Summer Garden

I am so blessed that Michael is a good gardener. We've been enjoying winter greens--kale, collards, cabbage--all winter and all spring. But when the bugs started to get into them, I harvested everything. Now we're enjoying the fruits of the summer garden--lots of cucumbers and tomatoes. Okra and peppers are coming in regularly too, and finally the eggplant. We had a little crop of plums and peaches too. A big fat raccoon and cute little rabbit visit the garden every day too... 

 

We just love sitting out on the back porch with our kitties, smelling the flowers, and enjoying the fruit of our labor. Tell me, how does your garden grow? May your summer be full of bountiful blessings.  

Home Sweet Home

We are so blessed to live here on Daniel Island. Everything I need or want is at home or within walking distance. I lead a small life--going to church, taking care of my family, writing, singing, and reading--but feel so rich. I've written a story about contentment--it still needs a home--but when I wrote the final sentence, I felt a tremendous wholeness. I should send it out. I used to be so good about sending out my work. Now, after a couple of rejections, I return to writing. Must try to spend one writing session each week on business aspects. 

The crepe myrtles are in bloom, but I thought I'd post a picture of a painting that Dagny made in high school. And since my camera cannot capture the beautiful crescent moon, I painted it instead (on a piece of cardboard). 

We do so love making things from the bounty in the garden--dill pickles and salsa (my Mexcian stepmother, who is a great cook, gifted me Salsas that Cook by Rick Bayless and it is a GEM). I could live on chips and salsa :)

 

How the Garden Grows--Father's Day Edition

My husband is the gardener and I'm the harvester. So grateful that we are mostly self-sufficient in this department. No pesticides, no chemicals, just fresh food produced with water, sunlight, soil, and if using hydroponics, adding mineral salts. The kids came over for a steak supper on Sunday to celebrate Father's Day and we were thrilled with the Christmas-Easter-Father's Day gift Ian made for Michael. He started it last fall at Clemson, but with getting married, starting a new job, he's been so busy... but beautiful things are worth waiting for. We love it. So perfect for Bodach Books and Brews. Michael did his first brew in the new system on Friday--he should have enough to supply the men's group and have a bit left over for home use. 

We've been eating a lot of salad. I add a lot of herbs and microgreens so it's very flavorful. Alas, some caterpillars find their way into the salad bowl as well. And wouldn't you know it, Dagny found one on her plate :) She does examine her food more closely than the rest of us. 

The watermelon and sweet potatoes are growing but I hope we get more fruit and not just leaves. The crabs had better leave my melon alone. I love smelling the sweet flowers when I'm on the porch.  

I love that Dagny has such a loving father. It set the standard for whom she would marry. And we love that they live in Charleston. We enjoy our time together so very much. And it reminds me that to love, you first have to know love. That's why I want everyone I know to read Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. Know that YOU are the beloved of God. 

How the Garden Grows

 

May is the month of Mary and how lovely it is to offer a flower or two to her. We had a lovely procession after Mass inside the church because it's been raining so much and I do so love all the Marian hymns, invoking her prayers and protection over us. I really enjoyed this recording of children's voices singing our parish hymn: Hail Queen of Heaven... 

Pomegranate

Purslane

New this year are the microgreens--amaranth, arugula, broccoli, radish, etc. They are delicious, bursting with flavors. A great addition to any meal. Outside, we have basil and tomatoes, sweet potatoes and collards. I hope that fig tree survives. Michael has fixed the deer fence so we hope the deer won't be jumping it to eat all our goodies. The raccoons are digging up our ginger and turmeric. They don't eat it but they're so nosy about what we've planted.

 Madonna and Child by Enric Monserday Vidal

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,

Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life’s surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
Blest advocate, to thee we cry,
Assuage our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.