Recently I was rummaging through old digital images and found these keepers from 2014. Surprisingly I have never shared them and forgot them in this busy whirlwind of life. It was an emotional time as our family was getting ready to say good luck to our oldest son, Dylan as he made his way to college in Maine. Branden was still in high school and entering his junior year.
This October trip was our last one as a family and I could already feel significant differences. Our boys weren’t boys anymore but strong young men with dreams and hopes for their futures. As they walked the path to the ocean, I couldn’t help compare it to their new lives. Looking out upon the vast and open ocean, perhaps my sons thought of their uncertain but exciting future! The never ending water symbolized their journey into the unknown real world. No more mom and dad holding their hands or life in a small town as they knew all their lives.
The few family vacations we ventured on were to the beach at Ogunquit, Maine. Years ago, as little active boys they would run and kick the sand and chase after the seagulls. Wading in and out of the rushing in tide could entertain them for hours. We would laugh and play and soak in the sun. Those memories will live with me forever.
This trip they gazed at the ocean, sat in the sand and walked up to the approaching tide. It was a chilly but bright October day with few crowds. Most people were bundled in coats or sweatshirts and merely walked the ocean’s edge unlike the brave summer swimmers from months before.
I feel grateful beyond belief that Tom and I had all this God given time with our sons. Now, as they start their new lives, we welcome all their stories and life experiences and offer wise advice when they ask for it. This is a happy and joyful time of our lives where we look forward to our family expanding and being grandparents someday!
What a blessing to find these pictures during a time I feel nostalgic of family times. This wasn’t the best of trips but just as meaningful and I’m so happy that we did it that weekend and enjoyed our sons as grown men!
It really is amazing where this writer finds her inspiration! Sometimes a blurb on the news or a passionate song blaring on the radio motivates me to jot down thoughts and ideas for my blog. Yesterday I heard another song on my car radio that I love and it energized me to write. Unlike many songs, it was the words that strongly spoke to me.
Have you heard, In the Blood by John Mayer? If you haven’t, look it up and absorb the lyrics.
Good afternoon to you all! Yesterday I walked around my yard checking my flowers and plants out. I guess most people enjoy doing this…hearing the birds, having the sun shine on my cheeks, seeing beauty and growth in my flowers! These moments I am truly grateful for because it feeds my soul and alleviates everyday stresses. If you garden, you probably know what I mean. Gardening is a peaceful activity and reminds me of a meditation that I can do at home and several times a day.
As I walked the lawn’s edge past our towering pine tree ( it’s about a hundred feet tall) and approached the birch, I was surprised to find my little purple gems blossomed! I’m not sure if they are a morning glory variety but I speculate they are since they open up in the morning and close late afternoon and night.
Several years ago my husband’s employer had her flower garden reconstructed and had a few flowers that she didn’t want anymore. Tom happily took these beauties and planted them at our house beside a lone birch tree by the road. We have never really taken care of them and didn’t need to. They seemed to do well where he planted them but now I’m not sure if I should divide them? The clumps look quite big and messy and I even had to stake one bunch because the flowers were drooping down on the ground.
I need some gardening advice, folks! Should I stake the rest and divide them in the fall? Any other suggestions on what to do with them? If you know this plant species name that would be helpful too. Am I right with the morning glory guess?
Blessings to you all. I hope your summer is off to a great start! Lately in New Hampshire, we’ve had beautiful sunny warm weather with a cool breeze which absolutely equals heaven! It’s spectacular weather for gardening, strolling along your yard and reading a book!
Two weeks ago my husband and I planted our annual vegetable garden. It was quite a project and took longer than we expected. As the sun warmed the earth, there was that sticky change in the air. It was the distinct sign of rain, as bugs went crazy in our face and nibbled at our exposed ears. Although our bout with the annoying insects drove us crazy and tried our patience, we still persevered at our gardening task with a farmer’s steadfast determination.
A tilled sandy garden plot from the very beginning of the season.
My husband and I are quite a team because we work together in tandem like a well oiled machine, but we should, as we have been doing this for a few years now. It’s our fourth year planting here at our home overlooking our pond. Before that we worked and enjoyed a vegetable plot for sixteen years. It’s just what we do in June with persistent faith in what will grow. Tom raked the rows and I planted the seeds and plants. After it all was planted and marked, we watered the rows for the first time.
Here we are immersed in the June season…a time to start anew and plant in hopes of mother nature’s cooperation. It’s a rush to plant because if you wait until now it may be too late. The growing season is so short lived here that time is of the essence. I always start the first weekend of June for I fear the weather will have a frost or my delicate saplings won’t make the cold weather. So we plant hurriedly in hopes of a harvest in July, August and September depending on what vegetables they are.
A little view of our planted product in the early stages!
A New England tip for gardener’s is to not only sow seeds but buy or start plants for a head start. I don’t have a sun room or anything ideal to start seeds in February, although a greenhouse would be nice someday! Buying started vegetable plants boosts your garden and you will harvest much quicker than if you started planting seeds. Some veggies grow super fast, so those you can sow seeds and it’s fine. They are green beans, carrots, spinach and lettuce, herbs, and radishes to name a few. I always choose tomato, squash, cucumber and eggplant plants so that I can harvest in June for the cukes and August and September for the rest.
In previous years my dad always has his ground seeds planted by mid May while my plot hasn’t even been tilled yet! The amazing thing is that he lives even more north of me and has different weather but it seems to always work out for him. I have to remember that he’s retired as well and has more time on his hands than me! This year he has a little greenhouse with shelves in it to grow veggies in containers and then he’s placing the containers outside where his garden was. I wish him well with his new system and there will be less weeds doing it this way.
my spooky owl that hopefully will scare little critters from our harvest.
This year we had a deluge of rain, raining just about every day and as that happened, our brook bordering our woods was churning and bubbling fast because of all the water rush. I hoped that our seeds wouldn’t rot in all the muck but with wishful thinking and the warm sun pulling its weight now, it all will be fine.
Gardening takes lots of patience…patience for it to happen on it’s terms and not yours. Here it’s been two weeks since I planted and little has changed with the plants, although most planted seeds have sprouted from the earth. I can continuously check every day like an anxious elementary child who has sown her bean seed in a little cup. Even so, if I constantly watch for some growth, it’s definitely not going to speed up it’s progress.
This year our vegetable garden includes corn, green beans, carrots, two kinds of cucumbers ( straight 8’s and pickling), beets, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, basil, thyme, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, buttercup squash, zucchini and summer squash, tomatoes ( cherry and early girl), and marigolds lined up as soldiers to ward off the pests.
Have you planted your garden yet? What did you plant for your family and friends? I wish you many harvested goodies from your countless hours of gardening! The pure gift of sunshine and freshly fallen rain helps a bunch and a never ending faith of what will be.
All My Best,
Heart and Soul
My little row of carrots, broccoli, and Swiss chard. Oops! A footprint!
Life in modern times is a go-go- go marathon crammed full of workdays, commitments, and appointments. As an empty nest mother my routine has changed a bit and slowed down, but not as much as I expected. There are still work and house chores that must be met and then the rush takes over, especially when I’m working five days a week. Now summer is upon us and with that is the joy of our youngest son home from college. Summer days will run slower than the school year but even so there is always work and commitments to fulfill.
There are times I have to remind myself that the rush of life isn’t healthy or meaningful. We all need to practice being still. Just existing without being entertained or worked is difficult because we are not taught this. It’s an essential habit that we must learn. I am working on living this and it’s not easy because I’m used to loudness and being busy.
I notice that our American culture is focused on entertainment and keeping busy. Just look at most families and their practices with their children. Many families schedule clubs, sports and commitments intertwined with school. Ballet classes, soccer games, karate meets, and the list goes on! With hectic schedules, what are we truly teaching our children? That they have to be scheduled and entertained? That being on the go is much more valuable than being still?
I disagree with this mindset and wish that mothers and fathers would wake up. I do realize all this activity is born out of love for their children but is it healthy? What will our society turn into if no one is taught to be still and live in the moment. Is it such as bad thing to stay home on weekends and sit in the grass or look up at the clouds? How about simply listening to nature or reading a book?
Here are some small ways I’m attempting to live in stillness and live with meditative intention:
Be still in the wee early hours of the morning. Drink your coffee or tea in peace. You don’t always need to talk, just savor it and quiet your mind. I like this time of day to pray or quietly reflect on life.
Be still when you are sick. I have a hard time with this one and don’t always listen to my body when I should. When you are sick, you need to rest. Everything else can wait, including work, family and commitments because if you don’t rest, then it’ll take longer to join the rat race.
Be still in silence when praying. Clear your mind of that day’s happenings or what someone said to you in haste. Focus on your prayer intention. In the silence of the evening I practice prayer for family, friends and people I don’t know who need to be lifted up with His promise.
Take this tranquil pill everyday when you can take the time for you. It doesn’t matter when it is, whether it’s in the early morning or late at night. Close your eyes. Clear your thoughts and judgements. Breathe in and out, listening to your chest inhale and exhale. Simply be quiet and you will feel relaxed and reenergized. It’s a time of renewal for yourself….to just be. Do it for your well being everyday!
Sometimes it can be a true challenge but I attempt stillness in different ways everyday. It’s a form of meditation that’s good for your body and soul!
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength and my refuge, is in God.
Psalm 62:7
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 63:8
My grandmother Gould (who I called Nanny) was a constant worrier. She worried about car accidents and snow storms. A mere rain shower would unravel her composure and she wore the little plastic hats over her hair because she was worried about her hairstyle being messed up. Even though I remember all this, I also reflect on happy and joyful times with her.
First photo is of my mom, myself in my early twenties and my nan Gould. Second is of my mom, brother David, myself and Nan at the pancake house in North Haverhill.
It seemed to consume her and I really noticed it once I grew up and after my grandfather passed away. I think I’ve been passed down her worry genes! I remember even as a little girl worrying about things. Once when my mom was bringing us home from my favorite aunt and uncle’s house , it was really foggy and I opened the car door to get my mom’s attention. (stupid, huh?) I was worried about her driving but looking back, I’m not sure why I thrust the door open…what would that accomplish?
It’s taken me years to recover from and control it but I believe I’m doing it. I am aware that I’m not the only one with the anxiety fight. Many people crawl their way through life with the constant cloud hung over them, worry. It surely affects decisions, plans, relationships and adventures. How can one truly enjoy and indulge in an adventure if worry taints it? Spontaneous adventures are meant to be carefree and fun, without pressure, anxiety or stress.
My boys and I
Now when I start to worry about my boys and what they are doing, I put it out there and then squash it. Instead of dwelling on it, I hand it to God and pray. Then all the negative worry and energy transforms into positive thoughts. I let Him shoulder the weight and He pulls through for me EVERY TIME, in one way or another.
What a relief it is…to let go of worry and channel it into something healthy and good! I only wish that my nanny would have done this…let go of worry and trusted the Lord instead. I write this post thinking of her, despite her worry she was a champion of grandmothers and loved me dearly. As a matter of fact, I was named after her.
My latest motto is “no worries!” It’s a blessing to say it and pass it on when communicating with others who are worried or apprehensive about their situation. It also conveys the message to “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Instead give it to God.
Good Saturday Morning to you all! I just received a Word press message that announced that I have written 200 posts within the last 15 months! I have truly enjoyed every moment! Thank you for reading my posts, which is an act of faith in me and your genuine interest in my topics. It means the world to me and fuels my fire to keep writing and sharing my thoughts.
Greetings! I’m passionate about the natural world we inhabit; the written word; and photography. Oh, and I should mention – I’m an eternal optimist. My cup is always half full.
heartandsoul974 