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Love Shyla

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Inspiring faith and beauty from the depths of my heart.

Love Shyla

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Autumnal Feels | A Collection of Thoughts

October 11, 2020 Shyla Yoder

a u t u m n a l f e e l s

... a    c  o  l  l  e  c  t  i  o  n    o  f    t  h  o  u  g  h  t  s ...

It’s Sunday, late afternoon, a perfect, overcast October day. I am sitting here with a cup of tea and a quiet evening to put some thoughts down.

I woke up this morning to the peak of Autumn color in our valley… bright turmeric yellow, bronzed gold and vibrant red. We truly get a beautiful display and I think this year is one of the best since I’ve moved here three years ago. It was brisk and hazy, as I pulled my boots on over my wool socks and stepped out into the morning; a ritual I’ve taken on in the past year, to breathe in fresh air first thing each day. Wayne was walking the dogs through our field, his morning ritual, and I had a stroll around the garden, inspecting the changes since yesterday. The dahlias are cultivating new blooms after being cut by sweet visitors on “You Pick” day in the garden Friday. I’m ready to tear it all out, though everything is still going strong and there is no frost yet in view, it is time to put the garden to rest before cold weather comes. Until I get to it, I smile at it’s fading beauty. I returned inside for a hot cup of coffee.

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It’s been about a month ago now when I came home from a trip to Ohio, that I felt the inkling to take a break from my phone. I was getting ready to dive into the last few weeks of flower production, a workshop in the garden, my largest wedding yet and the rest of fall orders and tasks. This kind of schedule always gives me a pit in my stomach to think about. I know long days on my feet are ahead, and though I love my work… percieved expectation leaves me stressed. This was the perfect way to create a little distance in my mind from it while I focused only on the moments I was in. I deleted Instagram and left my phone on the desk, instead of by my side or in my pocket throughout the day.
[ This isn’t a campaign I’m promoting to follow just something I found myself needing. I’ve taken sabbaticals from my phone before… and I believe we all need things at different times; we all have instincts we should listen to and follow when our soul’s are tired. ]

After returning from Ohio, I left a day for catching up before diving into the weekends work. It was a rainy day, I left my phone on the counter, and opened up the book I was reading… Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Barton, to the next chapter titled, Solitude. It was like the weight of the world fell off me as I ready this much needed message on how we need rest and solitude to get in touch with our souls.

As she states, sometimes our soul gets tired, beyond what sleep can repair, and we must quiet our lives in order to get in touch with it again. We need spaces of solitude in our lives in order to get in touch with our soul and what it is saying to us. Ruth says in her chapter, “Solitude is a place. It is a place in time that is set apart for God and God alone, a time when we unplug and withdraw from the noise of interpersonal interactions, from the noise, busyness and constant stimulation associated with life in the company of others… It is also the longing to find ourselves, to be in touch with what is most real within us.” 

I began to feel the desire to draw away and quiet myself in this season. The world felt quieter as I was no longer tuning in to other people’s goings-on from afar… it felt simpler. My mind began to wonder to friends and ways I could reach out to them in person instead of the hundreds of relationships I cultivate online. I left my phone at home on a day trip to the mountains with Wayne on Labor Day and felt more connected to him and the moments we were in. I had only my present surroundings to connect to, the quietness of the house in the morning, a sit in the garden in the afternoon, my work that was laid out for the day, no phone calls or comments to respond to, except for when I checked it in morning and evening. I tried not to make lists for my day and do work as I saw it needed done; one thing at a time. As a list person, this was good for me. I wasn’t thinking or dreading all I needed to get done, I found joy in the task at hand.

It is still a work in progress… I wonder what the balance is for me.  I have let moments pass without my phone to take a picture… and have wondered if savoring them in my heart is the best thing. I love capturing and sharing beauty and perhaps, I will be more compelled to write here, something I have truly missed.


A few moments of beauty from this fall…

A hazy early fall morning…

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An autumn bridal bouquet and boutonniere from the garden

A Monday bible study ritual that has begun this fall with these beautiful souls from our church at our house… a long answered prayer.

Dahlia bounty from the garden, brought inside for myself

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A wreath order and loaf of sourdough a sweet garden visitor brought...

Dream Valley as of late…

The deer found my unfenced garden (in the distance here), & ate all the leaves and buds on my first year roses and my green bean crop. I was so sad. Fortunately we’ve never had problems with deer because of our dogs, but the rose garden is in a spot the dogs cannot see. We had to put up an electric fence temporarily.

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I pray that your soul finds rest this fall and you can take in each of it’s moments quietly.

Love Shyla

 

1 Comment

An Evening In the Garden

September 4, 2020 Shyla Yoder

I had my first Garden Workshop last Friday evening, August 26th and it was filled with so many beautiful women and their laughter! Despite a summer rain shower, I think we all had a wonderful experience! I can’t wait to share…

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// Welcome to my garden…

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// We started out pouring a glass of bubbly….

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Pellegrino for the girls. We even the privilege of celebrating one of their 9th birthday with her family…

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Photography

// As the rain let up, guests browsed the garden while Morgan J Pitts captured snapshots of them…

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// Appetizers were served as guests took seats for the vase arranging tutorial…

 
Menu
Pesto & Sausage Tortellini
Cream Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Peach & Prosciutto Galette with Balsamic & Honey Glaze
Charcuterie featuring a delicious chutney, hot pepper jelly and honey mustard dip made by my friend Noreen
Blueberry Pistachio Fool with this summers blueberry preserves and fresh cream
Spelt Chocolate Chunk Cookies 
 
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// Vase Arrangement Demo

It was a pleasure to share how I make vase arrangements, one of my first floral endeavors when I started designing and still one of my favorites. We talked about the types of flowers and their habits, the general shape and feel that I go for and it was a great time to chat about any flower questions my guests had. Several talked about being inspired to start their own cutting gardens which I am always so happy to hear.


// Glasses were refilled as the ladies chose their flowers and started creating their own vase arrangement…

It was so fun to see what flowers all the ladies chose and how they arranged them! I loved the different color patterns, heights and styles that abounded. This was perhaps the most fun part of the evening for me. I walked around and answered any questions and helped them fill in spots they thought were missing.

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The rain shower made for a nice cool evening…

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The younger girls had a wonderful affinity for flowers and made beautiful arrangements! Everyone helped themselves to the garden to snip extra flowers as they needed…

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// Guests lingered as we put the last touches on bouquets and photographed them in the garden…

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// We did a drawing for Floret’s Cut Flower Garden book and sent them home with a favor…

 
Favor
Handmade Floral Bath Salts by Kustum Kandy
Rose Oil Perfume Roller
5 Seed Packets to start your own Cutting Garden 
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Such beautiful ladies! This was such a pleasure to have you! Thank you for coming and gracing my garden with your beauty and laughter. Thank you to the wonderful friends of mine who helped me pull the night off, preparing food and making sure everyone was taken care of throughout the night. It was a wonderful start to a new tradition.


An invitation to you to come visit my garden…


If you have not made it out to visit my garden, I always welcome a chat and walk with new people! Please do get in touch.
I hope to make this a yearly ritual and enjoy so much sharing the joys that gardening and flowers give me.
I hope to see you there next time.

love shyla
Credits

Photography | Morgan J Pitts Photography
Charcuterie Preserves | Briar Ridge Farm, Pennsborro, WV
Food & Wine | Fresh from my garden or locally sourced
Giveaway | Cut Flower Garden by Erin Bezakein, Floret
Natural Bath Salts | Kustum Kandy
Seeds | Johnny’s Seeds, Sunflower Selections

2 Comments

An Intimate Garden Experience | Tickets Opening Soon

August 1, 2020 Shyla Yoder

Garden Workshops


I am very excited to share with you something that I’ve been brewing in my mind for awhile.
I am opening up my garden for the first time for two // Garden Experiences // this fall.

This year, with weddings and markets being moved around, I have had more time to sit in and enjoy my garden for myself and with friends. It has taken me back to why I started gardening; the way it grounds me, walking barefoot on the grass, getting my hands in the soil, nurturing growing things and creating things with the beauty.

I’d like to share the bounty! Why not, right! I am also a host at heart - I truly love to entertain and chat with new people. I hope that you will feel at home, calmed and encouraged in my garden!

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You’re Invited to my Garden

I will be opening up my garden for two intimate experiences, one in the evening and one in the morning.

Both will be an intimate and relaxing garden experience. Reserved for a small group of 6 women to enjoy. Music will be playing for a leisurely walk through the garden with handmade and seasonal food and drink. You will be able to cut and create your own bouquet to take home. Guidance will be available if you desire to learn tips and tricks to floral design and gardening. A photographer will be joining us and snapping pictures of you in the garden and designing, photos will be sent to you afterwards.

This is designed to be a time of rejuvenation, fun and experiencing beauty!

Friday, August 28th at 6pm | An Evening In the Garden

*This is a great time for a photo op with a friend

The Experience Includes:

A beautiful evening in the garden
Wine & Appetizers
Floral Design Tutorial
Bouquet & Vase to take home
Photographs of you in the garden
Favor

Ticket Price | $150

Saturday, September 19th at 10am | A Morning In the Garden
*Mother/ Daughter Opportunity

We are making this experience suitable but not exclusive to Mothers & Daughters or sons. Mother may bring a child under the age of 8 included in their ticket price. Message me if you’re interested in bringing more than one child.

*This is a great time for a photo op with your friend or daughter.

The Experience Includes:

A beautiful morning in the garden
Coffee/ Latte’s & Pastries
Floral Design Tutorial
Bouquet & Vase to take home
Photographs of you in the garden
Favor

Ticket Price | $150
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Tickets Will Be Available Monday 10am

I will be opening up ticket sales here on the website on Monday, August 3rd at 10am

Purchase Tickets Here

I hope to see you there!


An Intimate Garden Experience | Workship/ Dinner in the Garden with Love Shyla | loveshyla.com
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Had a spa day for the boys Saturday... they needed some tender loving care after their long week of traveling. // Prince & Pauper - Gypsy Vanner Geldings
Wayne and I have decided to move forward with the life we desire even though all the things aren’t in place... opening our home and garden though we are still waiting for our dream homestead.... having horses though we don’t have a barn o
Good morning from the valley... // I am feeling fresh thankfulness for the unexpected gifts the Lord has sent us in these horses this fall. It has been a miracle and dream how they came to us and we’re so excited for the new rituals it will bri
“This is a prayer of self-emptying that enables us to receive whatever it is that God wants to give. We come to him with empty hands and empty heart having no agenda. Half the time we don’t even know what we need; we just come with a sens
Never too old for leaf collecting.
Just a few weeks ago we were sitting out in the garden on Monday afternoons... One of my favorite times of the week.
Fall night feels...
I have felt this creativity spark up within the clearing our of noise this fall... it’s so lovely.
Thankful for my Clover // A nice walk this fall...
The leaves are starting to make their way to the ground... but are still beautiful there. 🍂

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