Matthaei Conservatory, Once Again

This year we were once again delighted to be able to go down and visit the Matthaei Conservatory around my birthday.  This time we took Grace and Tim along as well as Charity who had not been able to make the trip last year.  Following are pictures (LOTS of pictures) from the conservatory.

{Blue Sky}

{I was so tempted to pick this ripe little pineapple and have it for lunch!}

{Pitcher plants}

{Simply Gorgeous Limes}

{More captivating Pitcher plants}

{Fig leaf}

{In the Cactus room}

{Hugs!}

:)

{hmmm, Grace is either really tired, or very hungry!}

{Beautiful Herbs}

 {Mysterious Jungle}

 {My favorite plant by far, the Crown of Thorns}

We had an enjoyable visit, and now Josiah is convinced that we need to have our very own Conservatory.  Some day... some day.

~Chs

21

March 28th dawned warm (compared to the days prior) and though we didn't have the time to celebrate my birthday proper that day, I did have a wonderful day full of flowers, sunshine, and friends.

The real celebration occurred on Friday, complete with Grace and Tim, Josh and Theresa and Mr. Reiche accompanying us to the Conservatory (more on that later) and joining us for a party at home.  Following are some pictures from that evening.

{Grace and Tim}

{Darling Duckies}

{Sweet Vintage Camera!!}

{Camera Necklace}

{Horse Cake}

{Delicious Dessert}

Monday Meditation

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ....  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them."

First Day of Spring - Crocuses

Little spears of green
Pierce the lingering snow,
First flowers to be seen
I wonder how they know?

Who tells them Spring is near
That it's safe to venture forth,
Of Snow they have no fear,
Nor of cold winds from the North.

Tender drops of color
Brightening the barren land,
Formed by God's great power
Placed there by His hand.

Vivid purples, each unique,
And petals of pearly white,
Yellows with their sunny cheek
All fresh and pure and bright!

~ Faith

March - The Temperamental Month

As February draws to a close and March looms ahead of us, there is always a wondering - what exactly will the month of March bring?  It is truly an unpredictable time, and in the past 10 years alone we have had everything from beach weather, to blizzards all in this middle month which isn't really winter, but not quite spring.  Last year of course was unprecedentedly warm, and if I remember correctly, on this date last year we were basking (or sweating) under the oppressive not-so-spring temperature of 80 degrees!!!  Not this year.  But really we shouldn't complain; truly this is a more normal March (if there is a "normal") and much better for the trees and blossoms then last year.  And of course the ultimate reason is that God is in control of the weather, and knows exactly what he is doing.... so thank God for the snowflakes :)

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Even though it has definitely not gotten as warm as last year, we have had our March fluctuations.  Below are some of the extremes of this March.

During the warm spells...

Warm (read 40-50) day.

Just right for planting some seeds in the "tunnel" .

Happy little lettuce plants :)

Robins taking a chance and following the warm spell. 

(picture taken by Josiah)

 Running water

Plenty of mud = Happy Ducks

 Full ditch = Ecstatic ducklings!!!!

 Taking a nap after a long "swim" in the ditch.

 Sunny Duckies :)

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And on the other side (or the bottom of) the thermometer..... 

 

The Cardinals have been singing their Spring song ever since February, and though slightly befuddled, they do not seem ultimately discouraged by the latest down fall of white.

Red-wing Blackbirds are quite belligerent, and refuse to admit that spring truly isn't here.  In fact they sing the loudest when the snow is coming down ;)

I recently was blessed to read "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom and among other things I was struck by one passage when they are in Ravensbruck, and Corrie is complaining about the conditions. Betsie has her read a passage in 1st Thessalonians "Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus," and then they begin to give thanks, for everything, including the inconveniences.   It made me think.  As Christian, we are to be joyful, thankful people... even for snow and cold weather, because as everything, it comes from God.

~Chs

An Irish Saint and a........Clover?

Looking back through the blog today, I found this post originally published on March 18th, 2005.  I though it was good enough to share again!   ~Chs :)

Yesterday, March 17th, was what many people celebrate as Saint Patrick's Day, in fact, it is actually a calenderized holiday. (any holiday that is on the calendar:-) But how many people really know who Saint Patrick was, what he did to earn the title of 'Saint,' or why he is associated with clover. First, a little about his life . . . . .

Patrick was born in Scotland at around 387 A.D. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by a band of Irish pirates who sold him as a slave to a Druid Chief in Ireland. There he lived for the next 6 years, keeping sheep and learning the Irish language and culture. But most important, he received Christ as his savior. He wrote this about his conversion, "I was sixteen years old and knew not the true God and was carried away captive to Ireland, but in that strange land the Lord opened my unbelieving eyes. I called my sins to mind, and was converted with my whole heart to the Lord my God, who regarded my low estate, had pity on my youth and ignorance, and consoled me as a father consoles his children." He goes on to state that his faith and love of God increased more and more, and he would spend countless hours in prayer as he watched the herd. At last a chance came for him to escape, and he was able to board a ship that heading for his homeland. You can just imagine the joyous reunion with his family! He, for all they knew, had perished many years ago, and now he was returned to them.

Wanting to grow more in the grace and knowledge of his Savior, Patrick studied the Scriptures on his own and with traveling monks that came through the area. He then decided to travel to France and enter the monastery of St. Martin there. For the next 18 years of his life, he devoted himself to the study of Scripture and was constantly sharing his faith with any and all who would listen. There he became a priest, and even rose to the position of Bishop.

Then one night, Patrick received a vision from the Lord, that would change his life and the lives of countless others for eternity. He described the incident thus, "I saw a man who was called 'Victorious' coming as if from Ireland, with innumerable Scrolls, and I read what they said, 'The voice of the Irish,' and while I was reading I heard a voice, 'Please, come and walk with us again.'" Patrick realized that he was being called to be a priest to Ireland, and saw God's providence in the circumstances of his previous kidnapping and slavery that had allowed him to learn the Irish language. He also knew all about the pagan Druid religion that had great power over the people there.

In 431, Patrick left for Ireland, and there he served the Lord for 30 years, enduring stoning, and beatings for Christ's sake and for the love of the souls of the Irish people. You can read much more about his work and ministry to the Irish people in Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler's wonderful book, God's Mighty Hand . But I will close now with a quote from that book that tells the story of how Patrick's name came to be associated with clover.
"The Gospel Spread throughout Ireland with power and might. In time, Ireland became known as the most evangelical nation in the world. Many, throughout the then known world, traveled there to receive Biblical instruction.
One concept the Irish found difficult to understand was the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three in one. Once while preaching to a large crowd and trying to explain the reality of the Holy Spirit, a frustrated Patrick bowed his head and prayed in front of the gathered crowd. "Lord, these are Your people . I cannot show them the Trinity. Please help me."
When Patrick opened his eyes, the Holy Spirit directed his attention to a three-leaf clover. Holding up the plucked clover, he said, "Trinity is like this clover; one stem, three leaves," the people's eyes were opened. Having grasped the understanding of that divinely inspired object lesson of the Trinity, they embraced Christianity in droves. Over the years of Patrick's ministry in Ireland, many thousands were baptized and some two hundred churches were established. Truly, God's hand was at work in preparing Ireland for the Gospel."

~Faith Ann 

Meanwhile... In the Sugar Shack

So, the time of year had once again come upon us that the sap was running in the trees.  We were very excited about the tapping time this year, as we had expanded our operation to include some of our friend's trees as well as our own.  One Saturday morning we had enough sap to start and Josiah and Faith headed out to set up our borrowed barrel and begin the boiling process.

We set up our barrel in a different spot from last year, and because the day was nice, began with little to no protection.

The wind picked up a little, so Josiah leaned a few paper filled pallets up to block the breeze while he stoked the fire.   It soon became apparent, however, that the couple of pallets were not going to be satisfactory, especially as Monday, the next day for boiling, was predicted to be rainy.

So by Monday afternoon, sitting on our property, was a first rate sugar shack, complete with a metal roof, (you couldn't hear a thing when the rain came down :) a hole in said roof to let out the smoke, and a dog to guard the front door.

Inside it was dry, mainly, very warm and cozy and even had seating for a visitor.  But Josiah wasn't finished and still had some decorating and renovating to do.

There, now it is official.

Sometimes the guard dog quits her post and comes to warm up by the fire and keep the Maple Master company.

Josiah practically lives out in his shack on boiling days, only coming in for a refreshment or two.

The latest additions to the shack include a mud room/hall where the front door is, and a hat/coat rack, so you can hang up your coat, kick off your boots, and relax.

 

 No matter the weather, if there is sap to be boiled, out to the shack the boy goes first thing in the morning.  So far he has made syrup during a deluge of rain, in sunshine, and with an inch of snow on his roof.  It just makes it more cozy inside.

So if anyone has an afternoon free and wants to just relax and chat, Josiah will be out in his shack, and happy for some company.

And just maybe, maybe, if you stay long enough and help out enough, you might get a taste of really, truly delicious syrup!!!

~Chs