Stunning Sticks!

Once you have started a project it seems like it is so much easier to finish it once you can get a glimpse of the end result. Once we started building trellis we could hardly wait to finish the project so, within the week we picked up more materials and started to paint, paint, paint!

And once the boards dried we cut and placed them...

There is Myles cutting the boards for us...

The progress continues...

There is the project... complete on both sides. I can hardly wait to see it covered with vines!

I love this trellis! This project of creating our own trellis is very satisfying and rewarding. In a small way it is what President Uchtdorf taught a few years ago...

Working in my yard gives me a tiny opportunity to CREATE something beautiful in a small area. Not only is the essence of creation rewarding for me but I also see in my children those same desires and satisfaction as we do work projects together. In the last few years since we made some major changes in our landscaping (changes that make upkeep much simpler) my children have taken a greater interest in not only being in the yard, but also taking care of it. They are slowly learning the skills and joys of working toward becoming like a master gardener.

When I think about the earth and how it was created by THE Master Gardener, I am amazed at the wonders and beauties that were given to us - no strings attached.  The joy that is created in my life from my own creative projects is amplified a hundred fold when I consider all that has been created for me.

What a blessing it is to CREATE!!!

Where Life Begins...

Well it's that time of year again. This year we chose a lovely forest setting for our family photo's. The battery was running pretty low on the camera so there are only a few to share.

This picture is the courtesy of a total stranger. I couldn't find the timer on the camera - I guess I don't use that feature enough - and this fellow came along and offered to push the button. He took three for us and every one of them turned out - of course they are all basically the same.

I am so grateful for small acts of kindness. That fellow did not need to stop and help us take some pictures, but thanks to him we got pictures before the battery died. Later that same fellow helped Myles in his fishing efforts. I have watched my children do similar things. I love to watch them help and consider one another and then as I watch that same attitude reach out to those around us as they welcome new neighbors, assist teachers and watch for small ways to help others, my heart swells with joy and delight. There is nothing like a little service to fill the world with light!!!

Planning, Priming and Painting...

Last year we began working on and idea. It started with 5 4x4 posts. We dug the holes and planted them where we needed them. And there they stayed looking as out of place as anything ever did. This spring they were still standing there seemingly without purpose. They were actually the beginnings of our new deck rail but there were a lot more pressing things that needed done first, so in May we put some temporary handrails up on them. They didn't look very good but they did the job.

Not long ago we did a whole pile of painting around here. In the process we painted a bunch of 1x2's. Beth and Melodee painted them really good. Myles and I put up the real handrails on the deck and framed in what I am calling 'windows' though they really aren't for glass, they are just openings in the rail (which is about 7 feet high). With those two things done, we were ready for Chad to pull out his power tools when he got home from work and help us put the rest of it together...

 From a distance you can see the posts next to the deck with the temporary handrail on it.

And the finishing begins...

 With the scaffold all set up (that is to protect the little fishies that live just below) the lath is put into place.

 Myles helps his dad put the boards in place. You can't see me but I'm off to the side cutting them as the measurements are called out. In this picture you can tell what the 'windows' I was mentioning are...

 Up close, Myles concentrates on placing the staple just right.

 There I am helping to mark and place a few of the boards. There were a few moments we had to stop and rethink the process because the store did not carry the length of boards we needed. (Talking pictures when you are squinting in the sun don't always portray how happy you are as is the case for me in the above photo)

 So this is as far as the project went the first day. It is soon to be completed with the next material run as the store did not have the other lengths we needed to complete the project.

Melodee is pretty happy with the finished result. That could be me standing there smiling because even though it is not finished, I love the effect that it already has and the cozy feel it creates for my deck.

I am always amazed at how good a mediocre plan can turn out. When we started all we knew was that we wanted a trellis on the sides of the deck. That plan has evolved over the last year and a half as we have seen new ideas and as we have used our deck in it's unfinished state. That has helped us plan better for what we needed. The biggest change we made to the original plan was the windows. I am so thankful we put them in.

Life is so much like this building project. So often in life I only know that I am wanting to have a certain end result or goal achieved but I don't always know how I will get there. I am always amazed at the goodness of God in helping me, actually leading me by the hand to help me reach that end result and without fail it is always better than it was initially expected to be.

Growing Vegetables and Kids

I am so pleased with my vegetable garden this year. We have finally been able to manage to grow what we need just in town using space saving techniques. Lucky for us it saves on water and effort as well. I have almost no weeds to pull and the vegetables are very happy as you can see.

 This is our potato patch on the left and on the right we have onions, beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts and squash!

 Inside the greenhouse grow some very happy tomatoes and also the cucumbers. Our first picking of cucumbers yielded nearly 40 pounds!

 Same stuff from the other end. We tried some peas on the very end on the left in the picture above but the birds pretty much ate them all up.

And even some room for flowers! It took me a long time to decide to grow flowers in the stretch on the left. They didn't go in until we harvested our radishes and had the lettuce seed been good you would see a lot of it growing there instead of flowers. But I'm not complaining, anyone who knows me knows I love to tuck flowers in wherever they will fit!!!

The other day we were all gathered together and the topic of growing things came up. I commented that I grow flowers and kids - because that is what I grow. I also get a lot of enjoyment out of growing vegetables and when the harvest is on it is very busy around here.

Growing (raising) kids is very similar to growing flowers and vegetables. I find beauty and joy in my flowers and it is very satisfying to see things growing and stretching upward. Similarly it is so wonderful to see my children growing and stretching as they seek to develop talents, build friendships and overcome challenges. At the same time there is so much joy in watching and coaching them along that I could never imagine life without children.

Mid-Summer Days

Despite the heat that is typical for the middle of the summer, I think this is my favorite part of the season as everything is maturing and looks so beautiful. I may not enjoy the intense heat, but the beauty around me makes up for it....

My water garden... This is one of my favorite areas in the yard. I love the soothing sounds of running water and the many colors and textures of the plants growing here.

This is the first year I have been able to really grown anything in this particular spot! I love compost!!!

I love arches and this one is absolutely filled with vines. I love to walk through this area as well.

One more spot. I love to tuck flowers in any place they will grow. This is my favorite path to walk. 

Looking back on my favorite path.

Another arch. 

The rose. One of my favorite flowers and to have it growing here is thrilling.

Just another view of my big arch.

And another view of the flowers along my walkway.

The water garden from a different angle.

Apples are ready!!!

The front yard has color in it even though it has been sadly neglected this year.

That is how far I got planting flowers this year in the front yard. I love what is there and can't wait to expand on it next year!

Looking across the front yard... Next year it won't look like this...

Summer is a glorious time. It is a time of preparation for the winter accompanied by radiant splendor, relaxing moments, family time and more. It is tempting to use summer just as a time to relax and play but I firmly believe that work is the essence of life and it makes the relaxing times that much more enjoyable. I am grateful for work. I love to go out and work in the yard. There is so much to learn and so much joy in creating and up-keeping something beautiful.

Families are like gardens. When we work at keeping them clean and healthy every day (ie. remove weeds, adding water and fertilizing) they prosper, grow and flourish and the fruits they produce are sweet and enjoyable. Weeds are easily dealt with when they are small and relatively unseen. My yard is a daily reminder to me that incidental conflicts and difficulties are easiest dealt with in their infancy. With every weed I pull I am reminded to stay close to the garden so that problems and conflicts in my family can be uprooted while small - before they become a problem. What joy there is in the garden of family. I am so blessed.