Author: Jeanne Lemmon Skinner

Bumblebee Feast!

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My garden has been filled with busy bumblebees this summer. It reminded me of a children’s song about a child taking home a baby bumblebee for mommy to see. The child gets stung and the bumblebee gets squished. Poor baby bumblebee. I did a little research and learned that only female bumblebees sting and can sting again without dying. This is different than the female honey bee who dies after stinging just once.

Yellow jackets may look like bees but they are actually a type of wasp. As most of us have seen, they are active in late summer and are attracted to our food. They ruin many cookouts in late August and early September. Yellow jackets aren’t as gentle as bees and can sting multiple times. In short, they are aggressive. I got stung this summer by a yellow jacket and it was painful. Fortunately, it only got me once. I was trimming a tree and may have been close to a nest.

Even though I have many bees in the garden, only a few Monarch butterflies have been seen. I read their numbers have been decreasing dramatically. I have many of their favorite flowers and I have only seen two. I hope this downward trend will end. They are one of God’s most delicate and beautiful insects.

The garden has changed over the summer but the hummingbirds have been visiting daily. Unfortunately, the deer have also been frequent visitors. They have particularly enjoyed my roses this year. They can just pick the buds off to enjoy and never encounter the thorns. Remarkable!

Hope you all are enjoying the gorgeous summer days!

Find Your Life in a Garden

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I read that if one studies a garden, he or she will see human life. I take the challenge!

Plants affect our emotions like people do. Weeds are irritating like an annoying habit. Both keep reappearing even though they supposedly have been eliminated. Swearing, criticizing, procrastinating, and cracking one’s chewing gum are all annoying habits. Weeds are frustrating but blossoms bring joy. The blossoms attract birds and bees which bring more happiness to the yard. I can’t be in my garden without smiling. If my plants are eaten, I’m angry and sad. The deer and rabbits know how to affect my emotions. I pull weeds, spray against deer and rabbits, and am daily filled with joy because of the garden’s beauty. That’s the best emotion the garden gives.

Gardens attract surprising visitors like unexpected people appear in life. This summer a baby skunk was in the yard. It was very cute, but not a visitor I wanted to stay. Possums, raccoons, chipmunks and squirrels have all ventured into my garden. Only the squirrels have become permanent neighbors. All have provided interesting encounters like various people have over the years.

The most obvious thing to notice about a garden is life and death. My daffodils, tulips and irises return year after year even though their leaves wither and die. For Christians, the human body dies but is reborn in heaven. The Easter lilies in the picture are lilies I planted years ago. I saved them from Easter services and planted them when the weather allowed. I look forward to seeing them each year like I look forward to seeing old friends.

Summer is a wonderful season even with the heat. Gardeners know the importance of water and pray for rain. Being patient is an important attribute of a gardener like it is for a person. Being patient with others and pulling the weeds out of ourselves are both lessons a garden can teach. The most important lesson is remembering who created all this beauty. Thank you God!

Witches at Easter?

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Halloween meets Easter in Sweden.

Most of our traditions originated with our ancestors. German immigrants brought Christmas trees and the Easter Bunny to America, and they are now American traditions. Sweden’s children go house to house on Maundy Thursday in remembrance of a time when people believed in witches.

During the 16th century, many people were accused of witchcraft and put to death. Hundreds of people were killed between 1668 and 1676. The Salem Witch Trials were held in 1692 and 1693. Over two hundred were accused of witchcraft but only nineteen were executed. (Just a reminder of the American witch scare.)

As early as the 13th century, people in Sweden and Finland believed that witches flew to meet the devil on Maundy Thursday, Brooms were hidden so witches couldn’t make the trip, and bonfires were lit to keep the witches from returning. In memory of this, children dress as Easter Hags and go door to door on Maundy Thursday or Holy Saturday to receive treats in exchange for homemade Easter cards. Children wish people good fortune and in Finland it is customary to wave a willow branch to ward off evil spirits as they greet people.

I struggle to make the connection between keeping witches at bay and getting treats during Holy Week, but I’m sure Swedish people would find some of our traditions strange. Reading how Easter and other holidays are celebrated around the world is not just educational but fun!

A Time to Reflect

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Lent is a time to renew one’s relationship with God.

Lent began four weeks ago with many people receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. Early Christians wore sackcloth and covered themselves in ashes after confessing their sins to God. Some wore ash crosses on their foreheads. Fasting was also a requirement for true repentance. Wearing sackcloth and ashes along with fasting was a Jewish tradition that early Christians continued. We continue this tradition today with ashes and fasting, but wearing sack cloth has been forgotten.

I thought I was being clever when I wrote a skit for our church pre-Lenten service and created a few articles of clothing from burlap. A friend told me a fashion show had used that idea and the creations were amazing. Mine weren’t amazing but fun. I really liked my burlap tie and burlap prayer shawl. It’s too bad my pastors didn’t embrace my idea. Wearing sackcloth could return; I’ll be ready!

Lent is a solemn, quiet time to draw nearer to God and I wrote the skit to put some humor in the program. I like Lent because it occurs in early spring when nature is awakening from its winter slumber. I’ve been outside uncovering plants and pruning my roses and delighting in God’s creations. As I pruned I thought about repentance. Before one repents, he must first confess his sin to God. That’s like pruning the dead from my roses. It’s pruning the soul. The rose bush looks better after a deep pruning and a person feels better. The hardest thing to prune from our soul is unforgiveness. Lent is the perfect time to prune that out and give it to God. We say, Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us, in the Lord’s Prayer. It takes a hard, deep pruning to forgive someone, but it feels like a weight has been lifted once it’s done. I know.

Lent is a hopeful time. For Ohioans, we hope for spring to come quickly and stay. For Christians, it’s a time to develop a closer relationship with God. I heard someone say that confessing our sins to God is embarrassing, but he already knows them so get over yourself! I laughed, but it rings true. God is a loving father who wants us to talk to him. He gave us his son who is our best friend and he delights us with his beautiful creations. I have to mention my bluebirds have returned and that delights me.

May Lent be a time to draw closer to God and enjoy spring’s beauty. The daffodils and crocuses are receiving praises now, but tulips will soon be replacing them. Spring provides many reasons for us to give thanks to God. Happy Spring!

A Spring Teaser

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A Welcome Sight!

Our Witch Hazel Tree bloomed right after Valentine’s Day and is still blooming. Over the last couple weeks we’ve had spring days and winter cold. Today we have two inches of fresh snow. People will say “that’s Ohio!”, but I’m pretty sure a lot of states can say the same.

I was checking the condition of my roses and other plants this weekend and saw a bee enjoying the Witch Hazel blossoms. It was a happy sight! A few crocus are blooming and my tulips are two inches high. The squirrels have been busy digging up the bulbs and leaving fresh holes so I can see what they’ve done. I think they are taunting me! The deer will wait until the tulips are in bud before they come. I will be armed with spray. It worked last year, but I have learned I have to spray at the right time.

If you are a gardener, March is pruning month and you can start pulling those nasty weeds that survive anything. Be patient with plants. I have made the mistake too many times of digging something up when I should have waited. Pansies can be purchased this month and you can trust them to survive. They can resist temperatures below freezing, have cheery faces and are resilient!

Daylight Savings Time starts next weekend. This first began after WWI in 1918. It didn’t last long but reappeared after WWII in 1942 and stayed all year round until 1945. In 1966 Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which means we change our clocks twice a year. My wish is Congress will choose one and stick with it!

Hope you all find signs of spring and that brings a smile to your face!

February offers more than Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day dominates February, but it is filled with lots more!

February begins with Groundhog Day and Candlemas. Both are on February 2. German immigrants brought the custom of watching to see if a groundhog saw his shadow as a way to predict the coming of spring. In Germany, it was a hedgehog. I only believe the groundhog if he doesn’t see his shadow! (Meaning spring is on its way!) Candlemas has a long history but just think of it as blessing the candles for the coming year. It’s from a time when candles provided light to homes and churches. The month continues with other days to remember, and the entire month is dedicated to learning about Black history.

As soon as the Christmas decorations are removed, the Valentine’s Day decorations go up in every store. As a child, the Valentine’s Day party at school was as special as the Halloween party. The history of the day is a mixture of the Roman holiday Lupercalia and Saint Valentine. Lupercalia was celebrated February 13 -15 when Roman priests dipped animal hides in goat blood and then hit women with the hides to make them more fertile. Sounds terrible. Saint Valentine is known to have married soldiers when it was forbidden. According to the Emperor Claudius, unmarried men made better soldiers, so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine was arrested for marrying couples and put to death. Before his death he sent letters to his friends and signed them with, “Remember your Valentine.”

President’s Day is February 16 this year which is remembered by canceling school, mail delivery and other services. I have to ask, how are the presidents remembered on this day?

February 18 is Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. Many will eliminate favorite foods and bad habits. Spending time in prayer and reading the Bible are both encouraged, Lent is thought to be a dark time, but if one spends more time with God, they are in his light. Just a thought.

Wishing you all a warmer February and a few valentines to brighten your day!

The Silence Snow Brings

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Have we lost our appreciation of silence?

I admit, I love the snow. I like walking in it and even shoveling it. That’s because I don’t have a lot to shovel! The thing I enjoy most is the silence. Our world is noisy, and I think we’ve just gotten used to it.

Waking up and turning on the radio or TV to hear the news is a common practice. The radio is always on in the car, or whatever device is chosen. People walk with earbuds in a quiet neighborhood or park. When is there a time to just think? A pastor recently said people say they want to get closer to God and when told they need to find quiet time to do this, it becomes a stumbling block.

We had a heavy snow storm a few weeks ago and I shoveled the driveway at night. That was the best time. The silence was breathtaking. I literally just stood in appreciation and in awe. I heard no sound, and I mean no sound. If God wanted my attention, he had it. I spent the hour thanking God for this peaceful time and many other things. It was a time of thankfulness.

If I were to suggest a New Year’s Resolution it would be to turn off the car radio, turn off the TV and walk without earbuds. Thoughts come to us in the silence. Creative ideas, solutions to problems and an opportunity to talk to God all occur in silence. Take time to enjoy silence and see what you gain from that time. It might surprise you.

The Greatest Gift was Given, but I Have a Couple Ideas

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Need an Inspirational Gift?

When I was growing up, Santa did not overshadow the birth of Jesus. I believed in Santa, but he was not the focus of our Christmas. Church and the Christmas pageant were. Our nativity set was always the first decoration to go up and the last to be taken down. As everyone says, it was a simpler time.

With this in mind, I have three books to suggest as possible gifts. I reread my favorite Christmas books every year and I am always looking for new ones. This year I found And Then They Prayed by Barry Loudermilk. It is a historical account of men who depended on God to help them. George Washington and General George Patton are two of the men. As I read, I met new historical people and marveled at their courage and strong faith. There is no doubt that their belief that God was the answer saved lives and our country.

Max Lucado is a well known author who has written many books for adults and children. For children, I suggest You are Special and for adults The Christmas Candle. I read The Christmas Candle every year. An angel visits the chandler (candle maker) every twenty five years and touches a candle. The candle is given to someone who is told to pray and their prayer will be answered. Of course the candle isn’t the reason the prayers are answered, it’s the person’s belief. The ending of the book is very special.

Both And Then They Prayed and The Christmas Candle shared the message of believing our prayers are answered. God’s timing isn’t our timing and patience is frequently needed. These books are enjoyable to read and strengthened my faith and maybe you’ll agree. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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A Day to Give Thanks.

The table is set and the turkey is roasting, and soon hungry family members will arrive. I love this day. There are so many things I’m thankful for.

I love that I live in a country that was dedicated to God. When English colonists arrived in Jamestown in 1607, they erected a cross on the beach and dedicated this land to God. George Washington prayed in Saint Paul’s Chapel for hours asking for God’s help and guidance during the struggle to unite the colonies and defeat Britain. He was known by some as the kneeling general. It’s interesting that Saint Paul’s Chapel was spared from destruction on 9/11 since it sits only 100 yards from the Twin Towers. People of faith are the foundation of our nation. I’m thankful to live in America.

I am always thankful for my family and friends and this year I’ve really noticed kindness in my neighborhood. We help our neighbors with their yard work, but other neighbors help in the winter by shoveling the older neighbors’ driveways and walks. One neighbor is battling cancer and food is taken to the family and transportation is provided to get him to the doctors. I like to think that once the helping began, others noticed and joined in.

Tomorrow these come down and Christmas decorations go up. Many in the neighborhood have already finished their decorating. They were smart to take advantage of the warm temperatures we had. Scarecrows, pumpkins and turkeys say Thanksgiving to me, but I’m ready to move on to Christmas. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween is Here!

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A Halloween Horse?

Halloween is a fun time to try a new look. This horse decided on being a skeleton. I understand last year he just wore a hat, but wanted to be more creative this year. I think it worked. I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen the dogs in the neighborhood wearing. The witch costume is adorable, but I’m surprised the dog doesn’t knock the hat off.

Costumes and candy are what Halloween is about to me. We recently visited three haunted houses in Williamsburg, but didn’t see any ghosts. The tour guide was great and he assured us he’d seen a few. I say better him than me! I know the Celtic people wore costumes so evil spirits wouldn’t bother them on Samhain. Building bonfires also helped ward off evil spirits. Some of the scary costumes I have seen would certainly do the job!

Even apples want to look different on Halloween. I could never eat this cute guy. Pumpkins get decorated the most with paint and are carved creatively. I’m sure the Irish who carved out gourds to safely carry a candle never imagined what it would become many years later.

Tonight many kids will be out trick or treating. It’s a fun night for those of us who hand out candy as well as the children. Hoping the rain stops or I’ll be stuck with a big bowl of candy. However, I can think of worse things.

Happy Halloween!