the heart in life

One of the greatest and most priceless truths about aging is the wisdom gained throughout the span of years. Wisdom that has been tested over the days and years of your life. I have yet to meet a person who does not have some regrets, but for those seeking a life of wisdom in continuity, thankfulness arises in spite of the many and various trials we must go through during our lifetimes. One day you wake up to the discovery that wisdom has, indeed, at the least bloomed. 

I believe the true source of wisdom comes from the Word of God. James 1:4 tells us to ask for wisdom. James 3 says wisdom that is not from God is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 

 I perceive that the heart of everyday life is also God given. The little things I enjoy in my ubiquitous, ordinary life are His gifts and I would be wise to recognize them as such, and likewise foolish not to thank Him for each and every one of them.

Water Kefir

Oh, I am happy to give you Part 2, and how I do love Part 2 of things... usually.

The second brewing time gave a huge increase of natural carbonation. This time I used grape juice. It was super delicious, and an added plus, my husband loves it too. I am planning to use this juice I purchased at Aldi today for my third batch.

The little "chef's", brewing cap came with the kit I bought from Yemoos. She sits on a shelf in my kitchen with my cookbooks. Every two days she gives me good kefir water.

Figs

And speaking of figs, Andrea has spoken about her abundance of figs this year. Figs are not a fruit, but flowers actually, an inflorescence- "a cluster of many flowers and seeds contained inside a bulbous stem."

Two summers ago, and I can not believe it has been two summers, I baked a batch of fig newtons.The intensity of time and effort it took to prepare these tasty treats have kept me from doing them again. I was on the search for an easier version and I think I found it.

This cookie bar includes oatmeal and the top is an oatmeal crumble pressed down after the other  two layers have cooled. You still must make the fig filling, like a jam, but that is the most time consuming part of this recipe. My husband had put them into the refrigerator before going to bed last night. That is where I found them this morning, before I had cut them into bars. Cutting them chilled was a bit of a crumbly mess, I was attempting to eat up the crumbs on the plate before the photo...but I did not succeed, but I enjoyed trying to nonetheless.

 Monarchs and Nature Study

Monarchs have been visiting my garden for the past several weeks, shy at first, flittering away before I could make sure they were in fact monarchs and not viceroys. But just yesterday they came closer to me while I was cutting zinnias in the garden and JOY!, they opened they wings wide to verify they were in fact monarchs.

And this praying mantis was observing me in the cutting garden as I stood in the sunshine.

Family Visits

My son and his wife celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary recently by going away two nights. They have five children, the children are divvied out to family members, and seven-year old Gordon came to stay with us. 

A Quote

"Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success."

~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women