He Treats Me to a Feast; Notes from my Abundant Life
It’s time when it’s time…
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season
we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
The very act of gardening is often an act of faith -
faith that the seeds we plant will reward us with their beauty and their gifts.
I am beyond
“WHY.” I still try to solve problems,
but am no longer obsessed with needing to understand why big things happen the
way they do. (we’re talking life-altering
events, not things like why the washing machine doesn’t work which I can usually figure
out.)
For years, I have
tried to successfully nurture live orchids.
It seemed like a cool hobby. My
mom is expert at raising them; they are all over her home. I like what it might
say about me, being able to coax exotic, pollen-free, long lasting blooms that
don’t irritate anyone in my allergy-prone home, with just Spanish moss and
water. “You grow orchids? Cool” (an imagined conversation, I guess…) My
mother-in-law not only keeps the orchids we buy her as gifts, but hers bloom
regularly. (yeah, seems everyone’s
thumbs are green but mine.)
At this time in my
life when so much has changed, I’m thankful that among my lessons learned are
patience, and permission I have given myself to release things truly beyond my
control. So, the last time we bought my MIL an orchid, (honestly, I bought one
for myself and we needed a hostess gift, so I took one for the team) I went
back later and got one for myself. They
die, either from benign neglect or too much love. Well, it’s time when it’s time. The arrival of Jesus, long foretold, happened
when in due time. Completely irrelevant
were anyone’s concerns about scheduling, planning, considerations, etc. (all
human follies, not of God). It was time when it was time. Guess what? My orchid’s going to bloom.
Oh, it’s early in the
process. I only know the plant is going
to bloom because I’ve seen it before, just haven’t been able to take any credit
for it. I am learning patience, and this
is my reward. I’ll take it, knowing this
is just the first of many such victories I intend to claim. I’ve even got a picture, but you have to look
carefully, or, like so much that happens quietly in life, you might miss it. (See that tiny green shoot curling out from underneath the leaves on the left?)
It’s time when it’s
time, and to honor that lesson, I’ve started a process that will culminate in
Christmas and Kwanzaa gifts, but, as you will see in Today’s Feast, takes time
and patience to get right. I’m mastering
time and patience, and rather than being frustrated, I’m learning true calm in
the process. I am growing, again. And in life, you grow or die. I choose NOT to be like my old orchids, so
I’m getting with the program. Grow,
baby, grow. Steep, baby, steep. Let the Universe have its way, and for God’s
sake, let Him take His Time. Because
thankfully, completely irrelevant are anyone’s concerns about scheduling,
planning, considerations, etc. (all human follies, not of God). And that’s all
the evidence I need today to be reminded that God is Good.
Today’s feast: Rosemary Infused Vodka
Back story~since our first year of marriage
when our holiday gift giving aspirations far outpaced our budget, I have made
gifts for closest friends and family. I
never abandoned the tradition, and I usually wait for inspiration to create
something unique and wonderful, often based upon some recipe or skill I want to
master (past successes have included orange marmalade, home churned honey
butter, marinara sauce, jewelry). This
year, mom’s rosemary bush (ancient looking, massive, and intoxicatingly fragrant)
inspired me to make infused vodka. I’m
planning to create a couple signature cocktails that I’ll write tags and give
in decorative bottles. (I'm thinking a Cran-Rosemary Vodka-tini or a Rosemary Tonic??)
Organic or home grown rosemary (to ensure no
pesticides or contaminants)
Quality Vodka (I’m not a big drinker, but a
friend swears by Costco’s Kirkland brand)
Rinse and dry the rosemary. put as many rosemary springs as you can fit
into an empty container and fill with vodka.
(Because the Kirkland bottles had space in them, I added about 6-7 long
stems including the woody ends. Set
aside in a dark place for at least 2 days.
Beginning day 3, assuming you can wait that
long, taste. Continue to “steep” until
you have the desired infusion strength.
Strain all of the herbs out of the vodka so it’s
nice and clear. Package beautifully (perhaps
with a fresh stem of rosemary attached) to give as gifts.
Making it sexy….add any or all of the following
to be infused:
·
Citrus fruits (perhaps blood orange?)
- · Citrus fruits (perhaps blood orange?)
- · Vanilla beans
- · Chili Peppers
- · Pulverized ginger
- · Lavender
For additional ideas and tips, click on http://www.wikihow.com/Infuse-Vodka-with-Flavor
