My Dad

My dad had a cat scan last Friday.  They went back to the doctor this morning, his cancer is back it has been almost five years.  There is more than one spot this time.  Because of his age and health already they will not be doing any treatments.  They are setting him up with hospices.  This is not what we were expecting to hear, all of his check ups have been good and no signs of cancer.

Please pray for dad, this has been hard on him and all of us.  We new it would be coming but it is still hard.

The Lord is good and will be with all of us, I don't know how people can go through hard times with out the Lord.  He is so good.

Garden update

Early this morning we received more rain along with some strong winds.  When I look at pictures of my garden taken earlier it is a little depressing.   We depend a lot on our garden for winter, it's not looking to good right now for some of our vegetables.  Will be checking out our local farmers market for a few things this year.  

The wind tipped this tomato plant over this morning, the ground was to wet to hold the cage up.

None of my tomatoes are doing real well some better than others.

Can you see the water in our neighbors yard?  It had went down a lot all ready this morning.

He has raised beds.

Most of my Mountain Pride tomatoes are not looking to good.  They seem to be the worst with all of this rain.

The beans and peppers are not doing to bad.

Part of the potatoes, not sure if you can see the water.

The Wolf River apple tree we planted two years ago, not liking all this rain.

Needed to end with a bright spot in the garden!

(sorry my pictures did not turn out to good)

As I finish this post it is raining again!  The weather man says that we are caught up with the amount of water we needed from the drought we have had for the past couple of years.  That is a blessing from the Lord.  I may look at my garden and wonder why we're getting all of this rain, but God is in control and He takes care of us.  It is not up to me, only to do the best with what God gives us. 

Red Sky In The Morning

This morning when I looked out our bedroom window we had the most beautiful red sky.  Went to get my camera to take a picture.  In just the minute it took to get out the door it was already starting to lighten.  But still very pretty.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. 

Psalm 19:1 

Was so much brighter just before snapping the picture.

My dad always said red sky in the morning sailors take warning.

About five minutes after this picture it started raining and it is still raining.  They are predicting 

rain for all weekend.

Canned my first dill pickles of the season yesterday morning.  Put up six quarts and saved the rest for using fresh.  My dh likes cucumbers sliced in vinegar, we go through a lot of them.

This spring as the dill was coming up I was just sure that the dill would be all done before the cucumbers were ready to start using.  My dill came up on it's own this year, so it was up before the cucumbers were even planted.  I love the way God takes care of even the little things like dill being ready when the cucumbers are.  The dill has been headed out for quite some time now, it has beautiful big heads on it just right for canning.

After getting the pickles done, went to my dads for the day.  My niece and  her husband was up from North Carolina.  It was so good to see her, it has been a few years since she has been up.  She moved to NC when she was around 16 so she has a lovely southern accent which she tries to say isn't so.  Although her husband was raised in the south and his accent is really southern.  It was just good to get caught up and visit.

My niece with grandpa (my dad)

These times are special, especially with my dads health.

Today with the rain it is a good day to bake so I am making some bread and cinnamon rolls and noodles.  Also have beans to freeze that I picked after supper last night.  Then plan on spending the rest of the afternoon sewing.

Have a wonderful day!

Recipe:

Mom's Dill Pickles (makes 12 quarts)

• per quart jar add:
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. canning salt

•  3 heads dill

Brine

•  4 quarts water
• 1 quart Apple Cider vinegar

Wash and sterilize your jars.  In the bottom of each jar put one head of dill, pack in cucumbers and add another head of dill in the middle of the jar, finish packing in the cucumbers and add remaining dill along with the sugar and salt.
Bring the brine to a boil and keep it simmering, ladle brine into jars so it covers the cucumbers and is about 1/2 inch from the top of jar. Wipe top of jar with a damp cloth put on lids and  screw on tight.  Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes. 

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Busy & Fun Days

We started the weekend off with the grandson's spending Friday and Saturday night with us.  Always makes for a fun filled time. 

Both days they had some fun with water balloons, a couple just happened to hit grandma.

Ready and waiting!

We played games, had pizza, a camp fire, sparklers, made carmel corn, watched a movie some of the things we did while they were here.  They went home after church on Sunday.

The garden is also starting to produce, so far we have had pickles, beans, onions, cabbage, summer squash, peas, peppers, and red potatoes.  It is so nice to have fresh vegetables from the garden.  Have a pail of pickles to do tomorrow and have been freezing beans and summer squash. 

Some of the beans ready for the freezer.

We have had rain again this past weekend.  Parts of my garden is starting to show it has had to much rain, there are areas where I try not to walk much it is so muddy.  The beets, onions, and about half of the potatoes are starting to be affected by the rains.  A couple of days ago I went through the tomatoes and took off all of the leaves that were bad, not expecting to get much from the tomatoes this year.  

I have learned over the years to put up all you can to make up for the years that are not so good.  The Lord always provides, what a blessing.  

Teach Me,

Teach Me, O God...

... to use all the circumstances of my life

today to bring forth fruits of holiness.

Let me use disappointments as material for patience.

Let me use success as material for thankfulness.

Let me use stress as material for perseverance.

Let me use danger as material for courage.

Let me use reproach as material for long-suffering.

Let me use praise as material for humility.

Let me use pleasure as material for temperance.

Let me use pain as material for endurance

"So teach us to number our days, that we may

apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12  

Basil

Yesterday afternoon I went to a quilt shop in our area that was having some demonstrations on a couple of different projects.  Have some great ideas now just need to find the time to work on them.   On the way their I go past a bulk food store, noticed that the green houses were still open.  After seeing the Pesto on Farmgirl Cyn, wanted to see if they had any plants left.  Was surprised to find they were having a sale $1.00 a flat for what ever you wanted.  All of the little plants looked pretty bad, hadn't been watered in a while.  For the price  I would give them a try, hoping that a little TLC would help. So I got 4 sweet basil, 2 purple basil, 2 cilantro, 1 lemon thyme, and 1 french tarragon.  After watering them everything looked pretty good.  I have never used lemon thyme, purple basil, or tarragon.   Will have to see what recipes I can find for them.

This was taken after their first drink of water.

Before planting them this morning I cut all the basil back to the new little shoots starting farther down on the plant and tried to do the same with the cilantro.  I had enough basil to make a batch of pesto.

 Ready to try some Pesto.

My first attempt at Pesto.  Tried a little on a small piece of bread that had just come out of the oven, was good.  Want to try it on an herb bread sometime and on some tomatoes when they start to ripen. 

Recipe:  My version

Pesto

• 2 cups packed basil leaves
• 1/4 c. walnuts 
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 c. olive oil
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
• Put in food processor and pulse, scrape down sides.

 

Need some garden help

Yesterday when I went out to check on my garden, found my brussel sprouts all wilted down.

Then today when I went out to check on the garden both the brussel sprouts and my beets where wilted down.  They look like they need watering, but we had about 3 inches of rain this weekend.  We have been having a lot of rain.  I am wondering if they have had to much water.   Has anyone had this happen to their plants from to much rain?

Waiting to see what happens to my plants. 

Quilt Sale & Day with Family

Friday I spent the day with my cousin and my aunt, we had so much fun.   The three of us only get together  about once a year.  I am able to stop in and see my aunt sometimes when visiting my dad.  We went to a quilt sale that another cousin of mine was in.

My cousin, her mom my aunt, and me enjoying the quilts

and each others company.

The old granary that they had their sale in.

It was a great day for the sale, sunny and warm.

Some of the quilts for sale hanging outside.

They looked so pretty hanging out like that.  

This was two of my favorite quilts, I love the pastel colors. 

They were made by my cousin.

A few pictures inside, they had full size quilts

along with wall hangings and lap quilts.

This is my cousin standing next to her favorite quilt 

she had for sale.

This was the first time for my cousin and two friends to have this sale.

They are planning to make this an annual event.

After the sale we went back to my cousins for lunch and some visiting. Had a lot to catch up on, it was such sweet fellowship.

Recipe:

Broccoli, Cauliflower Salad

• One head broccoli chopped
• One small head cauliflower chopped
• 1 cup cashews 
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 pound bacon fried and crumbled

Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 T. vinegar

Mix the ingredients for the dressing together several hours before you plan on putting the salad together.
Get all of the ingredients for the salad ready and store in separate containers about 30 minutes before serving mix everything together.

Sorry, I didn't get a picture of the salad, but it is very good.

Happy 4th

God bless our native land,

Firm may she ever stand

Through storm and night;

When the wild tempests rave,

Ruler of wind and wave,

Do Thou our country save

By Thy great might.

For her our prayers shall rise

To God above the skies;

On Him we wait:

Thou who art ever nigh,

Guarding with watchful eye,

To Thee aloud we cry,

God save the State.

Not for this land alone

But be God's mercies shown

From shore to shore;

And may the nations see

That men should brothers be,

And form one family

The wide world o'er.

Have a great 4th!

God Bless America!

A Good Day

What do you consider a GOOD DAY?

A day without problems,

or

Days that you see the BLESSINGS

of GOD.

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost.

Count your many blessings,

name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.