SABBATICAL DAY 16: AUTUMN SHINES AT THE VICARAGE

October 16, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

One of the things that has made this sabbatical so special is the amount of time I have had to spend at home working, resting and praying fresh vision for the future. The Vicarage is beautiful at this time of year. One of the spiritual exercises I have tried to practice these last sixteen days is to build on the beauty of this little piece of Earth entrusted to me, while being mindful of the wild beauty it already does possess.

I was on the phone with my sister the other day and she suggested that I should photo-document the sights at the Vicarage so that people can see what I am seeing and perhaps they will then understand some of the things I am thinking.

Sing has done such a beautiful job with his yard. It seems always in bloom or full of color. He is someone with a real gift to make the most out of what he has. I hope to grow in that same direction and mindset.

The red maple tree out in back of The Vicarage has broken out into vivid color this week.

One of the projects I want to work on as part of beautifying the Vicarage is cleaning up this side yard and getting some trails cut into the wooded part of the Vicarage property to the left. I know it is too much to do this month, but part of the visioning process this month is to plan the way I want the forest garden to look in the Spring and to decide on the first steps come November.

When the sun shines through the colors of the trees, on these cool autumn mornings, it is hard not to feel hopeful about the future and about the eternal continuation of beauty. I am well aware of the precarious ledge of darkness our world is walking along right now, but in this little corner of the world the sun is shining bright. I know I can not take one day of sunlight for granted.

This leaf strewn pathway is one of the projects I began this summer. It leads out to the vernal brook which is dry most years after June. It reminds me of how much more potential is in this place. It just has to be spoken forth and created.

I am reminded that this season of autumn is quickly passing just like my sabbatical. Soon both will be passed. Then, it will be about beginning the work of bringing the future God has revealed, through this season of abiding, into reality.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?

MINT AND MAINTENANCE AT THE VICARAGE

September 4, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

The temperatures here in North Central Massachusetts have gotten unseasonably cool. From what I have read the next few weeks are going to be more like late October or early November than early September. We are definitely into the Brrrr months.

The gardens are slowing down and it is time to begin thinking about bringing in the last of the harvest and to get ready for the winter in a big way. I feel like all my fall projects are being put on the fast conveyor belt. The issue is basic maintenance here at the Vicarage seems to be taking more and more time. Mowing the lawn, walking the dogs, caring for the chickens, laundry, dishes, cooking. The kids are helping a lot, but I think I am still saying yes to too many things. I still haven’t figured out that perfect rhythm. Maybe I never will. Of course it could also just be that the whole family (except for me and Joe) have had COVID for the last week. We have been down two adults to help with the work. I think I am definitely feeling that extra burden.

Anyway, whatever may be causing my autumn angst doesn’t change the fact that time has to be made to bring in the fall plants. It is time to start drying the herbs for winter. I have a huge mint harvest to hang and then I have to start moving plants from the front gardens to other locations for the Spring. I have giant hosts, and daffodils and some irises to move.

Before all that though…the mint. Here is a video on how I am going about the process of drying.

I didn’t get all the mint harvested the other day. So I am back at it today.

DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF FALL PROJECTS?

THE FOREST HEADING TOWARDS FALL

August 21, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

We have had a bit of dismal weather at The Vicarage over the last several days. The raindrops interspersed around ministry have made it a bit difficult to accomplish some of the tasks I had set for myself this week.

I still haven’t finished chopping down the brush around the chicken paddock.

It’s about half done. Maybe I’ll get it finished today so we can start building the actual paddock.

The forest creatures have not been deterred in the slightest by the weather.

If their appetites are any indication it will be an early fall.

I wrote YESTERDAY about how the sense of impending fall is giving me an urgency about the chicken projects. That, and the fact that two of the chickens have made inroads into escaping from the playpen is giving me a bit of agita. I came home from CVS this morning to find that Squash and Eggplant were sitting on top pf the netting.

The garden is still blooming though.

White Flat Topped Aster is blooming all over the property.

This sweet autumn clematis has put in an appearance around the sumac.

The cone floors are also in full bloom.

A sure sign of fall is that the Japanese Knotweed is flowering too.

Some of these stalks are ten feet tall.

And this year I have a giant patch of jewelweed growing.

I will be harvesting some of this to make an anti itch tincture for the winter.

It’s all coming along. I am enjoying the fact that I am being more consistent with the property this year. That said I am hoping I can get everything done before the weather breaks.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY CONCERNING THE WEATHER THIS YEAR?

THE VICARAGE FALLS

August 20, 2024 / joseph elon lillie / 5 Comments

I woke up this morning and noted that the house was chilly. For the first time in three months I can say I was cold. I was tempted to turn the heat on and then I realized….”THIS IS FALL WEATHER!”

WELL WE DON’T LOOK LIKE THAT YET! but the signs that The Vicarage is heading into an early fall are everywhere. The temperature is falling (today it is not slated to get out of the sixties around 18 for those of you who live in the metric system). Last week I noticed that the sumac in my back yard is already going orange, and the vegetables are slowing down in the garden. I have watched my YOUTUBE weather channels and they are leaning with me towards an early fall for New England.

With that knowledge, there are several mindset changes that I need to begin making:

Vicarage projects that were slated for the summer need to get done. It’s time to finish spreading the pea stone for the right hand drive. It’s time to finish the chicken paddock. It’s time to start burning that brush I collected all summer.

It’s time to get ready for the fall projects at The Vicarage. It’s almost time to put away the prayer tent and all the solar lights. It’s time to start thinking about winterizing the Vicarage again. It’s time to start thinking about what parts of the garden I will move inside. It’s time to start preparing for fall canning and freezing.

At church, fall always brings a shift in the mindset of people. Vacation is over and it’s time to get ready to get back into fall/ winter/ spring routines. Disciplines put by the wayside by many will be picked back up. As the back to school rhythm is restored some will also begin to experience a back to church rhythm. The church needs to be ready to minister to people who have been a bit out of the loop for the last twelve weeks.

We are also heading into high holiday season. Now is the time we begin making our Thanksgiving and Christmas plans. I will be on sabbatical for the month of October. This means September will be our planning month for the fall and winter holidays.

IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS FOLKS! WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FALL?

Last Days, First Days

October 21, 2023 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Season changes always create a conflict in me: The last days of one thing, the first days of another.

We are heading into the last days of autumn here in Massachusetts. First frost and maybe snow fly are scheduled for next week.

I had an opportunity to drive down to Wilbraham, for a pastors meeting, this week. The leaves were beautiful. So I took several opportunities to stop on the way home to take some pictures, some memories of the fading season.