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dirt2diamonds
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Recent Entries to this Blog I've been missing, have you found me?
Posted: 31 Jul 2008
Out and about for fun
Posted: 26 May 2008
Sunflower uncertainty
Posted: 06 May 2008
Is my day Mother's Day or what?
Posted: 06 May 2008
It doesn't take a detective.
Posted: 27 Apr 2008

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dirt2diamonds's Blog

A good time had by all. My life in real time with all of its messiness and glory. A place to let down your hair and get your hands dirty. A place to enjoy nature and to enjoy life. We all can turn dirt into diamonds and make compost out of the negatives.


I've been missing, have you found me?

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:48 pm

Well,

What can I say but, Whewwwwwww, I'm tired!!!! It has been a long hot summer thus far. I went on vacation and straight to 3 classes this summer in seminary, plus written another book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" which one agent in New York declined to represent and one agent in Texas still reviewing a manuscript. My garden has put out a MISSING PERSON REPORT.

I had such high hopes this year for my garden and I started out the same as each spring with a flurry and flourish and now I am in the wimper stage.

I have to ask you my dear cherished fellow gardeners, where in the world did the optimistic, southern belle D2D who just wanted to sip sweet tea amonst her lovely blooms go? Have you seen her because I can't find her here.

I can tell you that she was last spotted lugging in her luggage and books the 3rd week of June marveling in the evening sun at her first successful sunflower bloom nodding its sunny face at her as she passed it in exhaustion. A slight smile passed between them and promises of a more appropriate introduction for tomorrow. That was before listening to the answering machine!!

The old people call these days the "dog days of summer." My dogs (tired feet and mind) agree. But, my neglected garden did not give up on me and there are those ever tough drought tolerant blooms that greet me in the humid evenings (when I am home)and remind me that there is still life left in the old girl.

I will be greeted by my plants as the prodigal son returning. The roses will burst into their final flourish and I will tidy up preparing for the fall flurry of vibrant color after the summer and seminary has taken its toll. I was not lost, just missing. I can never be too far in mind and spirit from the garden. I was always there.








Last edited: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:50 pm

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Out and about for fun

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 2:38 am

I was attempting to hold a baby alligator. The picture is blurry because the camera person was laughing at me. I did it though and I do not like how it felt




I had to get a picture with the frog, I like frogs(no the live ones). I went on a nature hike. This is at the Natural Science Museum in Mississippi. One of the employees saw us wondering about and laughing and just came up to us and asked if we wanted to pet the alligator before he put him back in the tank. I could not pass up the opportunity.


This blog entry has been viewed 611 times


Is my day Mother's Day or what?

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 5:19 am

O.k., I've been dropping hints all over the place. I have pointed and made suggestions, of which any bright stone could sum up, would make mother a wonderful Mother's day gift (all in the theme of gardening).

I don't know, maybe my family is too young yet to expect the WOW garden gift. I have heard hints of what the family wants me to make for the Mother's Day picnic that my oldest niece invited me to. I was invited, then told to make the menu (not going to happen).

I use to have the pre-school and elementary gifts that I enjoyed and have stashed in safe places. But I think my family should high tail it to a garden nusery and make some large auspicious purchase for me on "MY MOTHER'S DAY" and I should not feel guilty for wanting a new plant or a large colorful 'garden junk' item.

Then I remember what the day is all about. That saintly self-giving, self-denying, self-sacrificing person who would not grubbily snatch a gift (plant) from a child's hand and run to the garden salivating trying to find the ideal spot to plant it in. Oh, yes, taking pictures to post on garden stew, and watch as the sun sets on the loveliest present anyone could hope for. Yes, now you know the real me. I CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF PLANTS. And my masterful plan is to have all of my family, trained in adulthood, to buy me stuff for my garden on Mother's Day.

Wish me luck in my fiendish plan, and hope that I remember what the day is really about: The joy of hearing my kids say "Happy Mother's day Mom!" And a peck on the cheek from my husband as he joins in to say love you mom.



Last edited: Tue May 06, 2008 5:19 am

This blog entry has been viewed 559 times


And now, the rest of the story.

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:21 pm

I have been full circle now. I had a chance to shake Barack Obama's hand and he was actually too close to me for a good picture. I did an interview with the Washington Times Newspaper and if anyone in that area sees my name give me a shout. My life will settle down now because today we vote in MS.

The somewhat bald guy is Congressman Benny Thompson and the older gentleman is Henry Evers, relative of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Our airport, Jackson-Evers International Airport has a display in the terminal of the struggle that was occuring at that particular time in MS

I must admit that sometimes it is fun to be me. I have become a new person since I joined the stew.





Now that things are sprouting up all over, keep an eye out for some gardening pics. I am excited about getting back to posting about more garden related stuff. But I had to take a break for history.

Last edited: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:30 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 638 times


Hillary and me

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:10 pm

You don't know how lucky I was to get this picture. It takes boldness in life. I had a bad encounter in my church where my pastor actually said for the pulpit that I should stay in my place. That would be fine if he would tell me what my place is.

See, I am getting my Masters degree in theology and just my presence in my small country church is confusing and threatening. As history has shown us, new things or different things are frightening and sadly, people react to things unknown with ANGER.

But, the sentence "stay in your place" became an empowering montra. I was waiting for PEOPLE to approve everything I did and thought (in my church) instead of beinig the Dorothy that I am outside of the church= dependent and concerned with how God thought about me.

So, Christian, in her place, Dorothy sauntered up to Hillary's secret service and got a personal autograph and picture. I am so happy that I am staying in my place= being Dorothy.


We had snow this week the first snow in I don't know how many years. The plants look as though they have not been damaged.

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This blog entry has been viewed 649 times


Divas times Three

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:40 pm

We call them the Marchies because they were all born in March. Not one of their due dates were suppose to be in March but each of them had their own idea. One weighed 6lbs 14oz, one weighed 3lbs 3oz, and one weighed 8lbs 3 oz. One was a natural birth and two were C-section. The 3 pounder was due at the end of May but became an early bird special. She still loves to hear me tell the story of her unexpected arrival.

Each is artistic and musically inclined with a trombonist, trumpeteer, and a clarinet poser.

Each one of them still sits on my lap whether I like it or not. Each kisses me hello/goodmorning and goddbye/goodnight. I am spoiled beyond belief because they each tell me "I love you and I am glad that you are my mommy."

This is the result of the make over that I told you about in an earlier blog and I'm glad that only the outsides can be changed by people but as for their insides; each is more beautiful inside by their own choice and I am proud of that beauty the most.


These are my flowers.

This blog entry has been viewed 614 times


Enjoy each day.

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:53 am

I said have a blessed day to my two girls this morning at 6:20 a.m. as I do each morning as they rushed out of the front door to get on the bus. I asked each "where is your coat?" (yesterday, the temp was at least 75 degrees) "We don't know" was the reply because the coats were ditched at first sign of a lovely day.

I settled on the couch for a nap because I had two appointments before noon and a class later the evening. My telephone rang which is never a good sign so early in the morning.

"What are you doing today?" It was my sister. I went through my agenda for the day. "Oh, I was just wondering, because (a family friend's child)was found dead on the highway this morning and I was wondering if you would go to the accident site with me. The family and body is still there." Yes, I'll go with you.

As I quickly dressed, the birth, childhood years, graduation, marriage, and breakup of the young 20 something year old childless female's life went through my mind. I could picture the heartache and shock of the family immediately. During our Sunday worship service, we prayed for families that had a death in it because the local funeral home was at full capacity.

As we approached the accident site that was 10 minutes away from my home in our small community, I could see the family and cars lined up on both sides of the little country highway that is no more than a glorified asphalt road. And there, still, to the right, just off of the pavement, was a body with a bright white sheet covering it lying still.

I hugged everyone, I saw faces that I had seen for countless years, and expressed my sorrow. I approached the mom of the deceased young lady and embraced her and she held me tight drawing whatever she could from my spirit and I offered all that I could in the transfer. I asked "has anyone prayed?" and she said no. I said lets hold hands and I'll pray. The mother said "can we go close to my baby?" I said "yes, whatever you would like."

In that moment of loss I felt so much. Surprisingly enough I felt 'joy.' Yes I said JOY. In a time of not knowing what to say or how to react to tragedy, I found just acting with love for another is a giving and a receiving experience. To know for one moment in time that I totally forgot about me and said here I am for you (pure) and the expression of "thanks, I needed that" said without a word being passed is a purity that I can only equate with the birth of a new born baby (pure) or the emergence of spring (pure) to me it is an undefiled pure: JOY.

I encouraged the family to lean on family, friends, community, and God in the days, months, and years to come and one day the loss will be replaced hopefully by 'joy' in how so many were there for them in their time of need.

Enjoy each day and be filled with JOY.

This blog entry has been viewed 607 times


I have been out and about.

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:26 am

I have been spending a couple of Saturday's with my daughters the past few weeks.
This picture was taken at a fundraiser called A Taste of UMC which is the hospital that my daughter is a medical student at. There were over 30 booths with samples of food from around the world. We sampled many delightful selections. The first picture is a fav or ours, Florida, then New Orleans, and then just a wonderful old west theme. By the time I was at a taste of Italy, I was full.


[IMG]This is a picture of me outside of the Thalia Mara Hall where I saw the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (Bravo IV: the Grand Masters) featuring a very talented young violinist (24) named Augustin Hadelich who performed at Carnegie Hall in January. He is from Italy and was the Gold Medalist of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.

Finally, this is my artist daughter in an outfit that her older sister allowed her to go out in public in during x-mas holidays. I do not encourage such extreme expressions of her "artist" side, but I try to let her be as true to herself as "I" can tolerate. Her adult sister tries to ensure that I am not stifeling her creativity. But tell me: "We can see why artists suffer for their work" Those patterns hurt my eyes, but ain't she cute, the little artist thingy.


So the beat goes on. I told a young male waiter today at a restaurant that was listening at the conversation between my daughter and me about the symphony, he said, "It's nice to see people with varied tastes." I told him that when he marries I hope that his wife is adventurous so he won't be married to the same person for 40 years, his response "40 years?"
I always say enjoy nature and enjoy life. I should say try something new in nature and in life so that you won't be the same person for the next 40 years.

Next adventure, makeovers for the three divas, mom will sit this one out. The 14 year old is over the moon at the prospect of having on makeup. The 16 year old doesn't too much care for the outward exprssions of beauty and the eldest, stares at her reflection constantly with or without makeup.


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Imago Dei (Image of God)

Category: miscellaneous | Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:28 am

I've entered a religious poetry contest that I saw in my local newspaper. I hope to win at least an honorable mention. I've never entered a writing contest before, so wish me luck. Here is the masterpiece of my mind.

Imago Dei (Image of God)

I walk, I breathe, I love, I smile,
I wear my hair in an ethnic style.
Skin of ebony, eyes of chocolate brown,
No earthly creature notices my heavenly crown.
A cross I carry on my scar-free back,
My Lord wholly divine, wholly human, nothing He lacks.
Descendant of Adam, cursed by mother Eve,
Three daughters I bore, each birthing I did grieve.
I am salt, I am light, a princess among kings,
My Father's glory contained within me and all Christian things.

I stumble, I sigh, I despair, I sometimes even cry,
Yet remains the Image of God in the mirror of my eye.
How perfect, how complete I am, in who I proclaim,
"Gift of God," heaven hears, with each voicing of my name.
I am the creature molded daily by the craftman called "Creator,"
I look towards my "Example" and strive to be "Imitator."
I am woman, mother, sister, and yes even wife,
I am that vessel which God lovingly breathed into; life.
It is so simple, promises of love forever written in time to stay,
I am imperfect, yet perfection of God, I am Imago Dei.

I really enjoyed writing it and will update everyone of what becomes of it. It may be included in an anthology (which I know that is what someone is doing). I wouldn't mind doing an anthology on gardening poetry. If there were enough of people interested. I might look into doing it in my local newspaper.

Any advice or suggestions on the topic? Would appreciate any comments.





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