Pharoah's Dream

These are just some of the sweet things on our homestead....

seeing my chickens happily foraging for their food...

coming out and being greeted by kid goats...

who cautiously tip toe up to me...

because although they will come to me...

what this little doe is really prudently watching is my dog who stands behind me

and although the goat doesn't know it...

my Foxie really is good around the animals

she may be a rascal at times...

but it makes me happy she is nice with the livestock

we have a bit of sugarcane growing

that grassy part in the photo below is sugarcane

it's what we eat for candy

behind the sugarcane are a few coffee trees and they are bearing well this year

a couple of weeks ago, we harvested the cocoa and sold them...

keeping enough for us

they are now drying in the sun before I will store them and use them whenever needed

of course, being the lover of God's nature...

I cannot help but notice the pretties that flourish under the cocoa trees

and there on the other side of the gate and through the coconut palm leaves...

sits our little vegetable garden

when the chicken coop door is open...

I throw a little feed to the ground to get the chickens started on breakfast...

then, they make a dash to the compost area for the grubs and worms underneath

while they are scratching around for their meat supply...

I water my potted herbs of rosemary...

and newly potted anise hyssop, a favorite of mine for making tea

in the vegetable garden...

we have cabbage which are now starting to form into their spherical shapes...

cauliflower...

and this one is more than ready to pick

today, I will be making creamed cauliflower soup per my husband's request

we also have broccoli growing

this one looks like it will be flowering soon if not picked shortly

we have strawberry growing and hopefully will do well in the near future

once we are ready to move over to the new homestead...

I will take a few cuttings from the strawberry plants and transplant in my new garden

of course, what garden does not have tomatoes in it?

lo and behold, a pair of tiny finches decided to build a nest in one of the plants

there are now two wee bitty babies in this nest

but, this nest almost fell the other day and I had to prop it up with my shovel and pick handles

I think it will stay alright now

I check on it every now and then to make sure it stays strong

it will only take a few couple of weeks for those babies to fledge

and I still get my tomatoes harvested just fine

I made a tomato soup the other day which my husband really liked

I did, too

my rose bushes are now blooming and I get a whiff of their fragrance now and then

so nice

and because ornamental plants do add a prettiness to a homestead...

or any home...

we do grow a few of those near the front gate

the Lord has graciously sent us, on Pilgrim's Farm, a goodly garden of eats...

we are not in famine time here

which brings me to my post title, Pharoah's Dream...

do you know the story in Genesis 41 in the Bible of Pharoah's dream of feast and famine?

Joseph told Pharoah that sovereign God sent him the dream as it says in verse 28:

"This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharoah:

What God is about to do He sheweth unto Pharoah."

God sent Pharoah the dream to warn him of the 7 year plenty followed by a 7 year famine

both the feast and famine years were not of any doing except by God's decree

and this is known by verses 29 - 32:

"Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

and there shall arise after them seven years of famine;

and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt;

and the famine shall consume the land;

and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following;

for it shall be very grievous.

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharoah twice;

it is because the thing is established by God, 

and God will shortly bring it to pass."

God sent Pharoah the two dreams that were actually one in order to make it known...

that the feast and famine times were of His decree

you can read more about it in the book of Genesis, chapter 41

so what is my point in telling this?

while we often see events and happenings in the world as men's choices in actions...

God says...

"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun:

and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight:

and that which is wanting cannot be numbered."

Ecclesiastes 1:14,15

for...

"Consider the work of God:

for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful,

but in the day of adversity consider:

God also hath set the one over against the other,

to the end that man should find nothing after him."

Ecclesiastes 7:13,14

whether in feast or famine, I can find comfort in the sovereignty of the Lord...

knowing that all His ways are perfect in all His doings

"And all inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:

and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven,

and among the inhabitants of the earth:

and none can stay His hand,

or say unto Him,

what doest Thou?"

Daniel 4:35

May your day or night find solace in the comfort of the Lord's sovereign grace.

Got Zinnias, Lemons, and Such...

Thanks to David...
I've got Zinnias
they didn't take long to grow from the seeds...
and they are deliciously pretty

they've been blooming as of a few days ago

and I got caught in the sprinkles of rain as my camera snapped shots

lemon tree, oh how pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet

but the fruit of the lemon is possible to eat

and yes, we do have much lemons on our trees

I do not know the true name of these lemons but...

they may be the Bush lemons that are native to Australia

or maybe, the Ponderosa lemons

it seems to me, they are often called, "caribbean" or "west indian" lemons

in any case...

the juice is not so very tart...

and I love to freeze the juice in freezer bags...

as well as zest the rind and freeze for times when the trees aren't bearing

the Moringa trees are crying out for a good downsizing

they have not only grown above 20 feet...

but, their trunks are now several inches in diameter

the Moringa trees are also in full bloom and the birds are loving these trees

these trees are one of my favorites for simply...

picking the leaves and flowers for munching on and making tea

research has shown the Moringa plant to be one of the most nutritious

so, as long as the Lord gives these trees on our homestead...

I will take advantage of their light peppery taste for some needed vitamins and minerals

and after all...

it gives me a good excuse to come out in the mornings and say...

"hello, little finch...

please sing me a pretty song"

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Philippians 4:7-9

May your day or night find praise in the grace of God.

Nehemiah

This morning, it looked like we might start off with sunshine...
not so

with the cool rain dropping and breezes coming through the cottage...
I'm glad for hot coffee in the early dawn hours...
and another cup as the day stays grey, but cozy inside...
where I cannot get wet

I did get a minute's chance to go to the garden...

for some mint

and it was hard not to notice how prettily the kitchen crops are coming up

this time...

my husband did the planting in the potager

and we will reap the benefits of the Lord's food blessings...

should He bring this crop to fruit for us

our coconut trees are working at giving us coconut water in the not-too-distant future

dropping their worn out blooms to make room...

for the growing fruit

I watched as each day they got bigger...

and more beautiful

soon, soon

we will be drinking one of God's delightful fruit nectars

my little garden girl is still sitting among the double petal pink hibiscus

this pretty plant was graciously given to me...

by a local woman who knew how much I liked them

at first, it took a while to get to blooming...

but, since it started showing it's flowers...

there are more days when there are blooms, than not 

and this morning, I read chapter 6 in the book of Nehemiah that set me to pondering...

on the sovereignty of God

how no matter what man does or doesn't do...

His decrees always have, always do, always will come to pass

Nehemiah, that prophet of Israel called out by almighty God...

to bring about the rebuilding of breached Jerusalem

this prophet was maligned, threatened, falsely accused, lied about...

to discourage him from doing the work the Lord gave him

but God had His own plans that no enemy of His could destroy

Nehemiah knew and trusted God to get the rebuilding done...

and God did indeed protect the prophet and all his helpers in the work...

from the evil intentions of those wicked people who hated God

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul,

in fifty-two days. 

And when all our enemies heard of it,

all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem,

for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help

of our God.

Nehemiah 6:15,16

so when, my dear readers, we see all the wicked trying to accomplish...

their own evil deeds in this world...

know that the Lord is in full control

and in His sovereignty...

all His decrees will be accomplished

May your day or night find grace accomplished by God's mercy

A Day the Lord Has Made...

I took my dogs out around the farm with me...

double checking Shadow's collar and leash

he still has the penchant for getting excited over the goats...

in a rather unfriendly manner

of course, Foxie, who has no interest in the goats, I'm happy to say...

wants me to include her in a little attention, too

we went around the farm just to see the pretties

such as the morning glories that climb along the cottage compound fence

the edible vine we call cooley-pawpaw with the yellow flowers

we use the leaves for bush tea

and the lovely orange fruit that grows among it's leaves...

has sweet tasting seeds inside that are good to eat

always something edible in the bushy wild to eat

the old Glory Cedar trees are blooming

old and quite huge...

they will be absolutely gorgeous all decked out in their pink flowers

the honey bees hover in droves up in those boughs

go ahead, Pilgrim's Farm bees...

take all the nectar you want to the hives

beyond the Glory Cedar tree is another huge tree...

that blossoms at the same time with glorious orange flowers

please excuse me for not knowing what tree this is

it looks much like the Flame of the Forest tree

this is what the flower looks like up close

if anyone knows what it is, please do tell

how I do love the way the flowers fall gently to the ground and cover it...

among all the fallen brown cocoa leaves

and the green shoots of bush plants make it all the more prettier

one of my favorite scenic views on Pilgrim's Farm

both the orange tree and Glory Cedar tree bloom at this time of dry season

this is a blessing from the Lord

we are waiting for the next harvest of cocoa to ripen

I love to walk under the cocoa trees where it is always cool...

no matter how hot the day may be

then, a neighbor came along and the walk was forgotten as we talked some small talk

and I caught Pippi taking interest in my favorite hibiscus...

no doubt, to see if it's good to eat

if you look closely, you will see where she tore a piece off near her beak

she tasted, then left it alone : )

and on this day, I can truly say...

I will praise Thee:

for Thou hast heard me,

and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

This is the Lord's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the Lord hath made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord:

O Lord, I beseech Thee,

send now prosperity.

Psalms 118:21-25

May your day or night praise the Lord for His blessings.