This Week in the Garden

Ahem.... What is in my garden today?? A little out of the ordinary....





A 7 minute drive to visit Stormy became a 45 minute ride each way to bring him home to prove that a horse can fit in the backyard and to surprise Dad.

Honey it's Time to Gird the Himrods

Isn't there a verse somewhere that talks about girding your loins?

"Stand therefore having your loins gird about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness: Eph. 6:14

I need a definition of that funny word before I can talk about himrods
1. to encircle or bind with a belt or band
2. to surround or enclose
3. to prepare oneself for action
4. to provide or equip as with power or strength

Totally! Don't you see it all makes sense now!

I think of girding your loins with truth as a perfect picture of definition #4. We get ourselves prepared, we know the truth, we seek the truth, we want to live the truth every day. We can't go out into the world and know what we stand on, what we believe, why we live the way we do, unless we are equipped with truth. The truth permeates every spot of our being, and exudes out our pores. So what is your truth? Your absolute that you know if nothing else in life matters, you can hold fast to that one truth? In our world that now touts no absolutes (which is an absolute all on its own), there is a longing for something real, autheniticity, feelings and experiences of truth and realness, but yet to turn to some age old "religion" or set of beliefs is stifling. So contrary to " you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"!!!!!!!! Freedom!
Now don't ask me why it's our loins we are girding. Maybe there's a good reason for that being the chosen spot. Maybe it's like a girdle keeping all the parts in the right places :) I think the NIV version calls it a "belt of truth". So then definition #2 makes all the sense in the world. We can have anything in life going on, but if it isn't encircled with truth, then what's the point? If someone tells you a lie, it seems to defeat everything else they are in that moment. It makes everything else about them seem like a pretense, even if only that one small part of their word was a lie. Truth is the surrounding factor, preparing us for action!

So what does this have to do with himrods?? Well it's time to gird them! Himrods are my favorite variety of grapes. They are lovely cross breed making a crisp, green, seedless grape perfect for fall eating. When we first moved here we happened across the most wonderful grape farmer, I wouldn't call him a vineyard owner, though he is, he's more of a farmer and only grows table grapes not wine varieties. He is a lovely older gentleman who we visit many times every Sept. After trying all his varieties, in our 3rd or so year here we planted a himrod. It's not doing so well because I don't know anything about growing good grapes and mostly like the effect of the vines over my shed. I haven't taken the time to learn or give it prime conditions, but then we wouldn't get to go visit Bert. Last year, Bert told Kevin that you must gird your himrods for better production. Right about now it's time, to "encircle them with a band" around the vine just above the fruit. You actually use a tool that strips away the bark around the vine so that the nutrients stop at the fruit and don't continue on to the leafy parts. "So come on over and borrow my tool so you can properly gird them, and I'll show you how. Just watch for me out in the fields." I guess it's time for a walk....

(not my himrods)

Who Broke the Rules?

I like rules. Rules are good. Rules are put into place in various capacities to control or guide behavior. Rules are meant to protect people, to keep each other safe, and to provide order to our society. Without rules it would be anarchy! I am big on schedule and routine and certain household rules, like no shoes in the house, don't hit your sister, attempt to use silverware when eating, not going to bed angry with each other, taking turns to clear the table, feeding the dog daily, cleaning your rooms weekly so that the floor can be at least seen and vacuumed, these to name a few. Then there are the unwritten rules like treat each other with respect, close the fridge after opening, put the seat down after use, read at bedtime. Rules help to keep things running smoothly... without them life would be so much less mundane!

But sometimes rules are just meant to be broken! Like whoever said NO dogs in the pool?? Just don't tell Dad, or will he find out the next time he cleans it??

Skaha Bluffs

We spent last Sunday on down south a little ways at a place called Skaha Bluffs near Penticton. A place the boys have always wanted to see, so we made the day of it. It's a huge rock climbing area. The men didn't bring any rock climbing gear, but just planned a little hike around the area. After 2 hours of hiking going by our little hand drawn map, we realized it is much bigger of a place than we anticipated. Our entourage was a little unprepared having drank, or is that drunk, our 1 liter of ice tea, and with no snacks to rejuvenate the small ones among us in 32 degree heat, we turned back. We were amazed at how big it was and also how cool!

View of Skaha and Okanagan Lake

Goofs

Tracy, always the rowdy one! Stayin' alive!

There were tonnes of climbers to watch, who came from all over BC and even Alberta to check this place out. All levels of climbing abilities challenged here from the Asian outdoor adventure tourists with their brand new gear, to the toughest seasoned climbers on overhanging precipices. I sound like a travel brochure.

Interesting note: the one time Kevin took me climbing ages ago at Heart Creek and I belayed down a waterfall, we went home and I found out I was pregnant with Erin.

We stopped by the lake for a freezing cold dip and a BBQ lunch at 4 pm :) What is with the lake this summer? It's not warm!

Mamma Mia!

Calling all ABBA fans! Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard in this movie! You have got to see it. You just will wish your life was a musical afterwards. Next time you see me, you'll want me to run towards you singing Dancing Queen and then gather all the women of the village to do a little Dancing Queen number through the streets! Totally a must see! You know I also LOVE Meryl Streep. I think she is an amazing actress, and singer, and she does not disappoint! You know my daughter would love this movie and I might cave and take her despite the fact that the whole movie revolves around the fact that the Mom slept with 3 men in the same month and so doesn't know which man is the father of the daughter. That is a bit of a a stumbling block for taking her, although she's probably going to read this blog- oh no. I better conceal it somehow. This is a family friendly site. You must NOT take your husband, brother, male cousin or what not to see this movie- you must go with girls!!!! I think our theatre which was 90% full, was 90% full of women. I did hear quite a few singer-alongers in our midst. And when was the last time people clapped at the end of a movie?? Definitely 2 thumbs up!

Happy 40th

Here's a couple of shots of the lovely birthday girl who turned 40. It was the funnest party, with all 120 of her closest friends and family (I think over 80 were family- they are big) ! We danced the night away, had a fabulous time, and celebrated the life of a wonderful woman!

Jan and her niece.... having 4 boys doesn't make for too many of these moments.

Surrounded by many kids is the BEST way to turn 40, and one way to have lots of help in blowing out all those candles.

Makes me think mine is coming up a little too fast! At least I have many friends going on before me to warn me of any possible dangers.

Floor of Heaven

Some cool sky photos... I like clouds...