About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, August 30, 2010

G is for GARDEN


Although last week I did F is for Flowers, I decided to continue along this vein by doing G is for Gardens this week. Saturday was the annual corn roast at some friends' place and it was so much fun! Lots of great old and new friends in a setting to make one green with envy. Every time I go over there, I wander through both the vegetable and the floral gardens. I left my friends to fend for themselves while I took the time to replenish my soul by seeing through my camera lens into the glory and beauty of God's creation. Then today, while I was thinking over what I wanted to post, I looked up some quotes about gardens. Much to my surprise, I discovered that I recognized myself and Lorne in some of these quotes:

The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there. (George Bernard Shaw)

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. (Author Unknown)

I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. (F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace)

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. (The Koran)

We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between we garden.

Sometimes when I'm puttering around the house doing my chores, I'll stop and think "Where's Lorne?" Inevitably, he will be out in the garden doing something. These days, he always has a garden chair handy for when he gets a bit dizzy or feels weak so that he can sit down right away. He doesn't mind because he is in his glory in the garden. He might be sitting near the tomato plants keeping an eye on the hose, moving it into each plant pot as needed. He does the edging on the lawns, sits down for a rest, and then mows the lawns - both front and back. Just yesterday, he weeded all along one side of the house moving the chair along with him. When he finished, he sat for a while in the sun, admiring what he'd just accomplished AND the gorgeous rose bushes we have at the front. Not only do I appreciate all he's doing (and has done) to give me a garden worthy of note, but I also pray that he is feeling the hand of God on him as he struggles through this grim and grisly ordeal of chemotherapy. After the gardening chores are done for the day, he enjoys sitting near or in the garden reading a book, pausing to chat with the neighbours who come by to admire his garden and to inquire after his health.

I put together another little slideshow with some photos from Saturday's corn roast along with a few others that fit the theme. Hope you enjoy it.



36 comments:

Powell River Books said...

Beautiful flowers in your garden. I love to work in my garden. It is just big enough to give us some kitchen veggies, but small enough to take only a bit of work. Last week we were indoors when a couple came by in their tin boat. I saw flashes from a camera. Made me feel a bit like a celebrity. Or maybe an oddity. Not sure which. - Margy

Saz said...

thank you for your lovely comment...dont you feel sometimes your blog is like a garden.

you plant it, friends and strangers admire it and water it in your absence with words and support...
the odd weeds needs to be plucked out quickly, lest its poison spreads and infuses the beautiful words..and images..

so here is some water and plant feed to sustain..

thinking of you

saz x

Shrinky said...

Oh, what a glorious display of colour you have (and perfumes too, I assume). Simply beautiful, Leslie. My hubby is usually found working in the garden too, when he is home.. I'm not much of a gardiner myself, but I sure do love reaping the rewards of his hard labours!

Mickle in NZ said...

Thank you for the lovely slide show - I found it both beautiful and very peaceful to watch, enhanced by the slow movement of Mozart's clarinet concerto playing on the radio at the same time. I feel calm and at peace with myself after this - thank you again, dear Leslie

Sylvia K said...

Lovely slide show and a great post for the G Day. I'm glad you and Lorne have the garden, what a great way to help put the difficult things behind you for a while and be able to focus on the Glory! Hope your week is going well!

Sylvia

Vinay Leo R. said...

thanks very much for sharing such wonderful phtographs :) gardening is such fun.. It took me back to the time when I had one..

My ABC Wednesday G

Anna said...

A garden can be a most therapeutic and healing environment ~ glad that yours is giving you both some pleasure during what must be difficult days.

MorningAJ said...

Gorgeous garden!
I did gardening too.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

A GEM of a collection from your garden!
Thanks for the lovely images you gave us for the day! What a great post.

EG CameraGirl said...

You have such a lovely garden! And I loved the quotes.

Gigi Ann said...

I enjoyed your lovely slide show of the lovely Garden. Great post for G day.

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh, Leslie, how lovely. I'm sure the garden is helpful and healing in Lorne's struggle. I'm also sure you are, as well. Bless you both.
Kay
Alberta

Reader Wil said...

Wonderful garden and great slide of the flowers!
Thanks for the visit and comment! Yes the city was named Gouda after the Van Der Goude family, and lateron the cheese came and was named Gouda after the city. It all happened in the 13th century.

Willa said...

You have a lovely Garden!!!

Carver said...

What a fantastic post. I enjoyed the slide show with the beautiful sights from the garden and also of the gathering of friends. I find gardens to be very healing and nourishing in so many ways.

photowannabe said...

Simply lovely slideshow Leslie. I'm glad Lorne has the garden to help him. Terrific quotes too.

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, beautiful! I don't have much of a garden - about a cup of cherry tomatoes (if I'm lucky and don't forget to water), a few daisies and some volunteer green stems with a touch of color. I'm green with envy, of course!

Unknown said...

Some good thoughts and quotes about gardens. I love gardens! But I do best when I am looking at the handiwork of other gardeners! Which is why I take my camera and spy on my neighbours plants and flowers! My blog is full of 'stolen plant-images' from my neighbours' gardens.

Anna's G-word

Unknown said...

Thank you for visitng and sharing your story about your wedding rings anf the lovely necklace that Lorne gave you.
Jewellery has a purpose when it is given as a rememberance of love. I think that was part of what drew me to jewellery-making. I love the idea of someone giving a gift to someone.
I am glad to read that Lorne can be out in the garden and enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Anna

Roger Owen Green said...

there's a MAMAS AND THE PAPAS song, Safe in my Garden, in my head right now. lovely.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Rajesh said...

G for Garden is very apt. Beautiful shots of the garden in the slides.

Amy said...

Leslie, Gardens are healing and, as I truly believe, sacred space. It warmed my heart to watch the beautiful slide show - thank you!

Hildred said...

A lovely mindful post, Leslie. There is nothing like the peace and comfort one finds in a garden. Beautiful slides, - thank you.

Gayle said...

Gardens are so full of enjoyment for everyone to share. Enjoyed the slide show.

Annelie said...

What a lovely post! Thank you Leslie!

Annelie E
ABC Wednesday Team

Verns said...

wow, you must have green thumb, your garden grows pretty...

I hope you can drop by
My ABC Wednesday here
And HERE TOO

Rune Eide said...

A nice garden is a recreation all by it self. Give him all my best!

Anonymous said...

beautiful flowers in the garden there :D
loved the pink ones in the first image :)

John (@bookdreamer) said...

Plant carrots in January and you'll never have to eat carrots. ~Author Unknown!Thanks for dropping by to read my poem. Hope your week goes well

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

What a wonderful post for G. I did enjoy it and seeing your lovely slide show. Think your grandchildren are cute too. A

Self Sagacity said...

Those are just gorgeous flowers, felt like I was at the nursery. I agree, digging dirt can bury loads of troubles. Love that quote too, we come from earth and will return to earth. I will be like Lorne not too long from now.

Carolyn Ford said...

Your fuchsia is gorgeous and must adorn your "garden" beautifully! I, too, grow a couple of them...love them!

Amy said...

Hi Leslie, Just wanted to let you know I just posted a photo for you.

Amy's Miscellany

Nick said...

Looking forward to your "X is for ....??" entry!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I see what you mean about the quotes. Wonderful slide show - it has cheered me up. x

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

A wonderful post Leslie, I am so pleased Lorne has been able to get out and about and do the garden. Also to sit and admire :-)

Thank you for you lovely comment, yes my photos are recent .. well August , taken in Paris. xox