I have this wood sign hanging right by the wood stove where it is visible every day. I love this collection of words because it reminds me of walking in the Spirit. When I thought of spirits during this Halloween week I thought of the Holy Spirit. The complete verse that uses these words reads like this: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. "- Galatians 5:22.
As I sat in my small church last Sunday the fruit of the Spirit was apparent in the room. We prayed for people that had exhibited love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We also prayed for those people still searching for peace in their lives. It was a moving experience.
This verse ends with the following words: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
As people left church that day they were walking with the spirit. It was a blessed day.
About seven years ago we knew we wanted a greenhouse. Originally we wanted one that we could use to start seeds, raise vegetables, and grow flowers. 
We were ready to grow seeds, propagate plants, and have tomatoes year round.We quickly figured out there are cold greenhouses and warm ones. To raise flowers and tomatoes from seeds we needed a warmer greenhouse. When the heat was up we struggled with white flies, other bugs, and the cost of keeping it warm. We then decided on a cooler greenhouse. This has been easier for us to manage.
In a cooler greenhouse we can bring in as many plants as it will hold before the first frost. We usually keep the temperature at about forty-five degrees. This year we raised our tomatoes outside in five-gallon buckets so we brought them in to see what would happen.
Our house plants can flourish better in here without the drying effect of the wood stove in the house. We can propagate many types of plants so we can have many new small ones the next spring. It is a circle of life each year.
We have 
After trudging through a gray, dark, cold week in January it is a pleasure to bundle up and visit the greenhouse on a Saturday with a cup of tea, a few cats, and music in the background from the old stereo we hooked up in the garage. The smell of scented geraniums, potting soil,and the last few 
Back then you stayed in the hospital longer than nowadays. Mom's cure for my post-operation blues was to bring me a homemade pork chop dinner from her kitchen. I know hers wouldn't have had the fancy parsley, but when the foil came off one of the dinner plates from home and the aroma of Mom's fried pork chops and gravy rose up from the Corella plate, I found a cure for my blues.
My dad was not usually demonstrative in his feelings and female "stuff" and hospitals were not in his comfort zone. The time around my surgery was hard enough, but a family friend had been killed in a car accident that week also. Dad went to be a pall bearer in the funeral while I was waking up from surgery. Later he arrived at the hospital with a huge 
Later when the sun did come out so I could catch my favorite tree where I park each day. It is illuminated by the sunshine and the leaves are the kind you want to collect and iron into wax paper to keep forever. 
After it warmed up it was perfect weather for my students to be outside enjoying some fresh air at break. Here was a group doing some ninja thing together.
After a long day another student decided resting in the shade and just observing was a good way to spend break time.
Before I left the parking lot today I stopped and gazed at the leaves that had fallen from this tree again. Sadly, I know soon the tree will be bare and these leaves 
I pulled over at one of my favorite spots on my drive home to snap a few more pictures. This is French Rock where the rocks are shadowed by the mountain in the late afternoon sun.
When I moved to my current home I wanted to have grapes again. When we bought small plants it was one of those times we didn't do research or pay attention to what type of grapes we purchased.
I still don't know what kind of grape we have. They have lighter purple skins, lots of seeds, and when they are cooked they make a lighter jam and the flavor is not as rich as the Concords. 
We always have bunches of them and I do use them for jam, but they aren't like those plump grapes I had so many years ago that stained my fingers and filled my kitchen with a heady grape aroma.
We have discussed pulling these up and getting what we wanted originally, but the vines are so hardy and the leaves add texture and color to that part of the garden. They provide a perfect napping place for the cats during the heat of the day in August. I think we will just keep nurturing these mystery grapes and have a lighter colored jam when I am done canning. I know grape seed extract is supposed to be good for something! Maybe I will use the food mill and do some extracting during this harvest season!
This week's Sunday Scribblings is "My first act as 
Because of the work I do for my school district with the federal Title I program trips to the ESD office in Spokane are needed every few months. It was a glorious morning as I captured the early morning sky from our yard as I prepared to depart.
Leaving Spokane on Highway 2 at the end of the day we were caught in a rainstorm. Heading west to join Highway 395 south of Deer Park the weather changed and it was clear enough to see this beautiful beginning of a sunset. 
I was sure we would enjoy this sky as we continued to travel toward home.
The sunset soon moved behind the trees .
Heading north the blue sky remained, but the gray skies and rain clouds were ahead. When you live in the Inland Empire you aren't surprised to go through three or four weather patterns in a short distance of driving. That is one of the many things I appreciate about living here. Another is the October sky.
Certain colors prevail in the garden during different times of the year. One week I can drive down the driveway and all I see blooming is pink. In early spring the garden speaks green. A few weeks ago yellow was the predominant color.
This week the color I am noticing is orange. Orange is a color that says autumn. Of course pumpkins come to mind immediately. I love trees that have leaves that turn orange. Then there is Virginia Creeper, assorted mums, and gourds ready to be harvested. 
When orange emerges in the garden it is vivid, bold, and showy. It mixes with yellow, red, and brown to create a blended tapestry that says October.
I am glad I caught splashes of orange as I toured the garden recently. I hope the orange hangs on for a few more weeks. Amazingly, we still have not have a frost. When a frost hits colors will change again.
Isn't it amazing how you can be at the right place at the right time with a camera? Priceless. 
The owner called me and said he wanted to “try me out”. He sent me home with the menu asking me to memorize the items and prices and come in the next day. CM called me the morning of my first day of work. He wanted to go out to the lake. Would I like to join him? I knew I was a quick study. I took my employment homework on the short trip to the lake.
