The Farmer | Thoughts of Grace

Chatting on the Deck

“Chats on the Farmhouse Porch” is a group of friends
gathering to visit,
sip their favorite beverages,
nibble delicious treats
and share their likes and dislikes.

Patrice and Wendell have invited me to join the chatting.
Patrice provides the questions,
we answer.

Today’s questions:

Do you prefer to drive or be driven?

Definitely I drive.

What’s your favorite kind of jam, jelly, or preserve?

My mom won’t believe this but I love Marmalade, that sweet tart flavor. As a kid, it was only strawberry. If I’m having peanut butter and jelly, it is still strawberry.

Do you have any special plans for this spring or summer?

In May I’m hoping to go to Phoenix to visit family and dear friends. This summer, I’m the hostess with the most veggies as I ‘man’ our veggie stand.July,2012

Lots of folks are becoming aware of issues with food. There are many articles, books, and movies on topics like allergies, GMO, pesticide use, bad or no labeling, over processed foods, foods from other countries that may not have high standards, and many more topics. What concerns you the most? If nothing concerns you, have a cookie and skip to the next question.

I’d rather have a cookie, but the Farmer was diagnosed with a very aggressive prostrate cancer 2 years ago and did the radiation therapy and part of the hormone therapy. He also started a completely plant based diet and began juicing vegetables daily, drinking a quart a day. Because of his research, I read labels religiously. No GMO, canola oil, sugar, no processed foods. His cancer is completely inactive today. We are thankful. (I haven’t made up my mind to eat plant based, though I’m sure some changes would be beneficial to my health.)

Do you use nail polish often? Finger nails, piggies, or both?
No polish for me.

Meet some new friends on the porch here.

Published in:

on April 24, 2013 at 2:01 pm Comments (9)
Tags: peanut butter and jelly, prostrate cancer

Saturday, September 8, Garden Update

Gardening is the Farmer’s love.
It shows everywhere you look at Cozy Acres.
Come and walk with me.
Let’s see what’s growing.

From a 6 inch sprig in the spring to real vines in the fall.

Look, there are even grapes on some of the vines!

This is the only raspberry cane that survived, but it looks good.

Boysenberries growing all over the ground and on the trellis

Marion/blackberries growing all over

Corn is through for the year. Everyone said it was the best corn they had ever eaten. More corn will be planted next year, for sure.

Hundreds of Sweet 100’s

Wilt grabbed the cucumbers early, didn’t get much of a crop.

All the squash and some of the watermelon grew here.

Butternut squash and watermelon
A volunteer zinnia found its way to this watermelon patch

Tomatoes
Greens in barrelsXitrus trees planted in the spring have doubled + in size. I see little lemons.Plans for a new bed, possibly flowers, probably veggiesAlmost every day, somewhere on Cozy Acres you’ll find the Farmer like this. Sometimes planning and weeding, much of the time praying for those in his heart.

Sharing our garden with Ginny at Small Things

Published in:

on September 8, 2012 at 7:22 pm Comments (4)

July 18, Today’s thoughts – Trust is His Provision

Looks like the Farmer has the birds eating ‘greens’ too!

Good Morning

He hath given meat unto them that fear him:
he will ever be mindful of his covenant. Psalm 111:5

A missionary found herself without means, among a heathen people, far from an source of supplies. In her distress she claimed the promise of God that He would supply her need. She was also in poor health. From a businessman in another part of the country came several large boxes of Scotch oatmeal. She already had several tins of condensed milk, so with these two commodities she was obliged to sustain life for four long weeks.
As time went on, it seemed to agree with her better; and by the time the four weeks had passed, she felt in excellent health.
In relating the experience some time later to a company of people, which included a physician, she was asked more particularly of the nature of her former illness.
The physician said, “The Lord heard your prayer and supplied your need more truly than you realize. For the sickness from which you were suffering we physicians prescribe a four weeks’ diet of nothing but oatmeal gruel for our patients. The Lord prescribed it for you, and saw to it that that was all you took. It was the proper remedy.”
from Streams in the Desert 2

God is good, all the time.

Trust God for your day. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in:

on July 18, 2012 at 11:03 am Leave a Comment
Tags: bird houses, Missionary, oatmeal gruel

Saturday Garden Journal

The garden at Cozy Acres is loving this hot summer weather.
the Farmer is loving this hot summer weather.
the Knitter is trying to survive.

Volunteer Watermelon plants are looking good;
about ready to thump this melon to see if it is ripe.
A few bell peppers have been picked, sweetness.
About a half dozen red, ripe tomatoes have made it to the kitchen.
The cherry tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes are coming into the kitchen by scant handfuls.
I think the Farmer is munching in the garden.

I love the method the Farmer has developed to water just the plants;
that way we have a beautiful weed free garden.

All this vegetable bounty has supplied
the first Saturday Veggie Stand of the season.
I sit and knit and wait for the customers.
Everyone this Saturday asked when the tomatoes would be ripe.
the Farmer’s tomatoes have a reputation all their own.

Available for sale, Pesticide Free Squash,
zucchini, yellow crooked neck, and scallops,
green cucumbers, Fresno Chilies, Jalapenos, eggplant,
Green bell peppers and range free eggs.

I’m joining Ginny at Small Things, to share our gardens. Ginny has a raised bed vegetable plots – so pretty.

ps: the Farmer is retired; gardening is his passion. He is also co-caretaker of the church property, where we worship and live and garden in the back corner.

Published in:

on July 15, 2012 at 4:43 pm Comments (2)
Tags: pesticide free vegetables, the Farmer, the Knitter, Vegetable garden

It’s Veggie Stand Time Again!

Set up by 8:00Am

(We live down the driveway on the right.)

Pesticide free and tended with loving care by the Farmer
squash, scallop, yellow-crooked neck and zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, green bell peppers and Fresno chilies and jalapenos.
We also sell range free chicken eggs. They are the ones with very yellow yokes.

I was there with my knitting waiting for you to come.

Saturday Mornings 8:00-12:00 noon
Whitney Avenue, Carmichael

Hope to see you next week!

(message for address)

Published in:

on July 14, 2012 at 4:36 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: chicken eggs, chilies, pesticide free vegetables, veggie stand

July 13, Today’s thought —

Pickin’ happens on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Good Morning

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A number of ministers was assembled for the discussion of difficult questions. Among others, it was asked how the command to “pray without ceasing” could be complied with. Various suppositions were started, and at length one of the number was appointed to write an essay on it to be read at the next monthly meeting.
This being overheard by a servant exclaimed, “What a whole month to tell the meaning of that verse? It is one of the easiest and best texts in the Bible.”
“Well, well, Mary,” said an old minister, “what can you say about it? Let us know how you understand it. Can you pray all the time.”
“Oh, yes, sir.”
“What, when you have so many things to do?”
“Why, sir, the more I have to do the more I can pray.”
“Indeed. Well, Mary, do let us know how it is . Most of us think otherwise.”
“Well. sir,” said the girl, “when I first open my eyes in the morning I pray, ‘Lord open the eyes of my understanding;’
and while I am dressing I pray that I may be clothed with the robe of righteousness,
When I wash I ask for the washing of regeneration;
as I work I pray that I may have strength equal to my day;
when I begin to kindle the fire I pray that God’s work may revive my soul;
as I sweep out the house I pray that my heart may be cleansed from all its impurities;
while preparing and partaking of breakfast I pray to be fed with the hidden manna and sincere milk of the Word;
as I am busy with the little children I look up to God as my Father and pray for the spirit of adoption, that I may be His obedient child–
and so on all day.
Everything I do furnishes me with a thought for prayer.”
“Enough! Enough!” cried the minister. “these things are revealed to babes and hid from the wise and prudent. Go on, Mary,” said he. “Pray without ceasing. And as for us , my brethren, let us bless the Lord for this exposition, and remember that He said,

‘The meek will He guide in judgment;
and the meek will He teach His way.'” (Psalm 25:9)

Watch ye and pray always. Luke 21:36

Trust God for your day…Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in:

on July 13, 2012 at 10:14 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Garden Picking, Pray without ceasing

the Farmer says “How does your garden grow?”

Yummmmmmmmm! Yummmmmmmmm!
the Farmer picked more tomatoes than he wanted to eat in the garden,
so I got a few.

Published in:

on June 29, 2012 at 11:35 am Leave a Comment

In The Garden with the Farmer

Filling one bucket at a time,
the Farmer said ” We don’t have to buy any more squash or cucumbers.”

Published in:

on June 29, 2012 at 11:17 am Comments (2)

Wordless Wednesday — I’ll Share!

Being wordless isn’t for everyone….but we can try!

Check us out here.

Published in:

on June 6, 2012 at 9:08 am Comments (2)

Saturday Garden Journal – on Monday, June 4

The garden and flowers love the bright sunny days. Today they are loving the rain!

Garden is growing.

Stakes have been pounded in.

Tomatoes babies for next planting.

Sunflowers and zinnias blooming.

Grizz

Roses are blooming

All the hydrangeas have blossoms.

Grizz likes to take walks with me.

Two new pots inside, a rex begonia and a African violet’s cousin (I’m still trying to find it’s name)

Sharing with Ginny @ Small Things

Published in:

on June 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm Leave a Comment

Wordless Wednesday — Pounding Posts

HUMPH!

Just pictures, look here.

Published in:

on May 31, 2012 at 12:47 am Leave a Comment

May 22 Garden Update

The Farmer is so glad it is planting time. Much planning and preparation goes into Cozy Acre’s garden. The bountiful harvest makes all the work worthwhile.

Facing south:

on the left, garden plot is 90’x75′ . The lighter dirt is a driveway between the two plots.

on the right, garden plot is 40’x75′

Winter garden, 34’x51′, is in the back, the Farmer is still picking swiss chard and beets.

The Farmer’s drip watering system:

The plants get covered with mulch to preserve water and cut down on weeds. The Farmer only waters the plants not walkways, He says, ‘if you don’t water the weeds, they won’t grow.’

Tomato

Bell Pepper

Published in:

on May 22, 2012 at 11:11 am Comments (3)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday –March 25

Scavenger Hunt Sunday items:

Whimsy — Playfully quaint or fanciful,
especially in an appealing and amusing way.

To me, this squirrel fulfills the definition.

Create

Maybe this hat I knitted this week for grandson, Alex
could be called whimsical, also

Dust,

the Farmer makes dust as he cleans up the sides of the driveway.

Seed or Sprout

These succulents sprout flower stalks every spring.

and Swing or Drop

I went looking for dropped blossoms from magnolias or camillas;
What a Find!
a real swing,
a dropped orange
and a dropped red camilla
seen through a chain-link fence laced with wisteria vines.

I had fun looking for scavenger items; the harder part was picking out which pictures to use this week; come on over to Ashley’s blog and check out some others.

Published in:

on March 25, 2012 at 4:59 pm Comments (16)

{this moment} as long as there are weeds

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

May your weeds be few!

Published in:

on March 23, 2012 at 12:13 pm Leave a Comment

Where I come from. . .

Reflecting on where I come from. . .

from stock that left Oklahoma to come to California for a better life
from a family that didn’t understand in-laws/out-laws — just family
from being the oldest of 5 children and the only girl
from 4 of us sleeping in one bedroom and pulling the baby in bed with me when he fussed
from Sunday dinners at Grandpa & Grandma Ripley’s, you could smell the oven baked chicken in the driveway
from the adults playing cards and being allowed to watch if you were silent and didn’t touch anything
from having to eat everything on my plate, even the stone cold sweet potatoes
from hours of playing Aggravation on the board Daddy made
from a week with a cousin at G & G Ripley’s,
- picking out any cereal we wanted,
- riding the cultivator with Grandpa,
- catching the clothes as they came out of the wringer into the wash tub,
- picking and stringing green beans for canning
- putting on good clothes for a trip 15 miles into town for errands and lunch out. Grandma wore stockings (she put on wearing gloves to protect from snags) and shoes with low heels
- sleeping in a room with a bee hive in the wall
- using the outhouse when the indoor bathroom was busy
- eating grapefruit that had sugar sprinkled on it the night before
- knowing I was loved
from coming home from school on Tuesday’s and smelling starch from the ironing done that day
from learning to embroider at 6 years old
from going to Sunday School and learning ‘The Wise Man Built His House Upon A Rock’
from learning to make cornbread from scratch at about 9 years old
(I still use the same recipe)
from the year the Easter dress wasn’t new, and my only shoes were tennies with a hole at the little toe. Mom washed them white and darned the hole and we had Easter dinner at Grandma Ripley’s.
from changing schools in the 5th grade and not liking riding the bus or the new school
from making my first quilt at 11 years old
from a Dad who could see the possibilities
from walking to the Sanger library every week in the summer and buying a brown paper bag of sunflower seeds from the bulk bin at the 5 & 10 on the way home
from driving Clif’s Triumph Spitfire to school my senior year for two week s until he got his license
from a Dad who built a 4 seat merry-go-round with a center platform for all
from a Mom who before I was born made me a rag doll from a pattern, embroidering the face, adding yellow yarn for braids, picking the cotton for stuffing, sewing the dress and panties. I still have the pieces of the doll, body, arms and legs, hair is gone, dress is gone………the love has never changed.
from suppers ready exactly at 5:00pm
from meeting a young man at 17 years old
from getting engaged January, 1967
from walking out of my family’s front door on my father’s arm, down the grassy aisle, to a gladiola decorated arch to exchange vows with the man who would become the Farmer

In this blogging world sometimes we play ‘follow the leader’. Mary (oldest daughter) followed Ann, a friend and I’m following Mary, whose next?

Published in:

on March 10, 2012 at 4:01 pm Comments (1)

Thoughts of Grace

My thoughts as I walk this path…

Chatting on the Deck

Saturday, September 8, Garden Update

July 18, Today’s thoughts – Trust is His Provision

Saturday Garden Journal

It’s Veggie Stand Time Again!

July 13, Today’s thought —

the Farmer says “How does your garden grow?”

In The Garden with the Farmer

Wordless Wednesday — I’ll Share!

Saturday Garden Journal – on Monday, June 4

Wordless Wednesday — Pounding Posts

May 22 Garden Update

Scavenger Hunt Sunday –March 25

{this moment} as long as there are weeds

Where I come from. . .

Leslie

Stuff I Write

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