With no intention of harvesting anything from my garden I just went around to see if the latest wind had blown over anything I had tied up. I did have to straighten one tomato cage and tie up one tomato branch which was getting heavy with tomatoes. Nothing in the tomato area was anywhere near ready for harvesting.
In the thornless Navajo blackberry bed, however, I saw some very large berries ripe for picking. A few days ago I picked enough of them to have a nice, refreshing bowl to eat, with milk over them. I picked a few today and went on the the cucumbers. Several of the cukes are almost ready to be made into pickles, but I will wait to see if they are larger in a few days.
The pole beans are a big disappointment to me. I am thinking of pulling them all up, and putting in regular bush, blue lake green beans. I know they are prolific, tender and stringless. My reason for trying the pole variety was because harvesting the bush type is hard on your back. So, on my shopping list, is blue lake bean seeds.
I am excited about the kiwi for two reasons. I am trying to clone the male and female plants in little pots. One of the cuttings has new leaves already. I started them on the last day of May. I am still watching the other cuttings and hoping they will follow suit. The other excitement is about how fast and large the kiwi fruit up in the north bed, is progressing. Last year was disappointing due to the severe pruning from two years ago. This fall, I will have plenty of healthy fruit to share with my kiwi loving friends. Nesrby, the big Brown Turkey fig tree is loaded with green, promising fruit.
Starting now and through June and into July, the wild blackberries on this place are ready for picking. To do this I do have to "suit up" and spray good on my legs and clothing against chiggers and other insects.
I always take a walking stick into the blackberry patch. It comes in handy for parting the canes in order to reach the irresistible fat berries. I only got a handful today from the outer edges. They are much sweeter than the cultivated ones . Also the seeds are not as objectionable as the large ones on the Navajo
types.
The yellow squash is a total loss this year. The squash bug won the battle. I sprayed with Safer Insecticidal soap on the bugs I saw, but one plant I just pulled up in disgust. You can't win them all, or at least I cannot. When I go to the trouble to suit up for the wild blackberries, I will also go into the netting to pick blueberries. I can see that the early types are ready to be picked. I cannot compete with the large lush berries that my South Carolina family member grows, but these will work fine for adding to the muffins that I have in mind. Still, it is fun to gradually get into the real reason I like to garden, the fresh harvest just tastes so great!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Refocus
All of the people I know are leading busy lives with family or with their jobs. Many of my friends are of my generation or younger. Most of them are retired and not as active physically, yet most of them have found their niche in service. Most have developed health problems, as their physical energy wears thin. I am thinking of one such lady who, it seems, led a life of service and loneliness. But, was she really lonely? I question that she was. I think she had a personal GPS to keep her on course.
This is what I know about her: When she was a baby, an older child was attempting to carry her and perhaps stumbled as she fell and dropped her. She landed on the ground in such as way that her hip was damaged for life. If that had happened in our modern world of medical miracles, it may have changed her life. As she grew her legs did not grow at the same speed and she was left with one leg shorter than the other, which limited her activities severely. When I first knew her, she had retired from her life's work as a hair dresser. She had spent her life working in a standing position and making others look better with her skills.
At the same time that she was doing this work, she took on the job of caring for her ailing mother. She had a brother also, but I am not sure what his roll was in the care of their mother. I do know that she was a devout, unmarried lady who could no longer drive and her friends helped her out by taking her shopping, on a weekly basis. She was a founding member our church, and when she could no longer drive, someone drove her to the services. She found ways to show kindness even then ,when she was severely limited. One Sunday, when I had taken my three year old grandson to worship with me, she called him to come over to her and she gave him a little package of candies. She did this fairly often when he was there with me. That gave him a warm, happy feeling.
She had taken on one mission of our church, by sending out birthday cards to all of the our members throughout the year. She served on our prayer chain, and passed requests on, via the telephone so that others as well as she, could lift them up in prayer during their time of need.
Growing up with the experience of being a care giver as she had done, gave her a fiery streak which she could use if need be. She could verbally stand up for what she thought was right. Her faith kept her steady. Early on in her life she played the piano for a small group of like minded people working to establish a church in the west end of our town. We all knew that her favorite hymn was "Precious Lord". This hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey in 1938. The words to the first verse are: "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light; take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home". No doubt she found comfort in the words of this song. It must have given her strength when she needed support.
She wore a monitor in case of an emergency, she could call for help. If she had been able to, I think she would have used it on her last opportunity to do so. On this particular day, she did not answer calls and someone went to check on her, they found her in the chair where she sat most of the time. She had her phone beside her, her notebook of calls, her Bible and was wearing her monitor. Apparently she died in her sleep.
She spent her working life doing for others, and in later life she gratefully accepted help when she needed it. But I doubt that she was lonely. Whenever I saw her, or stopped by to take something to her, she had a smile on her face and conversation to match her smile.
When I think of her limitations, it reminds me that there is always something one can do to brighten the day of another human being, even a small child. The people in our world who could use a little cheering, are legion. With the diversity of us all, the ways to extend kindness is also legion. Not everyone is in a position to extend kindness in the same way. But when an opportunity comes by, take hold of the moment and do the thing that no one else can do, but you, at that moment.
I think that Doris had found a way to "get out of herself". She was not focused on her limitations, rather looked outside of herself to send a brightness to those who passed her way. It is good to think of Doris, and follow her example. Psychologists will tell you that the best way to fight depression or problems of loneliness is to focus on helping someone else. That is a good thought to tuck under your hat and use when the opportunity arises.
This is what I know about her: When she was a baby, an older child was attempting to carry her and perhaps stumbled as she fell and dropped her. She landed on the ground in such as way that her hip was damaged for life. If that had happened in our modern world of medical miracles, it may have changed her life. As she grew her legs did not grow at the same speed and she was left with one leg shorter than the other, which limited her activities severely. When I first knew her, she had retired from her life's work as a hair dresser. She had spent her life working in a standing position and making others look better with her skills.
At the same time that she was doing this work, she took on the job of caring for her ailing mother. She had a brother also, but I am not sure what his roll was in the care of their mother. I do know that she was a devout, unmarried lady who could no longer drive and her friends helped her out by taking her shopping, on a weekly basis. She was a founding member our church, and when she could no longer drive, someone drove her to the services. She found ways to show kindness even then ,when she was severely limited. One Sunday, when I had taken my three year old grandson to worship with me, she called him to come over to her and she gave him a little package of candies. She did this fairly often when he was there with me. That gave him a warm, happy feeling.
She had taken on one mission of our church, by sending out birthday cards to all of the our members throughout the year. She served on our prayer chain, and passed requests on, via the telephone so that others as well as she, could lift them up in prayer during their time of need.
Growing up with the experience of being a care giver as she had done, gave her a fiery streak which she could use if need be. She could verbally stand up for what she thought was right. Her faith kept her steady. Early on in her life she played the piano for a small group of like minded people working to establish a church in the west end of our town. We all knew that her favorite hymn was "Precious Lord". This hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey in 1938. The words to the first verse are: "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light; take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home". No doubt she found comfort in the words of this song. It must have given her strength when she needed support.
She wore a monitor in case of an emergency, she could call for help. If she had been able to, I think she would have used it on her last opportunity to do so. On this particular day, she did not answer calls and someone went to check on her, they found her in the chair where she sat most of the time. She had her phone beside her, her notebook of calls, her Bible and was wearing her monitor. Apparently she died in her sleep.
She spent her working life doing for others, and in later life she gratefully accepted help when she needed it. But I doubt that she was lonely. Whenever I saw her, or stopped by to take something to her, she had a smile on her face and conversation to match her smile.
When I think of her limitations, it reminds me that there is always something one can do to brighten the day of another human being, even a small child. The people in our world who could use a little cheering, are legion. With the diversity of us all, the ways to extend kindness is also legion. Not everyone is in a position to extend kindness in the same way. But when an opportunity comes by, take hold of the moment and do the thing that no one else can do, but you, at that moment.
I think that Doris had found a way to "get out of herself". She was not focused on her limitations, rather looked outside of herself to send a brightness to those who passed her way. It is good to think of Doris, and follow her example. Psychologists will tell you that the best way to fight depression or problems of loneliness is to focus on helping someone else. That is a good thought to tuck under your hat and use when the opportunity arises.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Public Libraries
The county commissioners of Hall county Georgia, are considering ways to juggle money in this economic slump. One of their options is to close from 2 to 4 public libraries. This has caused an outcry from the users of the libraries. I have two library cards, one from my own county and one for this adjoining county. For as long as I can remember, in my long life, I have been privileged to have a library card.
My first contact with a library was at the school I attended, from third grade through twelfth grade. Our library there doubled as a detention hall for some students. In some cases it was where we could go if we had free time. At that time, long before computers, typewriters were available for us to use there, but not to check out. When I went off to college, the library there became a source of information for me, as well as a place to study when a quiet place was needed. After graduation and on my first job, I continued to be a consistent patron of the town library where I lived. I used it to get books for my first grade class. Because I was a teacher I was allowed to check out twenty books at one time. I went every other week to find colorful books for my first grade class. In my classroom I had a library table where the children could go to select a book, after finishing their assigned work. I was introducing my class to their first library, as there was none in our school building or in this small community where I taught and they lived. Each day I chose a child to select one of the books for me to read to the entire class.
I continued this pattern for four years, while living and teaching in this southeastern area of Kentucky. Then my husband and I moved many miles away to the eastern shore of Maryland. One of the first things we did, after finding an apartment, was to sign up for a library card. For a number of years I was a homemaker and had the time to indulge my love of reading. My favorite books were non fiction, and especially biographies and autobiographies. My husband was a teacher, and he was a daily reader also.
When my children came along, I introduced books to them early on. I have a picture of my daughter when she was only one, walking with a book in her hands, and "reading" it. When my children were old enough, I took them to the public library and we checked out books for them and for me also. When they were small, libraries had not established the custom of "children's hour". During this time I did not have a car of my own so we boarded a local bus to get to the library.
I discovered more new elements of the library in Decatur Georgia. They had oil paintings which could be checked out for a period of time. This was a new way in which the public library enriched my life, as we could all enjoy the art of creative people.
When my children began school, I went back into the classroom myself, again, as a first grade teacher. I discovered another lending element had been added for the use of patrons, in slide films. I was able to enrich the experiences of my young students outside of the printed books, with slide shows on many different subjects. At the current time in our history, librarians need multiple skills to meet the needs of modern patrons. Their title has changed to Media Specialists, and the information highway is linked to the once humble library via the personal computer. Our public libraries are meeting the changing times and morphing into an even more vital part of our communities.
When I look back, I see so many ways and times that my life has been made better because of public libraries. At this time in the history of our country, many people are struggling financially. Those of us who can afford to give a lending hand to our lending libraries need to find a way to do just that. Shutting out the source of knowledge to our citizens is not the way for our elected officials to meet their budget. I am proposing that we put a big tin cup on the counter where visitors may put in what they can afford, when checking out a book to take home and enjoy.
My first contact with a library was at the school I attended, from third grade through twelfth grade. Our library there doubled as a detention hall for some students. In some cases it was where we could go if we had free time. At that time, long before computers, typewriters were available for us to use there, but not to check out. When I went off to college, the library there became a source of information for me, as well as a place to study when a quiet place was needed. After graduation and on my first job, I continued to be a consistent patron of the town library where I lived. I used it to get books for my first grade class. Because I was a teacher I was allowed to check out twenty books at one time. I went every other week to find colorful books for my first grade class. In my classroom I had a library table where the children could go to select a book, after finishing their assigned work. I was introducing my class to their first library, as there was none in our school building or in this small community where I taught and they lived. Each day I chose a child to select one of the books for me to read to the entire class.
I continued this pattern for four years, while living and teaching in this southeastern area of Kentucky. Then my husband and I moved many miles away to the eastern shore of Maryland. One of the first things we did, after finding an apartment, was to sign up for a library card. For a number of years I was a homemaker and had the time to indulge my love of reading. My favorite books were non fiction, and especially biographies and autobiographies. My husband was a teacher, and he was a daily reader also.
When my children came along, I introduced books to them early on. I have a picture of my daughter when she was only one, walking with a book in her hands, and "reading" it. When my children were old enough, I took them to the public library and we checked out books for them and for me also. When they were small, libraries had not established the custom of "children's hour". During this time I did not have a car of my own so we boarded a local bus to get to the library.
I discovered more new elements of the library in Decatur Georgia. They had oil paintings which could be checked out for a period of time. This was a new way in which the public library enriched my life, as we could all enjoy the art of creative people.
When my children began school, I went back into the classroom myself, again, as a first grade teacher. I discovered another lending element had been added for the use of patrons, in slide films. I was able to enrich the experiences of my young students outside of the printed books, with slide shows on many different subjects. At the current time in our history, librarians need multiple skills to meet the needs of modern patrons. Their title has changed to Media Specialists, and the information highway is linked to the once humble library via the personal computer. Our public libraries are meeting the changing times and morphing into an even more vital part of our communities.
When I look back, I see so many ways and times that my life has been made better because of public libraries. At this time in the history of our country, many people are struggling financially. Those of us who can afford to give a lending hand to our lending libraries need to find a way to do just that. Shutting out the source of knowledge to our citizens is not the way for our elected officials to meet their budget. I am proposing that we put a big tin cup on the counter where visitors may put in what they can afford, when checking out a book to take home and enjoy.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Garden Discovery
Getting plenty of rain during the spring months was a good thing, as all of the perennials were able to grow lots of nice roots, and get fortified for the summer. However, it is a bit deceiving as it caused me to plan on a fine garden in May, and put me in denial about the coming hot, rainless months, in which the garden has to fight stress.
In Georgia we are in another drought and the most used tool now, is the garden hose. I alternate mornings to get things watered, before the sun is so demanding on my energy. Because my garden is scattered about, it can't all be done in one day. My first chore was to pull up all of the leaf lettuce, not because it did not look good, but because it was bitter. I did not like this leaf lettuce as much as I had thought I would. Thus, it was not eaten in a timely manner, before it became bitter. Next year I will plant romaine, and less of it. I am very fond of romaine and will be sure to use it myself or share.
I met a new enemy this morning as I was bending over to move the hose around. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement. Upon closer inspection I saw what I thought were fleas because they did not fly, or crawl. They did little hops to move about. They were on the side of the concrete blocks that form the walls of the raised beds. I made a mental note to research fleas in the garden.
The first call I made was to my favorite free, information agency, the County Extension Office. The agents are aways so knowledgeable about any problem you present to them. This agent said it sounded like flea beetles. They favor eggplant. Their eggs are laid in the soil and I suppose they emerge when it is time to eat on the eggplant. I do not have eggplant in my garden but the flea beetles are there anyway. My next step in research was to see what the online sources had to say about flea beetles, especially in how to combat them. The solution is to put yellow sticky traps about for them to hop onto. The other suggestion was to use the sticky fly paper available in the hardware stores. I remembered seeing those in my storage shed, so I went out to be sure I did have some, and happily, I did have three of the little rolls.
I waited a while to go down and try out the fly paper but when I went to put up the paper, I only saw about two of the little pests. I did put up the paper anyway, as they could not have hopped too far away.
The last thing I expected to find in my garden was this pesky flea beetle. Since I try to use organic practices in my garden this sticky fly paper fits into my plan.
The agent did say that if I could bring one in to him, he could make a definite identification. I have no idea how you would catch one of those hopping insects, so I will go on the theory that he did identify it accurately. Also, I put out the fly paper, so that is good enough for me, done deal!
It is always nice to fine the solution to a problem right on the premises, as in my Cedar house shed.
If you see little jumping bugs on your eggplant you might want to decorate your plant with fly paper, winding it around the leaves. It was not something I had planned on doing but when an obstacle presents intself, it is satisfying to find the solution without resorting to toxic sprays.
In Georgia we are in another drought and the most used tool now, is the garden hose. I alternate mornings to get things watered, before the sun is so demanding on my energy. Because my garden is scattered about, it can't all be done in one day. My first chore was to pull up all of the leaf lettuce, not because it did not look good, but because it was bitter. I did not like this leaf lettuce as much as I had thought I would. Thus, it was not eaten in a timely manner, before it became bitter. Next year I will plant romaine, and less of it. I am very fond of romaine and will be sure to use it myself or share.
I met a new enemy this morning as I was bending over to move the hose around. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement. Upon closer inspection I saw what I thought were fleas because they did not fly, or crawl. They did little hops to move about. They were on the side of the concrete blocks that form the walls of the raised beds. I made a mental note to research fleas in the garden.
The first call I made was to my favorite free, information agency, the County Extension Office. The agents are aways so knowledgeable about any problem you present to them. This agent said it sounded like flea beetles. They favor eggplant. Their eggs are laid in the soil and I suppose they emerge when it is time to eat on the eggplant. I do not have eggplant in my garden but the flea beetles are there anyway. My next step in research was to see what the online sources had to say about flea beetles, especially in how to combat them. The solution is to put yellow sticky traps about for them to hop onto. The other suggestion was to use the sticky fly paper available in the hardware stores. I remembered seeing those in my storage shed, so I went out to be sure I did have some, and happily, I did have three of the little rolls.
I waited a while to go down and try out the fly paper but when I went to put up the paper, I only saw about two of the little pests. I did put up the paper anyway, as they could not have hopped too far away.
The last thing I expected to find in my garden was this pesky flea beetle. Since I try to use organic practices in my garden this sticky fly paper fits into my plan.
The agent did say that if I could bring one in to him, he could make a definite identification. I have no idea how you would catch one of those hopping insects, so I will go on the theory that he did identify it accurately. Also, I put out the fly paper, so that is good enough for me, done deal!
It is always nice to fine the solution to a problem right on the premises, as in my Cedar house shed.
If you see little jumping bugs on your eggplant you might want to decorate your plant with fly paper, winding it around the leaves. It was not something I had planned on doing but when an obstacle presents intself, it is satisfying to find the solution without resorting to toxic sprays.
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