Country Garden

I'm loving photographing flowers right now. I'm learning to use the macro setting on my camera, and I've also been working on getting down among the flowers and finding just the right angle. Each of these shots was taken in the morning in my parents' yard. The first one is my favorite. What are you loving to "shoot" right now?

Laundry Lessons

They say practice makes perfect. As much practice as I get at laundry, I ought to be perfect by now. At any rate, I've learned a thing or two over the years:


Lesson #1--Teach your kids to use a laundry hamper for something other than hide-and-seek. It teaches them higher level thinking skills. You know, as in the dirty clothes need to be higher than the floor. Putting dirty clothes in a basket is a good rule, except when it's not--see

Lesson #2.

Lesson #2--It is NOT a good idea to put WET laundry in the laundry basket. It gets everything else wet and stinky. Teach your kids that after a water gun battle, they should hang their clothes on the back porch to dry.

Lesson #3--Always empty little boys' pockets before washing. Be careful, though--you just might find something like a snail.

Lesson #4--Snails cannot survive a day in a little boy's pocket.

Lesson #5--Always empty BIG boys' pockets before washing.

Lesson #6--Jump drives can sometimes survive a washing machine cycle, but you're better off remembering Lesson #5.

Lesson #7--Always pre-treat stains. Sometimes this requires hosing them off with a high pressure hose.

A little mud never hurt anyone! What are some laundry lessons you've learned?

Clearly Seen

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.--Romans 1:20 (NIV)

Beginnings

Spring is a time of new beginnings.  This is the first spring in our new house, which means this is my family's first garden here.  We don't know much about gardening, but I think the process of digging in the dirt and watching plants blossom and produce fruit is a good thing.

We don't have any experience with this soil.  Weeds grow well, but we cleared them.


We added some compost, peat moss, and manure.  It seemed like the right thing to do.


It was somewhat late to be planting around here, but we planted some seeds anyway.


Mostly we planted pots of plants--herbs, vegetables, fruit, and even a flower or two.


We planted everything on April 24.  Since then, we've watered and weeded and weeded some more.  Some plants have thrived, while others...well, they are still alive.  We've picked a few strawberries and a few peppers, but otherwise we're still waiting.  Hopefully, we will have an abundant harvest over the next few months.  But what if we don't?  What if the plants die or fail to produce?  What if the corn is underdeveloped and the melons bitter?  Will all our work be in vain?  I don't think so.  We will have learned something, and all the hours we spent working together as a family were a blessing, even if we don't have much to show for it.

It is in the same spirit that I begin to blog.  I've kicked around the idea for some time, but I think I was afraid.  I'm not sure anyone will read it, and even if they do, they may not like it.   I finally realized, though, that even if no one reads it or likes it, I will be blessed.  I love photography, and I love to write.  Both activities bring me joy, motivation, and a sense of satisfaction.  That is why I am going to try this--for me.  If others are blessed, that's great.  But this is for me.

Here's to gardens and blogs and beginnings!