Wake up little garden!

It's barely warm enough to be outside without a coat, it's supposed to snow tonight BUT it's officially spring so time to get in the garden !!!! DR tilled yesterday which madee so excited and we received seeds in the mail (which made it feel like Christmas ) and now all I have to do is wait a month or so before I dare plant anything!! How about you? Are your waking your garden up yet?

Photo Thursday - Spring in Kansas

Doesn't that wheat look gorgeous?

We don't have square fields out here, well not many. They are all in circles. Where the end of the irrigation rig reaches is the end of the green.

Before Kansas I'd never seen a circle field or so many irrigated fields.

Personally, I think it's a waste of water and to better utilize resources farmers should move towards drought resistant crops but I guess this type of irrigation is an improvement. I talked to one woman who, as a child, helped haul large pipes out to the fields to flood them....an incredibly inefficient use of water.

Sunday Devotions - Spring Flowers

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:28-34

My neighbor has spring flowers coming up in her flowerbed.

I sneaked over and took some photos; I don't think she'll mind.

I don't know if there is anything more welcome than the sight of spring flowers after a long dreary winter. The did my heart good this morning to spy them. The sight of them lifted me up and assured me that the warm weather is close at hand.

The sight of these gorgeous flowers are also a reminder of God's constant presence in our lives. He loves His believers more than anything else. Yet look around at the beauty of nature! What beautiful wonders he has created; the sunny daffodil, the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon, the gentle flight of an eagle. For us they are wonders to behold. But they are also a reminder that although God cares a great deal for the birds and animals and flowers that He cares for us even more. He will take care of us no matter what comes our way, if only we believe.

Thank You God for the stunning beauty of this world! Thank You for Your reassurance and Your love. Amen.

Gardening has begun!

The Gardening has begun!! Let's Till the Soil!!

This is what my healthy men were up to over the weekend. I was sick in bed but managed to snap a few pictures before collapsing into sleep yet again.

I missed the mighty spreading of the compost but the boys did tell me they weren't impressed with the smell.

Yip and Yap diligently raked up dirt clumps following DR and the tiller.

It will be a while before we get to planting but at least this is start and the compost willhave some time to work in the soil.

It was cold and the boys wisely donned their gloves.

That's exactly how I feel Yip! Thumbs up to the gardening season!!

Breaking out the bikes with help from brother.

Last fall Yip and Yap were able to take the training wheels off their bikes shortly before it became too cold to ride outside. This spring when we got the bikes back out again Yap took off as though a day hadn't gone by when he wasn't on a bike. Yip though has been kind of hesitant and needs to relearn. He's been nervous and I haven't been able to help him as much as I'd like.

(Because every time I do Yahoo screams her bloody little head off!! Can you say, "just a little jealous"??)

 

Cooking dinner yesterday, I peeked out and caught them doing this.

Yap was holding the bike seat for Yip and keeping it steady until he could get the bike going on his own.

Everytime Yip was able to make it a few yards without help Yap would yell and cheer and tell his brother what a great job he had done!

I love twins! Every once in a while they even like each other and don't mind showing it.

Sunday Devotions for Kids - Prayer of the American Farmer

My husband has a plaque on our bedroom wall that belonged to his grandfather who was a farmer. This simple wooden plaque bears the Prayer of the American Farmer. Being that it is spring and there are many farmers in the fields planting as we speak, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you today.

Lord, with Your help we endure the changing seasons. We survive drought and flood, high winds and snowstorms. But today our risks and burdens grow, even as as world hunger increases more and more.

We don't ask You, Lord, to make our problems dispappear - You know the farmer never retreats from a challenge. And we don't seek help for ourselves alone - our labors and their fruits nourish people everywhere. We simply want to keep our precious land, work it, and preserve our self respect.

So we come to You, Lord - the source of our strength, our courage, and our hope - trusting in Your steadfast love for us and all You have created. Our prayer is this: that You would enable us to feed the families we love, the country we cherish, and the nations of the world in which we live. 

by B.J. Hoff

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!

The prairie is starting to come alive again with color if only for a short time in the sky.

We spend a few last days enjoying the snow and ice...

...as we welcome the mud and rain.

Welcome back Spring! We have missed you. Thanks for coming to play.