Hello!
The
hot and humid weather has arrived here in the TN Mountains with a vengeance.
The lightening bugs are blinking again like
mini flashlights all around in the evening dusk and darkness. I remember as kids we loved to catch them and
put them in mason jars, intrigued with seeing one of nature mysteries so close
up, only to discover the next day that they looked like brown ordinary bugs.
The
roses and lilies have been so gorgeous this year spreading their bright colors
and perfume all around. Most of the peas
and lettuce have wilted and dried up in the summer heat while the green beans
are flourishing. There is nothing so
tasty as fresh beans from the garden while waiting for the baby tomatoes to
grow bigger and ripen. I've also been picking raspberries and now the
blackberries are ready too. Soon canning
and freezing will begin in earnest to fill up the empty shelves in the pantry.
I
had such an enjoyable visit with my sister, Lois, traveling with my
granddaughter, Annette, and her husband, Curtis up to PA. The week simply flew by too fast. While
there, I got her herb garden- that Lois started- filled and organized, weeded
out her front shade beds, began a cutting flower garden, and planted the garden
spot. Lois isn't an outdoors person like me, so I was happy to whip her place
into shape. I even got the fellows
working too. We also visited several greenhouses in the area. What joy! I took a five-gallon bucket plant starts up
and brought back more flowers and herbs with me.
Once
back home, I got the rest of my flower seeds planted and began working on
trimming my hedges. I do it all by hand so it is slow work that I do first
thing in the morning, so I don't get too over heated- one day I did and landed
in the recliner for the rest of the day. My left hand keeps wanting to swell up
and hurt (that I've had problems with bleeding in the past) so I wrap it up in
one of Dwight's old elastic bands to help support and protect my hand.. I
finished the long hedge in front of the woods and almost all of my front yard-
that spans the entire front of the property, but still have the smaller formal and
enclosed garden hedges to do. I love all my hedges, but they do take a lot of
work. Needless to say, I get plenty of exercise. Once trimmed they look so neat
and tidy.
Then
in the afternoon, I've been painting in the kitchen thankful for air conditioning. The headboard and all the top cabinets are
finished inside and out, and everything put back in place. It's amazing how
bright the kitchen looks. I was planning on finishing the bottom cabinets last
week, but a youth group of volunteers came and painted my enclosed garden fence
so I was busy trimming the huge overgrown bushes back so they could get to the
fence. The white fence now looks lovely
and brand new.
A
couple weeks ago my pastor asked me if I would begin a youth class again at
church.
It's been years since I did VBS, youth and
children's camps, and taught Sunday school. But now that I am free to get to
church each week, I agreed. So, this
grandma is entering back into the teen world and re-catching up on how the
youth think today. What fun! You might need to say a prayer for me and the
teens both. Years ago, we had the teens paint the youth room as a project. It
seems like home going back and teaching there again. The folding metal chairs though hadn't aged
well over the years, so I got some spray paint and painted seven chairs last
week- an all-day project. One never knows what doors the Lord might open up, so
I always want to be willing to do and help wherever I can. Shaping young lives is such an awesome and
important task, especially at this vital stage of life.
I
kept planning on getting a newsletter out all during the month of June but would end up tired and exhausted by the end of the day trying to finish the
tasks I had set, that before I knew it the month had already passed. I’m not
complaining, as I’m very thankful and feel blessed to be able to accomplish the
things needing done- even if it takes me twice as long now-a-days. I hope when
in my 90’s that I will still be able to be outside working and puttering
around. Thanks for your patience waiting on me.
I
hope you have a wonderful summer. Stay cool on your end!
Hugs~
Dorcas
