Off to some greats starts...

1. One of my thought-to-be-rotted-in-the-ground Dahlias is making a surprise appearance YAY!
2. The beginnings of luscious strawberries - thanks again Amy!
3. The strawberry patch (one of four planters) where I don't have to pay "Organic" prices... another YAY!
4. Sweet peas
5. Cosmos that survived the snails and rain
6. My new oriental poppy that'll be pale pink with a black center - can't wait!
7. Had to include my Icelandic Poppy that apparently likes its new home...
8. Semi-double Shasta Daisy - the picture on the tag reminds me of a white boa...
9. Flox start (right AmberB.? correct me on these if I got them wrong, after I got all the starts home I wasn't sure I remembered them all)
10. ? Can't remember the name...
11. Mint
12. ? Was this the flowering Oregano?
13. Pink Columbine
14. Violets
15. Sweet Little Forget-Me-Nots...
16. close up of Forget-Me-Nots
17. Goose Neck (still freaking out from being transplanted, but I think it'll survive)
18-25 more of same...

HUGE shout out to Amber B's generosity in sharing her garden with me...
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!

A lot of people say we look alike... I just don't know...

Baby steps

Thrift

What will be Echinacea

Icelandic Poppy

Lamb's Ear (for Sarah to play with/feel - she's dubbed it "bunny ear")

Pesticides in Produce - What to buy organic....

After having a conversation in the nursery today at church, I thought that posting this website might make sense. I've always wondered if buying organic ALL the time made sense. This website has a "Dirty Dozen" List and the "Cleanest 12" and a longer list of produce items that are rated according to pesticide toxicity. I've used it to help me know that passing up the "organic" bananas makes sense, and only buying strawberries, apples etc. makes much more sense...

The SUN is SHINING!!!

Oh, and since more cyclists and bikers will be out, check out the link below...

If your graphics card isn't so great (like ours that makes videos like this stop/start)
be sure to watch it on YouTube the first time...

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

Love that static...

A good thatching

I don't think I can help it. I always seem to think of spiritual analogies when it comes to the yard... Be it dirt, weeding, new plants, pruning, or in this case, thatching the yard, something always strikes me as a spiritual lesson that God is pressing on my heart. While Todd was out being the handsome hardworking home owner last weekend and wielding the beast of a machine (that a thatcher is if it's not self propelled) it got me thinking that I wish I could thatch (or would that be de-thatch? You know what I mean...) myself. You know all the stuff that isn't essential to my days, but is just there. Not necessarily essentially sinful, or bad in and of itself, but just extra and perhaps preventing new "seeds" to grow up in me. Like patience, it's something that I'm a little hesitant to pray about since I'm not sure what the process will be like to be de-thatched by God. I trust that Rom. 8:28 is true, and God is good so I want to start praying that He take the "extra clutter" out - whatever that might mean AND that I would recognize it and be obedient to surrendering to Him in whatever area that might mean... Yeah, its a lot of work and afterwards it might mean being a little beat up and scruffy, but it'll be fun waiting to see how the seeds sprout up...

Wordless Wednesday

The "4 things" Thing...
about me that you may or may not have known.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Movie theater concessions/Fabricland/REI cashier
2. Secretary for Merry Maids
3. Hostess for Olive Garden
4. Resident Advisor at Western

Four places I have lived:
1. Spokane, WA
2. Bellingham, WA
3. Edmonds, WA
4. Lynnwood, WA

Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Masterpiece Theater - Jane Austen Series
2. Carrier w/Todd
3. House (if I catch it)
4. Food Network shows if I have time

Four places I have been:
1. Zeballos, BC
2. Southern Utah in 110 degree weather hiking the nat'l parks there
3. France
4. Germany

Four blogs I read regularly:
Whoever posts today...

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Vegetables in general
2. homemade bread with butter
3. Margaretta pizza
4. Miso soup

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. outside gardening
2. hanging out with friends
3. reading a really great book
4. hiking a trail with Todd and Sarah

Four friends that I think (want) will respond:
Anyone who hasn't already done this... as usual, I'm on the later side of doing it...

Four things I look forward to in the next year:
1. redoing our kitchen!!!
2. visiting family at Christmas
3. holding new little ones (of my girlfriends...)
4. enjoying making myself get down time to study

Now if you read this you have been Tagged!! It's your turn!!!

It starts with a ferry ride...

takes you past this sign...

...includes wise, wacky, and wonderful women seeking God...

Authentic sharing of real life stuff...

...beauty seen in the laying down of self, and just being rather than doing for God...

Ephesians 4:2-3
Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Love you ladies!
I'll "retreat" with you any time...