That magical blue hour

I spent over an hour outside last night during that beautiful, magical "blue hour." An additional five inches of snow fell silently upon these grounds throughout the day, bringing the snow up to the tops of my boots by last evening.

The yellow of the lights of our home and the neighborhood contrasted warmly against the blue of the falling night so how could I not spend some moments with my camera? The light pouring from the windows signifying warmth and coziness inside. The cool blue of the night playing right along with the cold, crisp air filling my lungs.

These are perfect, cozy days. Such a gift.

Dear Garden (A Love Letter of Sorts)...

My Dearest Garden ~

You've been so generous this summer. Supplying an overwhelming amount of broccoli, green beans, zucchini and cukes. And now you're springing forth bright green stalks of delicious sweet corn and an abundance of juicy red tomatoes. I see the green and red peppers and the round heads of cabbage tucked in their little rows.

 

And there's always a bowl-full of your many wonderful red tomatoes sitting right there on the kitchen counter, free to any hand (big or small) who want a taste of the juicy fruit. You have filled our plates to heaping with the fruits of your soil.

And speaking of tomatoes, your crop of tomatoes will soon be turned into many jars of yummy, organic spaghetti sauce, hopefully enough to last until next year's harvest. (I'm so partial, you know. Nothing from the store compares to what your tomatoes make.)

 

And as your rich, organic matter continues to feed and nourish, more seeds will take root right there in your soil ~ late summer plantings of Swiss chard, lettuce, cilantro, and maybe spinach?

Then there are the stalks of popcorn (yes, real popcorn right off the corn stalks) and the various breeds of pumpkins planted in late June (keeping my fingers crossed that they're ready in time for fall.) The things that you can grow really amaze me.  

But, dear garden, I really must begin to think of your care come this winter. Oh, I know. I really do want to avoid this, but cold weather isn't good for you and the cold weather will come, just as it always does. But my little research has given me some ideas regarding crop covers (here and here), and I see oats and field peas in your future. You know, to keep you warm and covered and nourished. That way you'll be full, healthy and ready come spring time. (We must always plan ahead, you understand.)

Yes, dear garden, you have been good to us this year. Despite the heat, despite the limited rain early on, you have done good. And my heart really does pitter-patter when I look out my back door and see your abundant gift.

And, of course, all thanks and praise for this glorious abundance goes to the Creator of the soil, the earth, the green plants that burst from the ground.

The View These Days...

I fear I may bore you all with my continual chatting about gardening and preserving, but that is the essence of my life these days...

Today I picked and the kids and I husked a whole heaping cart-full of sweet corn. And now I am in the midst of kernels, ice, boiling pots, and stacks and stacks of ears of corn. The kitchen is really in a state of disarray - counters sticky with sugary corn goodness, sinks full of ice for blanching, drying racks scattered in the empty places and heaped with corn pyramids...

And we won't even talk about the sticky mess on the floor when a corn pyramid collapsed. :)



And I just can't help myself but to snap away with the camera when my kids take it upon themselves to learn something new. Ian had the idea to solar cook a few ears of corn, and so I just kind of let them run with it. The best kind of learning - through intrigue, curiosity, and experimentation. He's making it for dinner.{Smile}

We did take a break from gardening this past weekend for some fun family time...

A French and Indian War battle reenactment...

  (Ian looks a tad bit nervous here.)

Very much an awesome learning experience for kids and mama alike...



We explored a local cavern...

They did a light show in the "wedding chapel" of the cavern to Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus", and it was overwhelmingly humbling and majestic! Standing in the bowels of the earth, witnessing His glorious, amazing, miraculous creation, and praising Him in my heart.

(My dad and I)

The kids enjoyed panning for gems...

And, of course, we had to stop and pose for a family photo (which never really turns out like you hoped...) :)



And we are loving on these baby bunnies. They are so snuggly and precious.

 

 These little furry bundles are so cute I can hardly stand it!

Here's little Surprise, who is actually almost as big as her mama now...

Well, as sweet as this little break has been, my corn pyramids are beckoning to me.

Blessings!

Life is Beautiful...

A night away here...

With him...

Quiet, calm peaceful. Just the two of us, the forest, and the river. And long walks.

Trees made perfect for climbing...

Colors everywhere the eye can see...

New life waiting to burst open...

Warm days. Sunshine. Playing...

Homegrown, organic food. The dirt pressed under the palm of my hand. The pull and release of roots from the soil...

Peek-a-boo...

Grace. Oh grace. How sweet the sound indeed. Because I was truly once lost, but now I've been found. I was once blind but now I see.

Old wood. History written on its surfaces. Inherited to write our own history down now...

A reminder that the wounded places are the growing places...

Old, chippy white paint. A chair I remember from my childhood, salvaged from my grandparents' home...

A little treasured surprise, delicately carved by an eight year old's hand...

Many blessings to you all, and may your eyes be divinely open to His good gifts that surround you.