join me on the path

gettin' dirty

This morning the skies cleared and I knew that today was the day I'd start potting all these flowers. But I was missing some of my favorite annuals, so before potting began I went with HikerGuy up to Meijer to get some geraniums, petunias and at least one hanging basket.

While we were there I remembered last year when we went up to get flowers. I was in treatment and feeling miserable—physically and emotionally. HikerGuy insisted we go and get some flowers for the balcony. God bless him. While we picked out this year's annuals, I remembered and said a prayer of thanksgiving for my health and for HikerGuy.

So one hour and $100 later (we bought enough plants for my balcony and his) this is what my balcony, turned potting shed, looked like. It was great! I managed to make quite a mess but it was so much fun. Playing in the dirt is good for my soul.

Come back soon and I'll have pictures of both balconies to share. In the meantime, may the path take you where  flowers grow and into quiet places.

Peace and love.

raindrops keep falling on my head

It's been raining cats and dogs! While I have no idea how that saying has come to mean that it's pouring down rain, it's exactly what's been happening in our river valley over the past week. One estimate I heard is that we're already 10-inches above last year's rainfall to date. The rivers and streams are overflowing their banks and my toes have begun to web. (Not really. Just checking to see if anyone's really paying attention.)

But such is the weather here in our Midwestern town, there were a couple absolutely fabulous weather days thrown in for good measure. We always say, if you don't like the weather now just stick around for a day because it's sure to change.

With all this rain and the green lushness it's bringing forth it's hard to remember last year's drought. Life is beautiful and I'm learning to love the rain just as much as the sun, for both are necessary for life to grow.

Wishing you peace and love on the path today.

barefoot in the dark

On Tuesday evenings I get together with some amazing women and we talk about the power of God in our lives. Sometimes I'm tired and I dread dragging myself off the couch to go drink coffee and talk with these women, but once I get there I'm always grateful that I did it.

On my way home tonight this church steeple looked so gorgeous that I pulled my car into the church's parking lot, got out of the car and took a dozen shots. When I got home it was still so beautiful outside that I left everything in the car and took off for a walk. By the time I got home I was carrying my shoes and walking in the damp, dewy grass to my door. The moon was glowing and the night sounds of tree frogs and crickets sounded like music to my ears. This is the stuff that dreams are made of.

waiting patiently

My flowers are doing their thing, calmly waiting for me to have time to pot them. This week is ridiculously busy with work but by Thursday I'll be able to make time to play in the dirt and get these beauties planted. This is how gorgeous my balcony looks today, even without having the flower potted!

Life is good!

peace and love

the joys of motherhood

The trip to visit Megan and James was wonderful! Megan had the table set when we arrived with fresh lilies. Brunch was delicious (though she reports she struggled mightily with the breakfast casserole).

Later in the afternoon we went down to Meg's in-laws' and had a dinner cookout. Well, the guys did the cooking outside in the rain; we all stayed warm and dry inside. These women are a real blessing in our lives. I'm so happy Meg has such awesome women in her extended family!

yo, mama

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you beautiful women! You’re either a mama yourself or a daughter to a woman who might not be a mama without you!

Here are some thoughts on being a woman on this special day:

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
• enough money within her control to move out and rent
a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to ...
• something perfect to wear if the employer, or date
of her dreams, wants to see her in an hour...
• a youth she's content to leave behind....
• a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
• a set of screwdrivers and a black lace bra...
• one friend who always makes her laugh and one who
lets her cry...
• a good piece of furniture not previously owned by
anyone else in her family...
• six matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
• a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
• how to fall in love without losing herself..
• how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and
confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
• when to try harder and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
• that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
• that her childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over...
• what she would and wouldn't do for love
• how to live alone even if she doesn't like it...
• whom she can trust, whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
• where to go, be it to her best friend's kitchen
table or a charming cabin in the woods when her soul needs soothing...
• What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a
month and a year...
• that she is deeply loved by more people than she probably realizes
• that there will be good times, bad times and in-between times, and that
no matter which time she’s in right now that this, too, shall pass
• that she’s never alone on the journey (I added this one ;-).

pleasant perks

Now that I work on Horticulture magazine, I'm receiving AMAZING perks. This week I got a box full of flowering plants from Proven Winners, one of the most respected growers in the industry. These plants will be introduced to consumers in 2009 and we're being asked to grow them and provide feedback. And they call this work?! I think not!

Perfect timing, as the box arrived on Mother's Day weekend. When my mom was alive, on Mother's Day weekend we took her to get flats of annuals for her garden. What a gift to be reminded of our tradition.

I'm headed west to visit Megan and James for Mother's Day tomorrow. HikerGuy is going along and we'll have brunch with the kids then go down to James' parents' house for a cookout dinner before heading back. Life is good!

beginning again

When I decided to go on hiatus from this blog I ended up deleting the previous months' posts, so you won't find archives of what came before now. Part of me was sad to have lost those first entries, but the lessons I'm learning are that a) the essence of those posts remain though the tangible print is gone, b) we shared those moments in time and became a little more connected, and c) letting go of the past is possible and we'll carry the memories (of laughter, love, sadness, pain, growth, wonder, etc.) as we move forward.

I'm grateful for the hiatus because I was imposing some unrealistic goals on myself to somehow perform here for you when the reason I wanted to do this was for the healing power of sharing (not as a performance).

I'm glad for this time when I've put up the "gone fishing" sign and glad for the knowledge that we'll all be reconvening soon.

Peace and love.