Oregon Spring in Washington

I realize that the rest of the country has been busy keeping up with their tomato harvest. I read about stewing and saucing, canning and freezing. They brag (maybe they are not bragging) about neighbors who run and hide when they come with yet another paper sack of beautiful red tomatoes.

Green has been the dominant color in the tomato patch this cold, wet, western Washington season. The peas held on to the end of July, Lettuce keeps giving and giving, and I have learned to love garden greens, but the tomatoes that grace my meals come from Trader Joe's. The cucumbers had to be replanted three times before they were able to do anything but rot in the ground. Even now, the vines that I celebrate are not doing much, if there is a home-grown cucumber before the end of the season I will be delighted. But pickles? Forget about it.

Just this morning I was talking myself into being content with just the pretty pink sunrise, the kind that seems to foretell a storm. My country is not at war, my children are not starving and my husband still proclaims his love for me. I am blessed beyond what most of the world is able to grasp yet I easily take it for granted and start to fuss about how God is maybe too busy to remember me. Peh-shaw (as Leah used to say). After a moment of praise in the pink light of the sunrise the words of Lamentations 3:22-23 began to roll through my head. The steadfast love of The LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. That is how I learned it. Here it is from the Complete Jewish Bible.

But in my mind I keep returning to something,

something that gives me hope -

that the grace of ADONAI is not exhausted,

that his compassion has not ended.

[On the contrary,] they are new every morning!

How great your faithfulness!

All this from a tomato that is just beginning to blush.


Thursday, August 5; Thunderstorms could roll through this morning but the afternoon should be hot (by PNW standards) reaching the upper 70's to mid 80's. Still muggy out.

Flowers of Olympic National Park

Day Trippen, round trip from our home in Everett to Obstruction Point Road off of Hurricane Ridge Road in Olympic National Park. A sunny Friday On July 30th. Most of the park was nearly shoulder to shoulder crowded. Unlike Mt Rainer National Park, the vast majority of the cars we saw had Washington State plates on them. In Rainer nearly one third to half of the cars have out of state or Canadian plates. The Olympics are our little big secret.

My submission for Fertlizer Friday....

July Vacation 2010

We started with Family Camp at Silver Lake in Watcom County. We were both feeling run down because of the theft of our car. I think everyone else at family camp just thought we were anti-social jerks. The blues will do that to you.

We tried to have some fun at Family Camp. This is the one trip that Ray puts on the pink... Pink Flamingo that is. Deb has a collection of Pink Flamingos that Ray displays at Family Camp. I don't think anyone else appreciates it, but we have fun with it.

This is the only evidence that Chris was with us.... his truck and some kayaks. I think he might have been feeling the weight of loosing the car too. He ended up not putting the boats in the water.... which sort of added to our anti-social jerk status (he brings them for the campers). The day we were going to launch the kayaks, we went for a morning walk. All kinds of weirdness happened on our way to the beach. Ray was after a geo-cache, Chris was feeling our stress, and me? Way out in the forest where it was hot and muggy, while in a dress and boat shoes. I drew an arrow in the path to let the guys know I went back to camp, Rudy panicked when he could not find me, Chris was caught between finding what happened to Ray and needing to be on the beach. When we all met back up at camp we felt better even though a bit guilty about missing the group at the beach. God bless Barb for checking on us (sorry about that Barb). Really, we do love our church, but just couldn't take care of beach fun this year. We did not hear one way or the other if it was an issue for anyone. I should have said something, but it did not seem right at the time. Oh well.

The pictures are out of order. This is the first day at Salt Creek on the Straight of Juan de Fuca. The first pretty day of vacation. Before sunset the fog rolled in thick.

Later that same day at Salt Creek. Or maybe this was the next morning. Ray and I went for a walk while Jason slept.

Beach Hoodoo that someone made from kelp and drift wood

What happens when a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it? I don't know if it makes a sound or not but it does get pretty with fungus things.

Canada is out there somewhere

Found the beach at the end of the trail.

One of many tide pools

I remember years ago when our local beach was still covered with shell fish.

On our last day the sun burst through. It was my only chance to get out for sunset pics. I came close! But I am such a dope. I kept glancing up at the sun to check how close it was to setting. I had such a headache from that. I bailed before it actually set but I like the pictures all the same.

We got Rudy out on the Kayak twice during vacation. I would not go so far as to say he liked it, but he was OK with it. He jumped on by himself, even walking through the water the second time to get on board. If you knew my Rudy you would know what a big deal that was. He doesn't like water, even though if Ray or I are taking a shower he wants one too.

We survived and a good time was had by all (for the most part at least)

More Vacation--Purple Haze in Sequim

When we first pulled in the back of that truck was full of lavender. That guy is FAST. Purple Haze is our first stop for lavender. The first farm we ever visited while in Dungeness, the first place where we fell in love with all things lavender. Apparently we are not alone.

Washington State has experienced one of the coldest, wettest spring and early summers that I can remember. Sequim is in the "Rain Shadow" of western Washington, meaning that they do not get much rain. Even so, this year it was gloomy and cold. The fields are still stunning but usually I catch the scent of Lavender well before I can see the fields. Not so this year. I did not notice the scent until I went into the gift shop.

Purple Haze gardens. Below is Jason, just back from saying hello to the Peacocks.

More Vacation--Jardin du Soleil in Sequim

Maybe it was the scent of the lavender that calmed our spirits. Maybe it was exhausted acceptance of our Honda. We were just a little calmer by the time we started walking through the lavender fields of Sequim. So much overwhelming beauty. Chris came to family camp with us. He had to get back to work before Sequim. Jason hoped to paddle Sequim Bay with his dad but it was so cold and we were so down about the car that we walked all over the place but did not get the boats into the water.

Jason and me at J du S. He didn't even make fun of us for loving the Lavender. I think he would have rather put paddles in the water, but there were a few geo-caches to find with his dad. That helped.

Jason across the field.

Do you see what I saw?

One of the many sample gardens. Always before there has been brilliant blue sky, even in the early part of the day, but not this year. The rain held off but the gloom of gray skies and fog wrapped itself around us. The nice thing is that I get heat sick easily, that was not an issue this year.

My Ray (should I get cheesy and say ....of sunshine?)

I never noticed that the shop was gray. It blends right into the sky.

First Day of Vacation, July 15

This was how we started our vacation.

A stop at the tow-lot to look at the Honda.

A call that our car had been recovered. There was not enough of it left to put it back together. Allstate paid $1,400 for it. Better than nothing but it doesn't get me back on the road. We thought we were handling the theft OK, but we were a little on the blue side at family camp. Did not even take a single picture there.

Fishers of Men, Luke 9:10-11

One of the things that makes me go, "Humm" is remembering that Y'shua told his first followers that he would make them "fishers of men". Right after he sent them to minister, he took them to Bethsaida, The House of Fishermen.

When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. Luke 9:10-11 NASU

The twelve had been gifted with power and authority over demons and disease before being sent out with the challenge to bring nothing but dependence on prayer, to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. http://songs-of-coming-rain.blogspot.com/2010/07/luke-9-1-6.html

The twelve return and give a report of what happened while they are out there, without money, without a pack, dependent on prayer and the kindness of strangers as they tell of the coming kingdom of God. Y'shua takes them to Bethsaida, translated "house of fishermen". The crowds come after them. And what does Y'shua do? The very thing that he sent the twelve out to do. Proclaim the kingdom of God and heal those who had need of it.

I have read that the twelve must have been exhausted. I have read that Y'shua himself must have been depressed about the death of John the Baptist. I know that when I write it is easy to insert thoughts into a text that are not there. I do not blame the authors of commentaries for saying these things. They actually make sense. But I have this nagging thought in the back of my head that says, they were all energized. The Joy of the LORD is strength. Nehemiah 8:10b and in John 4:31-33 He tells his disciples that his very food is to do the will of the Father who sent him. There is no hint of exhaustion or depression as Luke tells us that when the crowds followed him, He picked right up with the testimony of the kingdom of God and healing.

What is it that makes me "weary in well doing?" It does happen. I suspect that I have a selfish nature, one that cares more about me. I think my "powerlessness" is a source of depression. But am I powerless? What do I know of being a Spiritual beggar? As I considered how I could make application of chapter 9, verses 1-6, I had a difficult time imagining not bringing my "stuff" for my own comfort. That can wear a girl out. At some point I have picked up Martha's attitude, that the practice of hospitality is a lot of work that requires help. Mary chose to listen to the LORD while Martha fussed. I want to spend my 10 minutes in prayer and get on with it. My personal challenge is to become a spiritual beggar and to depend on Y'shua this week more then on myself. I suspect I will be given many opportunities. I want to pass the test. I want to live in victory.

I adore how this short passage ends, with yet another example of Y'shua welcoming the crowds to tell them of the kingdom and healing them. I like getting out and seeing the Spirit of God at work in my life, then watching a master do what I just stumbled through to show me how to go deeper.

May YHVH show you favor as you come begging at his throne today.