Summer Snapshots

The pandemic season may have kept me out 

of the garden centers, but my mailbox has done 

a brisk business. Park Seed Company provided 

wonderful seed packets in early spring. 

The entire process of planting and watering provided 

the perfect distraction from virus droplets, 

un-flattened curves, and

the mask/no-mask debate. 

And look at just two of the rewards of that labor: 

cleome

dwarf mix sunflower

This little stripey gourd is from last fall's leftovers.

We're enjoying lots of family gatherings.

Our backyard has never seemed more like a safe haven 

than it does now. 

But we're going out into the wide world soon, 

if we can only remember how to vacation out there.

 I found this reminder from 2015:

My family has changed so drastically since this vacation 

photo was taken. Instead of five, we are nine. 

And now I'm not the only female among men—

I'm joined by three amazing lovelies. 

Together, I think we balance out the group well. 

Grandchildren provide endless entertainment, 

hugs, and giggles—the biggest upgrade of all.

Read the vacation blog post from 2015 here. 

"Worth It" 

Plenty of Space

Sapphire skies host cotton candy clouds while

drowsy river waters float Kentucky kayaks

and carry conversations,

bouncing laughter bank to bank and back. 

Paddles dip, then lift and switch—

providing plenty of space for the 

what-ifs, 

how-abouts, 

and did-you-evers

which stitch our summer together.

Please, Please ...

Recently a dear friend asked me if I've ever eaten fiddleheads. 

Have I ever consumed miniature packets of potential, bundles of soon-to-unfurl beauty?

No way, no how.

Ferns are among the most tenacious of garden ladies. 

While other plants continue to snooze under winter blankets of cold leaves and chilly air, 

ferns stretch their lovely limbs and gather weakly-warm sunbeams. 

And like this intrepid example, they grow anywhere a spore may land—even on

 the face of a brick wall in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. 

My vacationing family kept walking while I lagged behind to admire, and be inspired by, this 

persistent plant—untended, unplanned, and possibly only appreciated by me.

And now, you. 

There's much to learn from this unlikely teacher, the humble fern. 

 So please, please—don't eat the fiddleheads. 

***

Other garden ladies I've observed here and here. 

Four-Layer Cereal Treats or Lake House Snacks

If you take your clan to a lake house, they're going to want these. 

This weekend I saw someone in a float, munching one of these

and paddling along with the other hand. Sunshine, water, and a good snack—bliss!

These layered cereal treats are easy to make ahead, look special, transport well, and ...

they're so easy!

Prepare: 
Completely line two 9"x13" pans with parchment paper. Coat the parchment lining with cooking spray. 

Gather ingredients: 
1 stick butter, divided 
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
6 1/2 cups plain crispy rice cereal
6 1/2 cups cocoa-flavored crispy cereal
2 10-ounce packages of mini marshmallows

Instructions:
In a large non-stick pan, combine 4 T. butter, vanilla, and one package of marshmallows over low heat. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted. Remove from heat and add the plain cereal. Stir until the cereal is coated. Divide the cereal mixture in half and spread each half evenly in the bottom of the pans using a buttered spoon back. Press it gently into flat layers. You should have two pans, each containing a flattened layer of vanilla cereal mixture.

In the same non-stick pan, combine remaining butter, cocoa, and one package of marshmallows over low heat. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted. Remove from heat and add the cocoa cereal. Stir until the cereal is coated. Divide this mixture in half and spoon it over the first layers in each pan. Using the buttered spoon, spread and press it evenly over the first layers, making the second layers. You will have two pans, each with two layers—vanilla and chocolate.

While the layers are still warm, carefully lift one of the parchment linings with its two layers and place it lightly in the other 9x13 pan, on top of its two layers. Gently slide the parchment paper out, creating four layers. Press lightly to join the layers.  

Cool completely, then use a buttered knife to cut.
*Hint: Use a plastic knife to cut these or any kind of sticky dessert. The treat won't stick to a plastic knife and the pieces will be neat and tidy, with the layers intact.

Customize:
Sprinkle mini-chocolate chips before you transfer the topping layers and create a yummy filling. Look for strawberry-flavored crispy rice cereal and create a Neopolitan-style layered treat with three layers of color and flavor. The plain cereal will accept any flavor or food coloring to match the theme of a party or event. 

Mile High

Mile-high summer sky.

Impossible blue too good to be true.

Swing-low cumulus glide over us.

Rush away before the day

fades to gray.

-shs

*Photo from Lake Cumberland vacation 2016.

The Fervent Beachcomber

 Steve took me to Savannah for a few days, 

a sweet birthday gift, maybe the very nicest part of turning fifty.

We left our spectacular room at the East Bay Inn and made the twenty-minute 

drive to Tybee Island.

 The early morning view was jaw-dropping. We roamed the beach and found a small, live sand dollar. 

Completely engaged in watching its tiny bristles move in the stiff beach breeze, 

 we didn't notice her approach. 

A hat-wearing beachcomber leaned in like an old friend, wanting a better view of the sand dollar. 

In shaky, ominous tones, the older woman narrated the plight of the sea creatures around

 Tybee due to recent offshore dredging. Obviously concerned for the life 

of the sand dollar still bristling

 in my husband's hand, she testified that the best policy is to 

"throw it back into the waves, and give it a fighting chance."

 As she edged nearer, I got the idea that she planned to snatch the sand dollar  

from my husband's hand and run into the waves, alone on a daring 

rescue mission to return it safely to Neptune's bosom. 

So my husband threw it into the waves himself, saving her the trouble, 

and she walked on with a smile and a casual (but triumphant) wave. 

Desperate

Look! It's my birthday ... weed. 

Let's face facts - not much is blooming in mid-August, 

except ironweed.  

Just before my birthday and just before school started, 

we took a desperate-to-hold-on-to-summer outing to Lake Cumberland. 

The boats were all rented when we arrived, so 

we took in the sights at the fish hatchery, 

where only a certain sort of person is admitted.

(But I got in anyway!)

The next day, we rented  the tiniest, fastest  little pontoon available; the weather 

was perfect for boating, floating, and sky-gawking. 

Not so much for fishing ... 

Is it wrong to pray fervently for fish to bite?

Look at my handsome husband out there, waiting for me with a float built for two.

He thinks I'm still able to dive in with hardly a splash. 

Such a funny guy! 

Verse and Vacation

*

What do you think of this verse from my morning reading? 

It jumped out and grabbed my shirt collar. 

"Now unto the King 

eternal, 

immortal, 

invisible, 

the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. 

Amen."

1 Timothy 1:17

Join me--let this bang around in your head today. 

It might make its way twelve inches south and have real 

impact when it lodges in our hearts. 

I'm asking for that.

Eternal ... immortal ... invisible

Opportunity for extra pondering here.

-------------------------

Side Notes:
* This photo from a recent family trip to Williamsburg, VA, was taken from the steps of the oldest building on the campus of William & Mary College, the Wren Building, 1695. (1695!!!) 

** Family vacations still belong to our original five: my husband, myself, and our three mostly-grown, unmarried sons. To our yearly surprise, they look forward to this tradition. Lots of quality free food may be a contributing factor. Vacationing with these adult-ish versions of the children we raised, sharing memories and making new ones, is an unexpected and cherished blessing. 

When we go on vacation, dreams are spun. The unusual conversational freedom is an absolute highlight for me, and this trip was no exception. Miles flew by as we hashed out plans for an entrepreneurial adventure inspired by an expressway billboard. The structure of a niche business was built over a plate of chili cheese fries. In addition to frisbees on the beach, plots were tossed to attend William & Mary, get coordinating degrees, and relocate to lovely Virginia. 

*** I keep a brief record of what happens on each day of vacation, including the funny quotes, favorite meals, and activities. Over breakfast or in the car on the way to the next stop, I scribble short notes in a cheap notebook, asking the group for contributions. Sometime soon, I'll show you how to use what you bring home to make a super-shortcut memory book.

Worth It

Look - there they go! 

My family. 

I love to lag behind and watch them walk ahead of me.

When my boys were little, love for them overwhelmed me sometimes.

Can you identify?

As they've turned into adults, my mostly-grown men have put us through 

some wear and tear. It's the way of transformation - 

bystanders often sustain injuries. 

Can you identify?

But family vacations have magical, healing properties.

The air of  other places  threads between and around each person, 

and silken bonds of shared memories twine among us.

Vacation jokes, navigation mishaps, food indulgences, music choices - 

things we'll talk over, and laugh about, for years to come.

We would certainly have more dollars in the bank if we bypassed these trips.

Every year, we consider this fact.

Right before we begin to make plans to go again. 

* * *

Check out these vacation websites - you can take a vacation 

and keep some dollars in your pocket, too. 

Here and here. 

Take It All

 The old hymns, 

I know I've said this before

 they float around in my head and appear at the oddest moments. Verses of song 

from my very early youth may pop forward while washing dishes, watering the gardens, in the shower... 

Is it something in the water???

*

And  I'm hoping the Holy Spirit will do the same for my sons - 

bring sacred things to the front. 

At this point in their lives, all the scripture verses and chapters they memorized and 
the few hymns I taught them as children seem to be buried.

But buried treasure is still treasure, folks.

*

And the best news of all is that the Faithful One knows exactly where it's buried 

and the perfect moment to retrieve it.

*

Here's the buried treasure He dug up and offered to me today, sung in a new way - 

certainly not the as in the Methodist days of (my) yore. 

Take My Life, and Let It Be

traditional music here - this is more my yore

Will you dare to ponder these verses with me and consider what might happen 

if we prayed this and really meant it? 

Not the Sunday Morning Version of consideration, please.

I'll speak for myself and admit that too often, instead joining in wholly dedicated worship, I'm actually pondering:

what happened before we arrived in the building 

 my own uncomfortable state of being

what my pew-mates may be thinking/saying/doing

how the worship team stays in perfect unity

the amazing enthusiasm of the deaf interpreter

after church plans and schemes ...

NO, let's not indulge this quarter-hearted rumination!

Take five minutes with me and really let these words sink down deep, where  you hoard 

your pile of Authentic Self. Turn the verses over a few times, read them in reverse order, 
say them aloud and ask yourself -

WHAT might He do with me if I sincerely and unabashedly 
fling the entire pile of myself at His feet? 

Romans 12:1

1 Corinthians 2:9-12



* photos from Colonial Williamsburg, VA trip, 2014

Misplaced Faith

When you have a car full of teenaged loved ones, a traffic back-up on the express way can cause some pretty rash driving decisions. So we believed the GPS when it said we could get to the pizza place by an 

'alternate route'. 

Oh the FAITH required to use a GPS! 

Off we went, following the directions in a blow-by-blow format, thinking SOMEhow we would arrive

 in a busy college town after driving further and further, deeper and deeper  into farmland.

This is where we were when the GPS said something none of us had ever heard before:

Prepare to park your car and continue to your destination on foot.

Misplaced faith, for sure.

Head in the Clouds

We did a LOT of driving in June, trekking to the Smoky Mountains and 

Virginia Beach. On our last day of vacation, instead of dozing with head 

lolling for the entertainment of the all, I was snapping these.

Does anyone see the elephant in these clouds?

A scary clown???

In the home stretch, there was a heated ABC Game*, with a unsolvable snarl 

around letter 'X'.  I ended up on the losing team.

So glad to be home and back in familiar routines!

SIDE NOTE:

*The ABC Game - Our Version - This can be played as an all car game or as a competition between teams, persons, rows, etc.  I prefer the competition since I want to be the winner, of course. Work your way through the alphabet, in order, finding words on signs, buildings, trucks, other cars, license plates - anything. 

- Yell out your word and tack on irritating celebration phrases like, "Take that, Sucka!" (I'm sharing the most polite examples here.) If you have a wicked laugh, throw that in too.

- No abbreviated words or acronyms allowed: KOA does not count for letter 'K'. 

Especially since the 'K' in that word stands for 'Kampgrounds', one of those nasty intentional misspellings. 

- No reusing exactly the same word by multiple teams/players:

 " 'C' - Cracker!" 

"Oh! 'C' for us too - Cracker!"

Nope. No way, no how. Find your own C.

Same word found on different signs - that's (reluctantly) allowed.

- Special allowances are made for Q and X and maybe Z, if you get that far. Any word CONTAINING one of these can count.  

- Placing a friendly bet can keep things interesting. Some examples: 

Winner gets to choose the radio station for 50 miles.

Loser carries the winner's luggage.

Winner gets first bed choice. 

Winner gets to order first at the next restaurant.

Loser cleans the garbage out of the car at the next stop.

Winner gets to choose a treat at the next gas station.

Loser may not speak for an hour ... (a personal favorite)

Garden Notes 6/19/14

 Last year's dead hydrangea canes have made some nice mini-teepee poles -

the perfect size for a container. Gotta get SOMEthing good out of all those 

frozen canes!

- The Don Juan rose is BACK!!! Thank goodness I was too lazy to dig up the entire bush and only cut it off! One nice red cane coming up from the heart of the root ball.
- I've been longing for cleome this year - planned it out last fall. A big patch right where some nasty black eyed susans had spread. Have sewn 3 x in various areas from last year's seed. Nothing. Then along a bed edge where I usually spray weed killer - a whole bunch of mid-sized seedlings!  I transplanted them to the spot where I originally wanted to grow them. Felt like the Lord gave me a sweet gift.
- A clicking/knocking sound in a certain area in the long bed, near neighbor's wisteria. What is it???
- The sun flowers are killing it! They might make 'mammoth' status this year.
- Different stem colors for different zinnia seeds - never noticed that before.
- Red coneflower - sigh!  :0)  Wonderful!
- Cut back the r. sage ready-to-flower growth. The similarly trimmed b. e. susans are frantically sprouting new bloom stems with much smaller leaves - interesting conservation of energy on the part of the plant in order to achieve bloom 'on time'.
- Datura is gone gone gone. (Guess I shouldn't have said "thank you"...)
- Very delicate columbine seedlings coming up around the two main plants. Going to try to keep these open to the sun, and see if I can establish some new plants.
- I think the potted blackberry hydrangea has a small side growth that could be separated to make a new plant. Separate them in the fall. How to make the more raspberry color darker blue blackberry again? Try the old rusty nails trick?

We spent a whole day of our vacation hobnobbing with people like this.

They all had alot to say and with such DRAMA!

 It was fascinating - every. single. minute.

Home Again

A week is  along time to be on vacation. 

It can get a little big jiggy at the end.

Three adult-sized males 

crammed in the rear of even a generously sized (rented) SUV can be 

unenthusiastic travel companions when facing an eight hour drive home.

 It makes coming home all the sweeter, doesn't it?

Vacation photos of the fun part - - - soon to follow.

***

My speedwell was going strong a couple of weeks ago. Bees love the purple-blue spikes which are upright and colorful all the way to the end of their bloom time. When they're finished though, they're like  old ladies who've been too long at the ball - they lay all over gasping and taking up too much room. I trim mine back to about three inches. They look awful for a couple of weeks, while the other plants fill in and disguise their rough mornings. But soon speedwell will green back up and make nice foliage plants with a stray bloom here and there for the rest of the summer. They love the sun but will also bloom in pretty deep shade.

 

We've Been Away

It's easy to recommend St. Augustine as a nice place to celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary.

We spent a whole week there - SEVEN nights - and decided that might be a little too long to be away.

We got a whole lot of sand between our toes as we jockeyed from beach to beach,

 looking for just the right spot. 

(Found it on the last day at Vilano Beach.)

Visited as many cemeteries as we could - most of them are locked up

unless you're on a GHOST TOUR.

This carving in a tombstone from the late 1700's caught my eye.

"Look at that, hubs - is that amazing or what?!"

"Tombstones just aren't that amazing, sweetheart."

 Endured an agonizing sales pitch for the resort where we were staying

(We ended up giving them the most ridiculous bottom line figures in answer to:

"What would it cost to make you an owner today?" Knowing the salesguy would 

have to politely decline our thrift - but he met it instead. Then we had to turn him down.)

in order to get a $100 Visa which we used to buy our private eco-tour of the bay with Captain Kyle.

We unashamedly became Total Tourist Nerds with trolley stickers, visitor bands,  

appropriately painful sunburns and audio tour devices. 

It was all good - we had lots and lots of company. 

At least I didn't sport a fanny pack.

Here's a tourist SHOULD for free:

People should keep their knees together when riding in a full trolley seat, 

instead of sitting like bullfrogs wearing short pants and tube socks.

And yes, even the elderly should follow this rule, I believe.

Our eyes were trained on the beaches searching for sharks teeth,

and on the skies, too.

More on St. Augustine coming your way soon.

It'll be like the missionary slide show held in the church hall 

on a slow Baptist Wednesday night.