motivation

my mind races
     my heart rejoices
          I'm eager to see this work
it could work
     really- it could!
          and it would be wonderful
                and life would be better
but I forget about it
     later that week
          or later that day
                or later that hour
and its lost.
     and now it wont work.
          because I never gave it a chance.

not so simple

you've got it figured out!
     it all makes sense
          you understand!

and then in a heart beat
     in horror
          you realize
               you don't

growing (again)

try two!

because almost all the plants from try one died.
and I'm still not sure why.
Some possibilities:

~there are rocks at the bottom of the pots, and the pots are small. Maybe the roots reached them, and couldn't find dirt and drink and nutrition? there's a parable about that, you know...
~I watered them too much. once, twice, a day. because they're right there, and on my mind. Out of sight out of mind, but when you can see them, you're thinking of them.
~too cold. I mean, the're right next to the air conditioner. And you usually grow plants in the heat of spring and summer.
~not enough light. the only windows we have face north. Which isn't ideal, I've heard. And one of the pots was pretty much without direct lines to sunlight (accident!).
~aaaannndd, I'm finding bugs in the dirt. NOT good.

no idea if any of those are real reasons why my plants died.
but, I'm watering less, and I moved the large pot precariously onto the windowsill. We'll see how long they survive this time!
The seed packets said to expect seedlings in 10-14 days for some, and 14-21 days for others. I must have picked overachieving seeds because they started showing after four days. Should I be worried??

Oh, and I've added daisies! I got two packets from a friend, and just planted them today. I can't wait!

Psalmish Links

I'm in love with this Psalm. 
Read it. I know you are planning just to skim over it, or ignore it all together. Dont. You really should read it. 


I've only begun memorizing the beginning, so I've only got links for that. If you've got any links this psalm makes you think of, comment them, and I may add them!

63 

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; 

my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,*

when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.

But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

isn't it great???


*anyone know how to get rid of the highlighting?

It Would Be Cool

to write book reviews in the same style and tone as the book itself had been written

wouldn't it?

eggeshells

So, the first salad seed I planted was doing great! It was green, and getting (relatively) large. But then yesterday I went to water it, and it was small, and dull, and withered.

I have no sure idea what it was, but I have a hypothesis. A guess.

Remember those eggshell starters?
When I transplanted them to the larger pots, I squished the eggshells and broke them. That'd be enough for the roots to get through- right?
Apparently, not.

I went through all the plants, then, and tried to carefully take them all out of their eggshells and put them back in their pots. I'm hoping I didn't hurt any of them, because most of them are still incredibly small. But, as I pealed the shells off the dirt, I noticed the roots, spiraling around inside, unable to break through these things I had intended as fertilizer. Hopefully its not too late!

Another garden update: there are things growing in all the pots now! The parsley, oregano, chives, different salad types and  cilantro all have little green parts coming out of the dirt! Excitement!

Slightly Unrelated, here is a song by Hawk Nelson. I thought of it because of its title...

how to start off the school year rightly

-attend the campus wide Block Party, play human fusbal, climb the rock climbing wall twice, go on the bungee jumping thing (no idea how else to explain it...), and play the obstacle course twice, each time making it a relay
-bleach shirts with a spray bottle with everyone else in your apartment complex

-buy a neat looking decal for the wall

-cover your couches with sheets so they match the 'color scheme' of your living room

-find a place to put the herb garden you brought

-find a place to put up all your postcards from postcrossing.com

-go to a bonfire

-intend to get a head start on homework

-make a Roommate Bucket List, which includes things such as 'name apartment' (suggestions???), and 'slide down stairs in laundry basket (still not sure if I'm participating in this one...)

-practice speed reading

-read 'Story of an Hour', and 'Killings' for your literature class

-take a nice nap, that was only half as long as you'd thought it would need to be to get the rest you needed

-toss a frisbee around with friends

-watch more movies than you have time for

-watch the class competitions 

-water your plants obsessivly, and motherly

-wear a skirt, because its too hot for pants, and shorts aren't allowed on campus before 4:30

-write a letter to your sponsored child

-write 'bout it all on your blog