A Great Inheritance for the Meek

                                                                                                  Source: google.com via Ann on Pinterest

Bible Commentaries: meaning of this verse

Amplified: Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
NLT: God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. (New Living Translation - Tyndale House)
Philips: Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them! (New Testament in Modern English)

 Meek doesn't mean weak

The slogan "strong enough to be gentle" comes close to defining true meekness that is best seen in Christ. When we are meek, we will bear insults without lashing out in resentment or retaliation. We'll thank God in every circumstance, while using every circumstance, good or bad, as an occasion to submit to Him. Meekness would be weakness if it meant yielding to sin. But because it stems from goodness and godliness, it is a great strength. Even now the meek soul gets the best out of life. 

The world does not think so. It thinks that the meek must be worsted because they will not stand upon their rights, nor wield the sword in self-defense, nor meet men on their own terms. But, as ever, Christ's words stand the test of experience. 

When wrong is done to a meek person, he is led by the grace of God to mourn over it, leaves God to vindicate and avenge, and prays for the speedy coming of the day when all wrongs shall be righted, and tears wiped. The meek man joins his prayers with those of Christ, the supreme Sufferer, that the Father would forgive those who do more evil than they know. With a calm and gentle answer he turns away wrath.

 

 The Heritage of the Earth

The meek find more pleasure in simple joys than wrong-doers in all their wealth. Pure hearts find wells of peace and bliss in common sights and sounds. There is no twinge of conscience or bitter memory of wrong-doing to jar on the sweet consent of holy song ever arising in nature. 

Do not be greatly concerned when wrong is done you. Possess your soul in patience. Hide under the wing of God. Do not let anything rob you of your power of being glad with children, birds, flowers, humble and innocent joys.

Without a doubt, the time is coming when the world itself will be conquered by the meekness and gentleness of Christ and His saints. The gentle dawn will master the blustering night; the soft-treading spring will quell the storms of winter.

"O meek and gentle Savior, give me Your Spirit, that I may be calm and strong in the endurance of wrong, and overcome evil with good."

source: F B Meyer on THE PASSIVE SIDE OF THE BLESSED LIFE

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What a great explanation of the meek and how they will inherit the earth!! There is great reward in living a meek and mild life! May you find joy and peace in Christ Jesus!!

Sharing the many blessings God has bestowed upon me! Continuing in the Joy Dare!

3 hard Eucharisteos 

629. Suffering (living with physical pain on and off in my life)

630, Having difficulty losing weight.

631, Struggling at times with motivation/energy to do what I need to do around the house. 

3 gifts woven together

632. Basket from Charleston, SC made by a Gullah woman.

633. Poem I read today: Woven on a heavenly loom

Woven together on a heavenly loom
I was formed by God whilst in my mother's womb.
Then the days of my life in His book were penned
even before I was born my life was planned.

Each chapter was scribed by a God of grace
Paragraphs written before life took place.
Ev'ry moment before it came to pass
God wrote them from the first day ‘til the last.   

634. My wicker chair and ottoman! Love to relax in it!

3 gifts inherited

635. My father’s old roll-top desk.

636. My grandmother’s old quilts

637. A great inheritance of earth now(Matt. 5:5) and heaven, when Christ returns!

A gift stacked, stashed, stilled

638.  Stacked – Boxes (reminding me that we will be moving soon)

639. Stashed - special cards and keepsakes to remind me of my loved ones.

640. Stilled - my heart (to listen to God speaking to me in His Word and in prayer)

3 gifts found in Christ

641. Salvation (Luke 15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!)

642. Peace

643. Hope

3 gifts close

644. My family

645. My friends

646. My Lord and Savior

Linking over at these blog hops:
Fresh Brewed Sunday(My Freshly Brewed Life)
Multitude on Mondays (A Holy Experience)

Hear It on Sunday/Use It on Monday (Graceful)
Sharing His Beauty (Beauty in His Grip)
On Your Heart Tuesdays (A Pause in the Path)

 Soli Deo Gloria  (Finding Heaven)

State of the Heart 

Random Journal Day: Worry

This is my first post, sharing from my journals, so please be patient with me, as I try to share some pretty personal stuff from my heart. (Linking up at "Beneath The Surface: Breath of Faith: Random Journal Day Link Up 4")



This entry was written a little over a year ago. I was very stressed at that time. My son, who had been into some pretty deep trouble , was graduating from high school in a few months. Believe it or not, this entry was a little on the lighter side. As you will eventually find out, my writings can often get quite dramatic and colorful. Hey, it's where I let it all hang out! But for today, I'm starting out with a short one.

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 Tuesday, April 12, 2011

O.k., I'm going to throw out to God a flag that asks the question ~ Why is it so difficult to not worry about stuff in my life ~ about Tyler, about our future, about money, about political and natural events that are going to happen ~ it doesn't resolve anything or add a minute to my life. I don't enjoy worrying ~ plus EVERYONE tells me, "Don't worry. Just enjoy whatever you can in this life." Even the Bible says, "Don't worry." I feel like I'm fighting against a tide of giant waves, rolling in from the ocean. Even stuff, like worrying about Ken's health (like I did this past weekend.) I'm supposed to just not worry and believe it will get better? Maybe it will, but I always wonder, maybe there's a reason for my concern.

The beginning of this week has been rough for me spiritually. I've been fighting off negativity ~ issues w/my health (mammogram came back negative), with the possibility of not going on vacation out west, with listening to a friend complain about her miserable life, yet doing nothing to work at improving things. Then she turns around and tells me not to worry! One day I can write several things in my gratitude journal, and the next day, I'm drawing a blank.

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Deep down, I knew what the answer was to my 'God flag' question...sin and Satan at work. He knew exactly where my weakness was and was hitting me hard that week. I noticed that I must have been so frustrated that I didn't even write a prayer, seeking God's help at that time. I think my mind was so scattered that I couldn't even think straight enough to pray. 

I'm so thankful that even when when we don't know what to pray (or sometimes I think we choose to not pray), the Spirit intercedes for us!

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express"

Romans 8:26

And my worrying was all for naught! I had a second mammogram, which came back positive(they didn't find anything) and my son graduated and is doing much better today. My husband, Kens, health is o.k. There are days I still worry about him, both physically and mentally (not getting too stressed out in his life), but he is (sort of) trying to work at improving his habits. And I realize that I'm not doing much better, when I let worry stress me out, too! I guess we all could learn from each other!

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New Blog Name Contest and Giveaway.

 Well, I've been thinking about all the stuff I write about on my blog. Originally, I wanted this to be a place to encourage other women to live for the Lord and talk about how God has worked in my own life. I also have been keeping track of the many "gifts" God has blessed me with each week, through Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare. Recently, though, I find myself adding other side posts that have very little to do with any of those subjects. I have an array of interests, but have specifically been posting on my love of tea things, my interest in gardening and flowers, and also my fascination with Pinterest and Polyvore, by sharing the many creative ideas found there.

(Our soon-to-be lake cottage)

Even more recently, my husband and I are planning, God willing, on moving out of our large home and into a small, lakefront cottage very soon. We are at that age, where we are anticipating the days of becoming empty-nesters and retirees. We've dreamed of living on a lake for a few years, and have had a few fortunate events that helped us to make that dream a reality. The cottage is a bit outdated and has very little landscaping and literally no flowers! So I'll be working on new ideas and I know I'll be wanting to share the progress of the changes to our new cottage.

The thing is, it seems like I'm shifting gears a little bit, but I don't want to forget about my original desire to have a blog in the first place. That is why, I've decided that the best thing to do is to keep my original blog "Christ in the Clouds," where I'll continue to share my list of God's gifts and blessings, as well as encourage other women, and start a "home and garden, lake cottage, tea lover, empty-nester" blog. I know, I should probably start at least a couple more blogs, but I just don't have the time to keep that many going. I hope having 2 blogs won't be too much for me! I am currently posting about 3-5 times per week. That is plenty for me. By dividing them up, I hope to post about 2-3 posts in each blog a week, at the most. I don't want blogging to take over my life, like I've heard has happened to some bloggers.

Anyways, I'm having some trouble coming up with just the right name for my new blog-page. I was hoping that some of my bloggy-friends out there, might offer some suggestions. Like I said, this blog is going to be geared more towards the following:

•  sharing my love of tea
•  lake cottage living
•  cottage decorating
•  being creative with clothing ensemble combinations
•  gardening and landscaping ideas
• life as an empty-nester

Any ideas will be considered up till Thursday, May 3rd.

• I also know that it usually helps to have a gift/prize for the person who's blogname I decide to use.  My friend Malorie, makes some pretty cute homemade greeting cards and tags (3-D, embossed).
• The winner of the blog name contest will receive 6 homemade cards and envelopes made by Malorie. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll love these cupcake and ice-cream shaped cards, with different cute sayings on the inside of each card.

So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, leave a suggestion or comment, as well as a link back to your blog-page or email address.  I will keep you all posted on my final decision and the winner that is chosen. I am excited to hear all the cute and creative ideas you all come up with!!

Linking up at these blog parties:

The Perfect Cup of Tea (Ladybugs Invited)

Hello, all my teatime friends! 

I knew today was supposed to be in memory of the Titanic, but I really don't have anything to commemorate the anniversary that has to do with tea. I did write a post on Sunday, dedicated to the Titanic and if you would like to read it you can go HERE.

 Today, though I'm posting about another one of the great
tea gift books I bought recently.
This time the book I am sharing with you is called

"The Perfect Cup of Tea"

"The taking of tea has evolved into an art form,
ranging from the simple to the sublime.
Sprinkled with traditional recipes, this book boasts
all the fascinating facts, brewing secrets, and wisdom
from the ancients on all things tea, from its earliest history
to its current trends."

(I'm pretty sure ladybugs have crashed this party, too!
If you didn't notice, there were a few on the cover of my book. Oh, well, I love ladybugs, don't you?)

I'd like to share some of the things I found written in this book.

Tea may be taken plain, with milk, with honey, with sugar, or with lemon – but don’t add lemon and milk at the same time. The lemon curdles the milk, which can ruin a nice cup of tea.

The Twinings  were a tea dynasty, a long-term family of tea merchants with five generations in the tea trade before their fist cafe' opened. In their cafe', they encouraged sampling tea by the cup, then opened a retail store next door to sell coffee and tea. They also sold tea in packets and in tea bags to palaces and grand hotels. Today, a Twining still heads the business.

A Scotsman named Thomas Lipton purchased his own tea plantations and warehouses, modernized tea production, eliminated the middle-man, and thus lowered prices. His many stores, plus his skill at advertising, made his last name the household name it is today. He rose from working in a small family grocery store to billionaire with slogans such as, "Direct from the tea garden to the teapot."

Royal Tea is a full tea with champagne or sherry served at the end.

Cream Teas are afternoon delights. Devonshire or clotted cream plays a prominent role. The cream is spread on fresh scones, which can the be topped with berries or preserves.

Elevenses  is a late morning snack of tea and pastry, much like a coffee break.

(I didn't think this was actually a real thing at first, since it was mentioned in the movie, "Lord of the Ring:Fellowship of the Ring"), which I recently watched again:

(Hahaha!! I love this part of the movie.)

Low Tea is called "afternoon tea" and is served at nice hotels, such as the Ritz and the Savoy, and is definitely a treat. The tea is always steeped correctly - tea bags are not used. It's called "low tea" because it's served on low tables beside armchairs. Afternoon tea is frequently served on a tray or cart, rather than at a table. While it can be expensive in hotels, you can do this same tea at home with little effort or expense.

High Tea, sometimes called "meat tea", is a meal served when the family is home from school and work. High tea is more of a dinner and can have meat dishes, along with tea and sweets.

Light Tea is a lighter version of afternoon tea.

Full Tea is a four-course menu with finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, desserts, and choice of tea. Sandwiches are what separate this from light tea.

How long to steep tea?

White tea: 30 seconds to 2 minutes

Green Tea: 1-3 minutes

Oolong tea: 2-3 minutes

Black tea: up to 5 minutes 
 

 Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.   -Chinese Proverb

Scones

5 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons baking powder

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups whole milk

3 eggs

optional: raisins, currants, chocolate chips, etc.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix flour and baking powder. Add softened butter until mixture is crumbly. Add milk and eggs. Mix into dough consistency. Add any optional ingredients. Scatter flour on work surface and roll dough to  1-1¼ inches thick. Use a round 2½-inch cookie cutter to cut out scones. Place them on a buttered baking sheet. For best results, let the uncooked scones chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Bake 20-25 minutes. Serve with Devonshire cream and preserves.

Feeling Calmer Already?

Simply reading about tea can be relaxing and enjoyable! So take a moment out of your daily routine, enjoy a cup of tea, and have your own personal tea party whenever you can. 

Tea, an international symbol of friendship and hospitality!

 

Linking on over at these "tea" hops!

 Tea Time Tuesday (Rose Chintz Cottage)

Tea Cup Tuesday(Artful Affirmations)

  Friends Sharing Tea (Bernideen's Tea time)

Tea Cup Tuesday (Martha's Favorites

Why Write it Down?

Keeping a Journal: What does that mean to you?

For some, it is like a diary, where one keeps his/her deepest secrets, locked behind a turned key..

For some, it's for keeping track of events or facts about one's life.

For me, it's the opportunity for me to write down my most precious memories and put down on paper how God is working in my life. Sometimes I write something down that I don't understand at the moment, but after the passing of time, I look back on my writings and see that God had it all under control and knew what He was doing all along. That's the best reason for me to keep writing in my journal....God has taught me so much. He's shown me that even when I don't feel like He is near me or understands my situation, I realize later on that He does care and is always watching over me.

I starting writing my own personal journal over 26 years ago. At that time, I'm not sure I really knew why I wanted to start a journal, but it was during a time in my life when there were a lot of big and memorable things happening to me. I had a new job, my first full-time professional job, which I loved at the time. I was in a serious relationship with a guy, who later became my husband.

Over the years, I've written about lots of different things, but always from my heart. I would only write when I felt the need to, not just write every day or a certain day of the week. There were times I did write every day(sometimes more often) and there were time I didn't write for several months and even a few times that it was over a year till I returned to my journal. That's the thing about journaling over writing in a diary. I think journaling has no rules or regulations...if you stop writing, you can always return to it later on. I don't usually get all fancy. I write the date, sometimes the time of day, if it helps me remember the event better, then I just write till there's no more I need to write about. Sometimes it's just a short paragraph, sometimes it's several pages long.

More recently, I've expanded my journaling options. I've learned that there are lots of things I journal about and sometimes when I want to look back at what I wrote, it can be difficult to find it. I love the creative and artistic styles of journaling books that are now sold at most bookstores and card stores. I have collected approximately 10-12 different books over the years, and filled them with my writings.

At the beginning of this year, I found a great free on-line journal program called 280 Daily

I like the program because it sends me a reminder by email to write in my journal. I decided it was perfect for me to start a "spiritual" journal for me to write just short daily "God sightings" and that way I could look them up quickly and easily, when I wanted to go back to a certain posting. I also use it to write down a Bible verse I especially like or want to remember. There are some days that I still need to write more than a short post, so I keep my handwritten journal for those times. This online journal also allows you to keep other different kinds of journals, including a photo journal, food diary, to do list, travel journal, and many more.

Most recently I purchased an adorable journal book with birds and flower designs on it. I decided to start a new "gardening" journal book, since I love to garden. This one has been a little more difficult for me to get going on. I'm still kind of figuring out all I want to put in this journal. I've started by writing down a list of my spring flowers that are blooming and when they started to bloom this year. I also hope to use some drawings/photos of some of my favorites, as well as plants I hope to add to my garden this year. There are lots of great ideas for a garden journal that I've collected  on my Pinterest board (go here to see them).

I hadn't really thought of it as a journal, but I am also keeping  my  gratitude list from taking part in the Joy Dare, here on my blog. I keep that list going here, but post my new ones each week.

There are lots of reasons and options for writing a journal. If you don't like to write a lot, but like taking pictures, try a photo journal. Or if you like to draw, try an art journal. Journals are a great way to express yourself, keep records of special events in your life, or a place to remind yourself how God cares and is present  in everything you do or your hopes and dreams.  Some people don't have a lot of time to write down a long journal. Try the 280 Daily program. It's great, since it reminds you to write, but to keep it short.

I highly encourage anyone to at least try to keep a "Spiritual Journal" where you can see how God is working in your life. It has given me strength in difficult times and allowed me to express thoughts in ways I couldn't express in person.

Below are the new additions to my JOY DARE list:
 3 gifts opened up

611. My laptop....to find my friends in bloggyland!

612. The Word of God...always full of wisdom and encouragement.

613. A packet of my favorite instant Oregon Chai

3 gifts budding/blooming

614. Strawberry patch flowers, soon to be berries.

 615. My Clematis blooms, almost ready to open.

616. My Snowball bush

3 gifts received, after much waiting

617. Accepted offer on a house on a lake!

618. Many pretty flower pictures to put in my new Garden Journal.

619. A painted sign with words I've tried to live.

3 gifts bright

620. A few minutes of sunshine in a mostly cloudy day.

621. My bright pink azaleas in bloom.

 622. Yellow center of my purple Pansies

3 gifts found looking up.

623. Ceiling fans to cool(and warm) each room in my house.

624. Tree branches and rustling leaves, blowing in the strong wind.

625. Canadian geese, honking and flying overhead.

 A gift in a bag, in a box, in a book

626. Bag - Peppermint tea and lemon juice I bought for my sick mother.

627. Box - Fresh strawberries, purchased at the market.

628. Book - My journal, to write and remember.

Linking over at these blog hops:

"Journaling" (Bible Love Notes)
Multitude on Mondays (A Holy Experience)
Sharing His Beauty (Beauty in His Grip)
On Your Heart Tuesdays (A Pause in the Path)
 

A "Titanic" Memory

"That's a day I'll never forget!" 

Have you ever said that? Has there ever been an event in your life that you just know, whether amazingly awesome or horribly tragic, it's one you will NEVER forget?!

Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I think of the tragedy of that day, of the hundreds of thousands of lives affected, directly and indirectly, and of the losses experienced.

Source: google.com via Ann on Pinterest

Its amazing how an experience or event, so personally and emotionally entwined into our memories, can affect everything about us. Sometimes they help us better our lives and encourage us to appreciate the little things in life. Sometimes they make us angry and resentful, choosing to take the low road of depression and bitterness.

A major event in my life was the shocking loss of my 18 year old stepson, back in 1996, from a car accident. I can still remember the horrible feeling, immediately after getting the phone call from his older sister, my stepdaughter. I just sat down on the kitchen floor and cried, too weak to get up. My husband, who had been in bed, came downstairs, after hearing my cries, and knew immediately it was serious. That first year was extremely rough! Some days, I didn't know if I was going to make it through it. But, as time moved on, as it always does, the ache and pain was not as debilitating. Now, we still sometimes mourn not having him with us, but we mostly remember the good times we had, while he was alive. And, knowing he had committed his life to the Lord, just a few years earlier does remind us that we will see him again in heaven one day!

We often don't understand why certain events happen in our lives, but we can be sure that we have a Lord and Savior who knows and understands what we are going through. Without Him, I have no idea how anyone makes it through those times!

Of course, there are so many good events we can also look back at and be thankful for. Number one, is the day we each gave our lives to the Lord! Then there may be the birth of our children.  Maybe a memorable moment of voluntary service or mission work. It could be when we graduated from college, got a new job, or a big promotion. Of course, our wedding day, also usually is a good memory for many of us.

I came across this website and found it so intriguing and insightful, concerning the day the Titanic sank.

Personal Memories of the Titanic

If you would be open to it, I would love to hear some your memorable experiences in you life, good and/or bad. We all have them and so you can know you are not alone. Feel free to leave your story in the comment box below or you can send me a personal e-mail  at apop12341@hotmail.com

Linking up with these Blog Hops:

Heartprint Hallelujahs (Heartprints of God)

Faith Filled Friday (Beholding Glory)

Best Posts of the Week

No Ordinary Blog Hop

Spring flowers: Plant Facts

I was walking around my yard today and came across several wildflowers growing in the woods that surround the sides and back border of our property. Some of the flowers, I have seen many times over the years we have lived here. This is the first year I've seen these flowers growing along the woods line.

Woodland Phlox:

Also called Blue Phlox, Louisiana Phlox, and Wild Sweet William, and with a Latin name of Phlox divaricata (divaricata means "spreading") this is an early spring bloomer that if happy in its position will come back a little bigger every year with masses of sky blue to light purple flowers (with some even available in white and rose colors).   Woodland Phlox is actually a wildflower in every state to some degree, ranging from the Rockies all the way to the Atlantic coast.   

The flowers of Woodland Phlox often have a wonderful fragrance and it is a beautiful plant. It is not a full sun plant, instead preferring dappled shade and fairly moist, well-drained soil, such as one would find in a woodland setting.   It makes a nice early spring planting near a door or in a hanging basket near a walkway. Because of this characteristic, as one might expect, this is an easy plant to propagate by leaf cuttings - just cut off a young shoot and stick it in some potting soil and keep moist. Once the colony gets big enough to divide, this can easily be done in either spring or fall as another way to propagate this plant. 

The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees (especially bumblebees), bee flies, butterflies (especially swallowtails), skippers, and moths (including Sphinx & Hummingbird moths). These insects suck nectar from the flowers. The foliage of Woodland Phlox is readily consumed by various mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, deer, and livestock.

 (I have enjoyed picking small bouquets of these and putting them in a glass of water. They smell great and last a long time after being picked.)

We also have the following two flowers growing around our house. 

 Trillium:

Picking a trillium seriously injures the plant by preventing the leaf-like bracts from producing food for the next year. A plant takes many years to recover. For this reason in Michigan, Minnesota and New York it is illegal to pick and/or transplant trilliums from public lands without a permit from the State.

A white trillium serves as the emblem and official flower of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is an official symbol of the Government of Ontario. The large white trillium is the official wildflower of Ohio. The rare Trillium flexipes (drooping trillium) is protected by law in Ontario, because of its very small Canadian population.

Trillium is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants. At maturity, the base and core of the trillium ovary turns soft and spongy. Trillium seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants extract the seeds from the decaying ovary and take them to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage, where they germinate in a rich growing medium.

Common Blue Violet:

 Natural habitats include moist to mesic black soil prairies, open woodlands, woodland edges, savannas, and wooded slopes along rivers or lakes. In developed areas, it can be found in lawns, city parks, moist waste areas, and along hedges or buildings. Sometimes the Common Blue Violet is grown in flower gardens.
The flowers and young leaves of violets are edible, and can be added to salads in small amounts.


I've seen these other flowers in past years growing in different areas outside of our property. Maybe you have heard of or have these flowers growing near where you live. I found some of the facts I recently read on these native plants to be very interesting.

Daisy Fleabane

Source: missouriwildflowerguide.com via Ann on Pinterest

This native annual or biennial plant is erect and up to 3' tall.  Habitats include upland areas of black soil prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, limestone glades, dry savannas, eroding clay banks, pastures and abandoned fields, and areas along roadsides and railroads. While this plant species favors disturbed areas, it is more likely to occur in higher quality habitat.  While the fleabanes are often dismissed as 'weeds' because of their ubiquitousness during the summer, they are actually rather cheerful plants that are beneficial to many small insects that play an important role in the functioning of the ecological system.

Queen Anne's lace

Is a member of the Apiaceae or Carrot family and is also referred to as Wild Carrot.  It is a biennial plant with a stout taproot.  Originally a native of Eurasia, it is now considered to be a weed throughout most of North America. In the past, if you wanted to use Wild Carrot seeds, you would have to harvest them yourself. The cultivated carrot is a race of this species.

Women have used the seeds from Daucus carota commonly known as wild carrot or queen anne's lace, for centuries as a contraceptive, the earliest written reference dates back to the late 5th or 4th century B.C. appearing in a work written by Hippocrates.

 Stiff Goldenrod

                                                                                          Source: google.com via Ann on Pinterest

A member of the Aster (Asteraceae) family.  Parts of some goldenrods can be edible when cooked. Goldenrods can be used for decoration and making tea. Goldenrods are, in some places, held as a sign of good luck or good fortune. They are considered weeds by many in North America but they are prized as garden plants in Europe, where British gardeners adopted goldenrod long before Americans did as garden subjects.

 Honey from goldenrods often is dark and strong due to admixtures of other nectars. However when there is a strong honey flow, a light (often water white), spicy-tasting honey is produced. Goldenrod is a companion plant, playing host to some beneficial insects, and repelling some pests.

Inventor Thomas Edison experimented with goldenrod to produce rubber, which it contains naturally. Edison created a fertilization and cultivation process to maximize the rubber content in each plant. His experiments produced a 12-foot-tall (3.7 m) plant that yielded as much as 12 percent rubber. The tires on the Model T given to him by his friend Henry Ford were made from goldenrod. The rubber is only contained in the leaves, not the stems or blooms.

The rubber is only contained in the leaves, not the stems or blooms. is sold as a medicinal, for these issues: mucus, kidney/bladder cleansing and stones, colds, digestion, and a tea is made from the leaves and flowers for sore throat, snake bite, fever, kidney and bladder problems, cramps, colic, colds, diarrhea, measles, cough and asthma

I hope you enjoyed my show of springtime wildflowers from around my home, as well as the plant facts.

May you have a happy and relaxing weekend!

sources: 
http://www.butler.edu/herbarium/prairie/alphabetical.html 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldenrod

Linking over at these blog parties today:
Home Sweet Home (at the Charm of Home)

Home and Garden Thursday (at a Delightsome Life)

Feathered Nest Friday (at French Country Cottage)