Yard Bard

My helpers in the flower beds needed some shade so they "weeded" their heads.

Levi thought these were particularly nice. He'll gobble them up with tomato spice.

The morning glory is up to the deck, just in time for frost, what the... oh wait, I don't say that word.

You can tell the time by how nuttily I write. I think it's time to say goodnight.

A Morning Cuppa

"Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, and all of which take on the 'free radicals' in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells on board."

Not that I needed the aforementioned reasons to enjoy my daily cup of tea. But I like knowing something I do for pleasure is actually good for me. Just don't tell those scientists about how I doctor it up. They might say it cancels out the good stuff. But I know that any scientifically proven health benefits or detriments of sugared, milky tea are really secondary to the pleasure of holding a hot mug in my hands, sipping a sweet, warm beverage on a cool fall morning and basking in the momentary relaxation of a tea break. That's gotta counteract free radicals like crazy!

In Garden News

I know it's September, but these pictures really were taken last month -- we truly did harvest a little bit during August!

Three of the five kinds of tomatoes have begun ripening. Those are beef steak, black cherry and yellow pear. We're still waiting for color on the roma and pineapple tomatoes.


Some might accuse Levi of playing with his food. I prefer to say he has a bent for creating pieces of abstract edible art!


In an effort to fit more garden into not more space, I planted things a little closer together than normal. Not a good idea. Those with claustrophobia would not do well in these bean rows. The vines reach out and ensnare unsuspecting pickers with their velcro tendrils, and hoppers pounce on invaders.


The gourds are also invading the lettuce and carrots' space.


And the tomato plants, though caged, are sprawling wildly, leaving no trace of the orderly grid in which they were planted. Though the tomatoes don't show up well here (because they're all still so green!), the bushes are loaded. I'm hoping the weather holds long enough for them to ripen up.


This pumpkin seems to be trying to show up the tomatoes. "Come on, you slow pokes," he taunts. "Do you need lessons in ripening? Look at me and learn -- this is how you blush!"


And in non-edible news, my two show-stoppers right now are the blanketflower...


... and the coneflower. Delightful!

Blame it on Hormones

Every so often (with regularity that rivals that of the moon) I have a couple days of particularly passionate and convicting devotional times. During these phases I praise God more adoringly, search my heart more deeply, bemoan my sinfulness more loathfully and find renewed vigor for pursuing holiness.

However, as much as I enjoy a really inspired time of worship with my Lord, I sometimes wonder whether it's right for me to take advantage of these hormonally induced feelings or if I should try to temper them, realizing that I can very easily become carried away by them.

I find myself questioning my motives for homeschooling my kids, trying to adopt, volunteering, wearing make-up to church and even blogging. And sometimes I become convicted about these issues, but then, after the "feeling" has passed, I wonder if it was an authentic conviction or just an emotional fancy. Are decisions made on a hormone high legitimate and binding?

So here I am, at the end of my little rant, without a nice, tidy conclusion. This time of month I don't have nice tidy conclusions, only questions and uncertainties. Ugh. What an ending. Comments welcome.