by Robin
It has been such a long time since I posted my kids on here, I thought I'd give one small brag. Ok, technically, it is a BIG brag. I was busy Tuesday finishing up school with my youngest, Andrew, and Simon Peter was finished with college finals. (Btw, he officially has his AA degree now! Off to a big University next!)
So, they had a Father-Son-Friend day on the ocean and they came home with some nice meat for the freezer. My hubby has vacation coming to him in a few more days and I can't wait to catch my own gag grouper. :)
So, while life is just passing by, I didn't realize that my tomatoes were finally turning red! Awesome. There are so many green ones out there. It's about time!
Back to Tuesday.... the big guys are fishing and my youngest needs gifts for his teachers on his last day of school. What did I do?? I picked cucumbers!!
I've pickled until I have run out of jars! We're down to eating cucumber salad with every meal. ha ha. And still, I picked 29 more cucumbers. My fingers are to help me remember the ones I gave away earlier without a picture. I had 2 with larva holes and had to cut them and one that stuck in the fence. Had to rip it apart to get some parts out. Our grand total to date is 137!! More still to come.
Those are also dried Mayflower beans and cherry tomatoes.
Anyhow, we had 5 gift bags with 4 cucumbers each. I cannot believe that some of the teachers were actually very happy to receive my veggies.
My veggies are not organic but they're close. I used to do all the soapy/oily water but this year, so far, all I've needed was food-grade diatomacious earth. I coat my hands and then rub around the tomatoes or cucumbers. I have sprinkled the leaves but found that I waste a lot and it comes off in the rain. Mostly, I worry about protecting the fruit.
This was this morning's pick. I love that every day is Christmas outside. I'm always picking something. I can usually eat okra about twice a week. My family pretty much hates it unless it is fried but I love it sauteed with some fake butter, salt & pepper. Four plants seems to be producing enough for me and occasionally, my family. When I had a whole row, I was giving away okra. I tried for that this year but it didn't work out with the strange drip-irrigation issue I had. I think some holes were blocked. Also, my new Ameraucanas are laying now too. I have blue & green eggs.
And so it begins with tomatoes on the shelf. These are just the small sized ones. I can't wait for the big ones and paste maters to ripen. It will be canning time soon.
Happy Gardening and make sure you raise your kids up right to love the Lord and the good things that He has given us.
Robin
