August Gold-rush

Cold is the gold in coffers

Of miser, merchant-throng

But gold that nature offers

Fills pauper-bards with song

The gold of sun-flow’r beaming

Of black-eyed Susan’s hair

Of wheat-field oceans gleaming

With farmer’s answered prayer

Of sun-sparkle on water

Of morning waking up 

Of summer’s yellow laughter

Caught in a butter-cup

The gold of early autumn

Soft teases walnut-tress

And scatters to the garden

Gold tatters from her dress

The orchard tree is lowered

Gold-bent with fruit of bloom

Where pear and apple-lovers

Wander from room to room

The glint of noon through arbors

Of maple-canopy

The hint of Soon September

The moon on midnight’s sea

The doorway to dusk meadow

The dust of August heat

Dripping with peach-sweet nectar

And dash of sun-kissed feet

The vault that spills with treasure

Of sky and sea and sod

No human hand can garner

For these belong to God

…ah, cold is the gold in coffers

Of miser, merchant, king

But gold that nature offers

Makes bards and paupers sing

© Janet Martin

Far From Commonplace...a morning meditation

View not this day as mundane commonplace

This Prize of Time’s demise bathes hill and plain

Look and behold the drippings of God’s grace

Refurbishing the dark with Light again

Upon this mount of moments we survey

The residue of Past, but we are Here

And holders of a priceless charge: Today

Oh, view it not as some plebeian sphere

But drink its cup and break its bread and eat

Then stoop and wash a fellow-traveler's feet

We may not ever meet again like this

Thus we ought never to make light of It

Dawn blushes beneath heaven’s holy kiss

Skies overflow with Present’s Little Bit

The table in earth’s house is spread and groans

With daily bread of opportunity

Will we be silent and sanction the stones

To raise up praise while we gorge foolishly?

Take, eat, this is the day the Lord has made

Forbid we plunder Mercy’s table laid

Arise, for lo, the Hour is at Hand

Time does not tarry long; Heaven and Hell

Wait just beyond this fragile frond of sand

And none return its joy or grief to tell

The truths of old will never shift or change

What God has promised He will surely do

Then come, lest Ignorance dares to estrange

Us from the hope He offers me and you

As He stoops from his throne to wash our feet

With a New day, ah, hear Him say, 'come, eat'  

...for the birth of this new Today began

Far from the commonplace precepts of man

© Janet Martin

Life's Salad Bowl

When you’ve got fixin’s for a salad

Life is fine

Bitty kiss and cuddle, darlin’

Little sip o’ wine

Splash o’ laughter, dash o’ tear

Hint o’ things to come, my dear

Tug o‘ heart and cup o’ cheer

Begs the soul to dine

When you got fixin’s for a salad

Life is grand

Bitty heartache, hope and hunger

Sifting through love’s hand

Pinch o’ prudence, second chance

A whole heart full o’ romance

Invites life’s taste buds to dance

All across the land

When you got fixin’s for a salad

Life is good

This and that and thus, my darling

Makes soul-food

Smidge o’ sunshine on the face

Slice o’ somethin’ nice to taste

Overflow the bowl with grace

M-m-m-m, m-m-m-m, good

© Janet Martin

Life is a little like salad, isn't it?

a lot of this and that mixed together to create something surprisingly nice!

Imagine if the phone never rang, if no one ever needed your help, if nobody came and went in your home leaving behind a trace of their presence...

I pinched off a big HUFF as I looked into my son's bedroom. Definitely someone living there!!

...then I looked into Melissa's room where everything stays exactly the same unless she drops in for a visit.

I think I prefer the clothes-salad in Matt's room;-) 

Speaking of salad(my very favorite food in the world, in case I've never mentioned it)

I 'invented' one the other day that was so delish...I want you to enjoy it too!

With gardens spilling over with fresh produce its fun to experiment.

Janet's Summer Salad

Break up lettuce, any variety will do.

I used ice-berg and butter-crunch(a home-grown variety)

Slice some cabbage on top(amount depends on how large you want the serving)

Add sliced onion rings(I like red onion but any will do)

diced cucumber,

green pepper(or red) chopped

a diced tomato(optional)
some broccoli flowerets

black beans

shredded mozzerella cheese

and sprinkle with toasted sunflower and flax seeds 

I added chicken but it is also great without
 (you can pick and choose which items to use or omit as well)

Dressing
(large batch; leftovers can be stored in refrigerator)

place in blender;

3/4 cup wh. sugar(less is you prefer less sweet)

1/2 cup vinegar

1/8 to 1/4 cup soy sauce(I prefer it less salty)

healthy pinch of black pepper

blend then slowly add;

3/4 cup olive oil (or 1/2 olive and 1/2 canola)

blend again

then drizzle lightly on salad

A One Time Thing!

   

"Never mind that everyone else was gold and bronze. 

She was born pink so her very best pink she was going to be!"

We should bloom where we’re planted

And to our Maker be true

Because, my love, He'll never make

Another me or you

We might stick out like a sore thumb

Or an odd-ball, ‘tis true

But. my dear, there will never be,

Another me or you

So we should stand up brave and tall

Do all that we can do

To be the very best of all

One, only me and you

© Janet Martin

...it seems somehow a zinnia seed mixed in with marigolds.
Did she decide to become a marigold after being surrounded by them; nearly drowned out by them?!
Nope! Tall and pink and bold she stands.

Praise God From Whom Hope Flows

Praise God from Whom all blessing flows

He breaks the bud that holds the rose

He tends the fallow where the grain

Is nurtured by His sun and rain

Praise God from Whom Time’s blessing pours

He cups its sea twixt eon’s shores

And curls the vine bent low with fruit

Where Nature obeys His statute

Praise God from Whom earth’s tray is spread

With little loaves of daily bread

Where man depends upon His grace

And no one else can take His place

Praise God from Whom the dawn is lent

Thus to fulfill His covenant

Of summer, winter, fall and spring

Let all the mouths of mortal sing

Praise God in Whom man puts His trust 

He places merit in his dust

Praise God Who, when this life grows dim

Has purchased a Way back to Him

© Janet Martin