One of God's Most Nutrient-Dense Gifts!

Friends are some of life's most cherishable foods!

Today I indulged in one of God's greatest gifts to mankind...or in my case...womankind.

A girlfriend. A very special girlfriend. This is a relatively newer one but I've known almost from the first time I met her that she was a woman who could become dear to my heart.

And she has.

She's real and honest. Frank about herself, and frank about me...in the kindest way. She loves Jesus, like I do, which makes for the deepest sort of friendship because it's a like-minded one way down deep where the Spirit lives.
But she'll say things she shouldn't, sometimes, and so will I, and we'll love one another all the more for our fallibility.

I hope you have a friend like mine. I believe God gives them as very special gifts. They are rare, these truly kindred-spirits...as rare as the best cut diamonds. And as valuable. No, that's not true. They are waaaayyy more valuable.

I didn't realize I'd grown to love my friend as much as I have until I was nearly at her home today, on my way home from an errand that took me in her direction. But I did start to understand as I neared her home...I suddenly discovered a kind of leaping within my belly. Why, I was joyfully anticipating this visit!...a visit which we had arranged only the night before, when I found I was going to have some extra kiddos that I'd been wanting her kiddos to meet and my Monday milk pick-up was going to be near her house. And even though she's busy, EVEN THOUGH she homeschools and her hubby works at home and probably at least 100 other 'even thoughs', she opened her doors, her arms, her time and her heart to me and mine.

Oh, Father in Heaven, thank you! I was so blessed to spend time with her.

The timing was perfect. I've been stressed and dealing with hormonal crap, (Yes, I called it crap because that's exactly what it is.), and close to tears on several ocassions over the past several days and Sr. Chief is wonderful to the max, but sometimes girls just need girls. And in my case, it wasn't a matter of just any old girl. It needed to be someone I believed was interested in my welfare. And I know that I know that I know...she is.

And I know that I would be just as thrilled if she were to call tonight and say, "Can I come play at your house tomorrow?" The answer would surely be a resounding, "Yes!"

So, forget the food today...or tomorrow...and dig into one of God's most nutrient-dense gifts. Friendship. A good few hours with a good few laughs with a really good friend is worth a week's worth of nutrient-dense eating.

Weed Walk Therapy-Holy Satisfaction!

"I come to the [walkway] alone,
While the dew is still on the roses..."

After the breezes of Springtime breathe out warm rains. While the earth is still wet from that last thunderstorm or the new morning's dew. And certainly before the sun turns its thermostat to 'Broil'. That's the time.  Time for one of the many springtime traditions I perform annually. Time for the one tradition that I own.

But this one is especially beneficial to mind, soul and body...or to be less ethereal about it...my get'er done mentality, Tigger personality and winter-stiff joints.

There are other traditions, but all of them include Senior Chief, which is great as some of those projects would never get done without him. But this one is mine. He hates this kind of work. It is tedious and boring to him. But once I begin, I enjoy it...and in the end, I am immensely satisfied.

It is the job of de-grassing the brick pathway. This is the only pathway in our yard of this sort.  The bricks are old and each one has three holes. And therein lies my task. Tiny seeds that slept through winter now take root in the dirt beneath those holes, and grasses of all sorts begin to grow. From that statement alone, it is obvious that we don't use weed/grass killer. It is also obvious that we took the easy road in creating our pathway by not layering beneath with sand or other material to inhibit grass growth. There are times I think I wish we had, but mostly, I'm okay with the current state of affairs. It's not forever because one day, we'll most likely have to take it all up and re-lay it, but for now, I love the quaint and cottagey look of it. And I like what my annual task does for me and ultimately, our yard.

To further expose our lack of formality around 'Hailey Homestead', and explain the 'why' of what I do, it is important to reveal that we have a dog. We have had dogs for years. They all love us so very much that when we let them out to do their business, they will go off to the side for the heavy business, but for the inferior act of peeing, they squat only about ten feet from the base of our deck. Those in the know, know that this makes for yellow grass and even bald spots. The one thing we do once a year, is scatter a bit of lime over those areas, then water the spots as if we'd planted seed on days when have no grandchildren. The urine acidity is in that way neutralized and roots that have survived then come to life.

But there have been areas of baldness that needed new grass altogether.

Without further adieu, what I do is simply: Weed the Walk

The process is simple, as long as the ground is wet. Grab the grass at the base and pull, tug, wiggle and wrench the grass from each hole.

Oh yes. I do.

Free worms to help my garden...or lawn...grow!

And I save these natural grass plugs to plant in the bald spots, as well as any spots our chickens have over-scratched. I cover the spots with old lattice-work, bits of chicken wire, etc, until they're well-established. It's not pretty-yet, but it keeps all pets at bay. For this reason, I defer my delight in 'pretty' until a bit later. There is an added bonus in the fact that worms have made their homes within the roots. These, I leave alone or remove for the compost and garden.

Of course I realize I could buy grass seed or turf, but this is my contribution to the rebuilding and restoring efforts of spring. I get this 'karma, one-ness' thing going, (I say this with a giggle). But honestly, I do get the feeling that I'm actually working with God in cultivating a sort of rebirth...a healing and refreshment...of His creation. The words of of an old hymn come effortlessly to mind:
"I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses...and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

In truth, I am well aware that in performing this small hour or two of work, I am the one getting spiritually, as well as physically,  grounded, healed and refreshed.



Almost done!  Note the pot in the background is
'packed to the gills' with grass plugs. If I don't use them
right away, I'll keep them damp by sprinkling with water
for a few days.

I know I could change it all. Take up the old bricks, put in hole-less ones. Once done, it would be a lot less work...

...and a whole lot less holy satisfaction.