"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Another year of wild creatures, seasons, planting and planning, has come to an end

and I find myself looking over at what has come to visit the grounds,
 and all I have told you about here and 
pondering on what I would like to do differently this coming year. 
Here is a glimpse back over the creatures and plants this past year 2017
a dear blogging friend created a painting of our sweet Sophie

I found Homer ( who had been dumped on us) 
a great home with a local veterinarian 

Homer's 8 kittens arrived in march, and somehow,
I was able to find homes for the mother and all kittens

our damaged meadow has restored itself and the wildflowers
were beautiful!

the yellow headed blackbirds made their  annual visit
Three small owls stayed in our front yard tree for weeks

the tough horned toad helped get rid of ants

Gertrude got a new dress 

a hot and tired hawk  came to rest his feet in the bird bath

a very dear aunt filled our home with music and happiness

I showed a bit of my vintage kitchen

I gathered the last of my tomatoes on the vine

As I put the Christmas tree away, I am already focusing my 
attention on garden books, garden catalogs, and spaces outside
where I want to try to grow vegetables and flowers this 
next coming year.............
Tell me, what have you accomplished this year in your gardens?
What are your dreams and plans for the new year?
Lord, as the New Year dawns today,
      Help me to put my faults away.
      Let me be big in little things;
      Grant me the joy which friendship brings;
      Keep me from selfishness and spite,
      Let me be wise to what is right.
A Happy New Year! grant that I
      May cause no tear to any eye.
      When this new year in time shall end,
      Let it be said: "I've played the friend,
      Have lived and loved and labored here
      And made of it a happy year."
Edgar Guest (1881–1959), "Prayer for the New Year
Wishing you a very blessed new year!





13 comments:

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

You have had a very busy year with lots to see! Thank you for sharing your little slice of heaven with us all.

Granny Marigold said...

I enjoyed the look back at your year, month by month. I'm not sure just what I want to accomplish in my garden this year but I'm sure I'll be full of ideas soon!

lil red hen said...

Oh my! We could certainly use one of those toads! Fire ants are becoming a real problem on the farm. I loved seeing your year in photos; did Gertrude survive this summer for another? As for my year, I look back and all I seem to remember is the cataract surgery. ;) I'm looking forward to another year of words from the sweet woman with eggs in her pocket and a needle in her hand.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Merry after Christmas, Kathleen, as I am just catching up on blog reading. I enjoyed reading this month-by-month photo post and remember many of the posts behind the images And, thank you as well for comments on my blog posts. All were much appreciated, as always.

We just barely put up our little tree and holiday decos a few days before Christmas due to being away for 3 weeks, so I was surprised that you were already taking your tree down! We plan to leave our up until at least mid-January or at least until a couple more weeks to enjoy it.

Thank you my dear blogger friend. Sending best wishes to you for a very wonderfully Happy New Year.

happyone said...

I don't think I've ever seen a yellow headed blackbird!!
Love your kitchen.

Nancy J said...

Kathleen, your photos with each month on them, so lovely, Homer, the kittens,your garden, and now thinking ahead to spring planting. Have a wonderful 2018, with happiness,love, garden goodies, and animals and pets to fill your heart with love all over again. Fondest wishes from New Zealand.

letslearnembroidery said...

Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New year

Henny Penny said...

I enjoyed this post!! The pictures are so pretty and should actually be on a calendar! As far as gardening, I have a hard time planning ahead, but the one big thing I want to get done is new panels for the little greenhouse. I just read your Christmas post. It's beautiful too. I love the poem! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

This is a beautiful poem. I love your photos of each month. I also love the animals.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Hill Top Post said...

With visitors like these, I would say you have had a wonderful year. :~) I loved lil red hen's comment..."I'm looking forward to another year of words from the sweet woman with eggs in her pocket and a needle in her hand." I hope you have a wonderful 2018.

peggy said...

I love every one of your pictures and the poem too. I wish you and yours the very best for the New Year. Gertrude and the piano hands were my favorites.

Debra said...

I love the poem...
I am so touched that you liked the painting. It was one of my joys this year to do it, and indeed-painting Sophie was the beginning of my obedience to God in getting back to painting. So it was very emotional for me.
I so love seeing the creatures that visit you. You have a different world down yonder!!!
I am going to plant some different things next spring-some new grasses, some broom corn, maybe a bushel gourd. I'm getting lots of seed catalogs! So fun to sit with them and a cup of hot chocolate and dream, while the snow flies!
Happy and healthy New Year to you all in Texas!

Connie said...

I enjoyed your year's summary of photos. Wishing you a very happy new year!