Wednesday, June 22, 2011

My herb garden

My herb garden is flourishing.  I've been harvesting several herbs from the garden (along with other herbs in various places in our yard.

I've been drying most of them for future uses, but I have made some comfrey salve, some wild violet and plantain salve, along with the dandelion salve that I made in the spring.  Right now I have some basil vinegar steeping that I am going to use to marinate venison and I am also trying a home made herbal bug spray.   I'll let you know how it works.  It should be done steeping around the 4'th of July and I'll be able to test it out then.

Me and Bethany recently got poison sumac and we discovered that aloe from our aloe plant helps stop the itching!  Tea tree oil was another thing that helped!


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Hello Summer...

...and the longest day of the year!  Now I think I'll just sit back and watch the garden grow.  Oh, if it was really that simple.  Not that I am complaining!  I love working in the garden and getting my hands dirty.  Which reminds me of a little gardening tip that I read today.   If you are a gardener you probably are familiar with "permadirt"  you know, the dirt that won't come off a gardener's hands no matter how long or hard they scrub.  I hate wearing gloves in the garden.  I feel restricted, but the price I pay is dirty hands and fingernails.  I can't help but think of Scarlet O'Hara saying "momma always said you can tell a lady by her hands".  I don't have to worry about what my momma thinks.  She's a gardener too, but according to the tip I read today, if you run your fingernails over a bar of soap before going out to the garden, (get the soap down in your fingernails) it will keep the dirt from getting in there and will wash right off when you come in and suds up!  I think it's definitely worth a try!

I thought I'd share a few pictures of how my garden is growing.  Remember those seeds I started indoors back in March?  To my surprise they have turned into some awesome plants!

Here is one of the tomato plants that I started.  They are doing so much better than the store bought plants that I purchased.  If they produce well I will definitely be starting seeds again next year.
And so far it looks like they are going to produce great!  Here are some cherry tomatoes!  I just can't wait to get my first ripe tomato!
Another plant that I started from seed.  The marigold!  I planted them at the end of some of my rows in the garden.  They are such an easy plant to care for.  I plan on collecting the seeds from the plants themselves this year!
Corn!  After a poor year of corn last year I am really hoping and praying for a bumper crop this year!   Don't ya just love my little wooden signs! 
Tomatoes!!  This year I found some old wire fencing that I used for tying up the plants rather than having to stake each plant.  We still had a lot to stake.  I know where some more wire fencing is and next year I'll use more.  I kinda like the looks of it!
I planted basil in between some of my tomato plants.  It is supposed to repel aphids, mosquitoes and flies!  I have so much basil that is so lush this year I am going to try a pesto recipe, but I'll save that for another post.
We've been picking plenty of cucumbers!  Yummo!
I planted Nasturtium in between my squash plants this year to help repel squash bugs.  Did you know you can eat nasturtium?  Even the flowers?  Haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to. :)
Green Beans!  I noticed this evening that the plants are full of blooms and some of them already have teeny tiny beans on them.  It won't be long!
You can't really see in the pictures, but I always plant a row of Sunflowers on the edge of the garden. 
So far we have been blessed with rain when we need it and everything is looking great!  I've been picking plenty of lettuce for the bunnies too! :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

18 Years Ago...

...God blessed me with a beautiful 7 lb. 4 oz. baby boy.  He's not so much a baby anymore, but still such a blessing. 

As this day was approaching I began asking myself "How do you go from having a child to having an adult?"  It actually weighed heavily on my mind.  Last night the answer came.  You don't do anything different.  From the day your child is born you begin the preparations.  From the time they let go of your fingers to take that first step, to the time they stop running to you every time they get a scrape or a "boo boo".  As they grow they began to make decisions on their own.  It starts out small, like perhaps the clothes they will wear for the day, I still remember the times I just smiled at the mismatched outfits that he chose.  Just like that,  the decisions he may make in life may not always be the choice I would have made, but I have to trust.  Trust in God, trust in the raising and the guidance I have given him thus far in life, trust that the foundation that he is standing on is firm, and trust that even though he is embarking on a new chapter in his life that he will always have a place for his mother. :)

Dakota, 

As I look at the man you have become I couldn't be more proud.  I take no credit.  It has been God.  A merciful God, who has taken our messed up, broken lives and turned them around for his glory.   If there is anything that I would want you to remember, to carry with you throughout your adulthood it would be to trust in the Lord.   Hold fast to your faith, hold fast to God.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  He has all the answers, He wipes away all the tears.  He is there when you feel alone, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Remember to always praise Him, in the good times and in the bad.  Rejoice evermore and pray without ceasing.  God has all the answers. Never forget where He has brought you from and trust in Him to lead you where He wants you to go.  I love you more than words can describe.  Happy Birthday! 

Love, MOM