Growing, Growing, Growing

  

Summer has finally hit and we are having the warm temps, blue clear skies and the occasional thunder storm with rain. Some days have been just a bit warm but others are quite nice. Had to pull out the hose and set out to watering regularly. Had a stretch of really hot days all in a row and some of the ferns dried out but everything else has responded with blooming and ripening. We have had a large harvest of berries almost daily and even shared with the birds and critters, tomatoes have been turning red, zucchinis are growing larger, corn is getting taller, sunflowers and daisies are blooming, it keeps going from there. Seems like we have the sprinkler going constantly on some part of the yard or garden. Weeds are doing their fair share of growing too. I have been ignoring the weeds in the flower beds and tending to the ones in the garden, even still I have parts of the garden that have weeds knee tall. I wish all of the plants would grow as well as the weeds do. None the less things are growing and I am very pleased. With warmer dryer temps and no rain the harvest of the wheat has begun and is full throttle to get it cut and to the elevators. The harvest is about 3 weeks late this year due to the cooler temps we had at the beginning of summer. With shorter days and dew setting in the mornings and the mid August thunder and rain storms approaching the rush is on to complete cutting the wheat as soon as possible. Combines are running like mad to beat Mother Nature and Father Time. 

                                                                                                                               

A Peaceful Rest

     July 3rd. At this point in time this day is history. Most would associate this day with Independence Day. These two days hold the excitement that comes with the celebration of July 4th and remains our most favorite holiday to celebrate. These two days I hold close to my heart for my own reasons. My dear sweet Gran chose the Fourth of July for herself and her own independence away from this earth and has been resting peacefully for 6 years. I still think of her often and miss her sweet quiet ways.                                                                     July 3rd 2012 is the day our sweet boxer could no longer hold ground with a tumor in his brain. Our Angus fought a valiant battle. His silly-boy ways and soft snuff-a-loffagus nose, his unconditional love and acceptance and his cuddle-bug ways will be missed but we know that he is truly at peace and no longer in pain. I can't think of a better time or way to celebrate my Gran and our Angus then Independence Day!! 

Living Life

Who knew the past few months would have gone the way they did. I suppose it is just life. No one can plan it or make it follow a certain set way. You can only live it. Take what you have been given and run with it. If you don't then you have nothing to stand on and you cease making headway. Even the smallest steps are steps that keep you moving and moving forward. There are times that are good and times that are bad. It is during those bad times you learn about yourself. Your courage, your strength, the things that shake you to the core, your determination, your faith and trust in your Jesus. Sure there are those times that you want to go find a closet somewhere and close yourself up in it and cry yourself a puddle but you just can't. Not in that moment. Later. In it's own time. Things have taken a turn down a less hectic and troublesome road in the last weeks and the break is welcome. It's time to breath, breath deeply. To rest fully, mentally and physically. To be able to turn our focus to the simple and easy things around us. Truly those are the things that really matter. None of the busyness or lists of things that we think need to be accomplished. It is all of the little things that are so important and should not be overlooked or taken for granite. 

Be Thankful for Your Health!

Be thankful for your health! Do not take it for granite. I could have never imagined how much I have taken my health for granite. Over the past several months this is a lesson that I have been learning daily. People always tell you this and you think you understand and that you are thankful and not taking it for granite. Well maybe you are, just as I had thought I was being thankful, I really was just taking it all for granite. Being healthy if you haven't been dreadfully ill or been close to a loved one being dreadfully ill or maybe even the care giver of a loved one in these conditions - it comes into perspective quite clearly and very in-your-face. I am so thankful for my health and taking steps to insure that I continue to remain this way. Making a life style change to maintain that health and improve on it so my body can be a strong healthy body. Healthy-ness can be zapped away from you in a moment, one minute you can be moving along just fine and the next you are attacked with an illness that gets you flat on your back fighting to be back to your old self again. I'm not talking the common cold, flu, or allergies. These are nothing compared to a dreadfull illness. So if you have been able to rise every morning and enjoy the sunrise, or buck hay, tend garden, mow the lawn, feed your animals or simply enjoy a cup of coffee and move forward with your day, be thankful but truly thankful. Make the effort to help your healthy body stay healthy- make that effort a conscience one. Don't take it for granite!