To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1
Ahh! The first signs of fall are finally here! The early morning temperatures dip into the high 50s and by afternoon, the sun-warmed air is a balmy 79 degrees at most. Neither Danny nor I enjoy the hot, muggy days of summer, so these cool and breezy autumn days are a slice of heaven for us.
As many of you already know, our home is nestled in the woods. The thick moss growing in so much shade is our lawn, and Danny takes great pride in maintaining it. The only "yard" work in which he engages is weed-whacking in the spring/early summer and, as you may have already guessed, blowing off the leaves from the yard and driveway in the fall.
The chore is not a one-and-done activity. Even before the leaves begin changing into their brilliant reds and yellows those which are dry, brown and brittle eagerly descend to the ground. If Danny doesn't tackle this first invasion early, the eventual avalanche of fallen leaves will overwhelm any attempt to blow them off the moss. No, don't ask either one of us to rake such massive amounts!
Here are some photos of Danny hard at work this past Friday and Saturday.
You may have detected a difference in the leaf blowers he's using. The larger one with the cord is Danny's heavy-duty electric blower and the smaller one is a battery-powered model which, he concludes, is better suited to clear debris off our decks than to remove leaves from the moss. That mistake won't be repeated.
It blows me away that with all the medial issues that have plagued Danny over these past two years, he can even begin to accomplish this task. No small miracle! The physical activity is good for him as his doctors want him to get exercise, but they also caution him not to overdo it. That's, of course, my concern, too. Danny promises me he will be mindful of his body and stop when he feels he should, not when he absolutely has to.
And that's exactly what he does. Perhaps, this initial clearing before the impending onslaught of the millions of leaves is in full swing, will leave our yard looking loved and cared for just the way we like it.
And our carpet of moss will continue to thrive in this season of fall, fulfilling its purpose under heaven.
Amen!
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Leaf blowers are worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteYes, they certainly are, Glynn. I don't know that Danny could keep up with the fall madness any other way.
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Your moss is such a lovely emerald green. It really looks like a secret garden in the woods! I am so glad Danny is not like some men, thinking they can do more than they should. So you don't need to worry that he is exceeding his limits!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words about our moss, Ginny. It was heartbreaking several years ago when our area was going through a severe drought, and we thought we were in danger of losing it. Danny even put sprinklers out on the days we were allowed to do any outdoor watering. About not over-extending himself, Danny's had to learn the hard way in the past.
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Dear Martha, I echo Ginny's comment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda!
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There's always something to do in the garden. Take care and leave some work for tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that. God invented procrastination for a purpose.
ReplyDeleteCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
God bless you Martha and Danny.
And on the sixth day, God created procrastination, right? Victor, you are simply too funny! Thanks for quoting the beautiful scripture when Jesus asks us to take our burdens to Him.
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I don't need a leaf blower since I have no trees. I am thinking about getting one for those times we get the dusting of snow that doesn't require a shovel though. However, I concur with Danny. I have a battery-powered weed eater (it is much lighter) and if I had my preference I would have stuck with the gas powered one. They just don't have the power or the long-lasting(ness) of the gas ones. Glad Danny is taking it smart on the work.
ReplyDeleteWe have a gas-powered weed-eater, too, Bill, and although it's heavier, it truly does the job when we need it. A blower would be good for clearing a driveway from a light snow, though. Yes, Danny's playing it smart.
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My hubby is looking for a lawn sweeper, apparently much easier than raking, maybe not suitable for the woods though.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of a lawn sweeper, Christine. If your hubby gets one, let me know how it works.
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The leaves are beautiful, but they do require a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, they certainly do, Diana. But all this shade in the summer is most definitely worth it.
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I can relate to what Danny does with the moss only I use the mower 'cause I have one shoulder that is really messed up. 😁 All our moss is up against the wood line too. The rest of the property is usually grass. The grass is looking sad because we need rain really badly here in Southeast Georgia. I pray no one burns anything because that can do sideways really quickly. Blessings. 🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorry that your shoulder is uncooperative, Sparky, and causes you to have to make adjustments. Oh, the joys of aging! My brother lives in Brunswick, so we are aware that all y'all need rain and lots of it. Moss always thrives in the shade, that's for sure, and it does do better when we get the refreshing rains.
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Your green moss carpet outside is beautiful. Such a wonderful benefit of living in the woods, as you do.
ReplyDeleteI, too, thought it amazing and remarkable that Danny can do these yard chores after the medical things he's had to deal with. The Lord has shown His mercy and blessing on both of you!
Oh, yes, Barbara, we are so mindful of God's continued blessings in light of all that Danny's been through! He just had a visit today with the lung doctor and his lungs are remarkably clear. The doc is going to reduce Danny's steroids once again, and we're praying that this will hold as the poisonous Amiodarone continues to wear off.
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The moss makes a lovely yard, for sure! Danny is amazing to still get outside and work like that. Bless him over and over!! Wishing you both a beautiful week ahead!! xo
ReplyDeleteDanny is blessed, Terri, and he and I celebrate every day that we have together. Nothing is taken for granted, but everything in gratitude.
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I am sure that the moss really helps to snuff out weeds. I know it is so pretty as well. Way back when, Sam and I had a home built right in the middle of these huge oak trees. I was so excited until Fall came..We were flooded by leaves. We later sold and bought our home, for which I now love. Not many leaves and what we do have, our yard guy takes care of them. So glad that Danny can do this type of activity with any complications..
ReplyDeleteDanny is blessed, indeed, that there are so many activities in which he can still engage, Shug. He has always loved the woods and the mountains, so when he bought this house with his first wife, it was a natural for him. When we're young, we don't think about the demands of the property, so we? But we love our home and plan on being here as long as God allows.
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I am surprised that he is out there doing work! A little concerned because the leaves have mold underneath them and that is bad for breathing. I am a mother hen - a bad habit - but I want Danny safe! lol
ReplyDeleteI am glad he is feeling up to working out there and improving. God is good.
Love, sandie
It's so funny, and timely, that you said that about the mold, Sandie! We just went to Danny's checkup at the lung doctor, and he said the same thing. Since neither of us are allergic to mold or pollen, it simply didn't cross our minds. Good news, though - Danny's scan of his lungs came back better than ever, and the doc wants to take him down to a lower dose of steroids sooner than we had hoped. Hooray! We should be able to get together with Rick and you, and return to church, much earlier than we originally thought.
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So wonderful to see Danny out and about doing the yard work! God is so good!
ReplyDeleteGod has richly blessed the both of us, Cheryl, and we are so very grateful for His love and protection every single day.
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Moss is very nice and attractive. Raking leaves was not my favourite chore to do when we owned a house. It irritated my back with the continuos movement. So glad those days are over. It is great that Danny can do some work but it's also nice to take it easy and not to overdo it. Men do have that problem and I am guilty of it too. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and Danny. Have a wonderful week.
I hear you, Bill! Guys don't ever want to admit that they can no longer do a task that they could do so easily before, but sometimes, the circumstances force us all to be humble and accepting of our limitations. Danny is trying to take it all one day at a time, and for that, I know I'm grateful.
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Thanks for sharing your beautiful life with us, dear friend Aloha
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Cloudia. I can't thank you enough for sharing your life with me on your heartfelt and uplifting blog each and every day. I'm glad to know such a courageous woman.
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SO glad to hear Danny is doing so well. Praise God! Your moss is lovely. Do you have to water it during dry spells?
ReplyDeleteWe definitely have had to water it when we have been in an occasional drought here, Nancy, but fortunately, it has survived despite our water restrictions in those times. Fortunately, we have been blessed with rain during the summer months; Danny even noted that as he blew this first batch of leaves, that they had moist undersides that were providing water to the moss. Such a delicate balance to achieve, indeed.
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That's beautiful, and I'm so glad Danny's able to wield that smaller, more lightweight model. I've volunteered to taking over our own leaf-blowing, but it won't be long before I want to trade ours for something easier to handle. Good to know they make such a thing!
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the lightweight model, Myra, but Danny can still wield the heavy-weight blower to keep our "lawn" clear of leaves. As we get older, I know we don't like to ever say we "can't," and I'm so thankful that Danny's motto is still a successful "I can."
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As a tree lover, the fall leaves are just part of their charm. However, my husband detests the seed pods that fall from the sweet gum trees and they clog his mulcher. So he uses the blower and then has to rake them into the garden trash.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear Danny is able to get out and tackle this job as long as he paces himself. God bless you both, Martha. Happy Fall.
Happy Fall, indeed, Debby! Oh, yes, the dreaded sweet gum pods; we have those, too, but if caught early enough, they can be vanquished from the moss by the blower, too. Danny's health is improving day by day, and for that, we are grateful to our Father who heals.
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I love the rich green hues of the moss. Yes, you most definitely are in the woods where the moss grows so beautifully! And yes, I understand about the leaves. Here we have the live oak trees and they start dropping their little brown leaves in the fall and keep doing it all winter, but new leaves come out on the tree almost instantly, as it never is totally bare like other kinds of oaks. Still, keep up with the leaves can be challenging, plus so many acorns this year! I'm glad your Danny is able to get out and do this job, but I do understand the need to pace himself and not overdo it. You as well! We will be heading to GA tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to some fresh mountain air and hopefully some cooler fall weather. It will be nice just to get away for a little while! I will wave at you as we pass through your lovely state.
ReplyDeleteWe had an absurd amount of acorns this year, too, Pamela! I almost wrote about how they pound like hail on our skylights and our decks at the slightest provocation by hungry squirrels or brisk winds. Enjoy every moment of your trip to North Georgia and your time in a cabin with your "kids." If Danny was not in a compromised position with his immune system, we would have hoped to meet up with you at some point. Just know our prayers and love are with you as you pass by.
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Martha, your moss does indeed look like a carpet in the woods. It's beautiful. The older I get, the more I enjoy and look forward to Fall's arrival. Like you and Danny, the cooler temps are welcomed after the hot, muggy temps of summer. Glad Danny feels like doing outside work, but that he is not overdoing it. God bless!
ReplyDeleteThe cooler temperatures are a blessing to both of us, Karen. When Danny is working outside, I must admit that I'm listening for the blower and peeking out to see if he's okay. I guess that's natural when we've been through so many health traumas. On another note, your recent videos have brought so much joy into my life. Thanks for all that Mike and you do!
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I enjoyed a blend of internal reactions to what autumn is like around your house, and it was encouraging to see those pictures of Danny doing the yard work. It was not only a trip to your place in Georgia, but it was also a journey back to our earlier days in Virginia where our house was surrounded by huge oak, maple, and poplar trees. Leaves were a blessing in the summer, but an annual headache in the fall. In those days, people hadn't discovered the wonders of blowers, and even if they had, I'm not sure we could have afforded one. For us it was what seemed like an endless process of raking, piling, loading and hauling leaves. Thankfully, our house here in Middle Tennessee has no large trees to deposit their harvest of leaves anywhere close to us. We have some crepe myrtles, but their leaves are pitifully few in comparison to what we used to deal with.
ReplyDeleteBut what blesses me this morning is the incredible variety that the living God produces in His living creation--not only in the vegetation, but in the preferences of those who share space with it. Some folks love the leaves, and others would rather avoid them. Some guys live for things like blowers and mowers and shovels and rakes, others are happy to reserve their blowing joys for birthday candles. And the God who gave us love can wrap all those variants into a family that embraces it all. Thanks once again for the visit, dear friend--and may God bless you and Danny as we welcome autumn and anticipate Thanksgiving.
I'm so glad to know that this reading brought back memories of where Diane and you used to live, Ron. Oh, what a blessing it is, indeed, to see Danny restored to the point where he can do those things that this season demands with determination and joy. God's creation is a never ending cornucopia of wonder and delight if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. I'll be the first to admit that blowers don't work that well on grass, but on moss and driveways? Perfectly! Danny understands that he still has a way to go before reaching the point where we can go back to church and freely associate with others, but we're hoping and praying that as the steroids are reduced at the end of October, they will make this possible. How could we not be in church at Christmas??? Still, we are recording songs that our pastor can use for services, so we are there in heart and spirit.
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My husband is going to help me in my flower and garden beds. I did not pull things out before we left on our month long trip because I wanted to be able to gather seeds for next spring, that will be my job today. I do love to garden but my body can only do it in short spaces. Minnesota is beautiful now even though some trees have lost most their leaves. Colorado had the best fall color as we traveled from state to state. I would love to travel out east next fall But for now we must get our yard and garden ready for snow...hopefully it waits till the end of November.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a joy it is, Betty, to be able to garden and reap the harvest from our labor! So glad to know that Ace can help you with this and that you are looking forward to seeing your seeds saved over the winter so they can come back to life in the spring. As we age, we might have to accomplish things in smaller increments, but as long as we have breath, God will grant us the ability to do so. Thanks for your beautiful and thoughtful response to my comment on your blog, my friend. I loved it!
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Fall is my favorite time of year as well Martha! I love driving through the countryside looking at the colorful leaves here in NW Wisconsin and also thanking God as I watch farmers harvesting their crops…another example of God’s faithfulness. B Blessed my friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure NW Wisconsin is absolutely bursting with color in the fall, Mike. Glad to know that you love this time of year, too. It's amazing how God can use the seasons to refocus our attention on Him.
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Fall is a great time of year with the exception of the leaves. Our front yard and sidewalk accumulate the neighborhood's leaves from all of the trees in the area. It is more than just difficult to keep up with it at my age. They often pile up to two or three feet deep. I have a vacuum shredder that works fine but storms often cause the deepest accumulation. Wet leaves are impossible to pick up with the vacuum shredder. I do enjoy the cooler weather though.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings
Wet leaves are absolutely the worst, Jim! Danny can't use the blower when the leaves are soggy from rain. If he sees that rain is in the forecast, he will try his best to clear off as many as he can before the storm hits. I agree, this is a hard job, especially the older we get.
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I am amazed with you, Martha, that God has given Danny this kind of strength and energy to do the autumn clean up tasks. So grateful for this lovingkindness.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful every single day for the loving kindness of our God, too, Linda. Danny truly is a walking miracle and a daily witness to the Lord's ability to heal.
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So this is your secret garden, it's a nice place.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Nassah, it is our own secret garden full of beauty and the wonder of God's creation.
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Martha we live in a woods as well and you are so right about keeping ahead of this huge job. Moss grows in our front lawn and very little mowing is needed throughout the summer but come fall we have both leaf blowers going. Am so thankful for you that Danny is doing well. Take care and have a blessed autumn day. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you are a fellow warrior when it comes to leaf blowing, Debbie! And you have moss, too? What are the odds? Danny is improving every day and we couldn't be more grateful. May your Autumn be filled with nothing but joy and beauty.
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Hard work! Take care and enjoy this season.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard work, but if you do it a little at a time, it's definitely manageable.
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Bom dia, Martha
ReplyDeleteO outono é uma linda estação, que bom saber que Danny está bem, que Deus abençoe sempre a sua linda família, um forte abraço.
I agree, Lucinalva, that autumn is such a beautiful season, especially as the weather cools off and we can spend more time outdoors. I'm so happy that Danny is doing better, too!
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As I was reading this I was thinking about Danny and all the challenges he faced this year and there he was working away! And that moss how beautiful it is. God is so creative!
ReplyDeleteGod is so endlessly creative, Jean, and we can find joy and wonder in every season. Yes, Danny's been through so much, but the Lord must have other plans for his life yet still. We are so grateful!
DeleteI am so enjoying the fall-like mornings that we've been having in Alabama too. It feels so good after such stifling heat. And how wonderful that Danny is able to do these things! I know you are both so thankful.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Lisa, we are overflowing with gratitude for God's gifts of grace regarding Danny's health. It has been a long row to hoe, to say the least. Let's both enjoy the fall while it's here in the South. Thanks, too, for responding so kindly to my comments on your blog. I so appreciate you!
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Hi, very nice blog, I am new here. I follow you 179, maybe follow back?
ReplyDeletehttps://fashionrecommendationss.blogspot.com/
Welcome, and thanks for the follow, F. R.
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Thanks for sharing,, Martha, I love autumn too and may God bless you and keep you and all whom you love be God blessed, too!
ReplyDeletePrayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Oh, Shaz, your words here so touched my heart as I read them. You have such a love for the Lord that shines through.
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The trees here in Indiana are turning to their fall colors. At the back of the lot across the street is a big tree that has gone to bright orange. I see it every time I go out the front door. Be blessed.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a lovely sight that must be, Cecelia! I'm looking forward to our sugar maple turning bright yellow, but that doesn't usually happen here until early November.
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Just beginning to see some color in New York City, but it's getting cooler. My sandals have been put away and it's just about time for gloves.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know that you're getting some color in the leaves in NYC, Carol. Yes, it is probably time to put those sandals away and dig out the wool socks and sturdy shoes. Even though I live in the South, because of issues with balance, my Skechers have been my go-to for footwear, and will stay that way.
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