See the Beauty in the Ordinary: 2017

We Gather Together

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing" and the table is laden with the most delicious dishes.

The delightful fruits of fall are as much a part of the changing season as the falling leaves and gray skies.

Father and son work the bale elevator.

I remember haying. Prairie hay harvest has always been a big part of summer on the farm. Meadows of prairie grass are cut, dried and baled to feed cattle through the winter.

Our story begins with a black hen. There is also a golden hen and a few more tiny little characters, but we'll learn about them later.

The black hen was of a persuasion that believed in sitting on a clutch of eggs for an extended period of time with the firm hope that this would result in baby chicks hatching.

Lilies grace a garage sale bird bath.

Good garden accessories (yard art!) enhance the beauty of the plants and flowers in the garden. Options abound. Selections vary from practical to whimsical. It is the gardeners prerogative to choose what best reflects their interests and personality.

Our thoughts are like flowers (or maybe weeds) in the garden of our lives. What we think influences our peace and happiness. We have options. We get to choose!

Think well.

The snowball bush is heavy with lush blooms.

Spring has been a bit timid this year. Just when it seems the weather is settled, there's a cold snap and we're back in the house again.

I was thinking about Carrot Cake the other day. It sounded really good. I love the flavor and texture created by combination of carrots, pineapple, coconut, pecans and perhaps some raisins. But then I thought when would I ever make it? Maybe for someone's birthday. Perhaps for Easter. So basically the answer was not anytime soon.

Behold the muffin: palm sized bit of goodness. Sourdough Oatmeal-Raisin Muffins feature a tender interior studded with dots of dried fruit and whole-grain wholesomeness with a delicate sourdough tang surrounded by a sturdy outside. They're easy to eat, nutritious and beloved by youngsters and oldsters alike. Okay, yes, they have some sugar, but if you compare them with cookies, its so much less.