, let me introduce Cathy Messecar, Leslie Wilson, Brenda Nixon, Trish Berg, Terra Hangen and Karen Robbins. Thank you for being here today, ladies.

Karen: Thank you for the invitation.

You are from three different areas of the country—Texas, California, and Ohio. How did you all meet?

Terra: We all six joined The Writers View, an online group for professional Christian writers. Trish and Brenda met in person in 2004 for lunch, I understand, and on 9/18/04, after reading a post Brenda sent to TWV, I sent an email to Brenda, asking if she would like to join with me and walk alongside each other, as a Barnabas group. Brenda said yes that same day, and suggested Trish too. Very quickly Cathy, Leslie and Karen joined in and our stalwart band of six was formed. Living in California, I was so happy to find 5 Barnabas writers in other states so we could bring together a wealth of different viewpoints and expertise

Brenda: Actually, We haven’t met. We’re all great colleagues and friends via the internet. Four years ago Terra and I formed a dyad to support each other as Christians who write in the secular markets. Along came Trish, Cathy, Karen, and Leslie (not necessarily in that order) and we formed a close knit bond of support, creative energy, and professional accountability.

Karen: I met Trish through an online forum called The Writers View and she invited me to join the group.

Trish: Although we belong to the same Yahoo writing group, we met one by one online. Eventually, the six of us decided that since we all write as Christians for a secular market through magazine articles and newspaper columns, we could support and encourage one another.

Leslie: Though we met virtually through The Writers View, I have been blessed to give and get hugs from Trish (at a MOPS conference), Cathy (in the area on business) and Karen (in town for a writers' conference). I can’t wait to meet Terra and Brenda face-to-face, though I feel as though I already know them!

How did you come up with the idea to do a book together?

Brenda: The book is Cathy’s brainchild. She mentioned the concept of telling stories of events that happened for the first time at Christmas and sharing holiday historical tidbits and recipes and each said, “If you need any help, let me know.” That offer morphed into each of us equally contributing and co-authoring A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

Trish: Yep, Cathy came up with the idea and the title, and asked us if we wanted to join her on this project. Of course, we said Yes!

Terra: Cathy mentioned the idea for a Christmas book to the group, and someone (I think it was Leslie) suggested that maybe our group could all write the book together. Cathy agreed to lead the way on the project. The earliest email I have on this is from 9/7/05, which shows that this has been a three year collaboration from idea to publication.

Karen: (Chuckling) Terra is a librarian and keeps our historical records by saving our e-mails.

Leslie: Actually, Terra, I wrote that comment (in a group e-mail) kind of tongue-in-cheek. Cathy, the ultra-sweet person she is, took my joking at face value and here we are. However, I believe God prompted the passion and ideas we all bring to the project and that He will do mighty things as a result of our collaboration!

Why did you decide on a Christmas theme?

Brenda: It was Cathy’s concept to write a book centering on Christmas.

Cathy: For several years, I’d been thinking about Christmas as a threshold to introduce Jesus to folks who aren’t familiar with him, and I love a simpler Christmas with the emphasis on family, friends and doing for others. I knew of some families who had experienced “firsts” at Christmas—reunions, losses, special surprises—and I wanted to collect those stories.

Terra: Cathy’s idea immediately resonated with me because Christmas books are “a way past watchful dragons,” as C. S. Lewis wrote. Many people won’t buy a book about being a Christian, but will buy a holiday and family fun book, thus the “past watchful dragons.” People who want to grow in their faith, and people who have no faith but celebrate Christmas will buy our book and hopefully be led to put the focus back on Christ for the holiday, and for their lives.

Leslie: Though Cathy birthed the idea, the rest of us quickly hopped on board. Not only is Christmas special to me—especially now that I have a family of my own—but also that particular holiday cries out to be simplified, to return to the meaningful aspects of celebration, and to lose some of the hype and commercialism.

Tell me a little about what is in A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts? What is your favorite part?

Cathy: I like that you can read one chapter in about 15 minutes and, with all the different suggestions, it feels like Christmas Eve. Makes you want to set up the nativity! Many of the suggestions for family activities can be adapted for any family get-together.

Karen: There are heartwarming stories about things that happened for the first time at Christmas. For instance, one of my stories is about the first Christmas with our adopted children. And the book is pretty. When I first saw the colorful pages and drawings, I fell in love with the illustrator’s work.

Brenda: I don’t have a favorite part – I love it all!

Terra: I like the way the parts are woven into a seamless whole, like a patchwork quilt, that is stronger and more beautiful than the parts.

Trish: It’s like everything you ever wanted to know about Christmas, all the best tips and recipes, and neat stories all wrapped up in this perfect little package.

Leslie: I love reading the special stories, hints, recipes—whatever—and imagining the precious family time that precipitated each moment. Plus, the book is gorgeous, beautifully printed, truly something to be proud of. And we are.

I’ve heard that the book is really a nice gift book; can you tell me a little about the format?

Cathy: Yes, it’s a hardbound book, full color interior. The layout makes it easy to read. It has a definite scrapbooky look on the interior. Different logos identify sections, such as an oilcloth-look Christmas stocking appears beside the “Stocking Stuffer Tradition” (help for connecting family members), and the “Cookie Canister” recipes are on a recipe card, and the back ground of “A Gift For You” is a gift box with bow. It’s a classy gift that they can be placed on a coffee table or in a guest bedroom during the holiday season.

Brenda: I like to describe it as a Starbuck’s sorta gift book. It’s high quality, crisp, and practical.

With six different personalities and areas of ministry, how did you manage to put this all together and still remain friends?

Karen: We pray a lot for each other and it helps that none of us have an over-inflated ego.

Cathy: There were no squabbles. Surely, we had differing opinions, but we knew that any of us could suggest an idea for this book and that each idea would get fair reviews from others. We actually voted on some aspects—everyone in favor say, “Aye.” If you’ve ever watched women at a Dutch treat luncheon when they divide up a meal ticket, it can be intense as they split the ticket down to the penny. As the project came together, I was in awe of my gracious coauthors, unselfish women who respect each other.

For some decisions, we did a round robin—things like book title and chapter titles and what categories to put into the book. Then, as compiler, I’d send out a list of needs to The Word Quilters, that’s what we call ourselves. For instance in a section we call “Peppermints for Little Ones” (hints for children’s activities), I’d put out a call, and the WQs sent in their hints, and then I put them into appropriate chapters.

Brenda: (Smiling) Are we still friends? Seriously, we each have our own platform, ministry, and family life, and those interests kept this project in perspective – it was important but not the only thing on our plates. No one was so enmeshed in this project that she campaigned for her own way. We never had a bitter disagreement or insistence to be “right.”

Terra: We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.We offer support and ideas for our separate writing projects and for personal prayer requests. I love these ladies, and I have only met one of them in person. So far, Karen is the only one who has met each of us, and one day we hope to meet in person, in a circle of friendship and love.

Trish: I think we are all very flexible and forgiving. We do have a variety of personalities here, but God has worked amazing things through our little group.

Leslie: Though I have seven non-fiction projects in various stages of completion, I could not be more thankful that this is the one to reach publication first. I am truly blessed to have worked with these women, learned from them, watched as they’ve poured heart and soul into crafting a product that will impact lives for the Lord.

Where can my readers get a copy of SOCF?

Cathy: The coauthors will all have a supply, plus our publisher, Leafwood Publishers, will have plenty of copies and discounts for buying five or more. Or they can be ordered at most online stores or by your local bookstore.

Karen: And anyone who leaves a comment here can be entered in a drawing for a free book and a gift basket worth $200! For a list of its contents, check our blog, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. And while you're there, leave another comment and increase your chances of winning!

Tell me more about your blog.

Karen: We started our blog in July and it is accumulating a wealth of information about Christmas. Each of us posts one day a week following the theme for that week. Watch for new recipes, tips, ways to simplify, stories, etc., similar to what is in our book.

Leslie: Ooh, ooh, let me answer this one. I’m probably the newest to blogging among the group, but I LOVE it. I’ve enjoyed posting and receiving comments back from readers. What an amazing adventure having an online voice can be! This blog will focus on a different theme each week—anything from tips to avoid overeating during the holidays to how to give a guest room special touches—and expand on the material in the book. I think readers will get to know the authors’ individual personalities and connect on a more personal level. Plus, they get that many more ideas, information, inspiration (!) at no additional cost.

WQs: As an added bonus for inviting us to your blog, we’d like to pass along this Christmas tidbit to you and your readers:

Enjoy a blessed Christmas this year! And thanks for inviting us to share our book, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, with you.

Free Gift Basket

2008-09-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Sept. 23, I will host a Blot Tour for a holiday book coming out in Oct. Full of recipes, crafts, stories, and joy the book is called "A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts" Read my blog Tuesday and leave a comment. You will be randomly picked and your name entered in the drawing for a Free Gift Basket valued at $200.00. See you Tuesday!

Native Plants

2008-09-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever planted native plants? Some good choices for the central coast of California are the Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), the Bush Monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and the Scarlet Pimpernal (Anagallis arvenis). Pretty flowers and drought-tolerant: what a perfect addition to the garden. Another favorite of mine is the Ribes Speciosium! Let me know if you have others to add.

Sept. Flowers

2008-09-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Ahh the Fairy Flowers! This is the special name my daughter, Colleen, and I gave to the flowers when we first grew them in our garden. An English lady, Mrs. Batcabe, gave some plants to my husband, Trace, to plant in our garden. The next spring they were popping up everywhere. Bees, butterflies and the joyful hummingbirds loved the nectar. What a delightful treat to watch the tiny dances of the hummingbirds. Shimmering, green feathers and whirring wings!
This plant is known as a "Touch -me -not" because the seeds explode when ripe, scattering in all directions. I have also heard the flower called an "English Impatiens " but the true name is Impatiens Balfourri hook. Here's a great picture created by Paul Berry for the Wisconsin State Herbarium.

Autumn Joy

2008-08-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Aug. 21st marks the beginning of the last month of "official" summer. What a wonderful time to plant for Fall's flowers. One of my top favorites is "Autumn Joy" Sedum from the genus Stonecrop. No, the plants don't literally grow out of the stone but you will often see them in the rock garden and used for border plantings. If you want to attract butterflies and bees, plant in partial shade to full sun and savor the warm colors of pink, red orange and yellow when the Sedum blossoms. The leaves are succulent and you may break off a piece and plant it right in the soil to grow more plants. One additional benefit is it dies back in the cold of winter only to emerge again in Spring. So try this plant as you begin thinking about Fall flowers. Truly it will live up to the name " Autumn Joy!"

Sly The Kitten

2008-08-19T14:32:00.001-07:00

My kitten, Sly, was sick and diagnosed with Lymphoma or FIP. We prayed, our friends and family prayed and after two weeks...his blood test came back normal. He's eating and playing his normal kitty games. Thanks be to Jesus. Please keep up the prayers because it is a miracle he's doing so well!

Saving Seeds

2008-08-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that seeds are fascinating! You hold a tiny seed in your hand that may grow into a fabulous flower or a delicious vegetable. The seed already "knows" that it is a marigold or a squash. The gardener nurtures the seed and provides all the essentials for growth. One day the seed has grown into a two foot marigold complete with yellow flowers and the squash is curling delicately up your trellis, blooming large and orange, begging the bees to enter. What magic we hold in our hands when we plant our seeds! Faith grows like that tiny seed ... as we feed our longing for Jesus with prayer and reflection. Faith, hope , charity and love are the nutrients to nourish our souls. Sometimes our tears are the water that nurtures us and other times our sunny joy lightens up the darkness. Spend some time today in quiet contemplation of the power contained in a tiny seed.

Green Bean Dreaming & Wine Tasting

2008-08-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Garden Patio:Green Beans and Vino.

Here's a recipe to enjoy using fresh green beans. Make ahead of time to blend the flavors.
1 tsp chopped cilantro
1tsp chopped parsley
1 cup fresh Green and or Wax beans, steam and drain, cut off the ends if you like, cut each bean in half, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tsp chopped garlic, 1 tsp chopped red onion... lightly saute in olive oil, save the oil for the dressing...Add four pieces of bacon, crisped, drained and chopped1 small can Mandarin oranges, drained.Save the juice for the dressing. Mix all ingredients together in a handsome bowl and add some of the mandarin oranges' juice and olive oil until well coated. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Chill. Serve over Romaine lettuce. Add some edible flowers to dress up the plate such as marigolds. This goes well with a cheese like Gorgonzola. Serve with a fine Riesling wine on a hot summer's eve out on the patio. A perfect recipe for fun!

Aunt Joan

2008-07-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

We just lost our very favorite Aunt Joan to illness and aging on July 17th. She was such a sweetheart, full of joy and sparkles, and loved birds. At one time, she owned about eleven parrots and cockatoos. She had a rascal named Ralph and a Scarlet Macaw named Valentine who loved to talk. They were just like kids and would sqawk at Joan when we were talking on the phone. She'd tap their cages with the " Big Bird Stick' and they would temporarily quiet down. One of her cockatoos talked like a CB radio because his former owner was a trucker. In her honor we will plant a special tree on our property as a living memorial. There the native birds may gather and sing their special songs and we will remember dear auntie.

Green Beans and Lettuce

2008-07-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist planting more green beans in the garden. My grandson Blake just loves to eat the tender baby beans. He tells me, " Nona, I am really, really hungry!" I offer him choices but the only treat that will do is to pick a tiny bean and than pick another...and another. Lettuce is another crop that can be planted now. I found lettuce seeds for five cents apiece and planted some in containers. They have already popped out of the ground after five days! What vegetables do you like to plant in July?

Heat Wave and Trout

2008-07-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

Central California is experiencing a heat wave: 106 degrees in the shade. Living in the Santa Cruz Mountains this kind of heat means many gardening chores simmer for another day. The gardens were watered in the cool of the evening and we've checked to make sure no plant was forgotten. It's just too hot to do much of anything but sit by a fan. Here's a great way to get out and enjoy the sweltering weather. We like to go to Henry Cowell Park in Felton and take a leisurely walk to the river. We all get in the river and go river walking in the cool water. After awhile the shore beckons and we sit on the beach and squish our toes into the damp sand. Ahh relaxation! There's fishing, hiking, and exploring to add to our fun. We wanted to share a picture of the first fish our grandson, Blake ever caught. It was a trout caught in Loch Lomond, fishing with his Mama. They breaded the fish, fried it and Blake really loved the flavor. Any good fish stories out there?

Happy Independence Day

2008-07-03T14:12:00.001-07:00

June's Tune

2008-06-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today marks the end of June plantings. I wanted to share the bountiful blessings of having a garden. Some of the plants growing in my garden now are Strawberries, Tomatoes, Sweet Peas, Morning Glories, Marigolds, Trombochini Squash, and one Zucchini. The herbs are Lavender, Parsley, (Italian and Curly), Cilantro, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Dill and Chives. I am disappointed that the Moon Flower seeds did not survive the cold evenings but everything else has flourished! Some highlights are the Blue Storm Petunias, red Fibrous Begonias, violet and pink Impatiens, purple and red Snapdragons, and white, pink and lavender Dianthus from six-packs. The native Iris are done blooming but were so spectacular. My daughter Aurora gave me two Tuberous Begonias and my other daughter, Colleen, gave me some Sages. I can't wait until the three-day week-end to garden! What is growing in your garden?

Mighty Bee's Great Escape

2008-06-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

Mighty Bee, the tiniest of baby bees, flew into the Big House and landed on the window screen. The window was open and the Jasmine vine was full of lovely scented flowers, wafting into the room. Mighty buzzed around trying to make his escape but alas! little Mighty was stuck and scared. He tried to make a Big Buzz but quiet baby bee buzzing is all he could muster.Trace heard the soft buzzing and came over to the window to investigate. There was Mighty, trying to be brave but starting to lose his courage. Trace understood his plight, put out his finger, and little Mighty Bee crawled to safety. Steady Mighty Bee soon you'll be free and sure enough Trace opened the door and gingerly set Mighty down. He scampered onto the flower and felt the soft velvet petunia blossum underneath his baby bee feet. Soon he was sipping the sweet nectar and the dark memory of the Big House dimmed. Mighty Bee was finally safe!

Magical Midsummer's Eve

2008-06-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Midsummer Day was celebrated on June 24th in honor of St. John the Baptist who baptized our dear Lord Jesus Christ. Festivals were held to enjoy the warmer days and nights. Some whispered that if women plucked seven different varieties of wildflowers and tucked them under their soft pillows, visions of future loves would color their dreams. Young people would dress up in folk costumes and go out dancing, drinking, and singing until the wee hours of the evening. It was a night when water was turned into wine and the angels watched over the faithful. Religious folks might visit a holy spring to give praise to St. John the Baptist. Many considered Midsummer's Day Eve an auspicious time to wed. Do you have plans to acknowledge this special day?

Bee Basic

2008-06-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Disease, bad weather and chemicals have lead to the bee die-off in California. Natural remedies include creating a bee habitat that encourages our little native hummers. Plant a wide variety of flowers that entice bees such as native wildflowers and flowering trees. Bees need cool water just like us so put out a pan of water, fill up your birdbaths or design a pond. Provide some bare ground and the native bees will make a home in the soil and set up housekeeing. Before you know it the native bees will be pollinating your strawberries, zucchini and tomatoes. This is a picture of the Cottingley angels and looks like a nice place for our native bees to visit.

Gardenicide: a response

2008-06-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I admit it. I’m the dirt killer. It was greed, I tell ya. Greed and maybe a pinch of pride led me down the dark path to gardenicide. The desire to have bigger plants with bigger yields, so I could crow about my superior garden growing prowess drove me over the edge of reason.

It took months of mixing rich redwood compost with chicken manure, sand, wood ashes, the finest coffee grounds Starbucks had to offer, and egg shells to create the perfect mulch milieu. Any organic gardener will tell you that we really don’t feed plants with fertilizer. Rather, we feed the living soil with material that the worms and microbes love to munch. The product of our earthy partners is water soluble food that can be immediately absorbed by plant roots. All the nutrients necessary for plant life are available, in the soil, in the correct amounts, and are carried to the plant, above ground. The sun magically combines them with chlorophyll in the process of photosynthesis to create the plant structure and the fruit. So wonderful, so simple, such a gift from God! Why would anyone, in their right mind, tamper with such a perfect process??

I couldn’t leave well enough alone, though. Noooohoho, not me. I had to try to goose the plant growth and production, with some man made concoction to satisfy evil urges of greed and pride. I mistook the “Weed and Feed” lawn fertilizer for high-nitrogen lawn food and fed the poison to my beautiful, trusting plants. Watching them wilt and slowly starve to death was unbearable. I tried everything to thwart the poison but to no avail.

It was a painful lesson. I’ve been properly chastened and I’ve resolved to repent from my foolish ways. I’m naming my garden, “East of Eden” as a reminder to avoid any more deadly sins. Most of them, anyway…
submitted by a gardener under the pseudonym of " Gardenicide"

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Blue Native Flowers

2008-06-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen the Phlox divaricata "London Grove Blue?' The lovely, violet-blue, sweet smelling flowers beckon the bees and butterflies to 'have a little nip" and enjoy their nectar. Remember the gorgeous Tiger Swallowtail butterflies that flew around you as you lay on the cool grass on a broiling hot summer's day? Butterflies love this native plants flowers! Hummingbirds and Bees are also drawn to this wildland native. Sometimes called Wild Sweet William think about adding this spreading groundcover in semi-shady areas of your garden and plant it in rich humus. Lay back and dream on a sunny day and delight in God's handiwork.

Weed and Feed

2008-05-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever done something and been amazed by your result? It may sound simplistic but reading the instructions are crucial before applying any fertilizer. I have a good friend who spent hours creating organic soil for his vegetables. He gathered coffeegrinds and ashes and mixed them with some fine humus. The vegetable seeds were carefully selected and an array of wonderful seedlings established. In one of those moments we all like to forget, he decided

to add some commercial fertilizer. He did not plan on adding "Weed and Feed" a fertilizer for lawns that includes a weed killer. Ooops! Let us just quietly pray that the vegetables will overcome this setback because my friend is feeling pretty low today about this unintentional blooper. A gentle reminder to all of us:

" read the instructions and fine print before adding fertilizer to the garden! "

Spiders: the Wonder Workers

2008-05-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Cleaning twenty-three windows on our two-story home in the Santa Cruz Mountains got me thinking about the winter storms and spiders. Spiders created wonderous webs to catch all manner of insects in the corners of each window. Inside and out there were silky threads woven in many delicate patterns. Please remember that our spiders kill many damaging insects and be careful before wiping out their homes. Slow down, observe their magic, and lightly escort them to an outdoor space that needs a defender. They work!

Back to Bees

2008-05-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Last month I mentioned that the bee population is diminishing. Today I read an article by Juliana Burbassa and learned over 30% of commercially managed hives have been lost this year. Gardeners, our bees are so important for pollination that we can not afford to lose anymore. Plant a bee loving plant this May and help keep our bees buzzing around the yard. Ceonothus ( Mountain Lilac) is covering the hillsides now and is a native, drought-resistant plant to add to your garden. There are many varieties to choose from such as "Julia Phelps" that can attract bees and offer a hazy mist of flowers for your gazing pleasure.

May Day

2008-05-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

May Day was always a time for flowers. We would gather flowers, ribbons, and candy and make May Baskets to give to friends and family. There was an old tradition to leave a May Basket on someone's doorstep, run away, and if caught exchange a kiss. Nowadays many people have forgotten about the May Baskets. If you would like to make one for your sweetie, check out the following website: http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/ Happy May Day!

Children's Stories

2008-04-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

Blake visited us Friday evening and told us the following story: He has a cat named Kat-Cha that only eats pickles. We asked him what he thought of various family members and he reported that: Popo is a Milkhead, Nona is a Fly-Cat, Greatgrandma is a Flower, Mamma is a Jungle Gym. Where he comes up with these ideas is a mystery but it shows the enormous imagination of young children. I found an interesting Blog from Terra and it pertains to children and writing.

http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com/

Angels and Gardens

2008-04-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever created an angel garden? A friend gave me an angel statue that was placed under one of the magestic Redwoods on the patio. Blue stepping stones- each with a Calla Lily in the center- an Asparagus Plumosa Fern and a small birdbath were positioned around the angel. I planted Star Jasmines for their heavenly scent and the recently germinated Moonflowers. Just imagine the flowers illuminating the angel garden in the evening as the sweet night air fills our senses with joy! Thank God for our two beautiful daughters-they are our angels on earth!

Riparian Corridors

2008-04-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Riparian corridors are areas of land next to creeks and rivers. Santa Cruz County has the San Lorenzo River and all the "feeder" creeks such as Boulder Creek, Two Bar Creek and Bear Creek. A tip to help maintain a healthy riparian corridor is to remove the non-native, invasive species (scotch broom, ivy, periwinkle) and replant with natives such as Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)), California Blackberries (Rubus ursinus), and the Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). Be sure to net any slopes before planting to prevent erosion.

Here's Trace picking out the perfect Christmas tree in the Two Bar Valley.

Herbs and Blurbs

2008-04-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Heres my "little froggy "grandson, Blake, getting ready to hop into bed. Last weekend he visited and he helped his Nona plant tomatoes and water the Lavenders. We had so much fun working in the garden and playing outside! Just wait until he see the herbs I planted....

Planting herbs in the Spring garden such as Dill, Cilantro, and Basil and my mouth waters for some of the yummy foods we create from their bounty. Think Salmon and Dill lends its flavor to the sweet taste, Cilantro and spicy Salsas, Basil and the old stand by-Pesto. What's your favorite herb to grow in your garden and do you have a favorite recipe that incorporates its flavor?

April Blooms

2008-04-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's been cool here in the Santa Cruz Mountains but the garden is growing and little treasures keep popping up. Sweet pea and Moonflower seeds are boldly pushing their way into the cool Spring air. The Wysteria is unfurling soft, velvety leaves, tentatively stretching towards the sun. Wild onions have emerged with their white flowers dancing among the orange Montbretia. The Japanese Maples are clothed in new leaves and spreading their limbs. Sunday Trace noticed our squirrel wind chime softly singing the wind's tune. Weather people say warmth is on it's way and Saturday may bring us an 80 degree sitting-out- on- the-patio- listening-to-the-birds-afternoon.

The Guesthouse by Rumi

2008-04-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

" The Guesthouse" by Rumi --

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The Guesthouse
This being human is a guesthouse Every morning a new arrival A joy, a depression, a meanness

Some momentary awareness Comes as an unexpected visitor Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows Who violently sweep your house Empty of its furniture

Still treat each guest honorably He may be cleaning you out For some new delight!
The dark thought, the shame, the malice Meet them at the door laughing And invite them in Be grateful for whoever comes

Because each has been sent As a guide from the beyond
Translated by Coleman Barks

Bees and Haiku

2008-04-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Bees are the pollinators of our gardens. Lately the bee population has diminished all around California. Encourage them to visit by planting California blackberries ( Rubis ursinus) and herbs such as Lavender, Mints, Rosemay and Basil. Don't forget to add a Bee Balm plant ( Monarda didyma) This member of the Mint family can be used in the herb garden, smells very sweet, and takes full sun to half shade. You'll breathe yummy scents when you sit outside this Spring and the bee population will increase. Hurrah!

Heres's a Haiku poem written by James Hacket about bees.

"Loud frantic buzzing:
a bumblebee emptying
a web laced with dew "

And the answer to the best watering temperature for seedlings from my experiment is 70 degrees F........

Seeds to Sprouts

2008-04-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

Great news! Last night I noticed that the marigold seeds I planted a week ago have germinated. My new trick is to place the newly planted seeds in a potting soil/sand mix on top of my fireplace hearth. The extra heat seems to cause earlier seed germination. This reminds me of an experiment I did when I took Ornamental Horticulture at Foothill College. The class was called "Nursery Practices" (or something very close) and I experimented with using different temperatures of water to water my seedlings. What do you think was the optimum temperature for rapid growth? I'll answer this next posting.

This is a picture of my grandson, Blake, getting ready to help his Nona and Popo sweep the deck

Native Plants

2008-04-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

Living in the coastal mountains of Central California gives us the chance to incorporate native plants into our garden. Plants such as Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape) are great as barrier plants and for wildlife. They require little care and have lovely yellow blossoms in April. The blossoms turn into berries that are enjoyed by the birds. Sambucus nigra ( Blue Elderberry) grows wild in the mountains near creeks and also produces berries in the Fall. Our squirrels use the branches as a tree path as they jump from our Birch and Cherry trees to the Elderberry . The Blue Jays love to congregate in the Elderberry and mock the squirrels with their chorus of cawing.

March Gardening Quote

2008-03-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

The Joys of Gardening.

" There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling"
by Mirabel Osler