Category: Gardening

Education, Gardening, Health, motherhood, Random, Reflection, Woman

Plant the Seed

Jeanne

We have all heard this before.

Well, maybe most of us…

Those who plant the seed may not always be the one who gets to water that seed. But, if we are blessed, we may be able to witness that seed sprout and grow in the future.

I have to slow down and remind myself to be patient. Especially in times of seed planting… not literally in seed planting, for I tend to have a black thumb.

But my type of seed planting is that of encouragement or knowledge or just… wisdom from a mid-life mama.

I have watched how my own four children have grown into some amazing human beings. As much as I want to take credit for their awesomeness, I realize that most of my “mothering” was really seed planting of their hearts and souls. I gave them consistency and intention and a whole lot of love and grace.

I believe that our society is lacking so much growth these days. The soil of our souls is depleted, and when a seed is planted we tend to grow cold, grow weeds, or just wither up and die.

We are in desperate need of a revival. A societal revival that emphasizes nourishing the soul of our souls. Taking time to find the things that make us grow as humans.

Love.

Generosity.

Kindness.

Empathy.

Forgiveness.

Remember, as I share my thoughts with you I am preaching to the choir. I am my own audience, too. I need to hear and see and believe these things.

For then, when my soul is nourished, the seeds that I plant in myself can grow in a healthy way. And I can bring the fruits of my labor to you, dear reader.

May you be blessed today because of your investment to become process driven, too.

#mysoulstory

#plantyourseeds

#nourishyoursoul

Faith, Gardening, Reflection

Why do the birds sing, mama?

Jeanne

Is there anything more beautiful than a red rose?

ImageThe beauty of flowers never cease to amaze me. They are the epitome of creation, in my humble opinion. They tell me a story of someone who loves another. They tell me that life can be beautiful – that life IS beautiful. They tell me that I should always hope.

Seasons for a Reason

Although I live in a dry climate that has two seasons (warm and hot) I still find it amazing at how the earth knows to cycle from winter to spring to summer and to fall, and then repeat all over again. My seven year old pointed this out to me yesterday. She noticed that last weekend’s rainstorm has produced “green” things all over again. She was asking how it happens. I could only reply, “Well, the earth knows that each new season appears every three months. It just knows to when to lose its leaves and let the living go to sleep for a few months of rest. It knows when to bring itself out of its sleep and start growing again.” She was satisfied with that answer.

For all of the studying I have done in regard to science, I feel so disadvantaged when my little girl can ask philosophical questions about the cycle of life. But, I also know that the simplicity of understanding “how” the world works can ease my limited mind. A child’s mind is so ready to know everything about everything! “Why is the sky blue?” “Why does the grass die in the winter?” “Why does the Sun go from one side to the other everyday?” I love the quizzical innocence, and I want to regain that sense of awe, too.

Why the Birds Sing

Recently, I heard a reason why the birds sing. They sing in the morning because it helps open up the flowers so they can be fed by the bees. Sound ridiculous? Maybe. But, in my mind, whether or not “science” can prove that statement, I am pleased with that answer. Think about it. Why else would the birds sing? Yes, they could be talking to each other. Yes, they could be early risers and just want to belt it out to the natural world that they are alive and well. And, yes, they could be singing to the flowers to wake up, get ready, and be fed. Whatever the reason, I know it is a miracle of life happening on a daily basis that allows these little birds to sing. They don’t ever worry about their lives. They don’t have to pay bills to get warm, or get gas so they can fly; nor do they go the grocery store to be fed. They live without a care in the world. They eat, sing, eat, poop, eat again, and rest.

My Favorite Season

I have to admit that Spring is my favorite season. It is the awesome reminder that life finds a way… after the silence of Winter… and before the full ripening of Summer. It reminds me that I can hope in my future, even when it feels hopeless. Going outside and listening to the singing birds, or watching the new green shoots press their way through last year’s bermuda, I feel a sense of calm and belonging. I wish this period of time could last forever, but I know that I would grow weary if nature was always blooming, but never in full bloom.

The way things are…

Just as seasons are cyclical, I believe that it how all of life on earth is, too. A baby cannot remain small forever. The child must grow into an adult. The adult is here for a long time, but with each orbit around the Sun, time brings the change no one wants to face: a few gray hairs (or loss thereof), a few more wrinkles, and perhaps the fading of beauty on the outside. All while the change appears on the outside, the inside can be renewed. Just like springtime, the spirit of man can go through seasons. There are period of silence, periods of growth, periods of stamina, and periods of loss. If embraced properly, these spiritual seasons can be blessings. So, think of the red rose. Its beauty will fade, and its leaves become humus and nourishment to the ground upon which it sprang. But, given time a new one will spring forth, and be the next reminder of why the birds sing.

Gardening, Miscellaneous

Pearls of Crimson

Jeanne

Here’s my original writing that has since been edited and published in the “Cranberry Christmas” e-book.  It is available for purchase at the Old Schoolhouse Magazine website: http://www.tosmag.com. I hope you enjoy my un-edited article.

Pearls of Crimson

Beneath the acres of sandy peat, acidic soil, and water lay hundreds of miles of intertwined vines of America’s crimson pearls. These red jewels of nature patiently blossom through the late frost of spring, and the hazy summer, awaiting full maturity by the cusp of fall. The water-filled “bogs” are the fields that cradle the fruit, carefully tended as the harvesters set forth to gather the coveted reward: the Cranberry.

The Cranberry has been planted and harvested for hundreds of years. This tiny, tart, red fruit had been a staple to the diet of indigenous members of the North American continent, and the early settlers of Europe discovered the fruit’s healing properties against diseases like scurvy. Today, scientists and engineers are learning that the Cranberry has some amazing power packed within its shiny red coating.

The inside of a Cranberry holds some of the world’s best healing agents such as vitamin C and fiber. These little gems of antioxidant power can fight off infections, boost the immune system, and restore balance at the cellular level. The ammunition of antioxidants also helps to ward off heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and ulcers.

The Cranberry may be considered as the “mitochondria” of all fruit; it is a powerhouse of energy that replenishes the weary body through the removal of free radicals and the resurgence of essential nutrients. The Cranberry contains a phytochemical called proanthocyanidin to help protect the cells from free radical damage. Other important free radical fighting phytochemicals include quercitin, an anti-inflammatory agent, and myricetin, an iron-binding, anti-inflammatory agent. They also contain hippuric acid, which promotes an anti-bacterial response, and may also help with arthritis.

A recent study by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Science Daily, 2010) found that cranberry juice cocktail has blocked a bacterial strain called Staphylococcus aureus from forming an infection. These drug-resistant bacteria are creating havoc among hospitals, nursing homes, and other community sources. These types of scientific studies show promise of using a natural remedy, such as Cranberry juice, to help prevent bacterial-infected outbreaks of communicable diseases.

One of the popular ways to enjoy the benefits of cranberries is to drink a juice cocktail. Cranberry juice is well-known for its ability to prevent, or sometimes treat, urinary tract infections. Some people may not know that cranberries are used for other reasons beyond its stellar nutritional value. Cranberries may also be used in lotions and soaps; dried cranberries are gathered into vases for aesthetic home décor; fermented cranberries are transformed into wine; and, health supplements have created a cranberry extract in pill form! For the chocolate lover there are also chocolate-coated cranberry treats for a semi-healthy indulgence.

Who would have known that Cranberries are such amazing little fruit? Designed by an amazing Creator, this unique red berry holds nutritional and healing properties that have recently captured the attention of the scientific world. These pearls of crimson lay vast across the northern plains, awaiting their harvest to fulfill their duty for sustenance, for health, and for pleasure.

References:

http://www.cranberries.org/resources/links.html

http://www.cranberries.org/cranberries/grow_intro.html

http://www.wiscran.org/health_benefits_0003/positively_good_for_you_0019.html

http://www.wiscran.org/about_cranberries_0002/cranberry_facts_0029.html

http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/proanthocyanidins.php

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2010, September 3). Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 14, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/09/100901132233.htm

Gardening, Music, Reflection

When September Ends

Jeanne

I am thankful for the seasons. I believe that the seasons were made so we could look forward to the changes in nature. As much as I love the summer, and all the things that make summer so wonderful, I am grateful for the time when September ends. The autumn equinox brings about a change in season, when the abundant life of Spring and Summer gives way to the changes of Fall. The leaves begin to turn, the days grow shorter, the weather becomes cooler. Life, in a sense, is preparing to slumber.

We are enjoying an early change to Fall this year. Every year is different, and no one knows if the change will happen at the beginning of October, or if it will happen near the end of October. I love the fact that the weather will change earlier this year. We get more time to experience the nostalgia and the notions of Fall.

I can’t really explain the gratitude I feel for the change of seasons. I am learning that there are seasons to my own life. Some seasons of my life feel like the world is a frozen tundra, where I am surrounded by white sheets of ice, waiting for the sun of spring to melt the frost. Other seasons include the joyous outbreaks of spring, where I feel like I can fly with the eagles. My life is flourishing and I am growing in the rain and the sun. The season of spring happily greets the warmth of summer, and the two combine their strengths to ensure a long stretch of development and potential.

When September ends the time has come for the approaching harvest. All of the growth, the stretching, and the endurance of summer’s heat prepare my heart and my mind for the upcoming harvest: the test of my growth. What have I accomplished this year? What have I learned through trials and joys? What am I producing, my figurative fruit, that will pass on to the next generation? Are my branches and roots sturdy enough to bring me through the winter? Will I be able to hibernate in peace, and await for next spring’s glorious return? Will I yield to the Creator, to harvest the depths of my soul?

Lyrics to the famous Green Day Song:
Summer has come and passed, the innocent can never last, wake me up when September ends.
Like my fathers come to pass, seven years has gone so fast, wake me up when September ends.
Here comes the rain again falling from the stars, drenched in my pain again, becoming who we are.
As my memory rests, but never forgets what I lost, wake me up when September ends.

Gardening

Gearing up for Spring!

Jeanne

It’s January 31, the sun is shining, the weather is a gorgeous 75 degrees, so what could be better than planting a garden? We are slowly but surely finishing our side yard. We’ve put down the final railroad ties w/o any trips to the ER, we’re trying to get the final 70 stone tiles to finish the patio, and we’ve got a few flowers planted. We’re still figuring out how to build the chicken coop; yes, I said chickens. There won’t be any roosters in our pen, though, we’ve made a few jokes about that! We need to finish the picket fence, and then start on planting some more seeds for the spring garden. Oh, and our big surprise… we found a dead snake by the pool! The kids were so excited to see the shell – vertebrae and all! It makes me wonder how long the snake was there before it died, and how it died. But, at least it’s dead, and that’s okay with me!

Well, I am off to finish my second paper for the school semester!