Wednesday, January 07, 2009

When we were at 'Big Lots' the other night, I came across this delightful biography of Mark Twain. For only $5.00 if you please. I put back a lipstick eagerly to bring home this treasure. It is full of info and wonderful pictures (258 pages). I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it. For instance, Mark Twain and his wife had a 'bedstead' with carved angels on the posts. They used to put their pillows at the foot of the bed and sleep from there, so that they could look at the angels.

And....as delightful and entertaining as he could be, he was subject to swift mood changes and his daughter's adoration was coupled with fear of his temper. Oh, I'm so thankful for this addition to my personal library. Joy and thanks walk with me. ~~~Also, pictured here is the little booklet, 'My Heart, Christ's Home' by Robert Boyd Munger. Just a tiny booklet, about the rooms in your heart...and are they fit for the Master's presence and fellowship? I can not read this and not be moved towards Him. More joy and thanks in a deeper way.

Aha! This is a picture of the two little African violet leaves I rooted and just planted them last night. The bag of African Violet soil was finally found at 'Lowe's'. It is beautiful soil...it even smells good if you can believe that. So, their thick clump of white healthy roots found a home. I christened them, as they were being planted...giggle. Miss Grace and Miss Faith. I looked this up in the dictionary and yes, christen can mean just 'naming' something.

See the other two leaves I want to 'root', suspended in the glass with plastic wrap holding them up? I think the plastic wrap keeps the upper stems dry and also creates that 'greenhouse' effect. My husband's Aunt showed me how to root violet leaves like this many years ago. Its great fun. See too, (this is beginning to sound like a 'See Jane run book!) my $1.00 curly fern from the 'Lowe's' distressed bargain shelf. Does anyone know the name of this type of fern? I'd like to know and don't have time to google it. You know how fast time flies on the computer!

I opened my husband's Bible this morning to read a bit, and this is what I read.

"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." verse 1..& verse 3...

"Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

Oh how utterly beautiful...and it shall come to pass, I glory in the very thought. Isaiah chapter 62, speaking of the restoration of Israel.

10 comments:

Farmhouse Blessings said...

I love reading biographies and finding out more about real people. What a nice find!

LOL I LOVE the smell of fresh soil too. In the springtime when the fields are being plowed, nothing lifts my spirit more like a fresh plowed field. I drive by, open my window and (like Anne of Green Gables) just drink in the fragrance!

There's just something special about nurturing a new plant, isn't there? I love that you named them!

Oh I just posted that little dress for you!

Smiles,
Lea

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

You just put a leaf of an African Violet with water beneath the saran wrap and the leaf sits on the top of the saran wrap...Is that right? I have never heard that before but would like to try it if that is what you do...Thanks for telling us..

Mrs. Mac said...

Oooh to see green plants in the dead of winter bring a smile to my heart. Very nice project, Maggie Ann. I have a similar fern in my bathroom (too far from my pc to check on the name) ... but it likes the humidity from my bath. I spritz it once a week and water about twice a month. Also, I give my a 'haircut' once in a while ... feeding it maybe once a year. It is thriving. Be sure to turn the plant every so often if it sits up against or near the wall so the leaves develop on all sides.

Hugs,

Anonymous said...

Am I missing something? When I enlarged your picture, the tag on the fern said 'Fluffy Ruffle' ~grin~. Cute fern, by the way! My mother used to propagate African violets by making little slits in the leaves and I think she just left them on the soil. New little plants would then grow.

Enjoy your new book. It sounds interesting.

Patsy said...

I have never been good with African Violet, but I like them.

Ann said...

You didn't mention all the pretty colored mugs in the back ground of your photo with the plants. I loved what you wrote about the soil "smelling good" made me think of the book The Secret Garden. Have you read it? Mary in the book ask for some tools to work a bit of earth. I love getting my hands dirty in warm earth in the summertime. The Mark Twain book looks intersting. Maybe our Big Lots will have one too. Have a blessed evening.

Ann said...

Thanks for the info on Lucy. I'm at work until 5 pm. 9 am to 5 pm 5 days a week! that's me! but I have seasons 4, 5, & 6 on DVD! They are fun for a winter evening!

sparrow's song said...

Oh yes! I do understand about finding a treasure and forsaking all else in your store basket for that one thing that you would so regret never getting. The lipstick can wait for another day.

Thanks for the tip on using plastic wrap as a 'greenhouse' effect. I wonder if it could be used on other stems.

you shared His Word:
""Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

Beautiful. We will be the evidenced glory of His deep Love and Grace. He has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. In that, no flesh will be able to glory in itself having no merit of its own.

Saija said...

you make my heart smile ...

Anonymous said...

Mom,
find your cell phone....please
:)