dual personalities

Tag: gardens

And the land shall yield its increase*

by chuckofish

The weather gurus are preparing us for severe weather (Damaging Winds and Isolated Tornadoes Possible!) on Friday, but in the meantime, we are enjoying sunny skies and moderate temps. Spring appears to have arrived. The daffodils bloomed a few days ago!

There are buds everywhere…and I filled up my first yard bag with detritus!

In other news, March’s full moon, known as the Worm Moon, will pass into Earth’s shadow tonight, or early on March 14, depending on the time zone. This eclipse, we are told, will be visible from the Western Hemisphere. The Old Farmer’s Almanac gives you specific moonrise times for ZIP codes across the U.S. So check it out!

And Happy National Elephant Day (in Thailand)!

*Leviticus 26:4

The idle singer of an empty day*

by chuckofish

Well, spring has sprung here in flyover country, it would appear, although the daffodils have been blooming (and blooming) for weeks and weeks. It was warm enough to sit out on the patio this weekend and it was glorious. I am (slowly) cleaning up the Florida Room and am hopeful I will have all my plants out there etc by the end of the week. It is hard work for this creaking old body.

And, look, Don reports that the gnomes are back in his garden!

In other news, on TCM this month they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Warner Brothers, so you can imagine there are some great movies being shown.

I love a good conversion story. Here is John Piper’s. “All I remember is believing. I’ve always believed, as far as I can remember. I’m sure that’s not true since we come into the world bent out of shape by sin, but whatever God did in my life to make me a believer, he did so early that I don’t remember it happening.”

As Holy Week continues, this is a meaningful read.

This is also excellent.

Also I will note that today is what would have been my father’s 101st birthday. We will toast you tonight, ANC III. From the distance of thirty-one years since your death, I can say, many thanks for being my father.

*From the poem “Prologue of the Earthly Paradise” by William Morris (1834-1896); the painting is “Interior of the Artist” by Léon De Smet (Belgium 1881 – 1966)

“And the little hills rejoice on every side”*

by chuckofish

Truly this is the most beautiful time of year to be in flyover country. Everything is blooming.

And the grass is green. However, pollen is also at a peak, but what ho, who am I to complain?

During the Covid lockdown, I started to “worship” via Zoom at the Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia and to follow their rector’s daily devotional. Even though I have since left that denomination for good, I still read Paul Walker’s daily devotional. Yesterday he had something interesting to say:

Unfortunately, I don’t think everyone has two journals. There are a lot of people (even people I am fairly close to) who are only concerned with their Clark journal. But time’s a-wasting! The night is far spent…we need to attend to our Lewis journal. Who are you? What do you believe?

This is helpful from the late great David Powlison. “Your true identity is who God says you are. You will never discover who you are by looking inside yourself or listening to what others say. The Lord gets the first word because he made you. He gets the daily word because you live before his face. He gets the last word because he will administer your final ‘comprehensive life review.’”

*Psalms 65: 12

Considering the lilies of the field

by chuckofish

Do you ever feel like Peppermint Patty? I do. But what ho, it is the bell and it tolleth for me. Happily it is Day Lily season and they do brighten up the scenery.

These are from my friend Don’s garden. Our Tiger Lilies are still buds, but elsewhere they are decorating the bi-ways of our town. I do love them! They thrive in our hot humid weather.

(John Twachtman, Tiger Lilies, late 1890s)

(Walter Grane, 1845-1915)

–Wendell Berry