June 14th, 2007

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Bamboo Tepee

Thursday, June 14th, 2007

I was thrilled to get some bamboo yesterday!  A lady two blocks over has a stand of bamboo that must be cut back occasionally.  It must have been time for a trim, because I drove by yesterday to see a stack of bamboo and other branches by the road at her house.  I walked over to ask if I might have three or four pieces to make a tepee for my gourds to grow on.  She kindly said yes. 

The pieces given to me were huge!  You can see how the length and width of one completely blocks one pathway through my front garden!

I cut each little branch off the main poles to get them ready, and here’s three bamboo poles ready to go.  I have laid them across the cement columns that border our steps.

Last of all, here are the poles ties together at the small ends and then stood upright to make the tepee.  I have planted three gourd seeds at the base of each pole and marked them.  Some of the seeds are from my own stock and the others are from two different seed packages purchased this year.  As the plants grow up, this’ll turn into a fun place for the children to play!

This last picture shows – not very clearly – the string tied around the poles for the gourds to run on!

I will post pictures when the gourds really start growing!

Posted in Gardening | 3 Responses »

Contentment

Thursday, June 14th, 2007

I came across a little saying that has meant much to me this week.  It’s about contentment.  

Contentment:  With it, the poor man is rich.  Without it, the rich man is poor.

Isn’t that wonderful? 

I want to always be content.

In some ways, being content gets easier as we get older.  When I was younger, everything seemed so acute.  When I wanted something, I wanted it right then.  Without realizing the fruits of something forced early would not be sweet, I would plunge into making things happen.  Waiting on things is not easy, but the result is better when things happen in their own time.

On the other hand, time is fleeting and every new year means that more sand has slipped through the hour glass.  It’s not always pleasant to think of all I had purposed to do by now and realize I am nowhere close.  I wonder if this kind of thinking is the reason for so many of the midlife crises I see going on around me.

I want to be content.

Posted in Content Thyself | No Responses »