The New Bench has Arrived!

Three pictures were taken at Ebenezer Cemetery today. This is Stan and Val's memorial bench. The top picture is the back, the middle picture is the front and in the last picture you see Stan sitting on the bench! It was raining/snowing when we took the pictures so Stan is bundled up! We all are very pleased with how it turned out. Actually, it exceeded our expectations. From the front you can see that under the bench, on the granite foundation, all of the children's names and birthdays are engraved.

Two years ago today, Val went to the hospital for her only stay there during her last years. We miss her very much and will enjoy sitting on this bench enjoying the countryside that she loved so much thinking of her.

The Last Rose of Summer

This is the last rose of the bush Val & planted. Summer comes and summer goes but the harvest of a good season remains.

When grain turns deep orange
And corn tassels way beyond reach
Apple trees bend heavy with fruit
Goldenrod and black-eyed susan trims roadsides
Queen' Lace and Gentian deck theditches
And days brcomr shorter to let us know
Fall is not too far away.
August '89

Now we wait for another line of another poem
"The frost is on the pumpkin."

More pictures

The Haebiscus(sp)that really grew this summer.

September half gone already.

September 15-half gone half to come.
The rose bush I posted last has new rounds of bus (2) ready to open. if we don't have frost. I'll post another picture of the first blossom on a new Hibiscus in the next post. That plant is almost 6 feet tall and has more blossoms coming.
I could post another picture, but it spells work. It's a pile of firewood for this coming fall-winter. It will take piling and a bit of splitting plus getting it ready for burning in the new Insert Stove.

I'll include a poem I sent to Poet's Fellowship in '03
September's Moon
This last September's full moon brought fruits and joys
Of another season's stewardship of soil.
Seeds and patient deeds of preparing, sowing and then not doubt
But strong faith in a Creator God.

As fruit ripens on vine and flowers bloom in endless awe,
There comes a real sharing of the nurture of nature's common elements
Of growing and reaping in gratitude form rain, wind and sunshine.
To give proof of trust and hope not in human work alone
But also in thanks for the Divine. 9/15/03

September half gone already.

Sunday in Madison

Top photo is at the Cracker Barrel with Heidi and Carla standing, and Stan and Gladys Olson (Neil's mother) seated. Bottom photo is the last rose Val planted.