sounds of silence

sometimes I get tired of thinking of titles

VBS is going well. A large portion of the activities occur outside in a tent. The first night's photos in the tent taught me a few lessons and last night's photos are much better. I have so many fun photos of the kids that I would love to share but I can't.

Here is one I can share. DQ was waiting for the story to start.


SB playing rocket follow the leader.


The photo of yarrow below is a funny little shot playing with a compositional idea. By the way, I want everyone to know that while some of my online photo seminar will deal with capabilities of higher end cameras. Many of them are not. I truly believe that first-rate photos can be taken with any camera. Today's post for my seminar is lessons from schoolhouse rock.

Speaking of seminars, I have another seminar opportunity for a library near the location where I did my last seminar. This library can only afford to cover mileage but I want the experience so I think I will do it.


Sweat bees love the flax. It broke 90-degrees yesterday and is breaking it again today. By the time I get out in the yard 8-8:30 the fragile flax already look spent.


Run-of-the-mill Asiatic lily.



Found this volunteer Johnny-Jump-Up in with the cornflowers.


This poor zebra mallow needs to be moved. It has struggled in this location for nearly 2.5 years. This is its first bloom.

things, things, things

zucchini blossom - kind of cool how it looks like a flame

First, health. We are plugging away here. I've been faithfully taking my medication and while my sinus drainage is clear and I can breathe and hear again, I still seem to run short of breath. I am supposed to have a follow up this week.

The girls are still battling their colds and poor hubby is going to work sick. I am afraid it will be the Fourth before we all feel that life is returning to normal.


This week, I am acting as photographer for VBS. Our church holds it in the evenings from 6:15-8:30. I am fairly happy with the photos I took last night.

these fabulous little blue blossoms are cornflower

Speaking of photography. Some of you have mentioned that you would enjoy the seminar I taught a few weeks ago. Here is your chance to learn the sort of photography skills I attempted to teach at the seminar. I've just signed with Today.com to write a blog titled "make your photos speak." The first posts will go through the seminar series and hopefully the blog will flow on from their. This is a money making blog and I am working for Today.com but I think it will work well for me.

This past weekend was rough - these are photos of two tired girls who just don't quite feel like themselves.

sick of flowers yet?

I love simple little blue flax blossoms that last only one day - dancing on every breeze atop of fine ferny stems.


Happy little columbine seedlings transplanted (on Tuesday) into the soil surrounded by a coffee grounds mulch - thanks Laurie and Chris.


Variegated iris. Ten years ago when we moved into this home I planted a little perennial bed of the original plants variegated iris and echineae survived. For years I simply added things to fill in the holes. Last year when I increased the size of my beds I divided the iris and echineae and filled up huge swaths of bed. The blossom is simple - you are supposed to appreciate the stripy foliage. :)

a journey to learn about less

Today's Selection

We have too much stuff. I've been working on eliminating all year and have a long ways to go. However, I have been uncertain about how to handle all the toys the girls have of which 80-percent comes from a certain set of grandparents. I've finally come up with a plan.

Everyday this summer, the girls and I will all select one thing to get rid of. This is going to be very interesting.

Today was day one. Boy was it a struggle. Stinkerbell doesn't seem to get what the purpose of this was at all. After fits and starts she selected something that I do not think will upset (I need these initial efforts to be easy so that when understanding comes there isn't massive regret).

DramaQueen simply picked something at random. She is a random person. When she goes into a store with money from Grammy she just grabs the first thing that catches her eye. Money doesn't seem to mean anything to her. Unless she is buying a gift, then she is very particular about how she selects her item. We give her a chore-based allowance but it still isn't adding up for her.

Her first random choice was a Raggedy Andy my Mom made. I didn't think that was an option. So then she walks around the room selecting mutual toys that she isn't fond of but her sister is. Finally, we settled on her going through the small plastic animals and selecting a number of them. Her sister would have gotten rid of the whole bin.

I tried to explain why we were doing this but it didn't seem to make any sense to them but I figure I will get another chance tomorrow and the day after and the day after and the day after.

I got rid of two Dad's Rootbeer mugs that I've held onto for years because our MIL gave them to us and I felt I should, a coffee cup that is lovely but I don't use, and wine glass. I explained to my oldest daughter why I chose them and that actually seemed to make sense too her.

At a forum I frequent, I had discussed this situation briefly and one woman suggested that children shouldn't be made to feel they should keep something because it was given to them (which I totally agree with although it is hard in practice). That issue did come up today. When DramaQueen picked the Raggedy Andy. I suggested she look at other dolls and she said "No Grammy (my MiL) gave them to me as a gift, I won't give away my gifts." I pointed out to her that all her toys were gifts as she didn't buy any of them.

I am going to need to look-up some scripture passages for us to memorize while we work through this process. These are two passages that I am considering

Matthew 6: 19-21

19Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:25-34

25Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?

28And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

29Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.]

30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

31Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?

32For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

34So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

This should be interesting.

creepy crawly...

Found this guy on the cornflowers (which aren't blooming yet).

updates

Yesterday, Stinkerbell had her four-year well check. She is just fine. The doctor said that her cold is improving and that there were no infections. So SB got to have some shots. She was very melodramatic. All the way out of the clinic and to the car she complained about how badly her shots hurt. SB is gifted with crocodile tears and of course she was wearing a pretty dress and her curls looked great and so everyone gave her sad little puppy dog eyed glances of sympathy. :) She is amazing.

The doctor told me that SB is very bright, very strong-willed, and had clear ideas about what she would or would not be willing to do. Then she said "I don't envy you." I've been told that before about my oldest "very bright, definite ideas, doesn't handle change well" followed up with "I don't envy you." Thankfully, I've also been told I am doing the right things. That is a balm because some days, I wonder how they can possibly become responsible adults who love God with me as their Mom. :) But I know that God is gracious and merciful so...

My Uncle UP is the only person in the world besides Mr Dek- who can flat out tell me what to do and I do it. I am not sure what it is about these two men. Mr Dek- was a professor of mine in college (my first meeting with him is a popular family story). I adored him and he wasn't above telling me exactly what he thought of my decisions. When UP was young (junior highish I think) Mr Dek- was the superintendent/principal of the tiny Christian school where UP, my Dad and a bunch of other little M's went to school.

If I remember correctly, it was at this time that UP had the first of many surgeries for his hips. According to Mr Dek- he visited the house and became close to my family. I know he did. Apparently (I do not know if this is before or after his surgey) UP damaged some of Mr Dek- ribs during a recess game of football.

All I know is that somewhere along the line - UP had developed a rare directness that I respond to better than almost anything. Thanks UP and Mr Dek-

Someday, I should share more about Mr Dek- and his wife. Their long-term relationship with my family is remarkable. I can only explain the strange intertwinings as an act of Providence.

So what, you might ask, did UP tell me to do? Go to the doctor. I did. I have the beginning consolidations of pneumonia and am now on medication. Expensive. But I know it could have been much worse. Thanks UP.

A different iris.


Peony.


Yarrow and pinks.


White pinks. I've been told that when started from seed, pinks can be unpredictable so if you want true copies of the original, you must divide. I started all my pinks from seed last year and ended up with one white plant.


Pinks in front of soapwort.


Soapwort and pinks.


Detail of a white pink.

oh, goodness me - how odd - it must be the virus

Sweet Mimi stopped by to see if I was improved. I am sorry report that I am not. In addition, the girls are now sick (Me and Stinkerbell seem to have it the worst) and it seems that hubby has come down with it too. The sad thing (to me) is that I've been doing my best to behave. I've been getting plenty of rest sense the seminar and trying to take it easy.

Today, we decided it really was too nice to stay inside so the girls got to have a picnic breakfast in the tent. And I decided to ignore the embarrassing condition of my yard (due to a late spring, school commitments, the prolonged visit of the in-laws, excessive rain, and now this bug) and take photos to share with you all.

It was hard to not do yard work (and I have to admit I did do two small batches of transplants (columbine and zinnias)).

We paid for our indulgence though SB is coughing like crazy - and I just finished a little choking attack. It has been frustrating. SB and I have both had to spend some time sleeping in the armchair so that we can breathe.

Last week, I ordered a Neti Pot to help with allergies - I now hope it comes soon and will help with my cold.

Apparently the cold got the better of me - I am not fond of floral photography in high contrast light or in color. :)

Soapwort.

Dianthus (Maiden Pinks).

Yarrow.
I don't remember what this is.

Clover in the grass.


The nearest bed contains two zucchini plants planted about two weeks apart. The bed with the tepee frames (made of hog paneling) has pole beans and cucumbers planted in it.


There are marigolds planted in the desk of this old school chair (a curb freeby).


My cherry tree isn't terribly prolific this year and something is munching the leaves.

Tomato blossom (11 plants this year).



Cabbage

Various iris shots.






Plain ol' generic irises - still pretty though.


So what do you think will win? The cauliflower or the grass?


Brocolli.


Baby zucchini.


Below is my new rotating composter. I've wanted one of these for years. So far I like it except that I have a really difficult time getting the lid to fit on so that it latches.