I have always thought of stress as a bad thing. Something we all should avoid. It seems that is what I have been told as long as I can remember. Stress can kill you.
Then the other day I had a paradigm shift. Talking with a friend about stress. She suggested that not all stress is bad. “There is good stress as well.”
“Really, how do you mean?” I inquired.
“Think about it.” she replied, “When you have done something that you know needs doing, don’t you feel better after you have done it?”
“You mean like brushing my dogs regularly?”
“Yes! That’s good stress, because it prompts you, and once you have taken care of the matter, you feel better.”
Hmmm…interesting…
So, I did think about it and put it to the test. I found she was quite right! These little examples may seem small, however, managing them made me feel much better!
These plants have been needing to be in the garden for awhile…Done! Now they will flourish and make me smile.This trimmer has been waiting to be put back in the tack room…That took about 45 seconds. Back where they belong.Hay strewn all over the barn—not good…A two minute sweep job does the trick and improves my mindset.A groomed dog always improvesmy attitude.
My blogging friend, Judy, is a Master Gardener and quilter. Her blog is fun and interesting. Here is her link for those interested in beautiful gardens and quilting projects. She also talks books.
Her post today has both garden flowers and quilting projects she has done, and it inspired me to share flowers from my garden currently in bloom. I am walking in the wild side though because I am not a master gardener, though I do love my flowers.
The hostas are blooming.My maidenhair fern is a yearly joy.I love the silver leaves of this yellow yarrow.This sweet, little heart leaf foam flower is nearly finished blooming.Gentle, delicate heuchera (coral bells).Happy clematis.I let it roam over my oak leaf hydrangeas.The lovely white clematis.A perfect day for hanging out laundry!A surprise greeting from Max from under the huge hosta leaves.The rosemary is very happy!
I also keep a vegetable garden. How about you? Flower gardens, or vegetable gardens, or both? I have always said flowers are for the soul, vegetables for the body.
Thank you for the inspiration, Judy.
Did you know this? Gardeners spend all day in their beds!
I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 Good-Bye, sweet Herc. You will love your new home.
I love my family and animals so much sometimes it hurts. Yet it helps me understand Gods deep abiding love for us. Do you ever think about His deep love for you?
Really? Who has that? What does a place like that even look like?
I have to admit, I really did not know. Though our porches are lovely and relaxing, we do not linger on them very long. Certainly we do not sit there two hours at a stretch.
I do recall the pool at my mother’s farm was a delightful, relaxing place. Of course there were times it was chaotic with all the grandkids. Yet even in that chaos, we found relaxation. Having lunch by the pool was enjoyable. Who cares about crumbs? The dogs and birds will clean up after us. Soaking up the sun, sitting with dangling feet in the cool water visiting with family or quiet, early morning coffee poolside all made for relaxing time.
It was the one place where everyone, regardless of age, could play together. Who doesn’t laugh while playing Marco Polo? Or enjoy any of the water games? Who wins the swim race? Who can find the penny? All our kids learned to swim in that pool. Dear memories were formed around it. Unfortunately, we do not have one here at our farm.
While visiting with my daughter recently, we made a trip into town for an errand. It was not the normal route for me. That’s when I saw it! A beautiful fire-pit. Situated in a lovely part of the yard, near trees and yet open. How inviting it looked, with 6 matching Adirondack chairs surrounding it. I asked her to slow down so I could get a photo.
“Don’t you think this would be great here on our farm?” I asked my husband as he looked at the photo.
He did! He picked a terrific spot too. An old, neglected garden bed. He transformed into a delightful fire-pit! He even kept the one old blueberry bush.
Not knowing it at the time, I do believe we now have a relaxing place. Long evening hours are spent around the fire. The dancing flames, sparks flying to heaven, the crackles of the wood burning create a comfort and dreamy atmosphere as the evening grows into night that everyone enjoys.
Fire-pit all built and ready to enjoy. We left the blueberry bush.Who doesn’t enjoy an outdoor fire?Relaxing hours are spent around it.Enjoyed by everyone as the day grows into night.The pit ring is locally made and adds to the dreaminess.This interesting piece of art our son made. He calls it The Tower of Fail. He welded broken car parts and broken tools together into this fun art piece.This ‘face’ looks like a sunflower. It is the clutch from his Festiva. Turned into art!
The magic, fun and mystery of a fire-pit. Can it really be all that?
Our time is not our own anymore, or at the very least, we have given it away. Knowingly and willingly we daily spurn our limited, precious hours away. How? Think about it. Chart the course of your own typical day. Keep an account of just how you spend every hour of it. Be honest with yourself. What did you find?
Perhaps you discovered hours of your day has been willingly given away to your device. Do you own your own time, or does the device own it? Do you even care?
Truly, our time is not our own. It is a gift. It has been given to us and can be taken away in a moments notice. We all know someone who has suddenly died.
So then, do we treat time as if it is an unlimited commodity, or worse yet, as if it were nothing?
Here is my ultimate question and point of this blog post:
If the birds stopped their singing today, would you even notice?
A beautiful Mockingbirdsinging his melodious songs.Love the Kiptopeke birds.A sassyKing bird.Eggs of our sweet Plovers.Gorgeous Meadowlarks.Our beloved Barn Swallows.Our amazing Hummingbirds.Never forget our State bird—the Cardinal. The sweet, sweet Kildeer (aka Plover).Our gorgeous, sharing Bohemian Waxwings.And last but surely not least, our diminutive, cheerful Goldfinch.
I ask again—would you ever miss them if they stopped singing?
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