Healed by Nature

 

Prayer by Farrell Mason

Dear God,

This morning began quite ordinary, as miracles do.

A walk in the emerald wood.

Until the skies opened and the Spirit revealed Herself twirling in the wind.

A squirrel, a pair of chipmunks, and a blue jay stopped what they were doing waiting in rapt attention as I received a raindrop baptism.

How quickly the ordinary can become sacramental.

Today I received a raindrop blessing, Your might trees as my holy witnesses. 

You must have known I was due a transformation.

I shall not be returning home the same.

Amen

 

 I enjoyed this prayer so much, it spoke right to my heart. During a walk on a trail in a woods with our dog Ernie, he slowed way down and sniffed. As I looked to see what he was looking at I could not believe my eyes, a fawn.

Ernie did not bark or anything, he simply walked away from the fawn. He knew that it was a precious baby and mama was close by.

I can honestly say that I did not return home the same, I was blessed and healed by the simple act of nature and love.

 ♥

Carla

It is a Lavender, Vanilla and Cinnamon Hodgepodge

 

My parents gifted me this little planter. Woof!

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday. It is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What's your favorite room in your house and why? 

I love our kitchen. We did the remodel  of our kitchen ourselves. It was a huge project and we were very happy with how it turned out. 

I also enjoy cooking, baking and many times it seems we all gather and visit in the kitchen.

 

 2. What's something that will instantly annoy you? 

The word F*** .... it gets right under my skin. It is used in everyday speech around my area ... way too much. 

Call me old fashioned, I do not like cuss words.

 

 3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...will you celebrate? How do you like yours? If you're not cooking at home is there a favorite place you like to go for a burger? Did you ever work in a fast food  restaurant? 

I do like hamburgers. My husband has a lot of fun making our burgers. He likes to play around with different toppings. I love a good mushroom and swiss burger.

We enjoy going to Gronk's in Superior, Wisconsin ... they make a great burger.

I never worked in fast food. 

4. What are three scents you like? 

Lavender

Vanilla

Cinnamon 

 

 5. What do you miss most about being a kid? 

 My sister and I would play Cat School. We would collect all our barn cats in the feed room of the barn and hold school for our little kittens. We would teach them how to watch out for cars, trucks and tractors. 

Our one big white cat named Fred, we would dress him up. He did not care what we did with him. He just wanted to be held. We would see how long we could hold Fred while doing our barn chores.

Below is a photo of our cat Penelope. She has not graduated from Cat School, Ha Ha, she is still in training.

  

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am loving this mint. I add it to my ice tea, it has a great flavor.

 

 

Memorial Day ~ We Remember

 

 

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Colonel John McCrae

 

Sweet as Can Be Hodgepodge

 

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions. 

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

1. May 20th is World Bee Day...what's something that's kept you 'busy as a bee' lately?

I have been busy planting our garden. 

2. Do you like honey? What's something you make or enjoy that calls for honey? 

 

I do like honey.

 I made Asparagus tart the other evening for dinner. I made a homemade honey glaze to drizzle on it.

I enjoy honey in my tea and on my toast.

3. "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." Proverbs 16:24

What's a proverb you love, or one that speaks to you or has helped you in some way? 

The Bible is full of Proverbs, a whole book in fact, if that helps with your answer. The word proverb is defined as 'a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice'.

 

Guard your heart above all else, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23

4. Tell us about a 'sweet' moment in your life recently that filled you with joy, gratitude, or peace. 

 

My husband and I have been wrestling with a big decision, that is rather stressful. It also came out of the blue. A sweet moment for me was how the sun was shining on our first spring flowers.

 

 5. When you were a child, what did you want to 'be' when you grew up? How close did you come to that? 

 

I wanted to be a wife and a mom. And I have been blessed to be just that.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

It is rhubarb season here in Wisconsin. I am sharing a new recipe I made. 

 

 

 

Conversation

 

Conversation

I started something new here at The River, I ask a question to spark conversation.

"We need never be ashamed of our tears" Charles Dickens 

When's the last time you cried?

 

One of our boys best friends is leaving for basic training next week. My son Atticus' best friend will leave for Fort Jackson. Fort Jackson, the same place our son, Sam back in 2018 completed his basic training. 

Tears of pride.

Tears of worry.

Tears of memories... oh the many adventures our boys had when they were little and still do today as they are grown men. 

Tears of happiness... this is what our friend has wanted to do for a long time, it is coming true for him, he is an American Soldier. 

 Godspeed for C.M.H

 ♥

It is a Plants of Plenty Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends,

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. What's something you're curious about right now? 

I am curious about new plants and how to go about growing them. My husband is researching a new way to stake tomato plants and I am curious what he comes up with.

 2. If you could plan the perfect girl's weekend getaway, where would you go and what would be on the agenda? Do you have anything like this on your calendar in the next few months? 

My sister and I have done a few getaways. They usually had a little shopping, exploring a new area, eating fun food and of course a lot of laughing. 

I do not have anything like this on the calendar.

 3. What's the most unique item in your refrigerator right now? 

Asparagus ... Hee Hee ... I know. It is rare that we can find good fresh asparagus. We finally have.. so I purchased two bunches. YUM!

 4. In this season of your life, what do you find most challenging? 

I am struggling with TOS Click here for more info.

I am currently in my 7th week of PT to help with it. I am getting better. But golly it is no fun to have. I think when you are not able to do all that you use to be able to do, it can be hard to let go.

 5. Do you collect anything? If so why that? 

Plants ... if you say, "Carla, I have some (insert what ever plant) to give away, do you want any?" I will say yes.  I love plants. I love growing plants and if there is a challenge, I try to win that challenge, but sometimes the weather beats me.

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  

For some reason our lilacs are not blooming at all? It has been very strange, last September the lilacs started to bloom. And it is not just our lilac, our neighbors as well. When I was getting my hair cut we were discussing this problem. The answer was "the lilac seem to be confused, just as the rest of the world." 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day Hodgepodge

 

Happy Mother's Day 

That is me and my mom. My parents will be coming over this Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day. My husband plans to grill a turkey. We will enjoy all kinds of side dishes. And this year dessert will be rhubarb pie.

And now on to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. Let's compare this May to last May. What's changed? What remains very much the same? 

I am another year older and when I get back in the garden I can feel it. What remains very much the same is ... Spring does come to Wisconsin.

Fresh radish from the garden.

 

 

2. What's something you may do this month? 

Go kayaking.

 3. Mother's Day is approaching (in the US of A)...in what way(s) are you like your mother? 

My mom is very creative. I am too. 

My mom enjoys hospitality. I do too.

My mom has that "we can figure this out" attitude. I am thankful I do too.

4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite.

When I was little my dad would read aloud Three Billy Goats Gruff to me and my sister. We loved it. My dad read it with true drama, making it even more fun.

 

 5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare? Explain. 

I am both. 

Examples ... 

I am a fast walker. 

I am a slow reader.  

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

If your house is really a mess and a stranger comes to the door, greet her with "who could have done this? We have no enemies." 

Phyllis Diller

 

Joy List Monday

 Joy List Monday

 ♥ a weekly ritual ♥

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day 

 

♥ enjoying matcha 

 

 

♥ my orchid bloomed

 

 

♥ spring has arrived in Wisconsin

♥ fresh growth on our climbing rose William

 

 

 

♥ strawberry plants waking up from their winter nap

 

 

♥ spring green ... my favorite

 

 

 ♥ my first bouquet of daffodils of the season

 

Wishing a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile.

 ♥

Carla