A lot accomplished in the “yarden” this morning. Plant food sprinkled at the base of flowering plants; weeds pulled, leaves raked, sidewalk swept, etc., etc. When I relaxed in my rocking lawn chair, I had the camera in my lap. I’m only publishing a few of many pictures. The bloom on the “unknown” plant was a pleasant surprise. The original plant (in that planter) died but the “volunteer” didn’t look like a weed so I allowed it to grow. 

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Last week, at Lowe’s, I bought five mark-down plants–and browsed the entire garden department. NOW, they have Texas Lilac–and less than $20.00 (I paid $50.00 from mail order nursery). Lowe’s… were loaded with purple blooms–and many “spent” blooms. I stripped dry seeds and put them in the baggie (fortunately baggie in my purse). I’m eager to see if the seeds grow!! Next year (perhaps), I may have lots of blooms for the Butterflies and Hummingbirds?!   🙂

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Click the Hummingbird pictures to enlarge. Click a second time and the Hummingbird is visible.

A blog message from a friend included quotes from Terry Tempest Williams.

Nature quiets the mind by engaging with an intelligence larger than our own.

The Scales of Nature will always seek equilibrium.

A feather can tip the balance.

That resonates with me. On this Sunday morning, I worshiped God in my tabernacle, God’s great outdoors. Yes, “Nature quiets the mind by engaging with an intelligence larger than our own.” I watched yellow Butterflies on orange-color Cape Honeysuckle; I watched a female Ruby-throat Hummingbird sip nectar from blooms on my recent purchase Texas Lilac. I’m guessing it was the same Hummingbird on my Impatiens, Cape Honeysuckle, Butterfly Bush and Mexican Petunias. She checked each red, and pink, vase or bottle on my bottle bush. No pictures; my camera was indoors.

Mid-afternoon postscript: I watched the frog scale the metal pole and maneuver his body around to climb the side of the bird house. I watched… and did not run for my camera. I may never again have the opportunity to photograph…but I didn’t want to miss the event.

Another extremely beautiful Fall day.

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My garden has a story to tell–and I’m eager to listen. I was very surprised to see that strange green growth on my Yellow Butterfly Vine. I went to the Internet for an answer and discovered this Yellow Butterfly Vine information: “The clusters of dainty flowers on Butterfly Vine shine as brilliant as the summer sun. But it’s the seed pods that give the plant its name. During summer, chartreuse ‘wings’ unfold on the seed pods that look like butterflies. The papery pods will turn tan to brown as they mature, and they can be harvested and planted….” 

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Yellow Butterflies were visiting my flowers but they seemed constantly on-the-move. I finally got a picture but hope to get a better picture soon. That yellow butterfly added the extra detail to story about the Yellow Butterfly Vine (imho). Click the picture for more detail; click a second time for extreme close-up.

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I harvested the green peppers and will savor every single bite! This summer, I’ve had very few veggies from my garden. ~~ I watered plants and scrubbed the donated planters; five mark-down plants (from Lowe’s) got first-class treatment. ~~ Hours spent in my “yarden.”

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A great deal more activity today: Bending, kneeling, lifting (and shifting), raking, sweeping, watering, etc., etc. While in my yard, I saw the speck of color in my neighbor’s yard– and investigated. That looks like a Crocus but the wrong time of year?! And, a miracle the riding lawn mower didn’t annihilate it. ~~ I turned my back on the yard at two-fifty, uploaded pictures, and prepared this blog. It’s almost four-thirty as I publish this… and will begin to prepare a salad with “store-bought” veggies. ~~ Our weather has been perfect the last few days!! Hallelujah!!

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Valuable information about wheat flour.

Respectfully published to, and for, my readers. You have endured hundreds of pictures of the weather station documenting the miserably hot temperatures. Yesterday, a Houston TV meteorologist said “one-hundred-thirteen days since temperature in the seventies.” For me: No need to water plants every day!! Cool enough to work in the yard past nine o’clock. There are MANY outdoor projects begging my attention.

Cooler weather dictated the need for solid shoes and socks. After that picture, the decades-old sandals went into the trash. (They were beginning to crack.) I also “dug out” a sweater for morning work around my trailer home. To be honest, I even put warm fuzzy slippers on cold feet this morning (inside my trailer home). Furthermore, some time in the night I pulled the light-weight blanket over me!! ~~ This cooler weather is gloriously wonderful!!

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Oh, so much fun working in my “yarden”!! I checked my tarp shelter for “spiky” things and selected two items that had previously been plant stands. Turning them upside-down, I had eight more slender metal receptacles for bottles or vases. So I placed them at the foot of the bottle bush and call them “bottle weeds.” Earlier I exchanged the white plastic pipe “spacer” for “quarter-round” wood spacer. Far more attractive (imho).

*Hint.

Below, see the flyer that advertised an event (today) at CARE. To attract attention, I dressed very “loud” and wore a silly umbrella hat. I was the individual selling the raffle tickets. To enjoy the morning activities, check this short video. ~~ During the afternoon session, I won a very nice door prize (which will be added to my hurricane evacuation preparedness).

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Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Date: September 28, 2016
Location: CARE Dining Room
Time: All Day Event

Special recognition for survivors
Door Prizes – Goody Bags – Raffle Drawings – Refreshments
9:30am Relay for Life Walk – Inside/Outside

Inside – Dining Room and or Multi-Purpose Rm

Outside – Around Center and or Garden (weather permit)

BRING YOUR WALKER OR CANE!!!!!!!!!

********Stories from “Gordy” the Dog********
2:00pm Ladies ONLY – Informative talk by –
“Dusty” Frances Peterson F.N.P

*****Individual Survivor Stories*****

Door Prizes will include a “Breast Cancer Support Ribbon” pen custom crafted by Bruce Horton

Survivors, please call ahead if you plan to attend!
Barbara Dxxxxx – 614-xxx-xxxx or Linda Hxxxxx – 409-xxx-xxxx

Sponsored by CARE Inc.

936-327-4256 Ext. 101
Escapees CARE Inc.
carevc@escapees.com

An “out of ordinary” day because not a single minute spent in my “yarden.”

2016 Election Special

Decision magazine arrives in my mailbox because I’m a subscriber.

On this Sunday afternoon, I read the articles page by page.

In my humble opinion, this information is so valuable I want to share it with every person I can touch!! I’m limited because I have one copy. I checked the Internet to see if articles are available. One by one, I found them. I encourage you to read them.

Two Visions, Two Americas by Jerry Pierce

Christian Civic Duty by Billy Graham

The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime by Franklin Graham

A Supreme Decision by Cathy Ruse

Religious Liberty in Grave Peril by Bob Paulson

Checkmate for Judeo-Christian Values? by Mat Staver

A Life or Death Decision by Charmaine Yoest

Party Platforms, Where They Stand On The Issues compiled by Decision staff

Terrorism & Defense, Restraining Evil by Jerry Boykin

Casting a Vote for Religious Freedom Q&A with David Jeremiah

The Case for Christians in Public Office by Joy Allmond

“This is not a time to stand on the sidelines“ by Charles Chandler

A Bonhoeffer Moment Q&A with Eric Metaxas

Two visions, two Americas by Carol Clements

Pray, Fast, Vote