The Smallest Details

A spring snowstorm of sorts gathers at the base of the mock orange tree as the strong Kansas wind dislodges delicate blossoms and scatters them near our backdoor.

I dash to my car parked only feet away. As usual, the time is tick, tick, ticking away, and I've not allowed extra time to drive the 15 minutes to town.  I glance at the shrub as I swing my overstuffed purse into the car and adjust the seat.

It's pretty enough, I suppose, this smattering of white and green, bending a fence with the weight of its branches decorated for spring. Still, off I race.

But, back home again, the subtle fragrance calls me, and I pause to find dew-kissed petals after a morning rain.

The perfume of spring is a siren call not only to my human senses but to a parade of fluttering visitors.

 

They make no sound, so I might not see them in my haste to get on down the road yet again.  

Yet they are there, hidden among the blooms and branches, the light capturing a stained-glass quality to gossamer wings.

 

Another finds a lavender plant to suckle.

And the silent beauty speaks loudly to the soul.

***

On this Mother's Day weekend, this post is a virtual bouquet for my Mom and for my daughter, who is celebrating her first Mother's Day as a Mommy. And it's for all you other women out there - mothers or not - who nurture and make a difference for others. Thank you for being you!

***

Today, I'm linked to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge finale. It is hosted by Alicia at Project Alicia, Kristi at Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca at Bumbles and Light. Check out the photos on their pages!

An Ode to Kermit's Color

April 30, 2012

Kermit the Frog laments that it's not easy being green. But a Kansas wheat crop clings tenaciously to green - even as snow blankets it and other plants have faded to brown for the winter.  

Today, I'm back for Leap Into Spring's "Grass/Green" photo challenge. Since my yard is not photo worthy, I went with the most beautiful green scenes we have here on the County Line.

Spring brings a sea of green to Central Kansas - green that stretches across wheat fields and seems to reach toward the mighty cottonwoods along a neighboring road.

April 23, 2012

It begins its life as a golden kernel. 

We drill - or plant - the crop in September and October.

And appropriately for a "Green" challenge, we drill the wheat using a John Deere drill - though we are decidedly red when it comes to tractor allegiance :-) 

Within 5 days or so, the first inkling of green begins to break through the earth.

Just like a baby, this miracle is 9 months in the making, starting fragile and small, slowly adding size and stature.

October 9, 2011

Wheat is a hardy crop. Through the winter, it sleeps. Even under a blanket of ice and snow ...

December 2011

 ... it holds steadfastly to its green.

February 2012

But as the sun's rays begin to warm the earth, the green rivals the brightest crayons in the box.

March 2012

The wheat heads and then "flowers" - or pollinates (see the little yellow strands?)

May - Wheat heading

 After 9 months of sunrises ... 

April 30, 2012 (The crop is ahead of schedule this year)

... the green gives way to the "amber waves of grain" - back to the gold from which it sprouted.  

And it's again time to harvest. Then the gold to green cycle will begin yet again on a Kansas farm.

***

Today, I'm linked to the fifth week of the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge. Hosts for the challenge are Alicia at Project Alicia, Kristi and Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca at Bumbles and Light. Check out the photos on their pages

A Challenge All Around

 

I wish I could say that I've had opportunities to take rain photos this week here in Central Kansas. Our wheat crop could use a long, deep drink of water as the heads fill.

Today's theme for the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge is rain and water. Since last night's chances for rain showers bypassed our farm, Randy plans to swath some alfalfa today. So maybe we'll get rain after all. (You can send your thank you notes to the County Line because swathing often leads to moisture. And believe me, we'll be OK with it, too.)

So, while I wait for rain to fall around here,  I've pulled together some of my favorite rain photos from the past. Hope you enjoy them and the quotes I've found to go with them. 

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.

 Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

 

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. 

Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces.

Smell the rain, and feel the wind.

Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.

Ashley Smith

April showers bring May flowers.

Tell me how many beads there are

In a silver chain

Of evening rain,

Unraveled from the tumbling main...

~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

All was silent as before -

All silent save the dripping rain.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Let the rain kiss you. 

 Let the rain beat upon your head 

with silver liquid drops.  

Let the rain sing you a lullaby. 

 ~Langston Hughes

***

I'm linked today to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge. Hosts for the challenge are Alicia at Project Alicia, Kristi at Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca at Bumbles and Light. Check out the photos on their websites.

Sunshine and Smiles

What sunshine is to flowers,

smiles are to humanity.

 
These are but trifles, to be sure,
 
but, scattered along life's pathway,
 
the good they do is inconceivable.

-- By Joseph Addison

Some unexpected projects didn't leave me with a lot of time. So, I'll just share the Joseph Addison quote and photos. Hope your day is filled with flowers and smiles.

(Instead of sunshine, I'm not-so-secretly hoping for a little rain. That would put a smile on the face of a wheat farmer I know.)

***

I'm linked today to the Leap Into Spring Challenge. Today's theme is Blossoms/Trees. Hosts for the challenge are Alicia at Project Alicia, Kristi and Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca at Bumbles and Light. Check out the photos on their pages.

Everyday Easter

It's easy to celebrate Easter when you're singing "Up From the Grave He Arose." That high F just seems to soar on a such a day of celebration: Friends are in their Sunday best, and little ones race toward the front of the sanctuary for Children's Time, girls twirling their fancy dresses and boys smoothing down their brand new shirts as the preacher tells the Good News, "Christ is risen! Hallelujah!"

And we rejoice, too. The somber message of Maundy Thursday and the darkness of Good Friday give way to Resurrection light.

But kind of like those new shoes we break out for Easter Sunday, life starts "rubbing" on us. And it causes discomfort - and maybe even blisters - as we plod along through worry and uncertainty and just plain living.

And it feels like darkness overtakes us. It doesn't feel much like Easter anymore.

Even though we're surrounded by things, we don't know where to look.

We're tired, and we just want to cry out and quit.

And that's when we can nestle into God's arms, arms that hold us as gently as a Grandma holds a sleeping baby on Easter Sunday afternoon.

Or as joyfully as a new mother coaxes out smiles.

Or a little child makes a new discovery - in tulips ...

... in new adventures like backyard swings ...

and yes, in the miracle of hands and little toes.

And that's when I need to open my eyes again to God's promises ... like the Son breaking through on a cloudy day and illuminating all the lines and wrinkles and details and paths of my life.

And even though I pack away the Easter tree eggs for another year ...

... I need to hold on to the Easter message and its beauty - all year 'round.

And just like at the center of the Easter lily, I can again find the 3 I should make my life's center - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and I remember Easter all over again.

***

Today I'm again participating in the Leap Into Spring Challenge with Project Alicia , Live and Love Outloud and Bumbles and Light. Today's theme is Easter/Eggs. Check out others' photos and thoughts by clicking on the links.

I'm also linked to Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday at Michelle's Graceful: Faith in the Everyday.