DANDELION DAYS

Here’s a link for you to look at if you’d like to know more about this event.

http://www.dandelionday.org/

My favorite color is yellow – I suppose because it makes me feel happy.  In our neck of the woods, the puffy little yellow flowers are called weeds, but this event celebrates and protects dandelions!  I hope you’ll take a look at the link because it looks like they are gearing up for some serious fun.

I just finished designing a cute poem by Lucinda.  It’s about…  you guessed it – DANDELIONS!  I have to share it today.How much do you know about dandelions?  Well, beginning with the bad news, 30% of America’s water supply is spent watering lawns in an effort to keep non-native grasses green and weed free.  Pesticides are applied to kill off dandelions and other weeds as well.  Dandelions are common weeds that can harm your lawn’s growth by establishing deep roots in the soil.

Now it’s time to hear the good qualities:  The dandelion flower opens when the sun comes up and closes when the sun goes down.  Some folks eat dandelion salads!  They are also used for medicine and even dye for clothing.  Before the 1800’s people actually pulled the grass from their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful weeds like chickwee, chamomile and malva.  Most people cannot name the weeds in their yard, but almost everyone knows a dandelion by sight.  Why are these puffy golden flowers called dandelions?  It’s taken from the French word “dent de lion” which means lions tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves.

Dandelions are God’s happy yellow spots dotted across pasture land.

The First Dandelion

Simple and fresh and fair from winter’s close emerging,

As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,

Forth from its sunny nook of shelter’d grass–innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,

The spring’s first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Source: “Leaves of Grass,” by Walt Whitman

Isn’t the simplicity of spring a blessing?  I think the most precious thing to see is a child walking toward me carrying a wicker basket filled with dandelions.  Let’s make memories we can cherish our whole lives.  🙂

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

Of all the places in the United States, God touches Maine first with sunlight every day.  Some people think it’s so we’ll get up early.  I think it’s because He likes us best.  – Stephen King

It is finally the first day of spring!!!  The bug to get out and garden, mow and even pull weeds has been irresistible for the past few weeks because we went to our local lawn and garden show on March 6th at Century II here in Wichita.

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.   – Hal Borland

We came away from the show with so many ideas and plans to improve our landscaping.  I can hardly wait to dig in and start.  Yes, pun intended – LOL!

Do you have a spring in your step today???

There were exhibits of all kinds this year, but the old favorites always catch our attention.  This year a local nursery was there and we got to go through some books looking for trees to plant.  We’ve had trees planted in our yard two times already.  The first trees died and the second ones were not the kind we wanted.  The last trees we got were supposed to be redbuds, but they are mulberry trees.  Yes – we know because we have mulberries in the spring, and subsequently, purple bird poop.  Lovely.

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.  – Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

Obviously, we are not dealing with that company again.  No, it’s not a life or death thing, but when you pay good money to get trees, you at least want them to be the right kind.  Jus’ sayin’… 

Hopefully the third time will be the charm and next spring we will get to enjoy pretty pink or white flowers instead of purple mulberries and purple bird poop.  One can only hope.

Another spring.  May we enjoy it with wild abandon!  Breathe deep and capture as much warmth as the sun will give us.

May your spring be light and airy with less cares and more laughter.  May God bless your days with sunshine and the happy songs of the birds in your moments of solitude.  Happy spring!  😀

 

 

 

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

https://youtu.be/evxGRwjklS4

Blessings to you today and happy St. Patrick’s day!

Before I get into the message God has laid on my heart, I’d like to share an old Irish song with you.  I wasn’t sure I’d find it on You Tube, but I did.  My daddy bought the music for me when I was very small, and the words have followed me all my life.

Although they have thorns, roses remain my favorite flower. How often are they used as lyrics in songs? I was not able to find an exact number, but suffice to say that roses are used often! I’d say they use the rose or lily more than any other flower.

There is a verse in Song of Solomon 2:11 that compares both the rose and the lily with the Church. Like these beautiful flowers, the church has beauty in color and a sweet fragrance when there is harmony and love inside. The church, like the rose, delights in the bright places and shuns the darkness.

Imagine how pleased Christ is when His church looks and acts like beautiful roses and lilies that are growing strong and tall in the sun. He is pleased with ministries that exist for His glory. He is pleased when there is not any backbiting or criticism of any kind. When the weeds get in the garden they not only detract from the beauty of the flowers, but they can eventually choke them out completely.

What does your church smell like? Is it a pleasant fragrance to God? Does forgiveness come quickly? Is there harmony in the church house?

When the children of God are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and adorned with the graces of His Spirit, how happy the Father is! His children, the roses and lilies of His garden, so beautiful to Him. Believers in God and Christ, filled with His Holy Spirit, we strive to be the people He wants us to be. We perform our best because there’s only One whose opinion counts – our Lord! We do what we do just for Him.

I don’t know about you, but when I reach heaven’s shore, I want my Lord Jesus Christ to give me a great big hug and say the words, “WELL DONE” – it will be worth it all when we see Jesus! ❤