Continuing to Grow

We had a hard winter with snow this past year. The man that plows our driveway finally had to bring a back hoe to lift the current snow over the large hills already formed by his snowplow.

And in the spring, when it finally melted, we realized that our fledgling apple tree, south of the driveway, was the recipient of all that snow. Piled directly on top of the tree.

It was cracked and broken in so many places. But I got my duct tape out, securing all the branches to the main stem and then placed a sturdy post next to the tree and secured the tree to the post.

There are little apples on the tips of the fragile branches. I checked today.

The tree is growing. It is drawing life from the main trunk and the roots that go deep. A foundation that was not destroyed by an unforgiving winter.

The Lord encouraged me this morning with that tree.

As I was sitting and reading the Word this morning in my garden room He brought my little tree to mind.

We live in a world of violent clashing kingdoms. All of our days spent in the midst of a great battle, whether we know it or sense it or are completely oblivous to it.

And yet, God's intentions towards us are life, and peace, joy and contentment. But those intentions are opposed.

We can not bury the past, our pains, our sorrows, our disappointments. Abundant life does not work like that. But we can pick up our weapons and look not on the things of this world, the seen, but on things which are not seen, the eternal things. Things which are seen are temporal, temporary. So maybe sometimes we will not be moving forward as in a battle. But we will stand. God tells us that in Ephesians 6; He is able to make us stand. And sometimes it is enough to just stand.

I read the other day Psalm 94:19 "In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul." And I thought, What are my comforts?

My comforts; a foundation, a root system, just like my little apple tree, that is continually giving us strength, nutrition, power, energy to go on. despite our times of agonizing sadness and inability to bring Elizabeth's Christian back. This, this is not just a little scraped knee that Mom could help with a kiss and a bandaid.

But our foundation; a comfort long developed, continues to supply our daily needs. God's love, his mercy, his patience and his everlasting presence. Bringing health and life and eventually fruit to the broken and cracked branches of our lives.

The Inn on Main Street

We're running a bit of a country inn on Main Street this summer. Along with a decorating service, travel agency and regional tour guide service.

Some stay just overnight, some a few days and some a few weeks. But there is a constant flow of friends and family in and out of 42 this summer.

The beds have been stripped again, sheets and towels washed and replaced and new recipes out on the counter ready for the next set of travelers.

Our most recent guests were from Kansas City and Texas. Family friends of my sister and Laura came for a few days. And they fell in love with our little town of Canton. They loved the farmers market, tasted and bought real maple syrup and maple cream (enjoyed on Helen J's homemade whole wheat bread, toasted just right!) saw wild turkeys,saw the Amish and their buggies and wagons driving down Main Street, picked up peacock feathers on our way to camp, went for a boat ride at camp,and gained real understanding of Adirondack style decorating, experienced a local auction on Jay Street and bought stuff, (and met many of my friends from the neightborhood and church),visited Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain, learned how to play sped scrabble (non stop when there was a break in the action), visited 34 Judson and gave decorating tips for upcoming kitchen and bathroom projects there, and took loads of pictures of the backyard garden and small town life in general. Walking everywhere was a real treat, and no super highways was inspirational to the mid westerners.

We're now preparing for Christian's family to come out for THE rugby tournament in Saranac Lake on August 2. Christian played on the All Army Rugby team for several years and this year they have put together a team to play in his memory. This actually is the largest rugby tournament in the US. So all are welcome to Saranac Lake fields to support the team playing in Christian's memory. Many of Ethan's friends from NYC will be up at camp too that weekend. Should be lots of fun.

Our big news is that Elizabeth will receive her household goods on Monday. Exciting and almost overwhelming. We are constantly trying to envision where everything will fit in. Very fun!

My wonderful friends included her in our little "girls night out" group last night and surprised her with plants from each of their gardens. We'll have to get busy at 34 with designing some new gardens now. Creativity is at an all time high here at 42 and 34 but I think we may need some muscle along with all our creativity and plans! Time for Jon to come home!

God is Good/We Had Fun

We hosted a little garden luncheon on Wednesday for the Remington Museum.

It was fun.

Sunday night Laura and I wrapped our best silver in linen napkins tied with raffia. Ann came on Tuesday night to get all the "stuff" out; plates, water goblets, coffee cups and saucers, crystal cream and sugar bowls, dessert dishes, "the" silver serving trays(straight from the auction in ABay), she cut the lavender which was to be tucked into the napkins the next morning, and in her best school teacher hand writing she chalked the menu on the blackboard.

Wednesday morning Laura was out "Listerining" the back yard, after fogging it the day before. Listerine is our new, natural bug repellent, and it works. We set up the tables, dragged out the chairs, set out the linens, put the silverware and goblets out, put the centerpieces on, cut the lemons, cooked the chicken, created herbed butter from the herbs right outside the kitchen, sliced and toasted the bread, lite the candles, made the punch, and set out the appetizers and waited for the guests and prayed.

God was good. It poured in Potsdam, but not here. My dear husband was in Potsdam worrying about the ladies in the backyard and where I was going to serve lunch. We were spared.

If I had had my thinking cap on, I would have imported a keyboard and then Nancy and Darlene could have played and sang arias for the guests enjoyment. Next time.

Nancy plated the chicken caeser salad, and Darlene did the seafood salad, all with litte touches of lemon, paprika and drizzled dressing. It looked very elegant. Laura and Ann served together.

The big "hit", I must say, was the appearance of Colin as the Head Waiter. He took control of the serving and the guests really enjoyed the appearance of a handsome man. They even asked him what catering service we were from. We all were in black and white so we did look semi professional. And with his help and instruction we ran the operation quite smoothly.

Clearing, coffee and tea service, lovely raspberry serbet, adorned with mint and blackberries, and lemon pound cake, clearing, washing the silverware and loading and unloading the dishwasher several times and the luncheon was done.

Then the five of us went on a private tour of the other gardens which were featured in the day's event.

We met new friends, had fun in the kitchen, saw new plants and interesting garden designs and in general had a great day! It was fun!

July 4th

July 4th was spent at 34; cutting brush out, powerwashing and scrapping the garage, transplanting and generally sprucing up the gardens, and sweeping the driveway.

Then a spontaneous cookout at 42 with some of our favorite people.

Fun!

Anniversary Love

It was a busy day at 34.

Cars lined the driveway for most of the day. Three ladies came with their "paint" faces on and paint they did....... the whole downstairs!!

A 16 year old friend came and powerwashed the entire house. I know from experience that was a difficult task. And the house looks beautiful after it's bath.

Friends dropped by to say "hi" and give a hug. Flowers arrived. Cards arrived in the mail. A tree was planted in the front yard.

Four of us went out to dinner and then to a concert, Patriotic Pops presented by the Orchestra of Northern New York. Our hearts were stirred.

And we thought about that day two years ago and we longed for more.
And I thought about our wonderful family and friends and was thankful.

July 2

They say that time heals all wounds.

My experience is that time brings back a flood of memories. And they bring joy and sorrow.

No, we do not grieve as those that do not have any hope. But we grieve.

This was their second anniversary. And he is not here with her. It was too short and it certainly is not right.

One of my first thoughts on November 8th was that God is good. That reality kept flooding my consciousness, I guess as an anchor for my soul.

But God's goodness is the foundation of our faith. So I believe.

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

I believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I believe that His goodness is reaching out to Elizabeth and will continue to do so. I have seen her be of great courage; to get up, to go out, to receive love and compassion from loved ones, church family and village friends, to go on. And I have seen the promise of a strengthen heart waiting.........