Not undelightful, friend, our rustic ease
To grateful hearts; for by especial hap,
Deep nested in the hill’s enormous lap,
With its own ring of walls and grove of trees,
Sits, in deep shelter, our small cottage – nor
Far-off is seen, rose carpeted and hung
With clematis, the quarry whence she sprung,
O mater pulchra filia pulchrior,
(What a beautiful mother and beautiful daughter,)
Whither in early spring, unharnessed folk,
We join the pairing swallows, glad to stay
Where, loosened in the hills, remote, unseen,
From its tall trees, it breathes a slender smoke
To heaven, and in the noon of sultry day
Stands, coolly buried, to the neck in green.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
“I (Jesus) am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be more fruitful.” ~John 15:1-2 ✝
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you save, you heal, you restore, and you reveal Your Father’s heart to us! You have captured me with grace and I’m caught in Your infinite embrace!
**Photos are of blossoms on my new Clematis vine…
Sacred Touches 
Love the clematis woven through the verse—I’ve never envisioned the clematis with that verse—now I shall… which will only make the verse much sweeter–
Thank you–
cookie
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. Hugs, N 🙂
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What to praise first,Natalie ? The brilliant verses,the delightful photos or ~John 15:1-2 ✝ … Your post,a symphony of divinity and beauty 🙂
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Thank you, Doda. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Hugs, N 🙂
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I enjoyed the verse and your images of the new Clematis. Very nice post.
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Thanks, Donna. I’m glad you enjoyed my photos and the post. Hugs, Natalie 🙂
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Natalie, the clematis is beautiful! Ours aren’t any where near blooming yet-I can’t wait…
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
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Wendy, I just bought this one and it had the blooms on it already. My existing ones are fairly close to blooming but it will be a bit longer yet before they do. 🙂
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