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This autumn, have you found yourself digging, raking leaves, hauling rocks, and moving plants all in preparation for the next season?

You put blood, sweat and tears into that plot of ground and it looks good. I, for one, have done just that — enjoying every minute of my toil.

One spring to my surprise, as I looked out my back window, I noticed a marvelous sight — a flock of pink phlox dotting the wooded area at the back of the property.

How ironic, I thought — I hadn’t done one speck of work to create that area of delight. God did it all by Himself.

I wonder . . . what areas in our lives bring delight to God?

Are they the areas in which we toil, struggle and muscle our way through?

Or

Are they the areas where God quietly and persistently adds beauty?

Yes, He does delight in our hard work in obedience to Him. Yet our delight also must be the areas in our lives where He is at work quietly, supernaturally . . . creating a mysterious bounty of beauty in our souls . . . and through our lives.

May we see the Master Gardener’s hand at work in our lives daily!

May we stand in awe of Him.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 KJV

Are you trying to muscle your way through life or letting God do His work?

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

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Alma Curry Kleri Geraldine Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renee 💖 The Masked Muse Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

Do You Toil or Rest? was originally published in Mid-Knight Falls on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Through the eyes of Dawn Ulmer

Giant bubbles created from the shore yield Narnian magic as they float on the water’s surface on a cloudy day.

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The Painted Wood

In a small town to my east in Colon, Michigan, it shines brightly as not only the Magic Capital of the World but also as having a delightful hand painted sign pointing the way to their community garden.

I don’t know about you but I’d rather visit a garden than a magic shop.

Side Effect

This barn appeared to have MANY side effects as they just kept adding to its structure. I wonder what the tallest part was used for???

The Wall

I actually watched this wall being built. What amazing artistry and hard work this entails!

The Good, Bad or Ugly

In my search for farm stands to photograph, I was amazed by this one. It really did hold the good, bad AND ugly!

The mums were beautiful and good! The buckets all about were bad looking. The ground littered with paper and this ‘n that was ugly.

My eyes got tired just looking at it.

Onward we go to December. I wonder what can be found there?

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Ella Read Heather Bradford Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Lynne Collier Kleri Trisha Faye The Masked Muse Lorna Roberts Life Edits Journal Geraldine Alma Curry Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

November 2026–52 Week Challenge was originally published in Full Frame Too on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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What is to be done with those anxious, stressed, mixed up feelings and thoughts you may be having as the day rolls or crashes by?

Prayer can help, even if it is only one word — HELP!

And God will help in ways only He can.

Have you considered the Lord’s prayer — using it as a model for what you want to say? It’s all there! Think about it as you read:

After this manner therefore pray:
Our Father
Which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
They will be done
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
For ever.
Amen.
Matthew 6:9–13 KJV

Can you memorize or re-memorize Jesus’ prayer?

Prayer very well could untangle your day…or even your life.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list: Alma Curry Kleri Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 The Masked Muse Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮 Geraldine

The Best of all Prayers was originally published in Mid-Knight Falls on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The View from Here on 10–30–26

Where do I even begin? Autumn in the Midwest is stunningly beautiful!

I watched and waited, wondering what THIS autumn would look like? Some autumns lack color, others go full blast, taking my breath away.

The first color to appear is in the sumac. Can you hear me cheering?

A short few weeks later and…

Towering in gold…

One especially caught my eye as it seemed to gently dance in her dress.

Not all color comes in the form of leaves. These golden apples took over where leaves once used to live.

In the Cove where I live, the sun came up.

Even the Dogwood have their own delicate beauty in their leaves contrasting with bright red berries.

As October marched along, THIS is what I love to see and wait for each year after the sumacs:

Let’s look a little closer at one of those trees still in the process.

Let’s not forget the OTHER growing things which exude color:

Chrysanthemums begin appearing, making us ooooh and ahhhhh.

Some color is hidden in the fields in the form of pumpkins:

Some color is even stacked:

Or basking in the sunlight on a wagon:

Let’s not forget color which can be seen in greenhouses such as these RED autumn tomatoes.

As we round the corner to November, we greet the tan and grey colors.

Good bye COLOR.

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Ella Read Heather Bradford Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Lynne Collier Kleri Kyle L. Dorottya Becz Trisha Faye The Masked Muse Lorna Roberts Life Edits Journal Geraldine Alma Curry Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

Autumn Color in the Midwest was originally published in Ride the Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Click here to read the entire article for free.

Election season is upon us in the Unites States of America. What a time it is…filled with emotions and many words, some words being hateful and filled with outright lies or with innuendo. It can get so ugly!

Day and night, we are bombarded with television ads, social media rants and angry disagreements. Debates are being held, slander is rampant.

I am reminded of the scripture at this season and ALL seasons:

Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. Eccles. 5:2 AMP

I am hearing: let my words be few.

Sure, we can think whatever we want endlessly but let us each be careful about what comes out of our mouth.

Are we a blessing with that mouth of ours?

Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. Ephesians 4:29 AMP

Can we abide by that admonishment?

Also:

A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment. Prov. 15:23 AMP

Let’s bring joy to others and to GOD who created our mouths, minds and hearts!

Rant done. I hope it was a blessing!

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Alma Curry Kleri Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 The Masked Muse Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮 Geraldine

Write for us at Mid-Knight Falls — We can’t wait to share the beauty of your soul! 🌹

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Let Your Words…. was originally published in Mid-Knight Falls on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The View from Here 10–23–26

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My favorite farm stand of this season is this one, mainly because they’ve grown the biggest pumpkins I’ve ever seen — each weighing over 1000 pounds!

In contrast, I don’t see much autumn color in this one but I did see KITTENS offered.

In contrast, this one had COLOR — pink!

Located in the suburbs, it is technically a farm stand but there is nothing farm about it. Rolled out onto the spotless driveway, surrounded by suburban houses and white fences…baked goods are offered for sale.

Let’s go back into farmland with the dirt roads, gardens growing in the background, greenhouses, barns, a silo and a wheelbarrow. My kind of place!

Many farm stands ‘only’ offer FLOWERS! Love its romantic look.

Some offer interesting handmade items. Here’s the Picker’s Porch.

Let’s look closer at the saw they offered.

Some stores, like Yoder’s Market in Centreville, Michigan have fields, greenhouses and their very own farm ‘stand’ of pumpkins.

From farm stands to wagons to…

Nothing fancy, but year after year, this farm lays out their pumpkins in their own ‘farm stand’ kind of way.

Something as simple as produce offered in baskets at a farm stand is always eye-catching.

One more…and this one is one of my favorites. It is at the end of a 5 mile drive through their Sunflower fields.

I hope you enjoyed the Autumn Farm Stand journey.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Michelle A Patrovani Heather Bradford Ella Read Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Lynne Collier Kleri Kyle L. Dorottya Becz Trisha Faye The Masked Muse Lorna Roberts Life Edits Journal Geraldine Alma Curry Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renee 💖 Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

Farm Stands in the Autumn was originally published in Ride the Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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Recently a friend wanted some evergreen trees planted along the lane leading from their log home to the barns.

She was given some six foot beauties by a friend.

Her husband and various helpers prepared the ground for the delivery of the trees. Deep holes were dug with manure placed at the bottom of each.

When the trees arrived, they were planted, straight and tall.

To ensure protection from the winds blowing across the wide expanse of pasture, each tree was held straight by four wires attached to stakes in the ground.

Our heavenly Father wants, with all His heart, for us to grow straight and tall, too.

God knows that our natural tendency will be to bend to the winds of our world’s way of thinking and doing things. Thus, He has placed the guiding wires of Scripture, prayer, fellowship and His loving Presence into our lives to keep us growing properly.

May we rest, knowing that the Lord Himself is directing our growth.

They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to
instruction (through the scriptures)
to fellowship
eating meals together
and to prayer. Acts 2:42 AMP

Are you making sure that your ‘wires’ are connected so that you grow well?

Thank you for taking time to stop and read.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Alma Curry Kleri Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 The Masked Muse Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮 Geraldine

Are You Wired? Correctly? was originally published in Mid-Knight Falls on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The View from Here 10–16–26

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I call them ‘drive by shootings’. These are positive kind of shootings — with my camera as I travel the country roads in SW Michigan.

As my son and I go Adventurizing (my word), farm fields stretch out on either side of the road. We try to guess what crops are growing. Corn stalks are easy to identify but potatoes, soy beans, watermelon and other low growing plants are more difficult to identify.

This particular day, it was watermelon harvesting time.

All spring and summer, the watermelon have grown into huge delicious fruit tucked inside of their tough outer ‘skin’. So beautiful, inside and out.

It looks like this one was found by a human, cut open and readied to enjoy.

This one looks like an animal may have enjoyed it!

Hmmm, or a whole herd of something (probably deer) had a banquet.

Thus, when we drove by and saw that harvesting had begun, we applauded.

What back breaking work this must be!

They need to find the melons, hidden well within the greenery of the plant’s leaves.

Then they need to cut the melon from the plant and hand it off to the people nearest to the tractor and attached wagon.

Imagine the muscles it takes to throw a heavy watermelon to the next person, to catch it and then to pass it along to the next person.

Then up into the wagon it goes. Hmmpphhh.

Always nearby is the bus that transports the workers.

What a delightful scene — to see an entire wagon filled to the top with the luscious fruit!

Off the melons go to be sorted and packed, in this instance, at Premier Melon.

Is your mouth watering for Watermelon now?

Source: Premier Melon for the shipping portion of this article.

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Ella Read Heather Bradford Geraldine Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Lynne Collier Kleri Kyle L. Dorottya Becz Trisha Faye The Masked Muse Lorna Roberts Life Edits Journal Alma Curry Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renee 💖 Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

Watermelon Harvest 2026 was originally published in Ride the Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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….in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God…. I Thess. 5:18 AMP

My reliable pharmacy here in the village was here one day and, without warning, was CLOSED.

First it was just a rumor…but then we found it was fact as we read the sign posted on the door, giving official notification. It was CLOSED!

Our prescriptions were being automatically sent to another pharmacy about 10 miles away right in the middle of a busy intersection in a larger town.

I could hear the groans from here. I groaned, too.

I quickly made a call to ‘my’ new pharmacy…they had no record of my prescriptions!

Ugh!

I decided to go to the source of my prescriptions — my doctor — and have him send them directly to my new choice of pharmacies.

It is only two weeks later and all is well!!!! I have my needed medications!

Yet I can still hear the grumbling and dissatisfaction here in town. All of the good will and care that our pharmacist had given us for many years seemed to have disappeared. Whereas once the pharmacy was praised for its good care, now there was anxiety, discontent and verbal attacks about them on social media.

I’m wondering if we treat God similarly?

Am I a fair weather friend to God?

When all is running smoothly, do we praise Him and His good care of us?

Yet if something difficult or painful arrives on our doorstep, do we begin to doubt His love for us, His care of us, His ways?

Please think about it for a moment…..

Do we so easily forget all of the GOOD which God does for us?

Do we appreciate what He has done for us in past days…and moments?

Do we wonder why God didn’t step in to protect us this time?

Do His past mercies not count any longer?

Let’s be as steadfast in our love for God who cares for us as we should be toward God when He allows difficulties into our lives.

….in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God…. I Thess. 5:18 AMP

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Alma Curry Kleri Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 The Masked Muse Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮 Geraldine

My Pharmacy Closed…am I a Fair Weather Friend? was originally published in Mid-Knight Falls on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The View from Here 10-9–26

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I was curious.

Have the grapes been harvested yet this year?

Off I went to explore. What did I see?

Near my home, the land is flat with corn and soybeans, potatoes and watermelon growing in the fields.

Whereas in Lawton, Michigan, closer to Lake Michigan, the land has gentle hills with crops that grow on trees or on vines such as in this vineyard.

As far as the eye could see, vineyards abound on the hills.

All is quiet in a hushed kind of silence.

The vines seem to be waiting….

WHY do the grapes grow so well on HILLS?

1. Air Flow — air flows down into the valleys of plant growth preventing mold and mildew.

2. Superior Drainage — the water flows downhill, protecting the vine’s roots and preventing waterlogged soil.

3. Frost Protection — cool air flows down toward the valleys, giving added protection from a killing frost.

Careful tending through the year should yield a large crop.

One more view and then let’s see where the grapes go.

Grapes, as we know, are grown for specific purposes — wines, grape juice, jelly…each of us know the end result. YUM!

Now you know one of the places grapes are grown and harvested.

If you want to see last year’s HARVEST: https://medium.com/ride-the-wave/vineyards-on-rolling-hills-41eb2ff60cdc

Thank you for enjoying the vineyards, too.

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Dawn Ulmer, a follower of Jesus and a retired Registered Nurse, has enjoyed writing since the age of 19 when she wrote ‘My Philosophy of Nursing’. Presently, she is enjoying writing on Medium, her favorite platform.

Please request to be added or deleted from my ‘special’ list:

Ella Read Heather Bradford Lee Byrd Lu Skerdoo Lynne Collier Kleri Kyle L. Dorottya Becz Trisha Faye The Masked Muse Lorna Roberts Life Edits Journal Geraldine Alma Curry Rosa Diaz-Casal Shayla Renae 💖 Wire Editor Newman II. Mary McGrath Maria Rattray Sam David Parker🏮

Vineyards — Ready for Harvest! was originally published in Ride the Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.