a spirit of simplicity

I believe this is a Parsley worm. Otherwise know as a swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. I noticed it whilst I was watering in the garden. I didn’t have the heart to smoosh him so I just let him crawl around in the parsley. Perhaps in a month or so he will come flying around me as I sit with a cup of tea by the garden. Thus renewing my faith in all things magical. Parsley is available at any corner market .....not so swallowtail butterflies. Nature note Image-in-ing our world Tuesday Pictorial Tuesday

Tick seed or Coreopsis in the back garden.  I like the bright yellow simple flower and have it planted next to a rather large clump of Tiger lilies. The front garden beds are doing wonderfully. Snapdragons are blooming along with the Cosmos. There is Cleome toward the back of the beds that has grown so tall and thick they are almost like Cleome trees! They will be in blossom by next week. I got a pretty pink/purple colour and white. Behind the Cleome are a few sunflowers which I am hoping will get tall enough to tower over everything. They are being shaded a bit by the Cleome but I think once they get tall enough they will begin to grow quickly. I added two white Hollyhocks as well. Hollyhocks are the flower of Marblehead and since we live in old town Marblehead I wanted to add some. This is a Hollyhock from down the street. They are not the prettiest flower but I wanted to plant a few for sentimental reasons. Next year mine should get big like that al

Monday: summer corn and zucchini chowder, cornbread, green salad Tuesday: quiche, green salad, French bread Wednesday: fresh fish, broccoli, rice Thursday: homemade pizza with garden basil and fresh tomatoes, green salad Friday: chopped B.L.T. Salad Saturday: poached salmon, fresh peas, corn on the cob, fresh apple pie, strawberry shortcake Sunday: chicken tenders on the grill, green beans, boiled new potatoes with garden herbs Meal plan Monday Menu plan monday

t When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him,”Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, :Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, :Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15- ~ Three times Jesus tells us what we are called to do and still we deny him. Sunday scripture blessings Scripture and a snapshot Purposeful faith Anchored truth Tuesday Tell his story You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

Perhaps as one person, I will never change the world but one should never underestimate the power of planting a seed. I wish I had more answers. I wish that people could be better at loving one another.             These days I feel thankful enough to be able to scatter a few seeds. Thankful Thursday

The old town house (1727) is decorated for Independence Day. Marblehead won’t be having it’s Art’s Festival or fireworks this year but as you can see  that doesn’t stop us from celebrating! Snapdragons and cosmos in the front garden beds The herb garden that I planted back in the early spring has really started coming to life.  I’ve had to give Buddha a bit of a boost so that he can be seen above the lemon balm and lavender. The fog was so thick we could not even see to the other side of the harbour. One of the traditions in our little harbour town is during the summer months the cannons sound at sunrise and sunset. There are 4 or 5 yacht clubs here in town (though our harbour doesn’t hold many yachts and certainly no big ones, we’re mostly sailboats and lobster/fishing boats.) The  Boston yacht club, which is just around the corner from us, begins with the first cannon fire and then the Corinthian and the Eastern, which are on the

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t Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,  and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts  through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have now received reconciliation.  Romans 5:2-5, 11 ~ Just about four years ago (1,599 days) my sweet and smart 22 year old step-daughter,  Ashley, passed away. She slipped into a dark place Perhaps we weren’t paying enough attention, perhaps it was because her mother died when she was so young, maybe it was her father’s fault, or maybe my fault, maybe the fault lies with her grandmother, Perhaps she fell into the wrong

Silent sunlight Welcome in There is work I must now begin. Y.S. Sitting at the kitchen table with my coffee I begin to plan my day. Early morning light pours in through the window above the sink  promising a warm and pretty day.  If it were cooler the windows would be open so the smell of the harbour  and sounds of the boats would  be drifting in.  It’s going to be another hot day however, so I have the air conditioner started and windows closed up tight.  Wednesdays are for cleaning the kitchen. Counters wiped down, fridge cleaned out old wooden hutch dusted and polished. The garden hose broke yesterday. It will need replacing before the afternoon heat hits. ~ Evening will find chicken and dumplings bubbling on the back burner A fresh salad with garden lettuce and cucumbers from the farmer’s market. Fresh lemonade seasoned with lavender gathered from the herb garden. Summer days are long and slow.... Tw

t And David said to Abigail, blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel  who sent you this day to meet me.  Blessed be your discretion and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt  and from working salvation with my own hand! 1 Samuel 25:32-33 Sunday scripture blessings Scripture and a snapshot You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

My sister had to get some medical scans done in Boston and stayed with us for about a week. She has drop-foot due to side effects from radiation and is using a walker. We were able to walk  around the corner to the harbour and sit on a bench for a bit before walking back home. It was the first time she had ventured out for a walk since February or March. She is absolutely the bravest person I’ve ever seen. I cannot believe all she has been through  and never complains. I had my grandchildren at my house over night while my sister was here. I knew it would bring us all such joy to be with them. We walked to the beach of an afternoon. We walked up to Crocker park of a morning. And, we walked to the harbour a few times as they both loved it. I didn’t bring them into any stores or around a lot of people. Verne wasn’t even disappointed about not being able to go to our favourite toy store. The back garden is looking qu

I had my grandchildren with me over the weekend. We had so much fun and I am was so very tired! Little things Thursday

t ...Abigail And she was a woman of good understanding And of a beautiful countenance. 1 Samuel 25:3 My sweet granddaughter, Abigail, was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate.  When she was just 6 months old she had an 8 hour surgery to repair her lip and her nose. It was done at Boston Children’s hospital and the doctor  held her in his lap the entire time he operated.  When she was 9 months old she went back to have the surgery to repair her palate.  She loves her brother, Verne, just about as much as she loves food and her mother.  And, he loves her and is very watchful and protective of her.  My daughter and her husband are not church-goers But they chose the name Abigail for their daughter. I love when God comes in...quietly sometimes, and whispers in your ear... t For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonde

The good My grandchildren spent the weekend with us!  So. Much. Fun!! The random We noticed this rock along the walkway to the town landing. My granddaughter wanted to carry it home with her but since she’s only one I distracted her and we walked back home.  The fun The little beach around the corner is quite rocky. But, we were there at low tide  and it’s full of tide-pools! We saw hermit crabs, regular crabs, and little shrimp. We watched all kinds of boats and we threw rocks in the water to make big and little splashes! So much fun!! They went home last night and all I wanted to do was take a shower and sleep for a month! The good, the random, the fun

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The conservatory Long ago I went to a church that had a church bazaar once a year. Parishioners would donate home-goods and clothing to be sold to other parishioners and townsfolk. For weeks ahead of time items would begin piling up and one day close to the actual event volunteers would meet up to turn the parish hall into a market place...a shopping Mecca. That is how I acquired this large ginger jar...or what ever it is. After eyeing it in the corner for a number of days and then again on a shelf during the sale I finally purchased it for three dollars, just as they were beginning to pack away everything that hadn’t sold. Our smallish apartment has a tiny room that we refer to as The Conservatory. I keep houseplants in it and various instruments...guitars, drumsticks, an old thumb piano. I’ve got my eyes open for a bongo drum and a harmonica. ~ Everything has a story. Most of what the things in our home once belonged

Monday: Summer minestrone, fresh bread Tuesday: Grilled chicken tenders, carrot salad Wednesday: Quinoa Tabouli, hot dogs on the grill 3/4 cup of quinoa 3 cups tomatoes 1 cup cucumber  4 scallions Leaves from a large bunch of flat-leaf parsley Leaves from a small bunch of fresh mint Dressing 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tsp sea salt 1/4 cup olive oil To make the dressing combine the salt and lemon juice in a small bowl. When the salt has dissolved whisk in the olive oil and set aside.  Put the quinoa in a sauce pan and add two cups of cold water. Set over high heat and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain well. Set aside.  Cut the tomatoes in half, squeeze out as many seeds as possible and cut the flesh into a small dice. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, school out the seeds, and cut the flesh into small dice. Combine the quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; Ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, And see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 ~ My prayer is that my grandchildren will one day live in a world  where we are all at peace with on another.  This has been every grandparents dream, And still we kill each other in the streets.  We condemn each other, we criticize, we tear down,  we fear what it not like us and we hate it.  We are called to love one another.  Right here in Proverbs 31...the very place where so many women look  to know how to be a Christian woman God tells us to speak for the poor and the helpless And ensure justice for those being crushed.  We are all created equal and it is time for us all to be treated equally.  ~ ~ ~ Scripture and a snapshot Sunday scripture blessings Tell his story Anchored truth Tuesdays

Chandler Hovey light 

I don’t know the name of this rose bush. My mum refers to it as “Kara’s rose.” She planted it because I mentioned that I love pink roses.  I can’t even begin to tell you how heavenly it smells. My grandson, Verne, loves to hug trees and his little sister,  Abigail, loves to do whatever he does. So I ordered these t-shirts for them.  Joe and I have been trying to get out for a walk every day.  He has some chronic health issues that make that difficult for him. Some days we don’t make it very far. One day we made it down to Red’s Pond and got to see the remote-control sailboats. There’s nothing in the picture to give you a sense of scale but the boats are only about 2 feet tall. Two older gentlemen were sitting on the park bench with the controls. The back garden is looking very nice!  My mum and I have been working hard in the garden beds. My sister and her fiancé are here for some medical scans and it’s nice to see