A Sign Of Things To Come

I got really excited  (so excited that I actually stopped and took a picture :)) the other day when I saw this outside of my grandson's preschool: 

The reason is that this is a sign of things to come. It's only February and already signs of Spring are popping up before my eyes. Before we know it, Spring will be here and we will be surrounded by the beautiful colors of God's amazing creativity.  Once again, it reminds me that things that once appeared lifeless begin to show signs of a rebirth.  

Have you ever found yourself in a season of winter? A season where you felt dormant, forgotten? A season in which you felt like you had no life left in you? If you haven't yet, I assure you that at some time during the course of your life you probably will. Some of us we will experience it more than once. Not very encouraging, I know. But, the good news is that God's plan is to be our constant source of life during these seasons. He wants to use these seasons to perfect His character in us. It's up to us to let Him. If you are finding yourself in one of these winter seasons of life, call on Jesus today to give you strength and show you what He wants to work in you and through you.

Be encouraged and remember that Spring ALWAYS comes after winter. And when it arrives it brings with it a renewed sense of hope. And Spring comes, we get beautiful flowers as proof of new life...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Thankful Thursday

It must be Spring.

I know this because two things happen to me every Spring. First, I always feel the need to go get a fresh new haircut. Second, I start having the desire to fire up the grill and BBQ for dinner every night.

It must be Spring, because today both of those things happened. I went and got myself a shorter, springy haircut and then came home and barbecued dinner.

Springtime gives me so many reasons to be thankful. Here are just a few:

• Warm, sunny days.

• Streets lined with trees that are in full bloom.

• Watching things that appear to be dead start coming back to life again.

• Tulips.

• Warm, sunny days.

• The renewed energy I feel when it is warm and sunny.

• The sound of my grandchildren laughing and playing outdoors.

• Daffodils.

• Waking in the morning to the sound of birds singing.

• Working in the yard.

• Firing up the barbecue.

• Warm, sunny days.

Oh yeah, and I'm also extra-thankful that I get to go see Beth Moore at the Living Proof Live conference this weekend. :)

What is it you're thankful for?

Planting An Herb Pot

At our Mom2Mom Cafe @ RB today we got a taste of Spring, even though the weather outside was anything but Spring-like. We broke out of the normal routine and did a demonstration on how to plant flower and herb pots. If you missed it, here are the how-to instructions to plant your own herb pot at home:

To get started, you’ll need the following:

Pot to plant herbs in
Rocks or gravel to fill bottom 1/4 of pot
Potting Soil
Herb plants (the number will vary depending on the size of your pot)

1. Pick your plants.

2. Prepare your pot.
Make sure that your pot has holes in the bottom for good drainage.

Put gravel or small rocks into the container to about a quarter of the pot's depth. This will help water drain out from the bottom of the soil.

3. Fill
Once the gravel is in place, start to fill the pot with a multi-purpose potting soil. This should fill approximately three quarters of the pot's remaining depth.

4. Start planting
Place the herb plants into the pot, with a few inches between each stem.

Squeeze each herb gently from its temporary pot, and tease the roots from the root ball; this will encourage them to spread out.

Place the taller plants in the center of the display, and the trailing ones near the edge. This will help to ensure the best growth. The display may look messy at first, but do not worry, as this will start to fill out and look lush within a few weeks.

Fill in around the planted herbs. Once you are happy with the positions, start to fill the gaps between the plants with potting soil. Firmly push the compost into the gaps by pushing your fingers deep into the soil that you have just added, being careful not to damage any roots.

Add more if necessary. Leave about an inch between the pot's rim and the soil, so that the pot does not overflow when watered.

5. Top the herbs
Cut the tops off the taller plants, roughly halving them in height. This will encourage each herb plant to bush out and provide more leaves to pick at harvest time.

6. Water
Water thoroughly, until the water starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot. The compost needs to absorb a lot on first watering, so expect to apply four litres or so. Continue to water over the coming months, at least every few days, or when the soil seems dry. Herbs like to dry out between waterings, and some herbs such as Rosemary can easily be over watered.

Tips

If you have a large window sill area in your kitchen that receives plenty of sunshine, this can be a great place to keep an herb pot, as it is always within reach while you are cooking.

Herbs prefer well drained soil. Let the soil dry out on top between waterings and don't leave the pot standing in a tray of water.

If you like scented gardens, make a version with only highly aromatic herbs, such as basil and lemon-scented herbs.

Herb pots make fantastic gifts for people who enjoy cooking, gardening and easy-to-care for plants. Add a large bow around the middle of the pot and present to your recipient with a card.