Harvesting Views

This week I have been harvesting various views of my life.  One day I sat in my car at a Sandy parking lot and munched on lunch while enjoying the autumnal colors on the trees and bushes. Then when I got home I was excited to note that the front pond has enough water in it that Mr. and Mrs. Mallard came to swim and dive for food!  Walking toward the front door of the house I looked down on our gravel drive and saw one of our mystery nuts next to some moss.  My daughters are indignant that our resident squirrels chuck nuts down from our mystery tree on anyone who gets too near!  Do you know what kind of nut it is?  Soon after clicking a picture of the nut I heard geese flying over head.  Can you spot the little trace marks in the sky?   Also, this week I have been pondering the contents of a book by Graham Cooke,  and Thursday morning I enjoyed getting together with some women at church to discuss a section of Graham's book which prompted us to wrestle with what being Christ followers means in our lives. Here and there throughout the week I have been crocheting a little pumpkin and a gourd using Teresa's pattern as the basis for my stitching.  And Friday night I had the fun of joining with others to shout "surprise" to a young friend to help celebrate her birthday.  What views have you harvested this week?  xx from Gracie

Fall Planting: Plants and Friendships

A few weeks ago I read an article in a newspaper about it being the right time to plant a second crop in the garden, things like peas and broccoli and lettuce.  We did not do that, but my youngest daughter and I did get some flowering chrysanthemums and plant them in our flower beds.  While wandering through Craft Warehouse I also picked up some things to plant inside.  I  planted wheat grass in these pots on my bedroom windowsill.

I also planted some bamboo in a little clear glass container with blue glass marbles and water to keep it supported.

Wheat grass grows quickly!!!

But the most beautiful crop we planted this fall was welcoming a new friend from Germany who stayed with us a few weeks while attending classes in Portland.  The days flew by and Wednesday our local friend Krista who introduced us to our new friend from Germany, came over to help him cram his possessions back in his suitcase and weigh it before his flight home.

I hope you are enjoying planting and harvesting in this season too where ever you may be!

Garden Harvest 9/29/2011

We still have more tomatoes ripening, and a row of ravaged cabbages. 

 Why are our squash plants producing flowers but no squash, and the leaves sort of look like they are covered by flour?  Note our one tiny ear of corn and that

our carrots have interesting character, yes? 

 How does your garden grow?