Monthly Archives: January 2022

January 23, 2022 · 7:31 pm

HOPE IN THE SMALL PLACES

This morning’s sermon was about hope.

Looking for it in times that seem hopeless.

Now for instance.

And finding it in the small spaces.

The cracks of life.

So this afternoon

When I headed to the garden house

To plant even more seeds

It seemed like a natural way

To spend the afternoon.

Planting hope.

I’ve gotten rather obbsessed with seeds this year.

Trying a few new varieties

And methods.

I keep reading about starting Dahlias from seed.

Really?

How can that be.

Convincing that little dried up

Kind of seed looking thing

To sprout

And become this

Photo Credit Debra Mitchell

Is well

More than even the most Pollyanna among us

Could hope for.

But why not at least try.

So I got out the Dahlia breeding book I bought.

And read through the incredibly detailed instructions.

Then I realized

I’ve seen this done before.

Damp paper towels, seeds a plate….

My father did this every year

Before he planted his wheat.

He tested the seed he had saved

For germination.

I distinctly remember a saucer

Sprouting in the kitchen window.

So there it was

A sermon on hope

Followed by a fond memory

Of a man who thrived on it.

What a day.

Gail

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”

Desmund Tutu

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January 9, 2022 · 4:10 pm

Christmas Joy

I revel in being a grandmother.

And because my grandchildren

Live several hours away

A visit to my house

Lasts for a few days.

So I do all the usual preparations.

Freezer stocked with easy meals.

Craft drawer resupplied.

And at Christmas a little decorating

Left for capable helpers.

This year it was the tree in the den left undecorated.

The ornaments were placed in baskets under the tree.

Each day a few more were added to the tree.

H & H took the icicles outside

And hung from low tree branches.

That really makes sense when you think about it

Because icicles can’t survive long inside!

Then, of course, the garden house was raided

And why not add the butterflies

And dragonfly stakes

That decorate the garden at Easter.

As long as we are all decorated

Let’s have a “Rainbow Butterfly Christmas Party”

Complete with crafts, treats and party favors.

Next came our annual gingerbread house construction

And this year “reconstruction”

After the visiting poodle ate 4 of the 5 houses!!!

But that’s a story in and of itself.

On a sunny Christmas Eve morning

Our neighbors joined in a continuing tradition

As we decorated houses outside on the patio.

A very COVID conscious event.

I love decorating tables

But this year I decided to turn it over

To Harper and Henry.

Harper agreed

As long as it was “sparkly”.

So we opened cabinets they didn’t even know existed

And pulled from generations of treasures.

John’s grandmother’s crystal wedding candleholders.

My mother’s copper charger plates.

Silver trees I purchased years ago.

That come apart to add tea lights

And fascinate Henry.

Hopefully, this weeklong flutter of activities

Created new memories and stories for the next generation.

It took me a week just to find everything

And get it back in place.

A way of extending the joy.

Likely there is still an icicle

Somewhere in the cedar tree.

Someday it will catch the light

Making it sparkle

And catch my eye.

Bringing a rush of memories

Of Christmas week.

Memories indeed.

Gail

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