Broccoli Anyone?

The sprouts continue to grow. Three more weeks and they will go outside for "hardening" and eventual planting. The tomatoes and peppers have sprouted as well. They will stay in the basement (under the grow lights) until mid May.

Hard to imagine that it will be warm enough for planting soon. It snowed this weekend. And it isn't warm enough to melt yet.

Today's Journey Joy: Growing starter plants

Peeking Out

It was a warm, sunny early spring day. The winter bees were collecting pollen. The robins were searching for worms. Our tom cat was searching for girl cats.

I spotted this brave little strawberry plant outside of the straw mulch. Most of its friends were still tucked under the straw... waiting for the infamous day...the expected last freeze date (April 15th). It is then that I will gently uncover the the rows of strawberries and encourage them to grow.

But this little guy? He may make it. But it is hard for one to thrive without support. True for me as well.

I am thankful today for "my support"....the best husband on the planet, wonderful healthy and growing children, faithful and encouraging friends, faithful and passion-driven coworkers, a caring supportive church family, and eternal hope. With such support... well, I should weather spring's unpredictability. And hopefully..... well, hopefully, bear some juicy sweet fruit when the weather warms.

Today's Journey Joy - support

Leaning sprouts

Stretching, yearning, reaching... oh, if only I could reach it.... if I could touch it, wrap my winter softened fingers around it.

My being longs for the warmth of spring, the promise of life afresh. New growth, new hope. As the red cabbage sprouts lean toward the bright afternoon sun, so too, do I lean. Leaning.... and hoping...

Today's journey joy: Seeds sprouting

It has begun!

It has begun.... The robins have returned. Their musical calls ring out in the midmorning sun and throughout the day. A few brave buds have begun greening. The snow covered fields have long lost their white blanket. And the ground is thawing. Mud, water, struggling weeds (already). But is has begun. Spring. There is hope.

Along with warmer temperatures, rain, and longer sunlight hours, my hopes and aspirations for a fabulous and productive garden abound. No, I do not have a greenhouse, or a cold frame, or access to a nursery with all my desired plants. I have a couple of card tables, tongue blades, fresh potting soil, wonderful seeds and a couple of flourescent grow lights. It may not seem like much. But it is a start. I've started the earliest vegetables... cauliflower (both the Amazing and Cheddar varieties), broccoli, cabbage (red and the typical green), and egg plant ("dusky"). Next weekend I will start the peppers (all five varieties) and the tomatoes (four varieties). I'll probably have to start a few flowers as well. Soon, the table will be growing with green sprouts. The fields will be tilled, the mulch prepared, the rows will be planted...Ok, I'm getting carried away.... that's many weeks ahead.

In the meantime I will take photos of the "garden" and enjoy the joy in tending the vegetables.

Today's Journey Joy: Beginnings

Words of Encouragement

"Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. "

~Habakkuk 3-17-18

Test time

It's 1:13 pm. I'm standing in front of my class. They are serious, contemplative and hard working. They are taking a test. I've been teaching them the pathology of the cardiovascular system for the past two weeks. We've covered topics like myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusions, atherosclerosis, valvular diseases, dysrhythmias and shock. Today, as their instructor, I get to see how well I have taught them. They don't know that it is a test... a test for me as well as for them. They are focused on recalling information and applying it to case studies. They are not thinking that their learning is partly my responsibility. There is sighing and head holding and shoulder shaking. There is page turning, pencil markings and test bubbles. I look around (they think I'm looking to see if anyone is cheating... maybe that's a little part of my motivation)....I look around and see pencil chewing, pencil spinning, pencil reading.... I wonder if there is some psychology to all this exam pencil activity.

It's been a rough couple of weeks for me. Perhaps I'll write about it someday. But the pain and anxiety and frustration are too close to the surface (even now my eyes well up). I can not afford to be less than the knowledgeable pathophysiology professor. Yes, it is a fascade. But students don't think professors are real people. With real feelings, real troubles, real joys and real frustrations. So today I am content to watch my students learn (even if they don't believe that an exam is part of the learning process). I don't have papers to grade or books to read. I have no lectures to prepare or objectives to write. Spring break is tomorrow.

It will be good to rest after this testing time....