GARDEN UPDATE - In no particular order!

by Robin

Dried Black beans


Broccoli seeds.



I'll show you later how we went from the bundle to a container but it was pretty simple and we captured more seed then we ever have before.



You used to be able to read the sign that said "Lulu's Garden", named after our bunny.  The herbs and lettuce are growing great in here.



The Ugly Ripe have faded due to the heat and so these are taking it's place.  We call them Big Tasty Maters.  They're coming in, just in time.





Okra are going crazy with the heat.  They always do.





I had a trellis for beans to grow up but it was completely taken over by the Campari and Cherry tomatoes. I may even see a little cucumber vine getting in on the trellis action too.



These are the Mayflower drying beans.  Not very successful this spring.



6 ft, at least and growing.





I have radishes that are over 3 ft high and blooming but have not produced a single bulb at the bottom.  I'm thinking we'll try that again in the fall when we can have cooler weather. My onions are monstrous.


What a tangled mess of yellow squash, sweet basil, jalapenos (got choked out), radishes, tomatoes and bell peppers.  I'm desperately trying to save the bell peppers from being choked out. There is no foot space here when I come in to get the tomatoes.



Well, ok, that is the main spring garden.  My acorn squash and pickling cucumbers were all ruined by larva eating them.  Yuck.

Thanks for visiting!

GA VACATION & RE-DEDICATION to PLANTS!!

by Robin

Ok, so we finished up with graduation, then took a vacation to Georgia to see my nephew graduate!!

Here are 2 of the 3 graduates in our family. My S. Carolina niece is going to graduate next weekend too.  

My niece was part of the special music for the ceremony. She'll be a Senior next year!



Here we all are together. My sister, me, nephew, son and youngest niece.  Missing a few kids, but that's how it goes sometimes when they walk off.



Awww, love this.


My youngest Rock Star.



Again, I have hundreds more photos, but they all need to be downsized before they can come here and well.... there's just no time for that at the moment.

Taking care of critters and doing mounds of laundry!!




But, it was always my promise to myself that once life slowed down this summer, I would go back to eating my plant-based diet again.  I would stop eating fast food and go back to drinking more water and less sodas. Get rid of the processed foods and turn to whole foods.



Yesterday morning, I picked fresh organic blueberries, then stopped at the local market to get many goodies for the weekend so I wouldn't have an excuse not to eat healthy.  Above, you can see me in front of my 6 ft tall tomato plants.

Here is my plan for sides tonight, thanks to the inspiration of Pion 'r Wom'n.  Corn on the cob with a seasoned bell pepper and fake butter topping.  Wrap and foil and put on the grill.



Here was another take on something she made, but I added Brussel Sprouts to my potatoes. This will go in the oven easily.



Yesterday, I made slaw and deviled eggs for the boys.   I think we may thaw a packet of some Red Grouper from back a couple months ago.  Jack and I picked up these beauties in the Gulf of Mexico.




Ok, well, I had my share of fun bringing them in too!!



So, that's the nutshell of how May went down.

Blessings to you all!
Robin

MAY GRADUATION! - Simon Peter's

by Robin

CONGRATULATIONS to my son!!!  We are so proud of you!!!



(Above, we have just finished handing him his diploma and watched a 3 minute video of his baby to teen pictures over-layed by our speaking blessings, words of gratitude and Scripture to our graduate. It really was so hard not to cry.  I think Jack may have shed a few too.  Luckily, he didn't have to worry about mascara running like I did.

I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we had and the blue skies as the backdrop for our hat toss.  Awesome!  My silly boy is on the far left.



Twelve families came together to throw one terrific graduation ceremony and reception!! It was so much fun.  We started early with fundraising yard sales, bbq & pizza nights!  Then, we all chipped in some $$.  Before you know it, we had secured a location, ordered diplomas, caps & gowns and then we planned the food and decorating.  As you can see below, my area of volunteering was the food, specifically fruits and veggies. We filled the entire truck with goods and then had a chopping party with all the young ladies from a couple graduate families and my boys.  Believe it or not, we knocked out washing, cutting & bagging all this food in less than 4 hrs.



The morning of graduation, we had this spectacular spread of food.  Thank you to all the Junior Moms who helped us pull this off while we were busy.... um....



..... doing hair and visiting with out-of-town family.    (I even had a good friend make my hair super-special for the ceremony. Thanks J!!)



There are hundreds more photos and even some coming from our professional photographer!  That was such a smart move so that we didn't need to focus on blurry pictures but enjoying the moment.  After all, it is monumental to get a kid from pre-K to 12th grade (& almost through an AA) and the tears flowed freely.

HARVEST BOOTY!!

by Robin

Today is my calm before the graduation storm of busyness. So, I'm picking things and going to can and pickle today.

Here's a quick view.

I'm going to donate the red ones to our graduation ceremony reception. This will save some $$ and taste a LOT better.
   

I may have picked my radishes too soon but it was an honest mistake since the tops were over 3 ft high. The packet said you could pick in a month but obviously the truth is more like 3 months.

 

Happy Gardening and Graduating!

 Robin

VOLUNTEERING at HIDDEN ACRES

by Robin

Had another great morning out there.  Even thought some stalls were completely a mess, I feel like we worked pretty quick and a couple stalls needed less attention.

So, when my son was cooling down the truck, I thought it would be great to walk down to the back of the operation and snap some pictures.  I have no idea what these horses' real names are so I made up my own for them.  LOL.

I call him/her Maybelline because of that flowing mane!  Sweet mini-horse.



This is a rescue Thoroughbred.  Blaze (Red) trying to become  Maybelline candidate.





This pinto was a bit lame. Very pretty though.  The horse behind her was definitely above her in the pecking order and was bossing her around.

 


This is Big Red.  Very friendly and wanted all my attention.



This is a small horse, but definitely not a Miniature Horse.  Buckskin Beauty!



Here is another very tall Red Thoroughbred.  I may have to call him/her Legs!


Ok, one more tail flip from my Buckskin Beauty.



And while I'm being totally impartial, Big Red gets another portrait on the blog.  How can you say no to this face?



The other horse from Monday who bit off part of his tongue was Chief and they were telling me that he did receive veterinary care that afternoon and will recover nicely.  Apparently, he started a fight and was kicked in the face.  Ouch!

God bless and Happy Horsing around,
Robin

WEEK IN REVIEW - Pics!

by Robin

One of the ex-racing horses.  Rainbow??



Here is Fuego, gorgeous paint.




I can't remember the name here. Still learning who's who.   We did see a horse bite part of his tongue clean off but there is no photographic proof for it.  Trust me, there was no time for cameras.



Harvest from Sunday! Wow.


I had my friend over for a few hours and he helps me with gardening. Today, we played in the pool, but as I was working with tomatoes, he had special time with Lulu.

 

When we cleaned the pool filter, we kept hearing little chirps. This little guy thought he could fly out of the nest, but wasn't quite strong enough to get back up there. We put him on the other side of the fence to keep him safe from big hens and dogs.




Studying for finals. So far, it is going well.  Three down, one to go!



Well, except for this moment. Glad the camera was in hand to capture it.



God bless all the kids during their final tests!  We're back to the rescue farm again tomorrow.

Robin

ALICE @ WONDERLAND - intro.

by Robin

These are short segments of Alice @ Wonderland, performed by the NBHSA kids.



19DoorsBeginning from Robins Reports on Vimeo.
Continued....
20DoorsQueen from Robins Reports on Vimeo.
And continued more....
21DoorsDanceSong2 from Robins Reports on Vimeo.
Alice will begin shrinking now!
22AliceShrinks from Robins Reports on Vimeo.
Alice becomes a giant!
23GiantAliceRabbit from Robins Reports on Vimeo.
Catepillar scene!
25CaterpillarTMI from Robins Reports on Vimeo.

Here is the Frog and Fish trying to sell Alice newspapers!
26FishFrogNewspapers from Robins Reports on Vimeo.

Ok, this was all I had time for today. I'll try to get more tomorrow.

MAY RAIN!!

by Robin

Our rainy season has kicked in all week long!!  Tiki has refused to participate in any outdoor activities.




I can't hardly get out to the garden to pick anything.  There is absolutely no foot space left.  It's sort of a fend-for-yourself garden at this point.  I'm hoping to pull some radishes soon and at least have a path to the tomatoes.  I'm scared of stepping on something important.





The chickens are beginning to eat all the tomatoes that have draped over the fencing.  I will have to take care of that very soon.  Can you see Peaches on the right having a meal?





Here is the full backside of the spring garden. There are many cucumbers hanging off the vine and plumping up with this rain.



Happy Gardening! I love seeing so many great garden pictures. It keeps me inspired and I hope I inspire others as well.

 Blessings, Robin