Mother Love…August 22nd

A tribute in honor of my gentleman’s Mom. I did not get to  know her,  but I have witnessed the profound love and admiration in his eyes when he shows signs of remembering her. I first saw this when he showed me her picture as a very young woman. His pride, was somewhat like that of a little guy showing me this picture of his beloved “Mom,”

…my dearest Jesus….I pray for  a special kind of day today for my beloved. His remembrance of his Mom today will bring him to You. Watch over him today and fill him with your loving kindness. He is a good and very faithful son.

Thank you Jesus, for your protection over my dearest love. Amen

I believe….

Gardening/Weather and..::Our God

As an avid gardener and a gardener with my own gardening assignments, I cannot tell you how much I count on good weather. Each morning I wake…. I look out on the sky, the clouds and peeks of the sun shining through the clouds. I can kind of tell what kind of weather day is coming. And I think it stems from my childhood where our garden and our land depended completely on our weather. Apples and peaches and plums in the orchard needed certain growing conditions. Tomatoes, Potatoes, Onions and Strawberries needed certain overnight temps and perfectly sunny days to produce beautiful fruits. Our family was so dependent on good weather.

All I can say today, this morning, as I look out into the sky at 6 am I see a beautiful day coming. We have had two weeks of such favorable temps, beautiful sunshine and light breezes. Our lawns and plants are still doing well. You can tell though that the weather is changing ever so slightly. And our evenings are a tad darker a little earlier.

I am in awe of the wonders of God, nature, plant life and the things we take for granted every single day. I am lucky to be able to work outdoors. I encourage you to go outside today and savor our  gorgeous temps, plentiful sunshine and nature.

If you can stay out until you see a creature it can change the tempo of your day. Notice a bloom or a bird. Really take notice. It can stop you in your tracks. It will slow you down. It will make you pause, rest, and think. Our outdoor world  is a wondrous gift from our God.

I thank HIM for these many blessings.  I thank Him for all of you.

My God,  you are soooo….. great and so good to us.

My Great God….thank you for your love, and our amazing world.

AMEN

Gardening Rotation Is Beginning….and New Clients Joining Us + New Yard Debris Policy (REVISED 8/17)

The Garden Contessa is pleased to announce that we have a robust “new client”  following, and we are just this week beginning our end of summer current client rotation. What does this mean?

Well first off….. it’s all about weeding your beds, derp edging them and tidying up your current plants ir transplanting ones you’d like in a different location. It happens. They grow too large for the spot they are in, or you like them so much you want to put them in a spot that is more visible. We  did accomplish all this for you early summer…..but, “the weeds are back” and we think a refreshed and new look can be “a very good thing.”

Our first transition job began yesterday. The bed seen in our video was chocker block full with weeds. Recent heavy rains added fast and furious weed growth. So this bed took us three hours to clear. The other half of the bed along the rest of the side of the property is more plant populated, so it won’t take quite as long. But with this fantastic temperature change it’s just glorious working weather. Please consider booking us to get your beds cleaned up to make your property look presentable, as we have one more month until fall. It gives your yard a fantastic tidy and lift, and it makes our fall clean up for you less time consuming.

OF NOTE:  

NEW “CONTESSA” DEBRIS POLICY

WE HAVE BEEN HAULING ALL YOUR LEAF AND YARD DEBRIS TO THE LEAF PILE AT OUR PFX MAINTENANCE YARD FOR FIVE (5) YEARS.

• Starting Today…..8/16, we will no longer be doing this. We have discovered a much more efficient way to handle your yard refuse.

These products are easily purchased at Home Depot. Five bags at a cost of $2.67. And the best part is no more huge black plastic bags going to our PFX dump. We don’t use them but many resident’s do…..and so we all need to set an example of efficient refuse yard disposal. The crews have to unbag them and this is time. So…..we hear tell…. they much prefer these large paper bags.

We will bag them for you and two options are available. We can place them curb side for PFX pick up…

OR….we can bag them for you and place the bags near your vehicle. Then you can take them, empty them and bring the bags back to your home. We will re-use them.

Gardening Friends…. It’s about efficiency and saving the environment. And although we have been doing all this for all of you……”Contessa” will no longer haul trash. It’s time consuming, adding length to our day and it’s also uncompensated extra time. Plus it’s just plain and simple, hard on our vehicle, not to mention heavy lifting. We had to make this policy change. We think you are going to like it much better, and we will do our best to make it a hassle free transition for you.

We were at Home Depot today and they have a huge supply of five (5) packs. Again @$2.67 for five (bags).

We trust you will keep in mind the efficiency of paper over plastic and we wish to remind you of the fantastic benefit we all have of being able to have a local, in-house resource to handle all our leaf and yard debris. Please do your part to help keep our environment clean and sustainable.

Thank you very much,

from….

“The Garden Contessa.”

Repotting Houseplants

Today we repotted houseplants. This  allows their roots to grow well…, in new and larger containers. We cannot let a plant die. It’s never happened once. We love having our house plants outdoors all summer, but it’s equally lovely and rewarding to bring them indoors.  We can always find a spot for them.

Once you remove them from the older and smaller pot, gentlybstretch they’re roots out just a little bit and shake off their old soil as much as you can. We recommend you discard the old soil and plant them in a fresh potting soil medium. Keep the top of the plant even with the top of their new container. This  might mean using more soil than you did when you first planted them. We do not recommend you plant them lower in the pot, just to save soil. They won’t grow to their potential if you skimp on new soil. It’s a process of allowing them to stretch out and grow more.  The process is so rewarding and We have never been disappointed by using this technique. Give it a shot. We think you will be pleased at your success. Enjoy! 

”Contessa” says…., it’s a good thing.

HOPE …..my path….

Psalm 130:5-6

 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning……

……more than watchmen for the morning.

Prayer

Lord it is your Sabbath Day. I come. Oh Lord  I come. I open my heart to you. I feel you with me in my soul. Time alone with you today. Resting in your peace and comfort. Renewing my spirit in you. I give you my day; your day.
I wait for you more than the watchmen in the morning..My soul longs for you and in You alone I Hope. I trust you and offer my obedience to your sovereign ways. In my heart I wish to be humble and to obey your promises. My Precious Lord take my hand and lead me all the way. You are my refuge and my strength. In You I have no fear or want. You are near…..and that is all I need. I offer you thanks now for  my long life, my awesome blessings, my faith and my having been chosen to be near to you, and I give all honor to you now. Amen Father I love thee. You know my path. Thank you for  giving me “my chosen path.”

• AMEN • 

A Child of God

Aug 9

Deuteronomy 32:4

“His work is perfect; for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” –

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

A little girl climbed into her daddy’s lap and asked him to build her a dollhouse. Much to her delight, he promised to do so. Distracted by his business, the father forgot about his promise. One evening he entered his daughter’s room and saw all her dolls and doll furniture packed in boxes. When he questioned her about it, she simply said she was packed for the upcoming move into her new dollhouse. Although he had not even begun to build it, she knew he would do it because he had promised. His word was good enough for her and her confidence in her father never wavered. Our confidence in God should be like that little girl’s. Our God is faithful and just, and He keeps His promises. So make time today to thank God for His perfect work, His just ways, and His faithfulness. Prayer My Lord and Savior…..my hope is in you. Your promises exceed my every hope. I thank you for everything you have given me and all that you provide. As your child I open my heart to accept your gifts and your fruitful blessings upon me. As my living and faithful Father you keep your promises and I am so grateful. Thank you for your constant faithfulness to me.  Amen

Psalm 143:8

My trust is embedded completely in you Jesus. You know me, you know my needs and you hear my prayers. I am so grateful for all my blessings. You always provide, you are always near me. You care for and nurture my efforts and you walk with me through challenges and the harder times.  I always rely on you teaching me the way I should go. Your love for me has been constant and sustains me each and every day  I can feel your presence in my heart. Thank you for my life, my strong beliefs, for my loved ones who you also care for. I hope to always do my best for you.

Today is your Sabbath Day. I give you all my honor and praise. Thank you my Father God.  AMEN 

I Have An Appointment…..

Aug 5

Job: 23:10

“Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.”

▶︎ LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

These words spoken by Job during his time of extreme suffering offer us insight into our own times of hardship. Like Job’s, our persecutions and trials are by divine appointment. But we do not go through them alone – God keeps us by His grace and love as He trains and disciplines us. He is forever wanting to stretch us and build us up, and uses our trials to test us by fire. What if we viewed every hardship as God’s perfect plan for us? This would give our trials a whole new meaning, wouldn’t it? Trials move us out of complacency and mediocrity to a stronger, purer faith. So ask God to give you the wisdom to see your trial as He sees it. If you will do that and trust Him in the process, you will emerge as pure gold! Prayer Jesus  I am here. I have places to go, people to see and things to accomplish. Stop!  Because I know that no appointment or commitment or daily task is as vital to my being and my welfare as my appointment with You! YOU alone bring me to my knees, you alone know my heart and my thoughts.  YOU alone give me exactly what I need. You alone are with me whenever I reach for you or call out to you Jesus….you alone are my divine appointment. This Friday morning I meet you on your terms. I listen, I pray, I adore thee. I want to hear your great plans for me. Plans to prosper me and not bring me to distress  I confess my hurried pace, my lack of patience to allow you to work in me, and to be very still….to listen for your quiet and steady voice. Forgive my haste. I give you now my open heart.  Calm me, hold me and forgive my sins. I am sorry in my heart for having offended thee. I wish to be yours to mold and to shape. I am clay. Take me and breath your life into me right now. In your holy and precious name…..Jesus…. Hear my prayer.  AMEN

Reflections from Contessa

My mind can trip me up. But my soul is right on “the mark” when I’m in my gardens. My garden time is my happy time and place. I loose myself in hard work with the weeds and the soil and the creatures and plant life.  It’s healing and your heart justo knows it’s where you belong. Oh what would I do without my gardening moments. They capture my thoughts, my imagination and my awesome wonder. How could I be me……without my time in the gardens. I am one grateful and very blessed woman. My happy place is my heart and my soul in the gardens I serve.

Thank you my Lord. Oh thank you….. so very much!!