Happy Birthday Tricia Ann!

Today is Tricia Ann's birthday! She is now half-way to 40, though we prefer to think of it as just plain 20. Tricia Ann is the best sister there is bar none. She cooks, cleans, sews, gardens, and I don't know what all, with a smile on her face all the time. She is truly a blessing to the us.

Reformation Day 2008

Our church recently had its annual Reformation Day celebration. It began on Friday night with a barn dance. I couldn't get many good pictures of it because it was so dark, and it's not very easy to take pictures while you're dancing. :) 

We spent Saturday afternoon enjoying each other's fellowship. We sat around on the porch for a while. The guys played a football game. Then we had a skeet-shooting competition. There were about 14 contestants - boys, girls, and some of the dads. Since our theme for this year was the German Reformation, we ate bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad for supper. When it got dark, we sat around a fire roasting marshmallows and listening to our Pastor give a biographical sketch of Martin Luther.

Without further ado, here are the pictures I took. I hope you enjoy them.

Tricia Ann

All ready to dance

Hey, look! I'm taller than everyone else! ;)

Havin' a good time on the front porch

Shootin' Match

Mmmmmm! IBC root beer

pretty spectators

LOL!

the birthday dude ;)

Chris, 2nd place skeet-shooter

*drumroll* 

The winner of the competition was...Caleb!

Jacob and Chris did not compete, but they had fun watching.

Gotta love the expression!

Jacob, Caleb, and Chris grilled the bratwursts to perfection. Jacob apparently was making sure they were edible. ;)

The Birthday Girl

Hannah and Allen are too cute! They make the best pictures.

Lexi was the only person to wear a German outfit. Her beautiful dress came from Germany. She has a beautiful smile to match!

Are they done yet?

Make sure you don't drop them!

Tagged!

I know, I know, it's been a long time since we've posted. For some reason, I can't upload my pictures on Jacob's laptop (PCs are so frustrating). I have to go to the office and upload on *my* ;) Mac.

Anyway, Kaliste tagged me, so this post requires no pictures. I'm supposed to list 6 random things about myself. Hmmmm.

Well...I've........never plucked a rooster, and I'm not too good at ping-pong, and I've never flung my mashed potatoes up against the wall...I've never gotten headlice, and I don't look good in leggings...Oh! That's not what you wanted? Okay, I'll try again.

1. Hockey is my favorite sport to watch (Jacob Lingo is my favorite Right Wingman).
2. If you're speaking Korean, I can understand you, as long as you're talking about punches and kicks.
3. When I fry bacon, I usually burn it. :)
4. I think the chicken dance is awesome.
5. My hair turns green when I go swimming in a chlorinated pool
6. I HAVE been to Boston in the Fall.

How was that? Random enough?

I tag Katie and Amy.

-Tricia Ann

CSA: End of 2008 Season...Sign up for 2009!

This week ended our 2008 CSA season. We're already gearing up for the 2009 season. We have staked out a 2-acre garden-that's 4 times the size of this year's. We will be implementing some new techniques such as undercropping to improve our soil and using some innovative tools to be more efficient.
*Receive a weekly basket of fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs from a farmer you know and trust.

Space is limited for our 2009 CSA.
Reserve your spot today.
5% Early Bird Discount Available!
Season runs from May-October (26 weeks)
Full Share $800
Half Share$450
Pick up at our farm
or
Saturdays at the Franklin Farmer's Market

Call or email us for more information.
931.623.3732
sales@beaverdamcreekfarm.com

Belle Meade Fall Fest

Last Saturday, we participated in the Belle Meade Fall Festival as Farmer's Market vendors. Our main objective was to advertise our 2009 CSA program. I made a display board to explain what a CSA is, and to show people pictures of our farm. We gave out samples of our sweet potatoes. We also gave out flyers and business cards. This family was so kind to come and play bluegrass music at our booth. Their beautiful music created a nice atmosphere.

We arrived to set up at 7:00 a.m. and didn't leave until 6:30 p.m., so we were exhausted by the end of the day. Even though it was a long day, and we didn't sell a lot of veggies, it was worth going because of all the good contacts we made.

Set up crewFiddling Claire

Laura, the mandolin expert (She makes it look so easy!)

Kyle switches between the banjo and the guitar.

Capt. Luke, reporting for duty!

The guys were drooling over these "sweet rides".

Jo-Nathan looking cute, as usual

Who's Your Farmer?

Bluegrass

Beaverdam Creek's star sales-lady

Jacob did a little pickin' with the bluegrass band.

Can I throw this one Ya-ya (translated Laura)?

"Sweet! I'm getting one!"

Daddy enjoyed his blue-raspberry sno-cone.

Workin' In the Rain

Pop pop and Maw maw came for a visit earlier this week. They brought all kinds of goodies with them...delicious pineapple, limes, new jeans, pretty new shoes, and more! It was like Christmas when they arrived. They helped us a lot! They weeded the strawberry patch (a big job, considering we have 1000 strawberry plants). They also took us out to the Harvest Grill a couple times.

One day, it rained for most of the day. It was so cool and pleasant that we went out to the garden to get some work done. Maw maw did some weeding, and Mom, Daisy, and I planted some cabbage and broccoli transplants. It was the perfect weather for both activities. Meanwhile, Pop pop and Jacob replaced the alternator on the tractor, and Daddy picked the rest of the watermelons.

-Tricia Ann

Car conversation

The sign in front of Barber's apartments always inspires unique conversations. One day we were running errands, when we passed the aforementioned sign. It said something like, "Give us back our rotary phones, so we don't have to dial 1 for English." We chuckled, and discussed rotary phones for the next few minutes. Daddy pointed out that a rotary phone would drive a modern-day person crazy because of the waiting time between each number dialed. Jacob's response was, "Yeah, it would take forever to send a text message on one of those."

That sent us all into fits of laughter (especially me ;). What a witty brother I have.

-Tricia Ann

Gearing Up for Fall

One evening last week, I thought I'd go out to the garden and pull up the spent sunflowers really quick. I donned my gloves, grabbed a dead-looking plant and pulled. Nothing happened. I tried tugging with both hands. It wouldn't budge. I finally grabbed the stalk as close to the ground as I could, leaned backwards and pulled with all my might (not much, I know...but I was trying anyway ;). It broke, and I staggered backwards, trying not to fall. That darn root was STILL in the ground! Needless to say the job was not "really quick", but thankfully, some of the flowers were easier to pull up than that first one.

Another day, the whole family helped me pull up all the cornstalks to make room for our cool-weather transplants. We cut off the roots, tied them in bundles, and stacked them in the barn to dry. We plan on selling them at the farmer's market in a few weeks.

-Tricia Ann