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We have two vines…planted in 1994 (Yep!They are as old as South Africa’s democracy) – one of them grows over the balcony off our bedroom. The other grows over the pergola in front of the lounge window. They are abundant in summer but in winter,they lose all their leaves and the front of the house looks barren. Diligently, at the start of winter, over the last 18 years Mike has ruthlessly pruned them…..until 2012. He never got round to it…eventually just before the warm spring days began, he pruned the one on the balcony because it did not require a ladder and could be done quickly. The long, straggly branches of the one on the pergola remained until it was too late…they began to bud and with great abundance new shoots began to arrive. I knew this couldn’t be good. Being a good submissive (*cough*) wife, I didn’t complain, but said ‘let’s see what happens, it’s only a vine!’ But Mike wouldn’t hear of it, so all the new growth was mercilessly cut and the poor vine over the pergola was sadly forced to remain leafless for longer. We actually thought we may have killed it…
The vine on the balcony, meanwhile was embracing summer with eagerness…
It’s literally growing overnight. The next photo is of the balcony from the roof…
And this is the pergola from the balcony…we are pleased to say we haven’t killed it….arrows point to little signs of growth…there are loads of them…all those little dots on the main stem are buds…
Growing vines and pruning them were common activities in Bible times. Jesus equated it with what He does with us…
John 15:2
“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
Prepare to be pruned, knowing that the outcome will be good. It may take a bit of time, but the fruit will come! 🙂
A spectacular day in Cape Town…(view from the roof)…
Talking of views, this is the view Stacey has from her work desk in Kuala Lumpur…not quite the weather Cape Town is enjoying today, although it’s probably hotter there than here today…
I love seeing what Stacey’s seeing.
Mike & I had plans tonight that did not include our regular restaurant! But he has a full blown head cold, so we’ll wait and see how he feels. Me thinks we may jump back in the regular steak rut, because we only eat red meat once a week and today is it! Mike has to go a long way in feeling sick to forgo it! In the meantime, I’m hoping whatever he’s got, he won’t pass it onto me.
Off to make lunch for Granny. We’ve had a pleasant morning off.
God bless you loads!
In His Grip,
Helga x 🙂