news from the yard:
We have a chubby goldfish that we put in the 50 gallon rain barrel for the summer. I was surprised to see it down two whole food pellets that I put in there. I'd always assumed that they needed to get all mushy before fishy could eat them. Fishy usually dives for the bottom whenever I come around but it was cloudy today and I don't think he noticed me. It was fun to watch him for a while.
The astilbe are absolutely scorched.
I'm sick of watering - was so glad to hear the rain last night/this morning/whenever it was.
This is the first year out of 4 that I haven't scorched the hibiscus bush upon setting it out for the summer. I gave it a hard pruning and it is full and loaded with buds - happy day.
The zinnias I planted along the garage 'over' the tulips are so lovely. They came up and bloomed in no time flat. I'm very pleased with them.
The yard is also rather scorched. The greenest parts are crabgrass.
News from the pregnant lady:
I'm horribly sick of being pregnant and still have 3 1/2 months to go. I am most definitely 'enlarged in the waiting'. I'm pretty sure that baby girl is practicing up for marching band because every day she seems to go on parade. There are other discomforts that I do not feel at liberty to share with blog land but I will say that being pregnant at 36 is rather more difficult (physically) than being pregnant at 29 was. Emotionally it seems easier - I'm better at being o.k. with whatever is going on that day and not feeling guilty or mad if it requires a slower pace. Acquaintances from church are noticing my condition, and are very excited for me. Their completely lovely and normal reaction falls on weary ground. I feel reminded of my condition about 600 times a day and usually these reminders are difficult and not exciting. At this point I want to forget that I'm pregnant and talk about something else.
In less crabby moments I find I'm wondering about this 'hidden life' and the wonderful symbol she is for the life of Christ in us: growing, enlarging us and enlarging in us, formed in darkness, separate but so dependent. Did you know that a woman's heart enlarges during pregnancy? (It has to to take care of the much increased amount of blood flowing through her veins.) What a beautiful image of what God does in us when he is growing new life within - he enlarges our hearts.
7 comments:
Oh girl...know how you feel! I remember being pregnant with #2 and getting some lame email quoting Erma Bombeck about "If I had my life to live over again." She said, and I quote, "I'd stop wishing away 9 months of pregnancy and starting viewing it as my only opportunity to assist God in a miracle." I remember responding to my screen "WHATEVER!!!" Not that it is not a miracle and not that we shouldn't be grateful we are "allowed to assist" (like in hockey?!) But some of us just really don't like being pregnant all that much, so don't guilt us into loving it! OK, I'll quietly step off my soap box now...your garden must look a little like mine. We gardeners shrug around this time of year and say "There's always next year!"
Gloria *grin*
I have two kids, and both times the pregnancy was... well... (whispers) torture.
I really wanted to smack my sister to her face, when she said "oh, I just love being pregnant!" *grr*
Anyway, seriously. When I was expecting our second one, a pastor friend said to me once:
"Blessed be the fruit of your womb"
At the time I thought it was a bit off-putting, but the blessing has really been there. The girl is now 5 years old, and she is like a living sermon - an innocent evangelist. So I'm giving you the same blessing:
Gloria, blessed be the fruit of your womb.
-e-
Blessed Be
Hi eija's friend :) lol (and it feels a bit like stepping into eija's territory too - blush)
Pregnancy second time around meant I didn't bother knitting frilly pretty stuff, filled the freezer with easy to eat with one hand sauces, took no notice of the well-meaning advice from here there and everywhere including MIL :) I also graciously accepted help whenever it was offered with #1 son. I was sure I was expecting a second boy, and when the baby was pronounced a girl - looked at the paed. and said 'are you sure' . they all laughed.
Being pregnant over the summer must be especially hard. Both my kids (now teenagers) were born in the spring (April and May) - my daughter was one week late and that was THE WORST week ever - Happened tobe over vappu (1st may holiday) too which was esp annoying lol
but I love them dearly even as teenagers and so, overall, the pregnancies were worth it.
Bless your last 3-4 months :)
I, too, had mixed feelings about being pregnant a bit later in life. I turned 38 one month after the second child in January, and I'm now convinced we don't want another one. I love every minute of him, but would rather not go through that again, not at my age. Right before he came into our life, I received different emails from friends reminding me it could be worse. A gal in South America gave birth to a 15 lb. baby at age 45. NO WAY!!! I'm glad I'm not her, but really, how bad can it get?
Actually, being pregnant wasn't so bad for me, except the battery of test they do on you because the statistics are not in your favor. But, so glad it's over. Now, trying to keep this 6-month old boy asleep at night is another story. Excited for your next few months, and watching you blossom. I think pregnant women are beautiful, and you really are!!
Rest well while you can. Enjoy the garden while you can...just a short time and we'll be seeing snow around here.
don't be telling me that it's harder at 36!! I was 28 when I had my son and will be closer to 36 than to 28 if we ever have #2!!
I got tired of watering, too. And killed most of the flowers in my lovely new flowerpots on the deck. And the hanging baskets in the front? I should be ashamed. With the astilbe...do they even flower for more than, oh, 2 days? One minute they're blooming, the next they are "crunchy." But they were gorgeous this year with all the rain.
Tell me more about your lawn and garden! I'm trying to grow grass, and I'm also trying to learn about shrubs/bushes/flowers/anything that makes the lawn look pretty.
We just moved into a new house, so we've got nothing but bare earth and weeds surrounding our house.
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