Join me in the Vegetable Garden?

Jun 23, 2026

A couple weeks ago we visited my flower gardens. May I now introduce you to the vegetable garden?

It is a small, little garden that suits us perfectly. It is all my husband & I need with some extra to share as well.

Bills dad was an amazing gardener. He grew much, and Polly, Bills mom, canned a goodly amount of food. His garden fed our family as well. He also grew enough for me to can tomatoes and beets. It was wonderful. I used to tell Grandad his garden should be featured in a Southern Living magazine. He taught me much.

I have noticed over these many years fewer and fewer vegetable gardens around our Valley homes. Three of our five children grow vegetables. They all are good gardeners. We have much to talk about around our growing seasons.

Sometimes I wonder if all the varieties of foods available in grocery store have spoiled our taste for the ordinary garden veggies? I have seriously been asked before how to cook fresh green beans.

Nothing, seriously nothing, from a grocery store tastes as good as homegrown. Don’t believe me? Plant a tomato, care for it, watch it grow and produce the best tasting tomatos you have ever eaten. It is likely you will never buy store-bought again.

Here is a neat thought: you grow tomatoes, ask your neighbor to container grow some green beans. Exchange your produce!

I grow lots of food for ‘free’. How? I plant potatoes that are sprouting in the pantry. I grow slips of sweet potatoes from those I have purchased at store. I let lettuce, dill, marigolds, and zinnias go to seed in the garden. They come up ‘volunteer’ next season. I save seeds from peas, beans, and limas.

Producing one’s own food is satisfying, great exercise, and gives one a good reason to talk to the neighbor! Working with the soil and nature–a beautiful art form.

Now, shall we take a stroll through my garden?

*Wood chips between the beds are free or cost nominally. Contact your local tree guy.*

*Lettuce grown from last years gone to seed. Delicious!*

*Soon to be a delicious tomato. This plant is a volunteer.*

*Volunteer marigolds grow all around the garden.*

*Sweet potato slips I started from the potato itself.*

*Volunteer green bean. Beautiful purple flower!*

Thank you for joining me. What is growing in your garden?

Thursday Thoughts #197

Jun 18, 2026

*When we change the way we look at things, things change the way they look.*

Do you agree? What do you need to look at in a different way today?

Good Stress? Is there Such a Thing?

Jun 16, 2026

I have always thought of stress as a bad thing. Something we all should avoid. It seems that is what I have been told as long as I can remember. Stress can kill you.

Then the other day I had a paradigm shift. Talking with a friend about stress. She suggested that not all stress is bad. “There is good stress as well.”

“Really, how do you mean?” I inquired.

“Think about it.” she replied, “When you have done something that you know needs doing, don’t you feel better after you have done it?”

“You mean like brushing my dogs regularly?”

“Yes! That’s good stress, because it prompts you, and once you have taken care of the matter, you feel better.”

Hmmm…interesting…

So, I did think about it and put it to the test. I found she was quite right! These little examples may seem small, however, managing them made me feel much better!

*These plants have been needing to be in the garden for awhile…*

*Done! Now they will flourish and make me smile.*

*This trimmer has been waiting to be put back in the tack room…*

*That took about 45 seconds. Back where they belong.*

*Hay strewn all over the barn—not good…*

*A two minute sweep job does the trick and improves my mindset.*

*A groomed dog always improves* *my attitude.*

Does this make any sense?

As my friend said: Think about it!

Happy Tuesday!

Thursday Thoughts #196

Jun 11, 2026

*…on the seventh day God ended His work* *which He had made; and He rested…Genesis 2:2*

God created the day of rest for man…do you take a day of rest?

Shenandoah Valley Flowers

Jun 9, 2026

My blogging friend, Judy, is a Master Gardener and quilter. Her blog is fun and interesting. Here is her link for those interested in beautiful gardens and quilting projects. She also talks books.

http://newenglandgardenandthread.wordpress.com

Her post today has both garden flowers and quilting projects she has done, and it inspired me to share flowers from my garden currently in bloom. I am walking in the wild side though because I am not a master gardener, though I do love my flowers.

*I love the silver leaves of this yellow yarrow.*

*This sweet, little heart leaf foam flower is nearly finished blooming.*

*Gentle, delicate heuchera (coral bells).*

*I let it roam over my oak leaf hydrangeas.*

*A perfect day for hanging out laundry!*

*A surprise greeting from Max from under the huge hosta leaves*.

I also keep a vegetable garden. How about you? Flower gardens, or vegetable gardens, or both? I have always said flowers are for the soul, vegetables for the body.

Thank you for the inspiration, Judy.

Did you know this? Gardeners spend all day in their beds!

Happy gardening.

Thursday Thoughts #195

Jun 4, 2026

*I have loved you with an everlasting love.*
*Jeremiah 31:3*
*Good-Bye, sweet Herc. You will love your new home.*

I love my family and animals so much sometimes it hurts. Yet it helps me understand Gods deep abiding love for us. Do you ever think about His deep love for you?

Three in One

Jun 4, 2026

Three celebrations in one. A Retirement party, College Graduation Celebration of RN, and a grandsons birthday all rolled in one big party time.

What a grand celebration with family and friends. Now it is clean-up time and some rest time.

Though I’m alittle late in posting (I like to post a blog every Monday), this week I am late in everything…

Hope some of this party gave you a smile.

Thursday Thoughts #194

May 28, 2026

*When was the last time you or I called to The Lord*?

A Relaxing Place at Home?

May 25, 2026

Really? Who has that? What does a place like that even look like?

I have to admit, I really did not know. Though our porches are lovely and relaxing, we do not linger on them very long. Certainly we do not sit there two hours at a stretch.

I do recall the pool at my mother’s farm was a delightful, relaxing place. Of course there were times it was chaotic with all the grandkids. Yet even in that chaos, we found relaxation. Having lunch by the pool was enjoyable. Who cares about crumbs? The dogs and birds will clean up after us. Soaking up the sun, sitting with dangling feet in the cool water visiting with family or quiet, early morning coffee poolside all made for relaxing time.

It was the one place where everyone, regardless of age, could play together. Who doesn’t laugh while playing Marco Polo? Or enjoy any of the water games? Who wins the swim race? Who can find the penny? All our kids learned to swim in that pool. Dear memories were formed around it. Unfortunately, we do not have one here at our farm.

While visiting with my daughter recently, we made a trip into town for an errand. It was not the normal route for me. That’s when I saw it! A beautiful fire-pit. Situated in a lovely part of the yard, near trees and yet open. How inviting it looked, with 6 matching Adirondack chairs surrounding it. I asked her to slow down so I could get a photo.

“Don’t you think this would be great here on our farm?” I asked my husband as he looked at the photo.

He did! He picked a terrific spot too. An old, neglected garden bed. He transformed into a delightful fire-pit! He even kept the one old blueberry bush.

Not knowing it at the time, I do believe we now have a relaxing place. Long evening hours are spent around the fire. The dancing flames, sparks flying to heaven, the crackles of the wood burning create a comfort and dreamy atmosphere as the evening grows into night that everyone enjoys.