Flutterby

Yesterday evening, I was passing by my herb garden, when I noticed several beautiful butterflies fluttering around my zinnias. I ran inside to get my camera, and took lots of pictures of them. Here are two of the best ones.

-Tricia Ann

You crown the year with your goodness,

and your paths drip with abundance. 

They drop on the pastures of the wilderness. 

And the little hills rejoice on every side.

The pastures are clothed with flocks;

The valleys also are covered with grain;

They shout for joy, they also sing.

-Psalm 65:11-13 

Weeding...

And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(Galatians 6:9)

Should we like it? That’s a question that was up for discussion a few weeks back. And no wonder! It’s the chore that’s kept us busy for the past several weeks. Even Philip’s mom joined in the effort. In fact, she’s the top weeder in our family. She can bend over and pull weeds for literally hours on end! I, on the other hand, can’t last that long. I have to resort to kneeling or sitting after just a few minutes. What’s more astounding is that she actually enjoys weeding. If she’s ever in your yard and she sees a weed, no matter what, she’s determined to pull it up. I think our weeds actually tremble at the sight of her coming! Oh, how I wish I could be like her!

That’s what prompted our weed discussion. I was lamenting to Tricia Ann as we were busy weeding one morning that I wish I enjoyed pulling weeds. Tricia Ann pointed out that maybe we're not meant to like pulling weeds because it’s part of the curse. I’m not so sure. I think that weeds are part of our sanctification, and if we pray about it, the Lord can change our attitude.

Weeds certainly are a curse. But it seems as if, even in cursing, the Lord adds some blessings. Weeding our garden teaches us something about sin. The Lord cursed the ground with thorns and thistles. Every time we see one, or feel the pain of a prick from one, we can think of how evil our sins are. Then we can be thankful that Christ paid for those sins. Also, briars of all kinds are among the first types of plants to grow on barren ground. It’s as if God designed them to redeem the neglected or abused soil by preventing erosion and holding valuable minerals. And, I must say, weeds certainly provide our family with lots of quality time. We’ve had lots of family chats, singing of silly songs, and pondering the meaning of life while weeding together. Another blessing weeds provide is the exercise we get from all the bending, reaching, and pulling. I think that’s the part that I wish I enjoyed. It’s actually not the exercise that I dislike. It’s the sore muscles and the heat that bother me. I’d rather lay on the couch in the air conditioning and read a book than weed the garden. But, those weeds keep calling to me! And, hey! Even if we can’t enjoy the process, we can certainly enjoy the results. It’s so satisfying to look out our back window and see the beautiful, well-tended garden. So you see? Maybe weeds are a blessing disguised as a curse?

~Trish

CSA Week 2

You can't get any fresher than this!

Beaverdam Creek CSA customers received lots of fresh goodies in their baskets this week including snap beans, zucchini, summer crookneck squash, sweet and hot peppers, garlic, and a bunch of aromatic, zesty cilantro for making salsa. Tricia Ann's perky sunflowers topped it all off for a truly "sunny" presentation.

Cutie with Kitties

Here's a shot of Tricia Ann with her two new kittens, Daisy and Gizmo. It's hard to get Gizmo to stay still for a photo shoot, but Daisy is a natural-born poser. Recently we awoke at 4:00 am to find both of them in our bathroom. Somehow they discovered a secret passage and made their way into the camper. Philip and Jacob spent the next morning repairing the breach. Who knows what other critters might have found their way inside. YIKES!
~Trish

Anniversary dinner

My grandparents came for a visit last week. We went to the Harvest Grill one night to celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary. We took some pictures, some of which I've posted here. I'll let them speak for themselves.

-Tricia Ann

The trick is...let the beneficials do all the work.

I've been having a problem with hornworms eating my tomato plants. They're so big, ugly, and nasty that I hate picking them off the plants. The other day, I found several hornworms with little white things all over them. I got out my Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening (Thanks L's!), and read about it. It said that the little white things are parasitic wasp eggs that will kill the hornworm. So I left the wasp-infested hornworms on the plants so the good wasps will hatch and lay more hornworm-killing eggs.

-Tricia Ann

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Canning Peaches

Mom and Dad brought us 3 bushels of Georgia peaches.

Don't they look yummy?

We set up our canning operation outside using two propane burners.

Everybody had a job. Mom washed and boiled the peaches to make them easy to peel. Then she brought them outside to the peelers, Dad, Philip, Tricia Ann, and Jacob. My job was to put the peeled peaches into the hot jars and put them into the water bath canner. The aroma was heavenly. Now we have about 60 quarts of peaches to enjoy throughout the winter!
~Trish

A Bird’s-Eye View of Our Garden – Thank you very mulch!

This photo was taken by Philip as he sat atop our camper while installing our new vents and a/c. We’ve spent the last several days doing nothing but mulching the garden. Would you believe we used 6 round bales of hay? But, I think our efforts are already paying off. Mulching is of huge benefit to the organic gardener. It helps hold moisture in the soil, provides a haven for beneficial soil organisms, adds extra nutrients as it decomposes, and even provided a certain amount of protection against certain pests.

Tricia Ann read that keeping a thick layer of mulch around her potatoes would keep the dreaded Colorado Potato Beetle from eating her plants. So far, it’s working beautifully! We’ve seen the beetles on the nettles (yeah!), but none on the potato plants. In fact, these are the most lush and beautiful potato plants we’ve ever grown. The seed potatoes were so healthy-looking. We ordered them from Woodprairie.com, and we’re looking forward to ordering more varieties from them next season.

~Trish

Mawmaw lends a hand with the weeding and mulching.

Philip carrying hay to the spots where we need it.

Poppop joins in the fun.