Picnic in the Park

 Beautiful picnic lunch Sunday

 with social distancing, family, and a beautiful site--

 a local park featuring a rose garden...

...and did I mention "perfect weather"?

Tiptoe through the Tulips

short-lived

and concentrated

in beauty

blooming for a season

then yielding place

to other

sturdier stock

till their time

comes again

as it will

(rlg, 5-2-2020) 

Such a sweet time
in the sunshine with some
family at a local, city park
this week.

Unexpected

 The brilliant colors that greeted us last evening

at our local County Extension Garden

were UNEXPECTED!

 

 All shapes and sizes teamed

to make our autumnal stroll a pleasant one.

 It was an unexpectedly pleasurable way to relax at the end of the day.

While the vegetable garden was nearing its end,

there were still surprises to be found!

What a simple and satisfying way to spend our time together!

It's Not Just Tomatoes!

The bigger they get, the more creative (and desperate) 

my husband gets to support 'em!

I think that's kind of

how it is with projects,

organizations, extended family, 

events, and numerous other things.  

It's not just tomatoes!

Garden Walks and Garden Work

Other people's garden (seen on a Garden Walk)

 The LORD will guide you continually, 
giving you water when you are dry 

and restoring your strength. 

You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.  

Isaiah 58:11

Roadside garden

 The past few days have been filled with gardens...

Other peoples' gardens,

roadside gardens,

One of our gardens

 our own garden,

A public garden

and public gardens.

Garden WALKS and garden WORK.

This evening, reflecting on their beauty,

I am thankful for God's promise to His People in Isaiah--

one that I am experiencing in personal ways lately.

Water when I am dry.

Strength restored.

I AM like a well-watered garden!
(By the way, I am NOT unaware there was/is a "condition" to this promise--
"Work" as it may be thought of.
Read about it in the verse preceding the one I wrote out above...) 
I'm ALSO aware that I am not the first person to walk or work in a garden!
(Think Eden!)

Retirement is Beautiful

 Today it felt like I imagined retirement might feel!

 My husband golfed all morning.

I spent the time sorting through WAY TOO MUCH jewelry!

It felt good to untangle chains, pair up earrings, and bag up a bunch to give/throw away.

 It also felt good to pick up my computer from the shop

(the second time)

and find it working!

 Late this afternoon, we headed to Fort Wayne to stroll around the Extension Gardens.

 These are the sights we saw!

 Afterwards, on the way to Taco Bell, I realized it was Friday evening 

and I had not "worried" about selecting the songs for worship, what needed

to be included in the church bulletin, or many of the other details that used to occupy

my mind throughout the week as I worked alongside my pastor-husband.

 Overwhelmed with gratitude I am!

Retirement IS beautiful.

Pleasure-Packing

My sister - our mother

 Thanks to my sister who came to spend  a few days with my parents,

I have some extra days to "spend" leisurely.

Since my husband and I had not "properly" celebrated our June 5th wedding anniversary,

we've spread out our celebrating over these days.

 We began with an afternoon at Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room--

  a rather remote place, but not so far away.

 It was relaxing; the food was satisfying; the get-away enjoyable.

 Another morning, a group of ladies met  for coffee and "catch-up".

Following that, my husband and I enjoyed pizza at Pizza Hut.

By the time we finished, the rain had stopped and it had dried up enough
that we were able towalk the paths at the Extension Garden and enjoy its beauty.

 As usual, we took home some ideas to incorporate in our own flower beds.

 In between excursions, we did just that - worked in flower beds and mowed the yard.

Last night we watched an interesting episode of Around the World in 80 Gardens.

The Nek Chandigahr (India) was particularly fascinating!

 Oh, and I'm reading, too  This book is an interesting one.
This quote about one of its characters intrigued me:
"If she had but a moment, she filled it with value."
I want to be more like that...

***

I'm not sure what today will hold, but we're brainstorming.

We're trying to pack in as much pleasure as we can around the regular responsibilities

of our daily lives.  In another day or two I will return to spending time with Mother,

but I think I've learned (or AM learning or RE-learning)
something about intentionally packing pleasure

around the "regular responsibilities".