I can’t believe July is almost here. What happened to June? For me, it’s gone by like a whirlwind. I have been doing a lot of travel, mainly for work, and although that’s been fun, it also left me longing for home, knowing that my garden needed constant maintenance due to all the rain we’ve had. My sister made it out from California for a week or so, and we got the chance to spend the day with our niece who lives in New York City. From there it was off to Lake Placid for a conference. I first went there last June, and knew if I had the chance to go back, my sister would want to see this beautiful little town in the Adirondacks. She enjoyed it as much as I thought she would.
I love summer, especially the length of daylight. It gives me the chance to get out and do some yardwork nearly every day, and between flower pots, hanging baskets, roses, tomatoes, lettuce, and kale, there’s something to care for each day. I love it. In fact, I picked my first tomato just this morning, and can’t wait to eat it tonight with dinner. To me, there’s nothing much better than to eat (and share) something that you’ve grown yourself. At a retreat I led last May, I gave everyone a tomato plant to take home. I chose varieties which could be planted in either the ground or in containers, and one person in particular had great success with hers. On a regular basis, she sent me photos of her bounteous crop. Seeing those photos made me really happy, as I knew that those tomatoes brought her some added summer happiness. It’s still not too late to plant something in your garden. Make your way soon to a nursery near you and find something you would enjoy eating and sharing with others.
When my sister was visiting, we went for some exercise on a walking trail near my house. At one time, the trail was actually a golf cart path, as the property was once a wonderful golf course. Sadly, it went bankrupt in the 2007 crash, but the owners decided to turn the property over to the city, who opened it up year round for the community, providing a place to walk, jog or bike. My friend Alex introduced it to me a few months before he passed away. A lasting gift from him to be sure. As my sister and I walked the path, we came upon a huge patch of thistle, with bees flying all around for the pollen. It was a beautiful morning, and I wanted to share this photo that day. When I attached it, I thought it would probably have been better to show you one of my tomatoes, but that will have to come with another post. For now, today, this photo reminds me of God’s grandeur all around me, even in a plant some would consider a weed. Like the bees, I saw more than a simple weed that day. I hope you do as well.
