Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Goodbye, September!


Dear Friends,

Welcome to our home today~thank you so much for your kind comments, as always. They brighten our day in a wonderful way!

It is a cold, wet day today. The thermometer says it's 40 degrees, and it's supposed to get down to 29 degrees tonight. Brrr! We have scurried to save everything we could in the garden before Jack Frost REALLY came to call (He's only popped by a few times so far :) ), and have spent as much time as possible outdoors, soaking up the warmth and sunshine of this beautiful time of year.


Although we would dearly love to have a root cellar, and an attic, and lots of produce to have filled them both, we are grateful that we were able to gather and grow what we did, and for our home in which to keep it safe. We feel very blessed with just what we have.



Along with the products of field and vine, the summer sunshine has grown in us ever more the love of God's creations, and an awe of all that there is to learn about them. Truly each day is a miracle, given to us through His great love. All we have to do is reach out and take hold of that miracle, sifting out the good from the bad, and growing from the trials and tribulations that we are called to pass through.


My friends, I pray that you will be strengthened to bear with ease whatever load you may be called to carry. Remember that you will not be given more than what you can handle, good or bad! May we prepare our minds and hearts for all the good that He is willing to give, as well as those experiences which are here to help us grow to be more like He is.



Love,

Marqueta


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To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;


To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,


And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.



Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river swallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

~John Keats

8 comments:

  1. Happy Autumn to you dear friend! You are truly blessed to have been able to store so much for your family. How blessed to have such a wonderful place to grow and harvest things - I hope to someday have some land ~

    Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I keep thinking "Be of Good Cheer" because having a cheerful heart and mind helps to be able to deal with anything that is thrown our way!

    Have a beautiful day!

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  2. O' how truly wonderful the Lord is!

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  3. Wow! You blessed me again! You sure do have a lot to give! Thanks for sharing it! All your suffering (which you have obviously done) is anything but in vain. I'll have to remember to let my trials improve me, in like manner. It is, as I think I have said before, truly an inspiration!

    Sincerely,

    Daniel

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  4. September certainly did go by quickly!
    it sounds like you are enjoying these beautiful days, your photos are lovely Marqueta xo

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  5. Mi querida amiga,

    Que lindas son tus palabras! Nuestro Dios sabe exactamente lo que necesitamos Y cuando darnoslos.

    Que felicidad saber que has podido guardar tanta verdura y fruta. Las fotos son maravillosas.

    Gracias por compartir tu dia ~ que Nuestro Senor Jesus te siga bendiciendo a ti y tu linda familia,

    lady m

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  6. Blessed Autumn to you....
    what a lovely post!
    Goodbye to Summer and Hello
    to fall!!

    Love Always~ Miss Jen

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  7. Dear Marqueta, we are pulling up our tomatoes tomorrow. The growing season is coming to an end. It's getting in the low 40s here tonight, cool for here, but nothing like 29! Wow. I am appreciating nature these days too, and all the lovely and useful things God has put here for us.

    Love,
    Lynn

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Thank you for coming to visit — I look forward to hearing from you!