Mindful Queries

I have a field on my mind that needs plowing. (Anne Wilkes Tucker) 

Do you have weeds in you mind that need to be "pitched?" How does one plow under weeds of fear?

Lately my "mind field" feels more volatile than weeds---more of a "minefield." 
Unseen hazards but they are there. Explosive. Fearful dreadful thoughts waiting to erupt. An area planted with explosive mines, that need to be tempered by God's truth. Too often the war of fear wages on.

In yesterday's Jesus Calling, Sarah Young wrote that the mind is the last bastion of rebellion. Rebellion! I'm fighting with myself---I didn't see it as fighting against God. But God has a way of opening my eyes to my misunderstandings.

...but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6b)

GOD's Word has the answer!

Botanical Heritage

This time of year I tend to reflect on the "gift" that keeps on giving. A "pass it on gifting" which I have continued with family and extended to friends.

The beauty of my old-timey snowball bush takes me back. Back to the "heritage" books of Margaret Louise Hooper, "my" Mama Davenport, who brought a snowball bush with her when she left the Hooper homeplace between Guthrie, Ky & Hampton Station, TN, (memory blurs exact location). It took root in her own yard on the Davenport property/farm in Montgomery, TN---a part of Hampton Station community. From there a cutting was taken to South Second Street in Clarksville, TN---not far from Davenport's Grocery on Commerce St. at 3rd, as I recall.

From there, a cutting went back to Kentucky to Mother and Daddy's house at 2211 South Virginia. A new cutting was started the year each of my brothers and I were born. A cutting from my bush came to Memphis with  me and I plan to keep sharing it when each of my kids have a place to grow it. Meanwhile, friends and neighbors share a part of my botanical heritage.

Food, Friends, Fun in Northwest...

Folks who know me, know that I eat my way thru a vacation---and often vacation ratings are "higher" with  the Liles crew when food adventures have been a part of it.
This past week's Arkansas jaunt with friends was no different.....

Starting with dessert first.....(sampling delish sugar cookies, back left) followed by a cold strawberry chiller soup and YUMMY chicken salad at Cross Creek Sandwich Shop in Conway, AR, where everything is made fresh---worth the detour!!

 Followed by "splitting" a Key West burrito (chocked full of salmon, crab and shrimp) at Table Mesa Bistro in Bentonville, AR. Even the "cheap date" appetizers were tasty---Medjoohl dates stuffed with gorgonzola, cream cheese & wrapped in hardwood smoked bacon.

 Sharing "Rissoto balls" appetizer....

and trying a "Pig's Ear" salad, just because I could, was a fun lunch at Tusk and Trotter.

Not miss out on a sweet ending---a strawberry crepe from the "BEST FOOD TRUCK in AR" winner,
ice cream from the Spark Cafe Soda Fountain beside the Wal-Mart Museum....,

and a perfect sugar cookie from the (closed on Tuesdays) Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art capped off our Wednesday afternooon!!

Trekking to the Ozarks

Consider this blog entry a recommendation for a jaunt with friends to Northwest AR, Bentonville in particular. Just feast your eyes. Tomorrow you can visually & metaphorically feast your taste buds.
BTW, it helps to have a friend house you in her lovely home---tho 21C museum hotel is always a good choice for those with deeper pockets than mine.

Springtime is a beautiful time of year to visit. Dogwoods, redbuds, and snowballs are all popping out in greeting.

Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, built by same designer as Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR.
But this one......was just right up the road in Bella Vista, AR.

Just go through the doorway to see our "Father's World."
Even on an overcast day the outside peeks in and gives light.

Purple pathway.....

For the physically fit, the footpath from Compton Gardens can take you to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Man's tree in the forefront of God's trees.
Beauty inside and out awaits each Crystal Bridges visitor.

In AR even Tom the Haymaker brings a unique form of beauty in the middle of a field. He rolls his hay into people.
Bentonville is 345 miles from Memphis. It's worth the drive---especially when you make it with friends!

Go Local

Gone local (loco, maybe) but coming back.
I'm back!
What a weekend for exploring "locally"---
Working locally with our "neighbors" on Tillman as part of our "Love Thy Neighbor" focus.

Playing locally ensued with friends who once lived on our street---how local can you get!

Shopping locally took on a new frame of reference. As a teen, "almost local" was every small town that surrounded my hometown. Friday (football) nights were often spent in Russellville, KY with friend, Mary Lou Blue. The next day I would ride back home with Daddy, who worked the stockyard sales there on Saturday mornings. So....when I was shopping local at Easy Way and saw farm fresh milk in old-fashioned glass bottles from said town, I pulled out my $$.
The fact that is had a verse on it (Numbers 6:24) made it all the sweeter.

I wonder if Daddy ever sold cows to "Kentucky Proud" JD Farms in Logan County?

TEXAS GENTLEMEN are TEXAS SPORTSMEN

Saturday sports from baseball and soccer fields to the lake.

John Parker gets a "coach-pitch" hit---glad Daddy was his coach.

Noah assists and scores for the Cajuns.

Caleb shares his PopPop's catcher position as well as number---13.

Nathan's small-mouth catch.

Sunday morning churchbound---

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. (Deuteronomy 4:9) A-men!

Praises---these godly young men, aka Texas gentlemen, are being carefully taught.

Happy Easter 2015

He is risen! He is risen indeed!!

Words worth hearing---all about "Seeing!"

http://www.allenbible.org/media.php?pageID=5

Trash Man

Trash walk. Trash talk. Trash pickup.

Grandson Andrew is obsessed with the "trash" industry. He knows that plastic goes in the blue bin. He often wanders over to straighten the neighbor's bins. He arranges and re-arranges the bins.

He awaits the Friday pickup. Gray can pickup is first. Then the blue can pickup usually comes later around lunch time. 

So....he sits and eats and waits. He can hear the "familiar" beep 2 blocks away. He watches his pick-ups in the alley behind his house and then he runs to the front to view the neighbors' pick-ups.

This morning Andrew and I took a "trash walk" using PopPop's post-surgery, long-handled grabbing tool. With latex glove, picker-upper and trash bags in tow, we "cleaned-up" the neighborhood park. He was enthralled and chatty about "nasty, stinky trash" and verbally classified the bins that each bag would go into. He was excited to get home and dispose appropriately of our haul!

Andrew might want to be a trashman when he grows up. That's a worthy thought. 

But.....I'm thinking more along the lines of an environmental engineer----one who enriches and sustains the green of "our Father's world."

Morning Sunshine

What a treat---Another Broken Egg just opened in our neighborhood (Park & Ridgeway)---clean and friendly with a tasty menu. Large yummy veggie/goat cheese omelet for hubby and a healthy choice for me.

For once I chose a healthy option. Do I hear applause??

House made honey-roasted granola w/ blueberry quinoa, toasted coconut bananas topped with fresh fruit
and drizzled with vanilla Greek yogurt,

Neighborly Gifts of the Garden Variety

Giftedness. The term has educators hearing competent domains. Giftedness certainly comes in a variety of abilities, talents---even emotional quality traits of generosity and kindness. 

It's what one does with his/her giftedness that counts.

Using that gift and "re-gifting" it by sharing with others, brings giftedness to the next level.

Neighbor, Art T. is a professional photographer. Recreating his visual gift (eye for beauty) is evident in his work----whether it's from his CAMERA extraordinaire or his iPhone 6 and all 34 photo apps.

Sharing his picture of my cherry tree brings it to that higher level!! Gifting his giftedness.

WOW---what a gift. Art can always make my garden "attempts" look good, even down to my weathered fence. His gifts keep on giving as I have seasonal ones hanging in my home for all to see and enjoy, especially me!
What a neighbor! What a gift!