Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. ~Philippians 4:6-7 The Message

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir: We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls, and calls each vagabond by name.    ― William Bliss

Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans, has a very sweet scent that reminds you of pineapples.  The leaves are soft and velvety, and is so beautiful growing at the corner of my front porch.   In its native Mexico, pineapple sage is one of the three most-visited plant species by hummingbirds.  Unfortunately, by the time it blooms here, most of the hummingbirds have migrated.  This year, it didn't bloom until October.   Both the blossoms and leaves are edible.  I have used them for tea and to decorate cupcakes.   Pineapple sage has been used for the treatment of depression and high blood pressure in traditional medicine. Of course, a hot cup of good herbal tea is good for just about everything. I have never been successful in rooting cuttings, but the plant usually comes back every year from the roots.  I hope it stays around for a long, long time.    

 Anne reveled in the world of color about her. "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?” ― L.M. Montgomery,    Anne of Green Gables      First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.   ― Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.   ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yel...

  We planted some Sweet Annie several years ago, and it comes back every year.  We love it in our garden; it is beautiful growing and  useful, too. Actually, it is behind the fence next to the drainage ditch, but it is still part of our garden.   Sweet Annie , Artemisia annua , is also known as sweet wormwood or sweet sagewort.  Like all the artemisias, the smell is sweet and strong.  In these photos, the Sweet Annie is behind the beautyberries.    Its strong odor deters insects, and has been used for hundreds of years in linen closets and pantries and places that need a little freshening up.    Many years ago, I made a wreath of the stems to put in the basement to look good and smell good.  Ten years later, there was still a faint smell to it.  This year, Hub and I made a new one.     It is hanging in the basement, and you can smell it as soon as you walk downstairs.  I'm lov...

  It is always good to come home and remember.

Friday night was perfect for some outdoor entertainment.  FAME Girls Ranch Round-up is an annual benefit for the work of the ranch near Russellville, and we were able to attend this year.   The show opened with beautiful singer/songwriter, Hannah Aldridge and her band.   In a rare performance, legendary music producer Rick Hall entertained us with some mandolin playing and stories.     His rendition of the old hymn, It is Well With my Soul , was simply amazing. Mr. Hall was joined by local favorite and brilliant guitarist, Hugh Banks.   The show ended with my favorite local band, the KGB. We get to hear them frequently, and they always put on a fabulous show.   I can't think of a better way to raise funds for such a worthy cause.