Schnecken

Schnecken
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

After a lengthy absence (our house was broken into and we only replaced the computer accessories earlier this month - thankfully they left the computer) we hope to post a little more often now! May the sweetness of the season fill you and yours - here are our traditional Christmas morning schnecken to get the blog rolling again.

South African lily

South African lily
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Three years after planting this lily, we are reveling in the sight and scent of these glorious blooms. It truly is stunning.

Square foot gardening

Square foot gardening
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're trying something new for our Fall garden. Rebecca read an old copy of the gardening guide by Mel Bartholomew and was intrigued by his method: very intentional planting with (supposedly) minimal tending and maximum yield. Sounded good to us, so we ordered the revised edition and planned and planted our two vegetable beds in the backyard. It is a lot of work up front - we have planted 68 square feet with: onions, broccoli, kale, swiss chard, spinach, bok choy, lettuce, carrots, beets, pole beans, quinoa, radishes, nasturtiums and marigolds. We renewed the beds with 2 trunk loads of cow manure we brought back from the ranch - and compost from our bins. We're eager to see if Mel delivers on his promise!

The streets of Houston

Pitner Road post-Ike
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

This is our street, taken 2 weeks after 'Ike' - and it looks like every other street in the city. Piles of downed trees and limbs outside every house. Our neighborhood is still only somewhat cleared. I read somewhere that it will take 4 months to clear the debris. We went to the Houston Arboretum yesterday and it was sad to see so many downed trees.

Seth turns 3!

Seth turns 3!
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We celebrated Seth's birthday last week, all week! Rebecca baked him a Victoria sponge cake and the Henneks joined us for a birthday dinner. We gave him his first real football and a goal - he plays in (very) short bursts for now.
Seth is an absolute delight - he loves his sister, he loves playing with Maggie, enjoys art, dancing, his new firetruck, building with blocks, his 'motorbike' (tricycle), adventure walks and climbing. He is a cuddler, especially after naps and for books. He has a great smile. He loves his cowboy boots. And eating. He intends to be a fairy ghost for halloween.

Maggie's first fish

Maggie's first fish
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Here's the first of several 'catch up' entries. During our week at the Hobson's ranch we fished on several days - catching on a couple. This is a very proud Maggie with her first ever fish - a small catfish. Check out more photos from the ranch at our Flickr account

POST - IKE

Well, after 15 days without electricity, we finally got power back on Sunday. We had spent the first week out at our friends the Hobson's ranch in the sticks, and then home to sweat it out in faith that the power would come back on. After our faith dwindled shortly therafter, we moved in with Marty and John Shroff for a delightful 4 days. We still have no phone/internet - once we do, we'll post more. We are grateful to have come out of the storm virtually unscathed, knowing the havoc Ike wreaked throughout the area, and the tragedy that continues to unfold...

England in August

King's Oak
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent 3 weeks with Sean's family last month - had a wonderful time catching up, eating and visiting many of the beautiful and fun places in Norfolk. We're just about over jetlag, and trying hard to catch up with life here in Houston. Check out the photo set over at Flickr.

The Alarm

One of my favourite bands - great video my mate Mark in England passed on. Mike and the boys in action in Milan back in 2003. Enjoy!

Hello!

House finch
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have had lots of visitors to the feeder over the weekend, including this house finch. Other guests have been house and song sparrows, a juvenile cardinal and red bellied woodpeckers. And the ever -present squirrels get the fallen seeds.

China - one way you can help rebuild...

All eyes seem to be on China - either with anticipation of the Games, concern for human rights, and of course, concern for the terrible loss of life and infrastructure caused by the recent earthquake. It's easy to feel helpless when wanting to respond to this tragedy - what can we do to make any difference? Our good friend Billy, part of Communality in Lexington, KY, recently sent the following email with a tangible way to express solidarity and love for one village. Read on, and then, maybe, act...

Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well. I wanted to let you know about a project in which our foundation is currently engaged in Sichuan Province, China. We're trying to help rebuild a primary school in the village of Bai Hua in the aftermath of the earthquake that leveled hundreds of schools and killed thousands of children. Through our investment director Jon Carnes we have already held talks with the provincial government and expressed our desire to help rebuild the school. Jon's company Eos Asia (who manage our endowment) have a large investment in a commercial cement company in the village and thereby a long-term commitment to the area. We want to help this village rebuild and attain healthy functioning. Anyhow, we've completely revamped our website over the past couple of weeks in part to prepare for this effort. We've got it set up so that people can learn more about the initiative (and our other work) through the site and even make donations online if they so choose. As much as anything the people of Sichuan Province need your prayers. This project gives us one way that we can also act together in a direct manner. We'll be posting updates on the progress of the project on the site once it commences.

Thanks so much for your consideration and for all of the hard work that you do for the cause of justice in the small ways that matter most. Keep going in it......

Billy

We've added the link to the 'Destinations: Sites' list below. Stop by for more info - and maybe leave a gift.

Peace,
Sean

garden produce

garden produce
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

I went to the community garden this morning after a 1/4" rain yesterday and picked this bounty. The first ripe cantaloupe and heirloom tomato are the highlights...

Seth

Seth - liking his slick hair
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Just had to post this - Seth's curls are out of control, so when we brushed his hair after a bath the other night, he kept checking himself out in the mirror - and obviously liked what he saw. He has his mum's hair and eyes - but unfortunately his father's teeth. Still, he's a good looking lad!

Community gardening

'Gypsy' peppers
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're having mixed success in the community garden at the moment. Some of the pepper plants are doing great - others put on lots of flowers, but little fruit. The tomatoes are huge - but are being assaulted by some kind of larvae. We're spraying them with a bacteria recommended by 'Urban Harvest' that is supposed to only attack the larvae - we'll see. The beans are on the way out - squash has already been uprooted and composted. We have lemon cucumbers finally - yup, cucumbers that look like lemons, but taste like...cucumbers. And canteloupe. We have big canteloupe. Although the two largest 'disappeared' while we were gone at Chapelwood's family retreat over the weekend. The sunflowers are towering and beautiful, and we continue to enjoy an abundance of fresh cut zinnias around the house. See 'Flickr' for more photos.

The colours of May

Pink Jacobina Justica
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Despite the lack of rain, there are all kinds of blooms in the garden at the moment. Some are year round companions, some are old friends whose acquaintance we're glad to renew, and others are new, like this one...

Community gardening

Seth in community garden - May
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have been eating fresh squash, green beans, cucumbers and lettuce at most meals for the past 2 weeks or so. The tomato plants are full of fruit and flowers, the first peppers are coming on, and we have one canteloupe! We're also enjoying a dining table with multi-coloured zinnias - and looking forward to our first giant sunflowers. Life is good!

Sabbath grace

First fruits
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Today has been a beautiful spring day in Houston, something we're not used to saying at the end of April. Our sabbath began at Edith Moore sanctuary, where we met our friend Tracy Kleinhans, a fellow Mercy Streeter and member of the Houston Audubon Society. This was our first time in the sanctuary, and Tracy was our guide. We hoped to see some new birds, but although we could hear them, we did not see too many. We did get to add one new bird to our sightings - a Grey Catbird. It is a lovely spot, and one we look forward to returning to.
After lunch and naps we headed to the community garden, where the weeds have been sorely neglected. We spent 3 hours weeding, taking flowers off pepper plants (trying to get the bush as large as possible early on) and watering (no rain to speak of for a month). We also harvested two large bags of swiss chard, and the first squash and beans. So tonight we enjoyed "eggs in a nest" (see Flickr), steamed beans and squash and cornbread. The eggs came from our friends Kevin and Camella - they have 2 hens and brought a dozen over earlier in the week. The first of what we hope will be many truly local meals. And Maggie and Seth fell asleep in about 15 minutes, which means Rebecca and I will be able to watch an episode of Doctor Who Series 3 before our heads hit the pillow tonight.
Sabbath grace indeed.

Happy Birthday Maggie!

Happy Birthday Maggie!
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We invited a few friends over to celebrate Maggie's 4th birthday yesterday. The pinata was a big hit, as was "pass the parcel" - one of my favourite games from childhood. The raspberry/ vanilla/ chocolate ice cream went over well also. It was a beautiful afternoon, Matt and I got to stand over a grill for the first time in a long time, and it was wonderful to have the backyard full of kids (both little and not so little).

Community Garden I

DSCF4569a
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Our friends Paul and Peggy have been gardening for years, and have great soil. We have been the grateful recipients of squash, beans and tomatoes over the years. They're too busy this year, so asked if we'd be interested in a little community gardening. Of course, we said 'yes'! They've planted a few tomato plants, beans and spinach, but gave the bulk of the garden to us, and our friends Thule and Kelly. Here's the freshly tilled plot in late January, waiting for planting.

Community garden II

PICT0012
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

And here's what it looked like this morning. We have swiss chard ready to pick, beans (climbing and bush) doing nicely, squash and cucumbers putting on flowers, tomato and pepper plants coming on, canteloupe and carrots (struggling), and zinnias and sunflowers.

Maggie's birthweek

Maggie fishing
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie turns 4 on Sunday, and so we are celebrating her this week. I had had a full weekend, and hadn't seen much of Maggie & Seth, and so while Rebecca had an 'organizing the house' day, I took M&S out to the Hobson's ranch. We stopped at a 'BassPro' store on the way, and picked up their first ever fishing rods (Maggie chose the 'princess' model, Seth the "cheese" model (Spongebob)). It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Maggie fished for a solid hour, and only stopped because she was hungry. Seth lasted about 5 minutes, then spent the rest of the time figuring out how to start the 4 wheeler. Maggie had lots of bites...but no fish. And as my dad is fond of saying, "that's why it's not called 'catching'."

Maggie continues to delight us with her imagination - she is a storyteller, that's for sure. We're throwing a 'bring your favourite childhood party game' birthday party for her on Sunday, where those who love Maggie here in Houston will gather to celebrate her and eat charred meat and ice cream cake.

Deaths mar seal hunt

This was the headline in 'The Week' news magazine for a piece on the death of 4 hunters during the annual 'clubbing baby seals for fur' season. Sadly ironic.

Hope springs eternal

Hope springs eternal
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have several self-seeded tomato plants coming up - but this one is a mystery! It is growing in the crack between our side door step and the path.

Houston in April

Houston in April
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent the weekend in the garden, enjoying the beautiful weather, and working till our muscles ached. Lots of digging, transplanting and planting. Seth and Maggie now have their own garden with veggie, herb and flower seeds sown. The tomato plants are about 4 feet high already, and we've been eating garden lettuce for 3 weeks. See Flickr for more photos.

jasmine in bloom

jasmine in bloom
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

...and now we're enjoying the beautiful fragrance as the breeze carries it into the sun porch

jasmine

jasmine
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

we're eagerly anticipating the scent of jasmine as the first of our bushes is about to blossom

A way through the woods

A way through the woods
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Thanks to our wonderful friend Brenda, who came and loved on Maggie and Seth all day yesterday, Rebecca and I were able to go on an afternoon hike at Lake Houston Park. It was a stunningly beautiful day, and we enjoyed a 7 mile hike in (for us) a new park about 45 minutes north of us. We enjoyed the quiet of the piney woods, broken only by the keening cries of a pair of red tail hawks, the caws of a crow, a few frogs and the occasional grunt of a Harley downshifting off in the distance somewhere. We spotted raccoon and deer tracks, and left plenty of our own on one particularly muddy stretch. It was a much needed and life-giving afternoon - with the delight of having another place to explore in the future

Anonymous beauty

Unknown, beautiful plant
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We found this plant in a pot under a bush when we moved in 3 years ago. Rebecca planted it in the bed around the magnolia tree, and 3 years later it has spread and puts out these stunning 12" blooms every February. We have no idea what it is - but would love to find out, if anyone recognizes it.

Ash Wednesday

"...praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out."
As I read the texts I had chosen for Mercy Street's observance of Ash Wednesday, I thought of the Eleventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous. In Luke 4 we read the account of the temptation of Jesus that follows his 40 wilderness days and nights, one of the traditional texts read at the beginning of Lent. As Jesus begins his long journey to the cross, the deceiver tempts him to choose an easier, softer way. At one point he quotes scripture in an attempt to lure Jesus into a highly visible and dramatic public act: "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from [the pinnacle of the temple]; for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge to guard you...on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Angels show up again in Mark's far more sparse account of Jesus' time in the wilderness: "And he was in the wilderness 40 days being tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him."

Our third reading was also from Luke's gospel, chapter 22 - Jesus' temptation at the end of his long journey. As he kneels in the garden, the posture of surrender, and asks his Father to take this bitter cup from him, he states "yet not my will, but yours be done." And then an angel shows up once more, "...strengthening him. And being in agony he was praying fervently." And then at some point he rose from prayer. Just like that. The wrestling was over, the agony passed. As he rouses his friends Jesus repeats his exhortation, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

I was drawn to the angels in these narratives, or, more specifically, the role they play. In the garden, the angel strengthens Jesus to continue praying for God's will to be done. In the desert, the angels minister to Jesus in the midst of temptation. How different from the role the silken words of the deceiver portray - rather than strengthening Jesus in the very midst of the struggle, these angels will miraculously enable Jesus to avoid the struggle, so that he won't even stub a toe, let alone sweat in agony as he wrestles with temptation.

Which angels are we inclined to ask God to send? 'Guardian angels' to protect us, to deliver us from temptation (so that we do not have to wrestle between self-will and God's will)? Or, as I do indeed wrestle with my will, as I struggle to surrender, do I look for the angel that will strengthen me to keep struggling - not deliver me from the struggle? Do we pray to be delivered from temptation, or do we pray "only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out?"

Tim sets off...

Tim sets off...
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Rebecca's cousin Tim stopped by for a short stay last week. He shipped off his bike to South Africa, then flew out on Saturday to wait for it in Durban. He's planning on spending the next 18 months or so riding around the globe (and his route should pick up most of it!!) You can follow his progress at his blog (see our linked blogs). Maggie and Seth loved having Tim here - he spent a lot of time playing with and reading to them - Maggie keeps telling us she will see Tim when she's 5!

Aren't they a little TOO friendly?

Aren't they a little TOO friendly?
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Wow - where did January go?! I took Maggie and Seth out to our friends the Hobson's ranch over a beautiful weekend earlier in the month. We had a big time hiking over the fields with the ranch dogs, hanging out with the cows, feeding the donkeys and star gazing around a log fire (see Flickr for more pics). Rebecca stayed home for a little down time and some much needed house organization!

Martyn Joseph at Hyde Park Studios

The backyard in January

Camellia
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have some beautiful blooms in the backyard at present - one of the best gifts of the Houston climate. I picked some peppers yesterday for an omelette - the bushes are still flowering, and putting on new fruit. We have our first freeze tonight, so we'll cover what we can and see what survives!