Thursday, 31 May 2007 - Rainy days

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for rainy days.

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.
~Author Unknown

When you visit me at my home, I will insist that you spend lots of time in my gardens. That's because the outside is the better part of our homestead.

Inside, you would merely see our stuff (not very exciting) and witness the fact that I am not the world's best housekeeper (rather embarrassing).

Outdoors, you will visit my expansive artist's studio and view firsthand the fruits of my creativity and passion.

I didn't start out with the goal of being a gardener. I do, however, remember the exact moment the transformation occurred.

I also stand by this small truth:
I did not choose gardening; gardening chose me.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 30 May 2007 - Another reason to garden

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for another reason to garden.

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~Author Unknown

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Perennial garden on the north side of the house

Tuesday, 29 May 2007 - Sun roses

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for sun roses (Helianthemum nummerlarium).

I am a devout rose lover. I fondly remember the ones that grew each year in my dad's garden. I covet the "gourmet" roses that proliferate in my brother-in-law's Manhattan Beach garden.

Alas, I don't have the time, resources and patience to cultivate roses in Colorado. Instead, I grow sun roses - perfect for our arid climate and clay soil. I love their delicate, richly-hued blossoms that emerge from sage green stems. I wish they were fragrant (guess I can't have my cake and eat it too).

Last week, I added three more (two pink and one orange) to the backyard garden. Just in time for their late-spring blooming extravaganza.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 28 May 2007 - Memorial Day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for Memorial Day.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Forgive me for neglecting to honor the men and women who died to preserve our freedom.
I know that one solemn minute of silence on this beautiful spring day isn't enough.
I know that a prayer each morning isn't enough.

I grieve the fact that my niece, who graduates from high school in a few days, will know someone who will die in a foreign war - most likely in Iraq or Afghanistan.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Sunday, 27 May 2007 - A good day for planting

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a good day for planting.

A place for everything; everything in its place.

Planted:
- Three Forestiera neomexicana (New Mexico privet)
- Three goji berry bushes
- One Viburnum dentatum "Christom" (Blue Muffin viburnum)
- One mugo pine
- Food and herbs: tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, butternut squash, basil, chives, marjoram, oregano, tarragon, sage, mint

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos:

(top) - New Mexico privets (~3.5 feet tall) - at maturity, will be 12-15 feet tall
(middle) - Tomatoes and peppers
(bottom) - Blue muffin viburnum (~2 feet tall) rests below dining room window - at maturity, will be 6-8 feet tall with a 6-8 feet spread

Saturday, 26 May 2007 - Small gifts

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for small gifts.

This afternoon, while working in the front yard garden, T and I joyfully received the following:

- a bag of assorted Wag-n-Wash gourmet dog treats (from Sage for T)
- a jar of homemade blackberry jelly (from Sherry)

For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Friday, 25 May 2007 - A clean aura

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a clean aura.

There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Time for some long overdue inner spring cleaning. I finally gave myself permission to do something that I've wanted to do for many years. I had my energy field "cleaned" today - all three layers - physical, emotional and spiritual.

The cleaning also healed rifts and restored a healthy, green glow to my life - perfect for fostering new growth, new adventures and new dreams.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 24 May 2007 - E's new home

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for E's new home.

Some good news. Finally.

Since December, I've prayed for my sister, E, as she seeks a new place to live. She's waited patiently for the "right" apartment or house (a trail of email messages documents her long search).

Happily, she just found an apartment that meets her requirements.

Now comes the fun part - moving. She expects to settle in by the end of June.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 23 May 2007 - An ounce of prevention

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for an ounce of prevention.

Tonight's low temperature will near freezing - an unseasonable event that I don't welcome. I inspect the newcomers to my backyard garden. All are hardy perennials - once established. I planted mine a few days ago.

I did plant them in deep holes before layering extra mulch over the roots. Still, I want to err on the side of caution and protect my "investments."

So, around 8 PM, just as the rain turns to sleet, I cover each "newbee" with a pot. The protective cover will keep snow off the leaves and insulate the plant from the cold air.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Tuesday, 22 May 2007 - Spring storms

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for moisture-rich spring storms.

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

Spring storms invaded our region today.

Sunny skies at 5:45 AM (yes, I did get up that early).
Dark clouds approaching by 9 AM. By noon, thunder and lightening heralded waves of rain and pea-sized hail.

The rain stopped long enough for T's early evening walk. By 8 PM, the storms abated, pushed eastward by dry, blustery winds.

As far as I can tell, my plants survived the onslaught (even the newly-planted ones). I'm secretly pleased that the clay dirt is moist again. In a day or two I'll dig holes for the four large shrubs I bought at the plant sale: three New Mexico privets (5 gallon pots) and one viburnum (3 gallon pot). I'm sure that S will help me.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 21 May 2007 - Chocolate mint tea

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for chocolate mint tea.

What could be more refreshing than a cold herbal tea drink made from just-picked chocolate mint leaves?

After working in the garden for a few hours, the freshly-brewed iced tea was the perfect beverage to sate my thirst.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Four varieties of mint soak up the sun (chocolate mint - three pots in the back, orange mint - center, mint julep - left front, kentucky peppermint - right front).

Sunday, 20 May 2007 - Another chance to play

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for another chance to play.

When I was a child, my parents continually warned me not to climb too high or run too fast or stand too close to the edge. The warnings were probably justified. I was, after all, a petite and rather sickly child (note that the "sickly" state lasted only until I got a "C" in physical education - my one and only).

Maybe that's why I like rock climbing so much. It gives me the chance to engage in the playful and somewhat risky adventures I missed during childhood.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon
(top) The geese feed near the pond.
(bottom) T investigates a very good sniff.

Saturday, 19 May 2007 - Excellent plant sale

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for an excellent plant sale.

I volunteered at the local horticultural society's annual plant sale. I had a better assignment this year (last year I worked at the checkout station). I was a "helper" in the herb/tomato/pepper sections where I did whatever was needed to tidy the displays and help customers.

The best part of my day - when S and T visited me (we warned T not to mark any of the plants - marked plants were considered "sold"). I proudly introduced them to several people. Of course, everyone adored T.

The worst part of my day - very tired feet. They supported me from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. I hope they recover in time for our Sunday climbing adventure.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Friday, 18 May 2007 - Gardening tools

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my gardening tools.

I don't use or need expensive tools to create and maintain my gardens.

Gloves (nicely broken-in). Trowel. Pick axe. Weed puller. Watering can.

Like most gardeners, I invest heavily in plants. No matter my budget, I love the free plants and seeds that friends offer me during the year.

I also seek the only-a-true-gardener-can-love cast-offs that sell for a dollar or so at the local nursery.

For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 17 May 2007 - An enlightened creed

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for an enlightened creed - perfect for my inner environmentalist.

I have come to terms with the future.
From this day onward I will walk easy on the earth.
Plant trees.
Kill no living things.
Live in harmony with all creatures.
I will restore the earth where I am.
Use no more of its resources than I need.
And listen, listen to what it is telling me.
~M. M. Slim Hooey

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 16 May 2007 - Stamina

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for stamina.

The local horticultural society is setting up its annual plant sale in downtown Colorado Springs. For the second year in a row, I volunteered to unload and sort plants - nearly 8 hours of reaching, bending, lifting, pushing, squatting, carrying and standing (with some downtime for lunch and "shopping").

I'm tired but not fatigued ... a physical state that tells me I had a really good day doing something I truly enjoy - working outside with plants and interesting people.

I'm shopping for plants on Friday and working at the sale on Saturday. I've already set aside several plants (one of the advantages of volunteering). I must be very disciplined about my purchases and not overbuy. At the top of my list: a trio of New Mexico privets and an unusual blue gingham viburnum for the backyard.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Tuesday, 15 May 2007 - Planting time

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for planting time.

As of today, the probability of another hard freeze in our region is near zero. Gardeners throughout Colorado Springs are rejoicing (do you hear them?) Planting time is officially here - finally! I am concentrating on landscaping the backyard since the front yard garden has few vacancies this year.

I actually cheated a bit, planting a lilac bush and motherwort on Sunday. Still, I need to find a sunny spot for watermelon and butternut squash. The tomato seedlings are ready to be transplanted into large containers. And, now's the time to sow mesclun, basil and parsley seeds.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: My front yard garden continues to thrive.

Monday, 14 May 2007 - One more idea

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for one more idea for a book - a fascinating premise guaranteed to produce a bestseller, of course. No surprise that it popped into my head while I worked in the garden.

A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Drawing is putting a line round an idea. ~Henri Matisse

If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it. ~Albert Einstein

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

(Note to file: for a beautiful spring flower arrangement, combine daffodils and wild violets - see photo)

Sunday, 13 May 2007 - Happy Mother's Day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for mothers, especially my own.

Mother's Day Proclamation

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

~Julia Ward Howe, 1870, written to support recognition of a "Mother's Day for Peace"

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_Proclamation"

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Saturday, 12 May 2007 - The Giro D'Italia

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the Giro d'Italia.

Another rite of spring. The Giro d'Italia, the first of the three major European tours, began today.

Although the past year's doping scandals have tarnished cycling's reputation, I remain a loyal but somewhat downhearted fan.

Of course, we want an Italian cyclist to win. This year, S and I have several favorites including previous winners Gilberto Simoni ("Gibo"), Paolo Savoldelli (Il Falco) and Damiano Cunego.

Fortunately, we Americans can watch the event live on the Internet through a subscription service. I guess I am also thankful for Cycling TV.

(And, no, we didn't cycle today. Just couldn't resist the perfect climbing conditions.)

For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Friday, 11 May 2007 - Warmer evenings

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for warmer evenings.

During the cold, winter months, we rarely see our neighbors. When we do meet, we exchange quick hellos before returning to our warm houses.

That's why we welcome spring's warm evenings. T and I look forward to seeing our friends when we head to the park for our evening walk or work in the front yard garden.

Tonight, for example, T and I said or waved "hello" to:

- Bill
- Dan and Sherry
- Steve, Kathleen and Sage
- Robert
- Marvin
- Dennis
- Hayden
- Ian
- The "Twins"

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 10 May 2007 - Climbing and Concerts

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for two things: a great rock climbing day at Red Rock Canyon and another stellar CHS concert (this time from the symphonic band and the wind ensemble).

Climbing. Spring has sprung at our favorite climbing venue. I won't bore you with the details. Instead, I'll let you enjoy the photos.

Concerts. When public schools provide opportunities in the arts, the entire community benefits. Case in point, tonight's concert. We're lucky that the neighborhood kids attend middle/high schools with passionate and inspired music teachers. And, with student musicians as neighbors, we can look forward to at least four more years of lively high school concerts and band fundraisers. Lucky us.





For these blessings, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 09 May 2007 - Perfectly-cooked brown rice

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for perfectly-cooked brown rice.

I know it's a trivial thing when it comes to what's happening in the world. But, on a daily basis, preparing a perfect batch of brown rice matters a little bit since my diet revolves around it.

Anyway, here's my recipe for cooked brown rice (the rice grains will be slightly dry, not sticky):

2 cups organic long grain brown rice
3.75 cups filtered water

Combine water and rice in pot with tight-fitting lid (do not use a rice cooker). Bring to a boil (with lid on the pot). Reduce heat to lowest setting. Cook until rice has absorbed all the water (around 30 minutes). Do not remove the lid during the cooking cycle.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Tuesday, 08 May 2007 - All that jazz

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for jazz - especially when played soulfully and passionately by the award-winning CHS Jazz Bands at their year-end concert. Bravo to all the soloists including our talented neighbor, H, who plays the baritone saxophone (see photo).

Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn.
~Charlie Parker

A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.
~Benny Green

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 07 May 2007 - SPAM blockers/filters

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for SPAM blockers/filters.

This month, I've decided not to empty the SPAM file in my main Yahoo! email account until month end. I want to see how much SPAM I receive in a 31-day period.

Today is May 7. So far, the file contains over 600 messages. I'm sure that the count is merely average for someone who uses the Internet everyday and belongs to many email lists. Still, I'm amazed at the number.

Imagine if I had to delete each one individually ... would have no time to do anything else online.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: This morning, ice encrusts these delicate Serviceberry blossoms. Yes, it snowed again last night.

Sunday, 06 May 2007 - Soft, moist earth

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for soft, moist earth - perfect for digging.

The cold weather and new storm took their time entering the region, giving me a few hours to dig in the backyard garden. Thankfully, the clay soil was soft and moist from yesterday's rain shower. Using my trusty pick axe, I removed scores of buffalo grass clumps and weeds from the "formal" garden areas.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Saturday, 05 May 2007 - Happy Birthday, E!

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my sister and confidante, E, who is celebrating her 40-something birthday.

This quote sums up our special relationship:

To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. ~Clara Ortega

For this blessing, I am very grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Brunnera (backyard garden)

Friday, 4 May 2007 - Girl friends

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for girl friends.

I don't need many, just a special few with whom I can share my gardening - rock climbing - knitting - cooking - job hunting - and everything else under the sun exploits along with T's many adventures.

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.
~Toni Morrison, Beloved

The best way to mend a broken heart is time and girlfriends. ~Gwyneth Paltrow

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 03 May 2007 - Discernment

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for discernment.

It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to. ~W.C. Fields

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
~Vincent Van Gogh

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: T is having an exceptionally good day (wish I could claim the same)!

Wednesday, 02 May 2007 - Bunnies

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for bunnies.

'Tis the season for animal babies. In our neighborhood, I'm talking about birds, bambis and bunnies.

Our neighbor shows me photos of the very cute baby bunny (unhurt) that her cat brought home on Sunday.

S watches a tiny bunny squeeze under the fence when he mows the backyard.

I find a newly-dug burrow in the backyard - looks deep enough to hold several small furry bodies (excellent protection from the coyotes, I conclude).

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Tuesday, 01 May 2007 - April showers

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for April showers (because they bring May flowers).

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.