End of September in my Garden

Thought I'd share a few photos of my gardens on this beautiful, warm, sunny late September day!

It's a jungle, but I harvested a lot this year!

The red flowers on the above plant are pineapple sage--a little plant I purchased at The Growing Place this past May.  Who knew it'd be this pretty?  It's supposed to be a butterfly attractor.

English thyme.

Back to life,
Christine

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Half a Day is Enough

When you have just half a day, you make the most of it.  We finally felt better, so our double celebration (our anniversary and my birthday) became reality a few weeks after the fact.

Our server at Fogo de Chao (Brazilian steakhouse) was so sweet, and offered to take our picture for us.  They even gave us complimentary desserts for the double celebration!

We really did have to get back home.  Work was calling and Fernando had to go.

I've created a hashtag for Fernando and me:  #threewords.  It's not I love you, although that's always said and understood.  It's something our friend Marc told us a few years back:  Whatever it takes.  That's what we need to do--whatever it takes to make this life work.  I'll do whatever it takes to help Fernando be successful.  Fernando will do whatever it takes to be successful.  We will both do #threewords to make this new life work.

It's a lot of goodbyes and kiss me before you leave, of his being lonely and my trying to figure out home life on my own.  But it's #threewords and we're willing to do it.  So here we go...


Back to life,
Christine

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Praying Mantis

I accidentally watered this fierce little guy in my green beans today!

Back to life,
Christine

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Thrown in Our Lot

Well, we've thrown in our lot.  Fernando is committed to learning what he needs to learn, committed to mastering this truck, committed to this company.

He turned down a job offer last week; it would've paid slightly more, but this is what he loves--this industry he has poured over two decades of his life into.  We thought about what future we wanted, and where he is now seems it will afford us the place we see ourselves down the road.  So we threw in our lot, and here we are.

News happens, and it happened today so he's off to North Dakota.

Godspeed, Bear.  Go get 'em.


Back to life,
Christine

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Anniversary

Fernando was home--barely--for our anniversary.  Two in the morning counts, even if he sleeps in.  We're both struggling with nasty colds, so we're taking garlic/honey/lemon and we just "zombied" through the day.  Our celebration will have to come later, when we have time together, when we're feeling better.

I did manage to harvest some beans (a surprise) and some carrots from my garden today.

We can share germs, since we're both sick.

We look pretty decent for having bad colds, huh?  :)

I love you, Papi.  You're my best friend.  I made a list on Facebook, and I'll copy it here...

Twenty-Nine Things I Love About You

1. You love me.
2. You make me feel safe.
3. Your eyes.
4. With you, I can be my goofy, silly, quirky, weird self.
5. Family means everything.
6. You still think I’m gorgeous.
7. Your name (roll that “r”)! *swoon*
8. You have confidence in me.
9. When I go down bunny trails, you get to the heart of the matter.
10. You’re faithful.
11. Your laugh—even when I’m not in the room!
12. You work hard.
13. You love our boys.
14. Those legs, though. *leg girl*
15. You’re an immovable rock when you’ve decided something.
16. You bought me a gun.
17. You fix things—car, washer, necklace…
18. You tell me to grab my camera and let’s go for a walk.
19. When you make “tractor beam” eyes at me.
20. Your debate skills (okay, don’t love those *all* the time…)
21. Your goatee!
22. You let me call you Googly Bear. (Now everyone knows…)
23. Texting with you in the same room.
24. I’ll never come close to being as generous as you.
25. You’ll drop everything for me.
26. You run to the grocery store for me.
27. Speaking Spanish together (as bad as I am!).
28. Your open heart.
29. Your faith is genuine and real.

Happy 29th, Papi.


Back to life,
Christine

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Alone but not Alone

Fernando is away, so I walked the trail at The Morton Arboretum this morning by myself.  There were signs of beauty even in the dying green of summer, the slow turning brown, weeks before the brilliance of autumn appears.

It's lonely, but not.  I have my camera with me, of course, and I can walk in peace, knowing I am His, and He is keeping both Fernando and me in Him.

He shines His light into my life, even as I walk the trail today without my husband holding my hand.  His Spirit prompts me to look up and see beauty in unexpected places, and I stop and breathe, and capture the scene I see.

I follow His trail for our life.  We're just starting to get back on our feet after the last three years of hard, harder, and will we ever make this work.  It'll be hard from here on out, but I can see the path He's laid out before me, and I take those steps into the future.

I stop at my favorite spot, where the trees have fallen along the path.  It's so green here, and I know it'll soon fade, burst into stunning yellow, then fall dormant for winter.  I stand and breathe, knowing I see His hand in this spot in my life.

And I'm thankful.


Back to life,
Christine

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And He's Off

Well, summer is officially over for us--Fernando is back on the road, and it looks like he'll be busy, with sports (college is back in session!) and news (the elections are coming!).

I work four days a week at my job, so I will be busy myself.  With so little free time, gardening was hard this summer.  I'm going to be reevaluating things as I continue to work, and hopefully will find time to dedicate to the things about which I'm passionate.

Bye, my sweet hubby, and I'll see you again soon.  I know you're working hard for us, and you'll always have my love.


Back to life,
Christine

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