Outdoor Yoga Class – Update

Our Yoga Class on Saturdays outdoors got off to a very slow start. We had only one follower. We think it’s because we did not give folks enough of an advance “heads up.”  Only one announcement was sent out. Now that the Newsletter is being distributed electronically it may have been overlooked. You know – our fast paced lives. We glance at print but do we really take the time to read.

So we have decided to advertise it every month from now until spring as an upcoming SPRING CLASS offering. We still plan to teach it at the triangle open grassy area on Preston/Valley Drive. These days most folks prefer an outdoor setting and the plot at this location is ideal. As we better formulate a way to get the word out, we will keep you posted “here” on our blog with updates. Please do stay tuned!

Thanks so much,

“Contessa/Penny”

703-548-1882

9/24 Site Visit/Free Consult, and Back Yard Clean Up at 1400 Block of Martha Custis (REVISED 9/25)

Visiting and FREE first time consult on Mt Eagle to check out a shady front yard bed. Customer is requesting recommendation, selection and planting of two larger bushes for the area near her stairway near the front. She  is removing low lying plants, combining all her Lenten Roses (4)  and we will add the new bushes. We will select appropriate bushes at Merrifield during our Sunday visit. Hopefully we can find flowering perennial good sized  bushes. Our job is to recommend and then she will decide. Our seniors in PFF still want to maintain their areas but they need help, so it’s our pleasure to recommend and do the planting.

A single shot and Video of her area. 

Our homeowners garden beds are tidy but rather spread out and smallish. Her goal is to “fill in.”  We will take care of her. It’s all good.

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At 9:30 am we were back at our Martha Custis location from last week. This time the back yard. We became so absorbed in proceeding with this project we neglected to take our “before” video. So in the morning we will go by and video what we’ve done so far. As it turns out, we may be on this project slightly longer –  as our resident realizes that getting the beds and patio in order is just one phase. We need to level the beds, select suitable plants, abate the soil and finish tidying. She is garden savvy so will help with plant selection. The project is to bring it to a place for robust spring planting. It is a very shaded patio so we will be challenged to find suitable “shade loving bushy perennials that are tidy and low maintenance. Merrifield has such a vast selection of plants to choose from we are certain we can find great plants. And we will be treating the slate pavers with a weed treatment to get it to a place where repeat weeding is minimal.  A great project and very cordial client and yet again very good work. We love it, and our fabulous weather is such a wonderful contributor to this project.

Posting current video with progress so far, tomorrow……stay tuned!

“Contessa”

Friday Morning Devotional

United Methodists believe in making a reality of their faith in community — actions speak louder than words. The three simple rules are: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.” Some beliefs we share with other Christians are: the Trinity (God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and Jesus’ birth, His death and Resurrection into Heaven

I am a Methodist. I am a believer. I am a lover of my God and Savior Jesus Christ, and all His creation. If you need help, I am here to help you. If you want prayer I will pray for you and with you. I wish to do you no harm. I wish to do good for all, and I wish to stay in love with my God and share His divine love with YOU. .

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

French Lentil Soup – prepared today

We have prepared and posted this soup recipe prior  it’s so delicious we are posting it again today. It’s hearty, pretty and so delicious.  Our slightly cooler temps warrant a big pot of soup  Grab some crusty bread and ENJOY!

“French Lentils Soup”

Meat – 4 oz Bacon (you can substitute with sautéed portobello mushrooms for a meat free version)

Produce
2 Bay leaves
2 Carrots, medium
1/2 Celeriac, medium
1 cup French le puy lentils
2 cloves Garlic
1 Leek, large
1/4 cup Parsley, fresh
2 tsp Thyme, fresh
1 Yellow onion, medium

Canned Goods
6 cups Chicken broth, quality – we prefer home prepared broth

Baking & Spices
1/4 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
1 tsp Salt

Oils & Vinegars
1 tbsp Red wine vinegar

In a stock pot cook the bacon (or mushrooms) over medium-high heat until done. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent and golden, 7-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the celeriac, leek and carrots and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add the lentils and cook for another minute or two. Add all remaining ingredients except for the parsley and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Finally stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

NUTRITION

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 1448mg | Potassium: 825mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3900IU | Vitamin C: 31.3mg | Calcium: 83mg | to taste.

.NOTE:   Le Puy lentils are small,  with a slate-green color and blue marbling. They have a very slight flavor and are preferred among many cooks because, unlike their brown lentil cousins that turn mushy after a while, Le Puy lentils  hold their shape during cooking.

Angel of God

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Dear Angel, ever at my side,

how lovely you must be,

to watch over me from your home in heaven,

to guard a child like me.

When I’m far away from home or may be hard at play,

I know you will protect me from harm along my way.

Your beautiful and shining face, I see not, though you are near;

the sweetness of your lovely voice, I cannot really hear.

When I pray you are praying too, your prayer is just for me.

But when I sleep, you never do, you’re watching over me.

Amen.

Glory…….

LUKE 2:9……..an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were filled with great fear.  (ESV)

We know rain is coming…..thus our overly cloudy sunrise this morning. But it is one of the prettiest times of each new day. It is a brief sunrise. iIt moves so quickly reminding us of Gods glorious creation and all that we have to look forward to each day. It is our most favorite time of the morning. So quiet, so peaceful, so wondrous and it represents new opportunity and another day given in His kingdom. You have to capture it quickly  because in about 15 minutes iit is away…..A new day. We Honor the Glory-of-God.

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Today we have several catch-up projects, meaning stopping at five different client sites to check on weed/undergrowth, water, new plant growth, check on projects assigned to PFF  through Buildium, and a quick stop to a new client to talk about a couple new perennial bushes for their front step area. Their wish is to balance the bed along with with two well established and healthy Nandina bushes. We are calling it a “catch-up day.”

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Praise our Lord above in all His  glory. Praise His Holy Name. Praise and thank him for all his many blessings and enjoy the nourishment of rain coming in soon  All provided for our nourishment and His greater glory.

 

In Tune With God……..

September 21

“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” -Ephesians 3:20

LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

Martin Luther commented on a professor of his who would follow the same routine every day. He would enter the classroom, hang up his coat, then proceed to take off his hat and bow before every single student in the classroom. Finally, Luther had enough courage to ask him, “What are you doing? Why do you bow before each of us?” And the professor replied, “I bow before you in honor of what you might become, if you get your life in tune with God.” Wow! What might you become, what might I become, if our lives were consistently in tune with God – set apart, knowing Him, confident, mature, allowing His power to work exceeding abundantly in us? Prayer Dear Father, what might I become? You know me and all the hairs on my head. You breath life into me every day. I hope to honor you with my small life. You are my creator and my redeemer. I give you my life, that you might be ever present in me and in all that I do every day. My whole desire is to follow you and your ways, and to trust you completely. I will obey your every request of  me and my hope is to live out…..exceedingly abundantly and in tune with You my Father God. Amen

My Friday Devotional

                 LILY PAD

Genesis 2: 2-3, Exodus 23:12

It is easy to feel like there are not enough hours in the day to fulfill our purpose, but the Bible reminds us over and over,  that rest is an important part of how we best fulfill our purposes.

Psalm 91:4

Rest is a part of God’s design for our lives. Let’s pause and seek God in prayer, asking him to “cover us with his feathers” so we can find rest and refuge in him.

We often pretend to rest. We take a couple days off. We read, slumber and nourish ourselves with healthy foods. We relax in peace and quiet, but do we truly open up our hearts and our spirits to God’s everlasting restful peace. We can connect with Him in complete abandon. Breath his spirit into our whole body. Close our eyes, relax each limb, each muscle, and listen intently for his whispering voice. Lay quietly and wait for His  spirit to come. Pace your breath, and completely rest.

Prayer

Hear me…my Father God. I need to rest completely in you right now. I have been working and accomplishing. But today I want to share deeply in your calming spirit. I want to open myself to completely listen, to hear You and to allow your spirit to take over in my body, my mind, and my spirit in your divine rest. You are my Father, my protector and my healer.  I surrender all……I love thee Lord Jesus….and  I need thee. Oh how I need thee. Amen.

Thank You for Loving Me

My Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and always seeing and hearing me. I’m so grateful I am being watched over by You. I want to be  everything you ask of me. Take my small contributions and expand my journey here on your earth, to bring your word to all those I meet. I can make a difference. I know you call me to do more. I wish to obey. There are many small ways I can help others to know you. I encounter people every day. Let my words and my actions glorify you and let me be a friend to all those who don’t know you yet. I will declare to them that You alone are worthy of all praise, blessing, honor and glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Yoga Outdoors for Beginners – 5 day countdown and (REVISED) start time.

ATTENTION YOGA PARTICIIANTS

We were out gardening this morning at 7 am  Our change of weather is bringing a good amount of moisture to our grassy areas.  Way too wet for  an outdoor  very early morning Yoga class. We are therefore moving our Saturday/Sept 18 class …….to 6 PM 

 

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We will not teach our Yoga class at 6  AM on Saturday the 18th  

Original Posting

YOGA: Outdoors, Sept 18 – Oct 30, Saturdays at 6:00 AM  Hatha/Gentle Yoga for “beginners.”

Location: The Triangle “grassy area” at Preston / Valley Drive

This class will provide reduction of stress, less tension, improve circulation and better relaxation

You will learn traditional and basic poses, and Sun Salutations

You will learn breathe, stretch, balance and pose/form

All are Welcome!

Contact Penny via txt or phone at 703-548-1882. Licensed and Insured.

First two of seven classes are FREE…