Contentment...

Contentment is often misunderstood today. Many people think of "Happiness" as being the same thing as contentment. It is not...happiness is dependent on outside factors. You are happy when things go your way. You are happy when your marriage is peaceful and loving. Contentment is having joy and peace no matter what the circumstances. It is accepting that God, in His sovereignty, has deemed that this is where He wants you to be.

Philippians Chapter 4 is a great biblical reference for contentment. I am meditating on this chapter during the month of June. These following versus clearly show that contentment is learned. Phil. 4:12-13:

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things
I have learned to be both full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

This is contentment! We are not naturally "Content" people. It is learned. Job, in all his calamity and sufferings, learned to be content in God's sovereignty and mercy. Ask God to help you to be content where He has you. There is nothing wrong with planning for your future, but make sure you are living each day in contentment no matter what your circumstances. We don't live in yesterday, or tomorrow, we live in today. Make this day count for Christ. Live, Love, and Serve, the One who gave His Life for you.

Today when I woke up and looked out onto my deck, and saw my garden...I was amazed at how it has grown. I hope Christ feels the same way when He looks at my life.



Here are some of the fruits of my labor. May God be as pleased with me, when He sees the Fruit in my life for Him.







May I always strive to live with contentment. In all things, may I be content and trust in God, whose mercy and love abounds forever!

It's Not Summer Yet????

I know it's technically not summer yet...that will happen next week. But at my house, summer has already arrived. For the past two years I've had an adult child return home during the summer. This year one arrived a few weeks early, but has arrived nonetheless.

It's been hot as the middle of August. Our official temperature hit 102 degrees during last week's heatwave. I've personally been sweating for weeks now. It's beautiful outside right now, but I'm not fooled, I know it won't last.

My garden has begun to produce some vegetables...

I've harvested about two cups of green beans so far.



I've gotten two cucumbers from my plants so far. I have 10 more growing right now. These were skinnier than the ones I find in the store, but they were delicious!



We got up early yesterday morning to go fishing on beautiful, Mattawoman Creek.



But alas, we forgot to check with the boat to see if IT wanted to go fishing. IT didn't. We had a dead, 1 year old battery on board...here is Bill trolling the boat back to the trailer...which involves dragging it half-way up the trailer. Glad I have a strong man!



I made a crab quiche for dinner. I saw the recipe on Mrs.T's blog, but didn't really have the ingredients to make it, so I made my standard quiche:

4 eggs, 2 cups milk (or half-n-half), 3/4 cup of flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, mix well. Add 2 cups of various cheeses, whatever veggies or meats you want into the pie crust, pour the liquid on top evenly, and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.



It was really good. I added hollandaise sauce, per her recipe, and it added a nice, flavorful touch.



Have a wonderful day!!

Surprise Troop Movement for the Squash....

Well, I had two choices facing me: Allow all the squash plants to whither and die for lack of sunlight, or move them to a sunnier location. Why I waited five weeks into the growing season to move them, will remain a mystery.

They don't look much different than when I put them in the ground at the end of April.



A new coffin..er..square foot garden box was prepared for the anemic looking squash plants.



I uprooted 8 of the least dead looking plants to be moved to their new home. There were ants in the soil that didn't like me disturbing them. Those suckers hurt when they bite you!



Bill used some of the soil from the garden, plus I added 1.5 cubic feet of Miracle Grow soil.



Well, here they are in their new home. They are not very thrilled right now. After Bill's run this morning, he came in and said "They are not doing very well" in the same tone of voice reserved for a family member when you say, "I don't think he's going to make it."



I did find one tiny squash on the vine when I was transporting the plants.



I could have left my trees alone...they were chopped down for these plants. If I was a plant, I'd appreciate the shade right now, it's a burning, 105 heat index out there right now. From where I'm sitting, they look like they will be dead by nightfall. I may never eat yellow squash again......

How Fair Is Thy Garden...The Fairest Of Them All...NOT!

I've just been amazed at the growth of my square foot gardens I placed on my deck. Sometimes when I look outside, I cannot believe how big they've become.


This box contains green beans, cucumbers, and a couple of hot pepper plants.



This box holds onions and cucumbers. I know there are alot of cucumbers. That's what happens when someone else is picking up your plants at the farmers market, and you don't know how many plants are in a flat....



The cucumbers are beginning to climb the trellis. It's so fascinating to see those tendrils reach out and grab onto it. Most mornings the tendrils have grabbed onto my onion stems and try to get them to come along and climb the trellis with them.



Last winter's icy coating on the deck...



Now looks like this...I like this view alot better!



I had no idea that potato plants were so lush. It has vines that are now reaching through the deck, as if they are trying to wave hello to passing cars.



This little guy is also a potato plant. I almost drowned it by not having a hole in the bottom of the container. It has perked up, so I'll have to wait to see if it grows any potatoes.



My tomato plant is bursting out of it's cage...



This morning I found two, tiny little tomatoes...



My poor, anemic squash patch. I feel guilty ever time I look at it. I even chopped down tree branches to give it more sunlight. Now the shed is blocking it's light. I cannot move the shed. Every morning it's flowers come out and look like they are begging for help. I'm sorry squash...



So all in all, I thought things were going well until....Julie (aka human knitting machine) sent me a pic of her square foot garden. She planted her garden a week after mine. She already has several four inch yellow squash on some of the vines.



Have a great weekend!!