Nature

Peach Tree Pruning and Cat Composting

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Peach Tree Pruning and Cat on Composter

Peach Tree Pruning and Cat on Composter

I had to prune the peach tree a week ago. We had a few days of cold weather but several warm days had it ready to bloom. I realize that may do it for this next season but it was too out of hand to let it keep growing. We had no peaches last year when the tree bloomed way early and got zapped by later cold snaps. But the pruning was necessary, both for the health of the tree and the fruit production. Much like the pruning God does with us.

The cat on the composter was just an extra – interesting place to decide to sit in the warm sun.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 ESV

Fog on the Blog

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Fog 1

Fog 1

Sharon took some neat fog pictures around the house and we thought we should put the fog on the blog.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Those are cotton modules in the just harvested cotton field across the road. As you see, they are huge (like a tractor trailer) compared to what you see of the old cotton bales of years ago.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:6-11 ESV

The Windmill and The Holy Spirit

/ Bill Jones / 8 Comments
Windmill Full View

Windmill Full View

The windmill was my choice for my 40th wedding anniversary present. Thanks to Sharon for agreeing it would be appropriate. In case you’re wondering, even though she will enjoy this too, she got something different for her present.

The windmill is 12 feet tall, and as you see, I had a bed already there like it was made for it. It spins wonderfully and the vane turns it into the wind just as it should. Our only regret is that when it’s spinning so wonderfully, it isn’t generating electricity or pumping water. That may be another project someday, but for now we will enjoy watching the wind’s effect upon it.

The windspinners we’ve installed, and the windmill’s actions often bring to mind Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit. Just as we can’t see the wind but can see it’s effect on the world around us, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can see His effect on the hearts of the people around us. He is always moving and working, and we get to marvel when He turns hearts of stone into soft hearts of flesh. It’s especially marvelous when it’s our own heart that is changed!

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 ESV

New Every Morning- Spider, or Surprise, or Hurricane Lilies

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments
Spider Lilies, or Surprise Lilies, or Hurricane Lilies

Spider Lilies, or Surprise Lilies, or Hurricane Lilies

Here’s one group of this year’s Spider Lilies. (Also known as Surprise Lilies or Hurricane Lilies).

You can see where the Spider comes from. I read some on the Surprise name – one thought is that they spring up just as a flower first, so you don’t see them coming, or they pop up in different places they weren’t in before. Hurricane denotes the time of year they bloom – and there’s even a tropical storm in the Gulf whose remnants are supposed to come through here in the next few days.

They are certainly ever faithful year after year – and new ones show up each year all over the beds and even in the yard. Reminded me once more of the wonderful passage from Lamentations. It makes it clear why we should hope and trust in the Lord.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV