Blogging Hiatus…

Maybe you have noticed and then again, maybe you haven’t.  I have been on a blogging hiatus.    This hiatus was an unscheduled break and an interruption in my efforts as a blogger and a writer. 

My first experience with this sort of hiatus dropped in on me last year after I had completed the 30 day April A-Z Challenge.  Again this year after posting everyday of the month for theApril challenge my creative ideas were depleted.  I even found my brain couldn’t focus on the simplest Wordless Wednesday post.  I think I owe Frizztext a couple of posts for the A-Z Archive Photo Challenge.   

 Then there was the added busyness of my 9-5 job during the month of May; Mother’s Day celebration, Baby Dedication weekend, Outdoor Church Wide Baptisms, Graduation Recognition and Corporate Communion for 3000 people.  Whew…

Everything that was on my plate overwhelmed me and I just had to say NO to something. 

“Sometimes we have to say No to good things so that we can say YES to even better things.”

My blogging hiatus has given me the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.  There have been graduation parties at the park and birthday celebrations on the river.   There was a fishing tournament that benefits returning wounded veterans and new car shopping. 

I have missed the camaraderie of my like-minded blogging friends…I have missed reading about your comings and goings…your real and imagined stories…your delcious recipes…and your junkin’ excursions…and your wonderful photos that usually take my breath away and leave me wishing I was there and thankful that you have shared your view of the world with me. 

I think June will see my back banging away on the computer.  In the meantime…

Unscheduled blogging hiatus’ can be one of those even better things…see you in June!

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge…Hands

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge & Wordless Wednesday….Hands!

Henna is a beautiful art form and a tradition that is practiced in over 60 countries and has been around for thousands of years.

Suncreek Garden Chronicles…Invaded by Herbivores!

We have new visitors to the herb garden…These little herbbies are my favorite kind…future Monarch butterfly’s!  The Monarch Butterfly became the Texas State insect in 1995.  The Monarch butterfly is unique among butterfly’s.  It is the only species of butterfly that does not hibernate, but migrates in changing seasons. The Monarch’s metamorphosis from egg to butterfly takes about a month. 

A-Z Archive Challenge: “T”

Suncreek Garden 2011 Tomato Crop…This weeks entry into the A-Z Archive Photo Challenge: “T” hosted by Frizztext!

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• Weekly Archive Photo Challenge: “P”…pattypan…squash (nolagirlatheart.wordpress.com)
• There you have it…From A to Z! (nolagirlatheart.wordpress.com)
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• A-Z Archive: H! Challenge…Hummingbird! (nolagirlatheart.wordpress.com)
• A-Z Archive: M! Challenge…MMMMM’ (nolagirlatheart.wordpress.com)
• http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/a-z-archive-t-challenge/
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• http://mindmindful.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/s-challenge-2-snapping-turtle/

 

Weekly Photo Challenge…Blue

This is my Light Blue 1961 Admiral AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio!!!  She’s a beauty…as far as vintage radios go!

Suncreek Garden Chronicles…Conflict

Conflict is described as a disagreement through which the parties involved perceive a threat to their needs, interests or concerns. Within this simple definition there are several important understandings that emerge:

 

Conflict is often best understood by examining the consequences of various behaviors at moments in time. These behaviors are usefully categorized according to conflict styles. Each style is a way to meet one’s needs in a dispute but may impact other people in different ways.

• Competing
• Accommodating
• Avoiding
• Compromising
• Collaborating

 

 

 

There is a bit of a conflict going on here at Suncreek Garden. We have a patty pan squash that has decided it would rather grow among the tomatoes.  At first glance there seems to be a confilict…but what kind of conflict do we have on our hands? 

 

At first glance we have a conflict based on competition…the plants are competing for the same space, the same water, the same sunshine. 

 

Competing is a style in which one’s own needs are advocated over the needs of others. It relies on an aggressive style of communication, low regard for future relationships, and the exercise of coercive power. Those using a competitive style tend to seek control over a discussion, in both substance and ground rules. They fear that loss of such control will result in solutions that fail to meet their needs. Competing tends to result in responses that increase the level of threat.

 

 On second glance we have a conflict of collaboration.  The squash and the tomato have the same needs…

 

Collaborating is the pooling of individual needs and goals toward a common goal. Often called “win-win problem-solving”.  This collaboration requires assertive communication and cooperation in order to achieve a better solution than either individual could have achieved alone. It offers the chance for consensus, the integration of needs, and the potential to exceed the “budget of possibilities” that previously limited our views of the conflict. It brings new time, energy, and ideas to resolve the dispute meaningfully.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes conflicts create an opportunity for the parties involved to rise above the opposition and reach new heights and learn to appreciate one another and offer support.

 

Which is exactly what is happening in our garden.  The squash plant has decided that it would prefer to grow above the tomato plants.  The tomato plants are offering support for the squash’s new path.  We are unsure of the outcome of this conflict between the two plants, but we are keeping a watchful eye on the situation.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes gardening imitates life…and this past week I have had my share of conflict.  I have pondered my contribution to the conflict and I have decided I would rather be the supportive tomato instead of the aggressive squash. 

 

 Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

 

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• Suncreek Garden Chronicles…Tomato Happiness (nolagirlatheart.wordpress.com)

Wordless Wednesday…You were looking back at me…

Wordless Wednesday…

I was looking back to see
If you were looking back to see
If I was looking back to see
If you were looking back at me.

You were cute as you could be
Standing looking back at me
And it was plain to see
That I’d enjoy your company.