inspiration

MINT AND MAINTENANCE AT THE VICARAGE

/ 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?

INTRO TO NOTES FROM THE VICARAGE YOUTUBE

/ joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

I have had a YouTube channel for the last several years. Like so many things in my life I have neglected this channel during the time of my mother’s illness, hospice and passing.Today I am making this channel’s resurrection one of my writing/platform building projects here at the Vicarage. Let’s begin!

WHAT PROJECT HAVE YOU BEEN SITTING ON FOR A WHILE? IS IT TIME TO RESURRECT IT?

IN SEARCH OF THE WORDS AGAIN

/ joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments
Photo by mali maeder on Pexels.com

I have written here about the projects going on with the physical property of The Vicarage and the micro-forest gardens. I have written about some of the projects going on at Cornerstone Church. All of those are still in process. If time allows today and the rains hold off I will be working on the chicken paddock and bringing in some more of the fall harvest (which is not huge but is keeping us in healthy vegetables just now). I also have a plant shelf to set up sometime this week and an office to clean. Today I am also putting together a worship set for THE WORSHIP ROOM HOUSE OF PRAYER and I am writing my sermon for Sunday.

That said, there are other projects I have shelved for years now that I am finally taking down and dusting off.

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I am talking about my writing projects. When I took on the lead pastorate at Cornerstone and then when Mom’s health failed, I just didn’t have the brain space to keep up with writing regularly. Life has changed, now, and I am seeing my way clear to what I think my next steps in life are supposed to be.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The rhythm of prayer and ministry is the constant anchor of life drawing me continually to my Divine Center in Christ. Cornerstone Church, The Vicarage and its gardens are the launching pad from which my life goes forth. These places are the earthly center from which I currently work. They create a context for me. But I think that I have long neglected the part of my life which brings me so much joy. That is the story telling. That part of me feels like it is coming back to life even as I reorient in this new phase of living.

This blog and my other blog LILLIE-PUT are becoming part of that storytelling work. I have been enjoying editing NOTES FROM THE VICARAGE over the last several weeks. I have added pages in the heading and I have begun going through old posts, deleting those that do not lend themselves to the story and figuring out what I really want to say here in the days to come. I have come up with an intentional writing strategy that I have begun to practice. I am not successfully writing everyday yet, but I am closer to that goal than I have been in years.

Searching for the words again is giving me great joy. I am having fun with life right now and all its many projects.

WHAT IS BRINGING YOU JOY THESE DAYS?