Perfection Isn't Easy

 

     We think we're perfect; then we blow it. By the time we reach three score and ten years, we are beyond making mistakes. Or so we think.
 

Remember the time you planned a fancy company dinner and left out the baking powder in the biscuits because you were talking with your guests while you measured? Or the time your half-slip dropped to your ankles during an important meeting attended by only men and yourself? I do!

My red Cadillac sat covered with pollen from pine trees and desperately needed a car wash. I have gone to this particular car wash business many times and his final words are always the same: close your window and place the transmission in Neutral. Easy instructions.

One day, I experienced the fastest car wash ever! I accidentally left the shift lever in Drive and my car sped forward on the moving tracks through water, soap, and brushes like I had entered a horse race. I have never been so embarrassed! The understanding attendant said it happens all the time and he kindly sent me through one more time free of charge. I'm not sure if I shall ever have the courage to swallow my pride and return for another car wash.

Wounded pride can be mortifying.

Lord, help me live with a humble attitude. I need to rely on Your grace instead of my human abilities.

“Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 NLT

 

 

Beautiful Disaster

Monday, February 25

Morning snow eleven inches deep

Lilac bush flat

Cedar trees hugging the ground

Deer hi-stepping it

Two birds flying south

Bushes collapsed under weigh

Squirrels hiding

Camera clicking

Trees splitting

Power flickering

Branches popping

Wait and watch

Limbs snapping

Driveway blocked

Yard clean-up, where’s Austin?

Dry flakes stacking

Praise God for cell phones

Fireplace ready

“This is the day the Lord has made.”

I will rejoice anyway!

Wednesday, February 27

Five more inches and counting

Two icicles – ah, childhood memories

Deer comfortable under cedar tree

Four-wheel ride down driveway to mail box

No computer

No TV

 No internet

No cell phone

Pioneer Days!

More time available to compose stories

Warm house

Hot tea and coffee

Prayer time

Praises to our God

Koi hibernating

Deer eating moss off broken branches

Squirrels still hiding

Ice coming tonight

Another beautiful pond view from my library window!

So Goes the Fig Tree

     Yesterday I sat in my warm, cozy library and admired our new fig tree. I wondered if it might be an evergreen variety because it was so green and full of life. Not a leaf had turned yellow nor orange (not even brown) in our autumn air.

 

    But . . .

 

     Last night we experienced our first serious frost!

 

     As we speak, as I write, the leaves are falling off right before my eyes! Those large healthy green leaves now lay wilted in a pile on the cold ground.  

 

   I see four,

 

  now three 

 

shriveled leaves trying to hang on for my sake.

 

    Is there a spiritual lesson here?  I'll let you tell me. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone!

 

Juanita

Thunder in the Ground

While I was reading in the library recently, a brown swish passed by the picture window and caught my eye. Another movement quickly followed. A rumbling thunder pounded the ground as two half-grown fawns raced from back yard to front, with hooves airborne. Again and again they raced around the red twig bush, with dried horse chestnut leaves flying off the ground, and returned to the back yard. This dogwood bush is showing more pinkish-red color as the cool nights announce autumn is here to stay, at least for three short months. One deer returned to scale the knoll by the pump house. He approached it as if he was on a pogo stick—all four legs stiff as he bounced and flexed his young muscles.

They had their morning fun and returned to the back yard to rest under the grape arbor and chewed their cud. They feast on the low-hanging grapes and the tender new leaves.

We are harassed by patches of clover from the result of old orchard grass in our lawn. The deer love to nibble on the clover flowers and any other beautiful, tender blossoms within their reach. I'm thankful they ignore, at least for this year, my colorful dahlias. One year they will devour my favorites and the next year they change their diet to another treasure of mine. This year they loved my chocolate plants for the first time. I can't blame them for that treat. Chocolate is addicting.

This herd of wild animals spends a lot of time in our yard. My husband's official deer food from the pet store, the salt lick block and the watering trough under the cedar tree makes them feel welcome until deer season when they wisely disappear from the neighborhood. 

Juanita 

You Did What?

There Comes a Time in a Wife's Life to

    be more self-sufficient

      learn a new talent

        appreciate her husband's talents

          never complain when he doesn't do it perfect

             learn to mow the lawn after husband's surgery

The Dangers of Mowing the Lawn

    cobwebs and spiders between the trees

      low-hanging, grabbing branches

        sharp corners

          garden hoses

            setting sun blinding your eyes

               pray for that smashed blueberry plant

                         (don't tell Craig)

                dust in the eyes

                   garden snakes (don't tell Barb M.)

The Dangers of the Landscape

    rough terrain

       sharp curves

        deep holes

          steep hills (I thought of Nancy D.

             several times)

Necessary Tools

    gloves

       sun screen (I forgot)

          long pants & sleeves

            sports bra (don't ask why)

               cell phone for emergencies

                  hat tied on tight

                     ear protection

        enough gas (18-hp John Deere ran out at the

       farthest point from the gas house)

Can you guess what I did today for the first and last time?

Juanita 

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Book Review

Do you enjoy reading high adventure in a fantasy world?  If you do, you will enjoy a new book that is available now at www. Amazon.com

Here is my professional review of Thomas Locke's new book:

Emissary by Thomas Locke is high adventure in a strange world where evil wars against people of the realm. Unknown power sources are everywhere. The author writes with great description and has talent to describe the abnormal as common. A very complex story of mystery and intrigue. Without a glossary of terms in the book, the reader must stay alert to the many types of beings and creatures in the realm and their histories.

The book kept my attention with my mind dwelling on the plot during the day. I normally don't read fantasy, but I'm hooked and look forward to the next book in the series.

Rating:**** stars. It's a book a person would enjoy reading the second time to further understand the plot.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Juanita Paslay

A Welcome Visitor

I looked up from my book at the perfect moment. I gasped as his tail disappeared up the golden cedar tree. I leaned forward in my library chair to see which way he would run. I haven't seen his kind in twenty years. His relatives were plentiful when we had our filbert orchard, but they moved away when we changed the landscape.

Three deer resting on the grassy knoll in the sunshine didn't flinch at his presence, but continued to chew their cud and twitch their ears. They didn't appear to share my morning excitement.

I have learned while reading in the library to keep one eye on nature. I hope and pray this visitor will make its home here with the brown tree squirrels. To me there is nothing more beautiful than a gray squirrel and his long fluffy tail floating behind him as he scampers from tree to tree.

A silver Eurasian collared dove flew by my window as I finished writing about this morning's adventure.

Now back to my inspirational book by Max Lucado.

Happy New Year everyone !

Happy Birthday to: Sue, Jessica, Mo, Shirley, Joann, Jeannine and myself!

Happy Anniversary to Dianne & Gary and Loren & Nancy !

Juanita

The View

This is the view from my library window this morning.

Deep red burning bush,

Nine-foot tall Royal Pageant roses,

Lawn white with frost,

Cedar fence,

Magnolia tree dropping leaves

in the breeze like falling snow,

Red-orange twig dogwood bush

glowing in the sun,

Blueberry bushes dressed in fall colors,

Naked red horse chestnut tree revealing its

heavy coat of moss,

Bright green park bench,

Running brown tree squirrels,

Birds looking for breakfast:

northern flicker,

western scrub-jay,

steller's jay,

junco,

spotted towhee,

starlings,

Round thermometer reads 27 degrees,

Golden cedar trees,

Green fir trees,

White birch trees in a cluster

glowing in the sun,

Narnia-type lamp post,

And so much more!

Of all I see today, the most impressive is God's azure sky, so clear, so cloud-free. It seems to go on forever. Don't you love the view from a 747?

Now you know why I love the view from my library window.

Juanita 

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Beware - Artist at Work

My husband left on a four-day fishing trip with our youngest son. The artist in me begged to do something wild in his absence. Our fifty-five-year-old barn had never been painted nor stained, until last week. I always wanted a red barn. The local weatherman predicted one day without rain, so I bought four gallons of red stain and borrowed a tall ladder. I only stained two sides. I'm sure the neighbors don't object to the old weathered look they see.

I was thrilled with the results, but three days passed before husband noticed the barn and only then because he detected an unusual smell in the area—the scent of oil stain. 

His only concern, “How did you reach the peak?” 

Our neighbor who owned the ladder volunteered to stain the loft area. I dared not refuse his offer. He's much younger and more agile than I.

In due time, outside painted surfaces look shabby. Paint peels off in certain sections and years of dust collect on the siding. Spider nests hide in the corners and their drippings run down the wall. Fade happens.

What's an artist to do?

I indulge in lunch at a fabulous antique shop with a dozen best friends. A wooden door leans in the corner looking old and expensive. The price tag shouts $450, without hinges or a doorknob. The design displayed several colors and had the look of a first-grader learning brush strokes.

What's an artist to do? Find an alternative.

You have seen my spray paint art and understand I paint scenery on whatever I find outside: pump house walls, neighbor's barn windows, antique windows from a recycle shop.

That day I refused to resist another temptation to create. Now my back door is quite shabby, not chic.  But the real professionals call the style shabby chic. The redecorating effort didn't cost me a dime except twenty minutes of my time. 

Left-over paint always comes in handy for my projects. My husband approves of my latest project. He suggested I paint a long-stemmed rose in each panel. I haven't decided if I'll keep the new look or paint the door white again.

Help me, Corlyss! I need a lesson on painting roses.

Juanita

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A Day Before Dawn to Remember

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:

for thou hast created all things, 

and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Revelation 4:11 KJV

Today might be one of the most spectacular days yet. The eighth is the day after Erik's birthday and the day before Brian's birthday, but this day is super special. I've been waiting six months for this day because on April 15, I was too lazy to set my alarm. So tonight, with a pot of strong tea and a long to-do list, I'm ready to stay up for the lunar show. My husband went to bed and awaits the announcement of action. My cousin says, “Call me if you see red, not brown.”

“God made two great lights, the sun and the moon—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night . . . and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:16-18 NLT

He created the whole universe, good and perfect, for His pleasure. My Father God allows me to enjoy His breath-taking creations: Crater Lake, rainbows, the Grand Canyon, holding a red-headed sap sucker, a new-born baby. The list doesn't end. Today, before dawn, another event will be added to my list – a blood-red lunar eclipse. My anticipation is difficult to restrain. I'm trying to use patience. Reminds me of waiting for the folks to wake up on Christmas morning so we might open our presents.

“The stars at night are big and bright . . .” The Orion constellation is visible tonight—no clouds. Plus a few falling stars.

I turned off our barn light. All the lights on the south side of the house are off and I pace back in forth in the dining room every ten minutes to peer out the window. Sure, I printed the official schedule, but scientists can be wrong sometimes, right?

I set the timer for 2:18 a.m., the beginning of the show. I'm down to less than an hour. I'm so excited! Four comfy dining chairs wait expectantly on the patio. Blankets are available if needed. The hot tub is disconnected. Who wants man-made noise during this special time? Our friends brought their telescope; I have my mink jacket for warmth, Barbara has her leather coat. I prepared fruit and muffins. The party is about to commence!

“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” 
 Isaiah 40:26 NLT


 "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. 
The skies display his craftsmanship.
  Day after day they continue to speak;
 night after night they make him known.
  They speak without a sound or word;
 their voice is never heard.
  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, 
and their words to all the world."
Psalm 19:1-4

Juanita

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The Ballet of the Flag

Even in the shade, the air is extremely warm today, actually hot! My lawn chair faces the koi pond while I rest and scrutinize my latest project: wooded steps up an incline, or down, depending on which way I'm going. For several years I put up with the effort of making my way along this path, but finally when I had nothing else to do (believe that?), I changed the landscape to give the path a more designed appearance. Hopefully I'll get more leg muscles using the steps too.

With a glass of ice water in one hand and a pen and tablet in the other, I'm watching the flag, which hangs over the pond, dance in the breeze. It's not flapping loudly like in a strong wind, but gracefully rising and falling as the soft wind blows through my garden.

The old saying 'take time to smell the roses' is relaxing advice no matter what your age or occupation. The scent of my roses doesn't reach the pond area, but watching the flag flutter and waltz has almost the same results.

                                                              

                                  my "Royal Pageant" rose 

Seek out your private place of comfort today, away from the world's dreadful headlines and focus on your blessings and the beauty of nature—God's summer gift to you. 

Happy belated Birthday Tinsley

Happy Birthday Geni

Happy Birthday Sharon

Happy Birthday Zachariah

Love to all of you,

Juanita 

A Pleasant Day at the Pond

The cooing of Eurasian collared doves in a nearby tree, the waterfall splashing on the rocks six feet below the falls, the flapping of our American flag in the breeze makes a inviting day to rest in the garden shade. I'm sitting by the koi pond with a good book and a writing tablet. The koi are somewhat distracting as they jump and dive, trying their skill at catching flying insects. 

 

Craig attends a three-day church conference, so I'm in charge of watering flowers and pulling weeds. I hope the weeds cook and die as the temperature rises. The weatherman will hit his target today for sure. I wonder how he knew this day would be the only time this week the temp would rise above 95 degrees in the valley.

I just moved the lawn sprinkler. That's one great way to cool off!

Guess how many times the jumping koi woke me up. Three times! They sounded like someone fell in the pond.

I could sit in the air-conditioned man cave, but I chose to sit here in the shade and write to you. Thanks to the Internet, I avoid the task of writing 108 separate letters. And envelopes, too!

As I sit and enjoy my surroundings, I'm reading an old paperback written in 1936 by Bruce Corbin. He wrote, “It is a startling fact that no man ever owned anything. No man owns anything now. All he has is the use of God's possessions. God created the world for His own pleasure and for man's use.”

We live on our land, pay the taxes, and manage the garden, but I thank God everyday for His gift of life and strength to maintain this property, our temporary dwelling place. I'm reminded of the Biblical words concerning Abraham: He looked for a city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.

The author Corbin was expecting the holy city to appear in his lifetime. Are you, as well?

Happy 31st Anniversary, Joyce & Gabby
Happy 28th Anniversary, Barb & Hal
Happy 60th Birthday, Barb - sorry, I just had to tell-it's such a nice round number. But I'm way, way ahead of you!

Juanita