Tomatoes

Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

These are a heirloom variety I like to grow.  They

are one of the tasty tomatoes you  will eat.
As the story goes, the Cherokee purple tomato was given
to early settlers of the United States from the
Native American Cherokees.

What it takes to grow food in Kentucky this year.
This is our second year for our garden.  The water
issue is we are not getting enough rain.  So, I have
decided to take this issue to the next step.  I am trying
to grow under extreme heat temperatures.
Mulching with straw and using cardboard of any kind
that I have.  That means we save any type of cardboard,
including any that food comes in.  We use as a weed barrier
and to keep any moisture in the ground. We are using drip
tape but I have only gotten it in one section of the garden.
Mostly, where the tomatoes are growing.
Working with clay soil is a little different. My job is to
lighten the soil.  I have been purchasing peat moss and
adding it to the soil.
So far the tomatoes are doing really good. 

The growing season

In the growing season we love to show what were growing in 

the garden.  This year I planted broccoli and cauliflower and 

they both did very well.  My family happens to love eating broccoli.

We had company on Monday so I made a broccoli salad.

Broccoli salad

Broccoli florets
cranberries
onions
a handful of sunflower seeds
mayonaise with sugar for the dressing.

Visit to Nicaragua

Sunset in Nicaragua

Flowers in  the  Garden
we walked through this little garden
area tucked away off of the busy street.

Roof view of Leon, Nicaragua

Visiting a local crafter

Our visit to the city of Leon was
a time of submerging ourselves into
the Nicaraguan culture.  Not only did
we learn spanish but we were able to

spend time with the local people.

What a great visit we had.

Flower farming

The beginnings of my flower farm.

This year we put in 300 seeds of 

Zinnias.  I purchased most of my
seeds through Johnny Seeds.

Learning to deal with 

drought issues here, is something

I must get accustomed to. There
were times I thought the flowers
were going to die. Due to the lack
of moisture in the summer months.



The one good thing that came from
my first year in growing flowers
is collecting seeds.
So, before the rain came last week
I cut off every flower head that I could
find. Then, when my intern came we
worked on getting the seeds put in
envelopes.

I have to say most of my inspiration has come
from this book. 

The building of our home.

The building continues. 

We now have windows. 

Most of the inside is framed.

We are moving ahead.

This picture was the day before we 

got an enormous amount of rain.

Which I am very happy about.

The Sound of Rain

If

I cannot catch "the sound of noise
of rain"
long before the rain falls,
and, going to some hilltop of the spirit,
as near to my God as I can,
have not faith to wait there with
my face between my kness,
though six times or sixty times I
am told" there arises a little
cloud out the sea,"
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

written by Amy Carmichael

All Things Work Out For Good

All things work out for good, we know

Such is God's great design;

He orders all our steps below

For purposes devine.

This is the faith that keeps me still,

No matter what the test,

And lets me glory in His will-

For well I know 'tis best.

So now the future holds no fear,

God guards the work begun;

And mortals are immortal here

Until their work is done.

Some day the path He chose for me

Will all be understood;

In heaven's clearer light I'll see

All things worked out for the good.

author unknown