Squash Blossoms

Each morning in my summer garden a series of squash blossoms unfurl and show off their bright little faces. They are a fleeting show and by late morning they pull their shades down and close up … the show is over until tomorrow morning when a fresh new group arrives. I’ve learned to respect their timing if I want to catch a glimpse of them in their full glory.

Timing is even more important if they are to be enjoyed as a divine culinary experience … known here in the South as, fried squash blossoms. Umm, just the thought of these lightly crisped, creamy morsels makes me swoon. These beautiful airy blossoms wrap their delicate petals around a savory cream cheese filling, swan dive into an egg batter and then frolic around in a dusting of flour & bread crumbs before they are glorified with a quick olive oil flash fry. Whoa … just brace yourself for the first bite and the explosion of creamy flavor that fills your mouth. There’s just nothing like it … and it’s only found in a rare commodity…fresh squash blossoms.

Timing is everything with squash blossoms. Picked too early, they can’t contain the filling … picked too late, they shrivel and lose the filling.

Squash blossoms are a little like the opportunities God gives us each day… and timing is important here too. Opportunities of giving time, giving a smile, giving an encouragement will present themselves each day and we can fill them if we are looking and don’t let them pass us by. The explosion of flavor from these filled opportunities doesn’t even compare to the fried squash blossoms.

Laura

P.S. Recipes for fried squash blossoms abound on the internet, but if you’d like mine, just send us an email @ info@velvetlimedesigns.com

New Artwork!

It’s been a busy summer for us... traveling, staying home with the kids (and trying to find just one spare hour a day to be creative), swimming, playing....you get the idea. We’ve been busy creating and thinking and planning. And we couldn’t wait any longer to show you some new artwork. Remember when you were a kid in art class and you’d weave paper or make mosaics? (We sometimes get the best inspiration from their ideas!) This is just the beginning...there’s more to be uploaded. And we’ll be offering prints soon on Etsy.

Sallie’s Seeds

A packet of zinnia seeds has slept quietly in my kitchen drawer for almost two years. Given to me by my friend, Sallie, they weren’t entirely forgotten, just neglected by daily schedules… the intent to plant them was always there, I just never seemed to find the time. Early this summer I was thrilled to have a morning free and eagerly clasped the packet of seeds and planted them in the rich soil of my flower garden. Ahhh, … I could just feel their relief to be in their new home … a place where they could flourish and become everything that was hidden inside of them. How amazing that these dry, brittle, unimpressive seeds that I thought might not even be alive could produce the creations that now cover my flowerbed. Brilliant, vibrant, expressive colors with little yellow faces have exploded from these unassuming little seeds. Who would have thought such beauty could be contained inside? It made me think of how God views us …. His little seeds on this earth. Many of us have yet to flourish and become everything that has been hidden inside of us. We need to plant ourselves in rich soil and that takes a little time. This week, find time to nourish yourself with a little time with your Creator. Sink yourself in the rich soil of prayer and reading His Word …. And get ready for the quiet explosion that will come. You are a seed just waiting to bloom.

Laura

A season of singing...

Winter is over ... Spring is here! The daffodils have bloomed and paved the way for lilies of the valley, lilacs and the first roses. Fragrance fills our garden right now and just wraps itself around everything in sight. The promise of brighter days is evidenced everywhere. I love spring and the refreshing covering it brings to all of the harsh winter. There are only more fragrant and beautiful blooms to come and a walk through our garden holds secret little whispers of great things about to come. This classic passage seems to echo the garden voices:

“The winter has past, the rains are gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come” -Solomon’s Song 2:11

Be encouraged today! No matter how hard your winter has been, it is past. A season of singing has come.

*Laura*

I wish....

So here I am sitting today and doing some thinking (oh yes, here comes the brain dump!). How often during your week do you say "I wish...", followed by whatever phrase it is you're wishing for at the time? These are small, inconsequential things, I know, compared to the plight of a lot of people in our country and the world right now...but they are my wishes and I'm writing them down to share with you. They are in no particular order -- well, except for maybe that first one. That one's pretty important in my life right now. These are just how they came out.

I wish

... people used kinder words towards each other...especially to the ones they love.

... things that are SUPPOSED to be easy WERE actually easy and that you didn't have to fight for what was right.

... that dogs aged at the same rate as humans.

... that I could eat anything I want and not gain weight.

... there was an endless amount of time in my day so I could CREATE the art that I want to create everyday.

... I could do more to lift the burden off the shoulders of the people that I love and care about.

... there were easier instructions to get from Point A to Point B.

... my internet connection was always 100% reliable.

... that summer never ended and I could wear shorts and flip flops year-round (without moving!)

... I could go to Italy (and Europe, in general) some day to study in person all the artwork I studied in books.

... I could step back in time about 5 years and change the course of just a FEW things to make it better now.

... that sometimes I could freeze my kids in time so they wouldn't have to grow up.

... that politicians and salepeople would stop calling my house.

... I had more time to sleep at night (maybe that should be GIVING myself enough time to sleep).

... I could close my eyes and be physically transported instantly to the beach whenever I wanted!

... I didn't wear my heart on my sleeve so much.

... I didn't trust people so much to take them at their word. Sometimes it comes back to bite me.

... that I had learned earlier in life to put even more trust in God for everything (I've had some pretty good teachers for that along the way).

... my husband would stop trying to talk me out of that new Camaro that I want (not that we're even getting a new car any time soon...but it's fun to WISH!).

So that's my list...for now. I think my next blog needs to be about what I am thankful for – and that's a pretty good list. I am leaving you with some quick artwork I did. Kind words to share with someone who needs it today. And kind words for the people I love and care about and need to hear it today...they know who they are (at least I hope they do!).

*Marybeth*

Bloom Where You Stand.

Flowers have a way of conveying great truths. This one silently shouts outside of our design studio. In an abandoned area not owned by us and no longer maintained due to economic cutbacks, this little pansy defied all odds. It bloomed. Despite hard times, economic cut-backs, neglect and total abandonment ...it bloomed. The first day my eyes landed on it’s perky little smiling face in the hard, rocky ground, I burst out laughing in celebration of it’s perseverance. The phrase from Ephesians 6 seemed to emanate from this little flower ... “having done all, STAND” and with it a promise from Isaiah 43, “ I will make a way in the wilderness ... I am doing a new thing ... Now it springs up”

So, stand today, in whatever your circumstances, knowing that God will supply the strength and make a way... and expect a “new thing” to spring up.

Standing,
Laura

She talked to an angel...

We lost a dear friend this morning to brain cancer. While I am sad at losing her, the story I heard this morning only reinforces my faith and belief in the fact that when God says "He will send his angels..." HE MEANS IT!!

Donna had been fighting brain cancer for almost 3 years. I remember when she first told me she was going in for surgery to remove the tumor (and I almost fell off my chair). I went to see her at the hospital a few days after that...she was extremely optimistic because the doctors had removed most of the tumor (note they could not remove all). And we talked about how they had to cut off her long, beautiful blond hair. Donna continued on to chemo and then maxed out her radiation treatments in both Atlanta and at Duke University. I'd go visit her every once in while and watched the slow downhill progression. It robbed her of balance, walking, writing, talking and her eyesight in one eye. What was always amazing about Donna was the constant smile on her face and the fact that I never once heard her complain about her predicament.

December was the last time I talked to her on the phone. She had pretty much lost her ability to speak clearly. I sent her a few e-mails and cards...we let her know we were praying for her.

Last week, I got the news she had been moved to Hospice. I had planned to go visit her long before that happened. But you know...life gets in the way sometimes. Stupid excuse. Honestly, I was afraid I'd cry in front of her and I wanted to know I could be strong for her. So I made the decision that, no matter how hard it would be, I would go see her before I got too scared to go do it. So I did. And I'm adding that to the list of the top 10 hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.

The Hospice room she was in was calm and peaceful. She was surrounded by friends and family. I think I was surprised when I walked in because, although she could barely talk anymore, she turned her head to look at me and said my name. Funny as it sounds, I know “Donna” was still “Donna” at that point because of the inflection in her voice, even though I couldn't understand it clearly...it was the way she always said my name when I used to walk into her office. And of all things, she asked where my girls were at (that was translated for me by those that had been around her the most – she was pretty hard to understand). It was all I could do to hold myself together in there to talk with her. Hold her hands. Her hands were warmer than mine.

When I got the call this morning, it was both a feeling of sadness and relief for her. But what really gave me goosebumps was what Brenda told me happened on Monday. Donna had friends standing in the room. Donna lifted her head off the pillow, turned her head to look at another part of the room and said, “Yes. (pause) No. (pause). Yes.” Her friends said, “Donna, who are you talking to?” And she simply said, “An angel.”

Donna was definitely a believer and she was ready to go to Heaven...

I firmly believe that when my time comes to leave this Earth, God will send his angels to guide me to Heaven. From Psalms 91:11-12: “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands..”

Rest in God's peace, Donna.