Thankful Thursday: "I Wasn't There For The Weeds"

"This story is about (a father), the great scientist Henry Eyring, who served on the Bonneville Stake high council (of the church).

He was responsible for the welfare farm, which included a field of onions that needed to be weeded.

At that time, he was nearly 80 and suffering from painful bone cancer.

He assigned himself to do weeding even though the pain was so great that he pulled himself along on his stomach with his elbows.

The pain was too great for him to kneel.
Yet he smiled, laughed, and talked happily with the others who were there that day weeding that field of onions.

I now quote what (his son) said of this incident:
" 'After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone [said to] him,
"Henry, good heavens!
You didn't pull those weeds, did you?
Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway."

" 'Dad just roared.
He thought that was the funniest thing.
He thought it was a great joke on himself.

He had worked through the day in the wrong weeds.
They had been sprayed and would have died anyway.

" '. . . I [asked] him, "Dad how could you make a joke out of that?" . . .
" 'He said something to me that I will never forget. . . .

He said, "I wasn't there for the weeds." ' "

This story means so much to me.
Hubby planned our garden.
He roto tilled, I planted.
Neither of us weeded.
It rained and rained and the weeds grew and grew.
The vegetables did not.
I refused to weed.
It was hubby's job.
I was responsible for harvesting and preserving (new to me this year).
The weeds grew and grew.
Rather depressing, and overwhelming.
Then I heard this story.
I'm not there for the weeds.

I have been hoeing a little each day.
Not for the harvest, not for revenge, not for anything but to show obedience and care for my little corner of the earth Heavenly Father has trusted me with.

After discussing it, we now plan on trying a square foot garden area.

I am so THANKFUL that my God is a God of second chances, and do overs.
That this life is just an experiment, with learning opportunities and experiences. And MUCH enjoyment:)

Have a GREAT Thankful Day!!



My goal this year is to soak it up, to bloom where I am planted, and enjoy the ride...
Counting my many blessings naming them one by one...
Join Spiritually Unequal Marriage, or Women Taking A Stand to join in or see more.
Also:
Happy Show & Tell:) Join Kelli at There is no place like home for Show & Tell:)
Have a great weekend!!!!

True story taken from: James E. Faust, “‘Some Great Thing,' “ Liahona, Jan. 2002, 55-56

Tour De Yard: 06/09 pt 5

I made this little bed when we extended out fence in the backyard. I bordered it, and scattered seeds. Little did I know that as soon as it wasn't a dog bed anymore the grass would come back like crazy!!
Finally I took the time and weeded:), this was a couple of weeks ago.

This is the view from the porch...
In the back is Sweet Potato, up front are Oregano in the bucket, Blueberry bushes, Marigold, Basil; behind them are thornless Blackberry bushes, and some other bushes.

I so love this Dwarf Variegated Leaf Abelia (blooming white) , next to it in the pot are Salvias

Behind them are Kenaf Hibiscus, Cherry tomato, trees in pots, Par-cel; In front in the pot Saint John's Wort, Happy Daylily, Aguste(sp),

Behind that Squash (some where I wrote down what kind)

Here is its fruit:)

My little Job's Tears crop

Job's Tears close up

(I have been told you let the 'beads' dry on the stalk and shake them off, also that it will reseed)

Here is looking back a week ago...Also in there are okra, a pot with Whirling Butterflies, a pot of mixed perennials, Marigolds, Poke Weed, and I hope Huckleberries

Today you can see how the squash has spread, I love how great squash plants look when they are young and green.

I leave you with my new favorite tool!!! (Happy Mother's Day to me:)


Next the garden...

Tour De Yard: 06/09 pt 4

The view from my front steps toward the pond...

Looking from steps, along house...

Behind the steps are Taro and Ginger...

This washtub pot has a white blooming weed, yellow Daylilies, Purple Shamrock, Amaryllis, Sedum, Purslane, Morning Glory, Mexican Hydrangea and Clematis...

To its left is my Obedient plant grouping ...


This was all in one pot, and I just plopped it in the ground last year. Obedient plant is in front, Dragonwing Fleece Flower, Chinese False Indigo...


Close up of Dragonwing Fleece Flower and pink blooming Chinese False Indigo (love this grouping)...

Note to self: Obedient plant should go in back next time:)



Next is my old wheelbarrow friends of mine were throwing away, it has: Sedum, Purslane, small Pattypan Squash, and Violets (I pulled out all the lettuce)

At its base is Moss Rose, Early Sunrise Coreopsis and Mexican Petunia Katie...

To the left is a small red Hibiscus, Siloam Daylily, and Jerusalem Sage...

Silver Leaf (Power's Castle) Artesmia, Potatoes, Autumn Joy Sedum, pot of Porter Weed and Rainlilies...

My yellow rain lily bloomed :)...

Potatoes; Daylily; big bunch includes Sorrel, Salad Burnett, Rose of Sharon; Silver Leaf Artesmia...

White pot of Sedum; pot of Wild Jew, Shasta Daisies, Misty Rose; Squash, Potatos, Indigo...

Here is my Secret garden...(to the left a Princess tree, oats, Diana Rose of Sharon)

My favorite view...

To the right of pond, double purple Rose of Sharon, Limegreen Artesmia

Doing well all by its self...

So pretty:)

On the left: This white pot was planted with a sad Chinese Fringe bush (hopefully it will forgive me for torturing it), egg gourd, kettle gourd, bottle gourd, and Jack-N-Beanstalk (huge green) bean. Cannas in back; Aphrodite Rose of Sharon and lots of Clematis and Morning Glories in the green pot.

What you don't get to see?

My messy potting corner:)

Be afraid, be VERY afraid:)

I planted Sugar baby watermelons on the empty side of the garden...

Looking back at porch-sugar baby watermelons will fill in the right area as they spread.

I leave you with a beautiful, perfect Goddess Diana Rose of Sharon (Athela) bloom

Tomorrow the back yard...

Tour De Yard: 06/09 pt 3

Front of the house, dark green bushes are hollies, big green thing is a poke berry plant...

This corner has 3 little gulf stream nandinas, a red dianthus that has really out done itself (its companions died), a purple aster...

I just added lots of Purslane and can't wait for it to fill out...

My butterfly bush is at the end of its first bloom, when I dead head it, it will re-bloom over and over...

The milk and wine crinum lily is SO reliable, with water it will bloom all season...

Monday pt 4:)

Have a great weekend, and great Father's day:)