Lent

We are already in the second week of Lent. Right on cue, the Lenten Roses are blooming, time marches on and spring is appearing sporadically. One day it's here and the next we're plunged back into winter.

It's been a very sad time this past week, our dear daughter-in-law lost her precious mother to a horrible and aggressive brain tumor that appeared, so suddenly, just last summer. We will miss Phyllis terribly; she was a dear and accomplished woman, an always-cheerful friend to all and a wonderful, loving grandmother to our mutual grandchildren, Gregory and Lynnleigh. 💔 Thank you to all that have prayed for Phyllis. She is now in the loving arms of her creator. Gregory told me, just the night before she died, that he knew he would see her again and that she'd be well when that time came. Amen. I am strengthened by his faith. 

I have finished up the central portion of Sarah Barker and am moving on the border now. I have switched up the colors to my own liking and added a few elements. You can click on the hyperlink to see the original. 

I joined a fabric swap over at Red Rainboots Handmade and am currently participating in the Red, White and Blue "Sparklers" QAL. This one will be fun. Our daughter was a Bicentennial baby, born in July of 1976; this will be perfect for her, not only in celebration of her 50th but also in commemoration of America's Semiquincentennial.

As we continue through Lent and this in-between season of not winter anymore and not yet quite spring I wish you quiet times of prayer, peaceful reflection and sunshine to warm you. 

Life is Good!

Back to the Beginning

Humbled, penitent and reminded that all of this is temporal.

The Lenten walk begins again. 

A look back to the beginning,

 a glimpse forward to redemption. 

This becomes more and more real every year.

Life is Good, 

all is God's! 

Lent and Leftovers*

During the Sundays of Lent we have not displayed fresh flowers on the altar at church during worship; but, rather, twigs, reeds and branches. As we reflect on our need for  God's forgiveness through the sacrifice of his son on the cross, dried arrangements remind us that in our baptism, our sinful self dies and we anticipate the resurrection that we share with Christ as the celebration of his Resurrection approaches. Our congregation is currently being served by an Interim Pastor who has introduced us to this tradition. The concept is new to me, as long as I can remember I have attended or belonged to churches that have used fresh flowers every Sunday, regardless of the season. This has had a powerful effect on me, as a stark visual reminder of the solemnity of this penitent season leading up to Easter. Is this a tradition that you observe or have heard about? Our mid-week Lenten services concluded last night as we prepare for Holy Week. We have been worshiping on Wednesdays with the service of Holden Evening Prayer. I will miss it.

*Leftovers (small little topic posts):

I made up a big batch of my homemade granola, I do this about every six weeks. This is a breakfast staple for me; a third of a cup of this granola topped with plain, homemade yogurt and berries if we have them. I have been making this granola for the last fifteen years, I got the recipe from a bed and breakfast where we stayed in Occidental, CA. If anyone is interested, let me know, I am happy to share the recipe. 

My porch quilts weren't hanging well outside, they would wave and flop and warp. Mr. Goodneedle created a frame and I attached the April edition with velcro to the frame and will continue to add strips in the corners of these subsequent monthly porch-brighteners. A simple fix with a great result!

Spring has a tight grip now, I believe the winter temps. are behind us. Sapphire blue skies and the emerging green leaves yesterday set off the blooms on the Kwanzan Cherry in the background. This is the site of our future screened-in porch. As of yet, we still don't have a start-date with the builder. 

The first of our Iris in bloom. This plant came from my childhood home at least fifteen years ago, I have divided it already many times. It will be time to divide it up for sharing again soon.  

Yesterday I quilted all afternoon with the windows open. You might think that was to enjoy the fresh air and gentle spring breezes; well, there was that, and the fact that opening the windows acted as a deterrent to allowing the male bluebird of our nesting couple from attacking his reflection in the glass! He did it all day until I turned up the music and cranked out the windows. Today he has calmed down. I checked the nesting box this morning, a nest has been built but as of today we're still empty-nesters. 

Quiltkeemosabe gave me this book yesterday, ways to outwit my nemesis. We'll see. I have had plenty visiting our new feeders in our revamped perennial garden space. 😖  The new plants are coming along slowly, but they are growing and establishing themselves. We have discovered a problem with lack of drainage in the back corner of the bed. I have dug up and potted the Russian Sage for now, while we amend the soil and situation there. I am thinking about planting Cardinal Flower back there and moving the Russian Sage; apparently the Cardinal Flower likes wet soil. I am learning that it's easier for me to be flexible with my layout than to fight the conditions. Time will tell. Now, on to the task at hand-- stopping those pesky seed-stealing rodents with long tails. 😉

Enjoy these lovely spring days!

Life is Good!

Unmoved!

This Lenten cross was erected outside the front doors of our church last Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, and will remain there throughout Lent until Easter Sunday. Wind has been problematic in the past, toppling the cross and damaging it to the point where a new one became necessary this year. My husband did some measuring, made some calculations, and came up with this cross and base system (steel plate in the base and a substantial length of steel pipe extending up into the cross itself) that he felt confident would stand tall and strong, even in the face of significant wind gusts. Last evening the cross was definitely put to the test! We drove to church to attend our mid-week Lenten service and parked our car near the sidewalk in front (where I snapped this photo) just as one of the hardiest wind gusts I have ever felt buffeted the car we were still seated in; the car was, momentarily, lifted a bit. That's no exaggeration! While this occurred I kept my eye on the cross... not a wobble, not even the tiniest tremor was detectable from the cross, it held strong. We looked at each other then, both were a little rattled and shaky after that experience, and yet the cross stood fast... unmoved.  So be it!

Life is Good!

The Promise

This magnificent Amaryllis has been showing off its glorious, tall, blooming self in our kitchen over the last few days. I had all but given up on it. The bulb, container, and potting medium had been a Christmas gift. I followed the watering and sunlight instructions for the last two and a half months but the shoot crept... ever-so-slowly... up and above the rim of the pot. I wondered, out loud, if the bulb was a dud, it seemed to be taking way too long. When I had all but given up hope Mr. Goodneedle was single-handedly keeping faith. A few weeks ago I noticed that the flower bud appeared to be swelling, a good sign. My own faltering hope was beginning to be kindled, remembrances of blooming bulbs in years-gone-by helped to fan the embers. This is what greeted me the week before last when I returned from a few days away! "See", my husband pointed out, "you just needed to believe that it was going to happen". Today, that second bud is swollen to near-bursting. I can't wait to watch in wonder as it reveals itself; further evidence of the promise that awaits the faithful. During these weeks of Lent, of preparation for what's to come, I'm reminded by this show-off flower of the promise has been there all along; it's as simple as holding on tightly to FAITH!

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight.

 Life is Good!