Season of Winter

For the past several years, the holidays arrive with all their activities and then the New Year in which we celebrate a fresh start…  January.  The month of my birth, so another celebration to look forward too.  However, something has changed in me.  While I've battled ongoing health challenges for years, a new "phenomenon" has settled in.  By the end of the first week of the New Year, my body is exhausted, shaky, muscles extremely tight, my eyes weary. No matter what I do to support or encourage my body, winter settles in for a stretch and my body wants to be "dormant" or go into some type of "hibernation."   And, I don't like it one bit!  

But, getting frustrated or angry or ……….. doesn't help and likely puts increased pressure on my tired and weak body.  All I can do is embrace it and realize that REST becomes my #1 priority.  If I'm on the computer too long (and it's a very short time frame that my eyes will function on here), I feel woozy and my neck muscles tighten up and my throat feels a bit constricted.  Sleeping longer hours or naps are a must.  Today, I got up with Blaine for our morning devotions, ate some breakfast after he left and went back to bed (around 6:30 am) and while I woke up a few times through the morning, my body did not want to wake up until around 11:30.  And now, I'm heating up leftover red lentil cauliflower curry to bring warmth to my body…  I'll walk the dog and take a shower and rest again.  Short walk with Blaine (after work) and rest this evening.  And repeat this routine daily for who knows how long.  

But He (the Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Can't say I enjoy "boasting," as Paul did, but I am sharing the reality of my journey - but if I encourage or help one other person then so be it!  However, he does tell me that in sharing my weakness, Christ's power is made stronger in me and I welcome it! So should you.  During the winter season, I rest in Christ that His power is made all the more in me.  I don't want to journey through this life in my own strength, but in His.  And yet, I am so often reminded that the world tells us we must be useful and productive.  The world has little use for someone like me.  I have seasons where I can accomplish much.  I also have seasons where I can "accomplish" little by the world's standards. 

There is little time for rest, wouldn't you agree?  What if the world has it backward?  What if we're looking at the world and this life upside down?  Or through rose-colored glasses?  

One of my maple trees in dormancy last winter

We can look at the natural world.  Some would say that plants and trees are "dead" in the winter.  While they have no active growth happening on the surface (that most see with the naked eye, although signs of life may be there), much is happening below the surface and underground (in the soil).

This visual example brings much hope and excitement to me as I live in acceptance of this "weakened" season in my own life when January arrives.  Maybe it's SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and I need more light. Living in the Pacific Northwest (and I know of some people that leave for sunshine and the tropics for a time during our dreary winter months) can be very challenging.  I've had some professionals encourage me to move to a sunnier climate, but my Lord has not directed me to do so.  For today, I don't have answers.  I am thankful I have a Heavenly Father who does and that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper, our counselor, our teacher, our physician to help us here. 

And daily, I give thanks to God for Blaine.  My husband, my best friend, my supporter and encourager, my warrior.  I don't know how I'd make it through the winter season each year without his love and prayer support.  He is truly a priceless treasure and blessing from God to me!

And, come Spring, buds will burst forth and then tender, young leaves.  Soon, the tree will leaf out fully and eventually form seed pods.  When Autumn arrives once again, the tree will showcase great beauty…  Hope.  New life just below the surface.

Usually by mid-February, I begin to sense an increased level of energy in my body and I begin to come out of the weakened, fuzzy state that has been my existence for several weeks.  I feel alive once more.  

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  John 12:24

While, I don't consume wheat any longer - this example is not lost on me.  Sunflowers.  One seed produces countless seeds.  Trying planting one and experience it for yourself.

You could plant corn, amaranth, quinoa…  Plant a seed of a plant that produces seed and then count the number of seeds from that one plant.  

I continually stand amazed.

And this verse above, it's really teaching us that we must die to self in order for our lives to produce many seeds of blessing for others.  Our Lord works through our lives to touch others lives, if we allow Him to.

And in the midst of choosing Christ.  Trusting God.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and use my life for Kingdom purposes.  Learning Eucharisto.  Giving thanks. Seeking Joy. My heart is also greatly saddened by loss too.  Even in this, I choose God.

Today, I am reminded that we must carefully consider what choices we make.  Years ago, when I heard this song - I Surrender All by Clay Crosse - I chose to sing those words in a prayer to God.  Even though it has been costly in my life and I have often thought, "What did I do?," I just listened to the song again (and you can listen to it by clicking on the song link above) and while it brought tears to my eyes, I said YES once again…  God is so good.

Atti, Bo Peep, Little Red and Sussy enjoying a sugar pumpkin last January.  How I miss my girls.  They were a reason (a purpose) to get out of bed every morning, even when I was at my weakest….  

And, I believe.  I trust, that one day, God will restore Joy Bell Farm and chickens to our lives.

May our amazing and wonderful Lord bless you and keep you today.  May He make His face shine upon you…  You are loved.

Seattle Tilth's Chicken Coop/Urban Farm Tour

Loved this espalier apple fence in Ballard

Nothing says "garden" like a picket fence...

Charming chicken coop

Loved the decorating details!

Cottage garden details...

Creative gate idea...

A Buff Orpington wanders through a garden.

Most chicken keepers said your coop needs to include one of these...

La Mancha goats in a city backyard, which is legal - but after visiting 3 homes with goats on the tour, I'm now wondering whether this is really a good idea... I understand why people are keeping them, but is it really a "good neighbor" thing to do?

Wonderful outdoor "kitchen" space

Loved this fence idea (with the pipe) ~ would keep the neighbor children's balls out of our yard and make a stronger fence (that, hopefully, their balls would not damage), but is it too contemporary for me?

Like the old band saw on this coop

Creative with their garden space in Seattle ~ beehives on the roof of their house...

One of my favorite urban farms on the tour: City Art Farm

They have Pygora goats - a cross between a pygmy and angora. Great fiber animal, but I'm still trying to understand having a male goat in the city... Female I can understand more, but they have to be bred for milk production. Still wrestling with what's a good balance of sustainability and urban living.

Hollyhocks and artichokes ~ garden beauty!

Cord wood construction for their predator proof chicken coop = interesting!

Loved how they incorporated glass bottles for perches in their design. Very funky!

An annual event in Seattle. Second Saturday of July. Mark your calendars for next year and be inspired... Happy Urban Farming!

Free Seeds arrived!

Seeds of Change had a special "25 packs of free seeds" offer on facebook and I was fortunate enough to register in time... I had begun to wonder if it had really worked. Recently, an unmarked manilla envelope arrived addressed to me and it was filled with my seed packets! I shared duplicates with our next door neighbors and planted many of these in our garden this weekend. Yippee!

Memorial Weekend in the garden!

Everbearing strawberries in planters

...and doing well.
*The rosemary on the top was transplanted into the front yard this weekend.

We're experimenting with putting tomatoes on the south side of the house this year (driveway) and hoping they get enough warmth for good production

The Meeker raspberries in the background looks like they're on steroids, but I didn't even fertilizer them this spring. Rhubarb has done well (on left side in front of raspberries - prior to second harvest this spring) and the strawberries are going to town too!

Strawberry bed with second year plants in front and new plants behind...

The new blackberry is really starting to grow...

Lots of new growth on the new-for-this-season black raspberry

This is our asparagus bed - planted crowns in February - but we're not sure if they are going to be productive or not. I decided to push in the soil that was on each side of the bed. We added more garden soil this weekend and I planted these brussel sprout starts on the right side of the bed (and out of the way of the asparagus ferns that we are hoping will grow).

Gooseberries doing well, so far, this season...

The new boysenberry is finally showing some good new growth!
The little green leaves behind the boysenberry are "low growing good bug" blend seed from Peaceful Valley and I'm hoping they are helpful in attracting the good bugs!

The new strawberries are in a great growth pattern and the Anne golden raspberries are flourishing...

Blue Star creeper under the maple tree.

A little concerned about the huckleberries, as many blossoms are dying and falling to the ground... Not enough bees around? We'll see how berry production is this summer.

The Black Pearl blackberry is looking good!

I've planted a low growing clover between the raised beds. Hoping this will grow and fill in, adding nitrogen to the soil and keeping the weeds crowded out.

The squash bed is struggling. I definitely think a tunnel would be beneficial for them. This cool weather just isn't helpful, yet surprisingly some seed I put in a few weeks ago sprouted!

The green pole beans we planted from seed have had about a 50%+ success in this very cool weather. Reseeded this weekend and will give the green beans a dose of fish fertilizer to boost their energy levels!

The cauliflower starts are doing well. However, the cabbage moth has been on the loose and I'm checking for eggs and little green worms every couple days. Can't say I mind squishing all I find!

I purchased some bush green bean starts from Rent's Due - hoping to supplement our slow pole bean crop...

Sage waiting to be put into a permanent home. The lettuces are doing well.

The sugar snap peas seem to be doing well despite their late start.
*We trellis our peas with chicken wire and weave stakes through the mesh to create support poles. Worked really well last season.

I did alot of planting this past weekend, so every space is now taken in the garden (until we harvest in the next few weeks). Coco is always nearby when I'm working in the garden.

...and often gets bored and naps while I work

Cabbage plant - doing well!

Garlic just keeps growing and growing and growing...

Cabbages on both sides of this raised bed with a curry (herb) plant in the front
Also growing radish, carrots (struggling) and broccoli - left to right
A single artichoke plant is in the center toward the garlic at the back of the bed

Monday was clear the back corner and a section of the fence-line day...
Backbreaking work, but thankful Blaine worked the corner while I focused on the neighbor's side of the fence (between their retaining wall and the fence - need to spray the wild blackberries, as they grow like weeds in the Seattle area.)

Then, I focused on pulling all the grass and weeds behind the black raspberry and boysenberry bed. Thankful for Blaine's help after dinner to get the job done. Had to deal with a large ant colony living in the area too... I put down low growing good bug seed and hope it sprouts quickly.

Blaine also rototilled a section of grass where I'm hoping to start espaliered jonagold trees next year. Once we clean out the grass, we'll add some compost and throw down some good bug blend seed and some sunflower seeds...

Looking down on our garden from the hillside above!

Next work day in the garden... pulling grass, bindweed and other weeds from behind the raspberry beds (our side and the neighbor's)