About fifty years ago, when I lived in Salisbury, Maryland, I joined a group called The homemakers Club. It operated under the auspices of the Agricultural Department of Maryland. My daughter was around three years old and my son was an infant. I took my young daughter (who was very well behaved and enjoyed the adventure) and my young son with me to these meetings. I carried him in a basket made for just such a trip. I thoroughly enjoyed these meetings as it was an opportunity to learn new things in terms of home making. We always had a speaker who was in the business of teaching helpful things to home makers.
One memorable day was spent at the home of a farmer in the area. His wife took us into her garden and we saw peanuts growing. This was a first for me and my daughter remembers the trip to this day. It inspired me years later, when I had a garden, to plant Virginia peanuts. They were large and easy to grow and so much fun. On that outing we also saw a huge cherry tree full of cherries ripening. This gracious lady allowed us to pick all the cherries we wanted - and could reach. On that day she served a dessert which was like a custard with graham cracker crust and crushed graham crackers on top. I kept the recipe for decades. Recently I made it and did enjoy it very much. She called it Crumb Tart. It was a favorite of my children.
These happy experiences have led me to look for this governmental agency,
each time I moved to a new area. It is found in the Extension Service which every town has available to them. Anything you need to know about gardening, and also any other issues you need help with, you can find, with the folks who work there. A couple of years ago, I invited the lady agent who works in the town near me, to come and pick grapes. I have taken her kiwi and have taken my extra Iris bulbs to the Ag Agent there ( he grows all types of Iris). They are as happy to receive as they are to give.
When I was a child my father had a hobby which helped supplement his income as a bookkeeper. He raised cows and became good friends with Mr. Rudine, the county agent. My mother was good friends with his wife and they benefited from their friendship.
I am telling about this as I have found so many people who have no idea that help is available to them from this free source. I have been passing this information along for years. If you have not yet consulted the Extension Service for your county, try them the next time you have a knotty problem. It could be gardening, termites or any problem you have. You can say I sent you.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Spring Inspiration
Saturday afternoon, on my way home from a birthday party for the youngest member of our church, I stopped at my mail box. Just as I opened my car door, my neighbor's car pulled up behind me. I had not seen her for a while. She stays busy and so do I. She asked me to come over and see what they were doing to their patio. I told her I would put some things in my house, and meander on over. And I did.
She has a wide gray concrete drive up to her house, a distance of about 20 yards. Her husband met me at the door with his usual banter. Then we went through their house to the back where the patio was undergoing major change. The outline of what the patio was to become was discernible by the curving forms,piles of sand, and stacks of pavers. They had found some talented yard men and brick layers who were in the process of transforming their back into an inviting site for entertaining in the future. She wanted me to see the "before" so I could appreciate the "after".
The grounds around their home is already a dream of flowering shrubs, bulbs and various trees. That in itself, is enough to get my gardening juices flowing. She had been planning this whole new "playground" over the winter, and had just made some final decisions. So, she was still on cloud nine and it was casting it's spell on me. My version of transformation was more utilitarian, in terms of harvest. I am looking to put my energy and resources into vegetables, fruits and preserving what I do not use fresh.
But just seeing her plans come to life was inspiration enough to make me want to speed up the process. In my case we will buy a new heaver, riding mower to use in the vineyard and on the yard. Our's caught on fire, possibly from the friction of the fan belt below the deck. That incident was the catalyst to research a new mower. A dealer is sending someone out tomorrow to see if Jim's vision of what we need will match the dealer's machine which he is bringing out for a test run.
Old timers used to say, in the spring tour blood thinned. Well, whatever you call it, the urge to dig in the dirt does hit about this time. At least it does for all of us gardening enthusiasts. Good luck with your spring adventure and let us know how it turns out.
She has a wide gray concrete drive up to her house, a distance of about 20 yards. Her husband met me at the door with his usual banter. Then we went through their house to the back where the patio was undergoing major change. The outline of what the patio was to become was discernible by the curving forms,piles of sand, and stacks of pavers. They had found some talented yard men and brick layers who were in the process of transforming their back into an inviting site for entertaining in the future. She wanted me to see the "before" so I could appreciate the "after".
The grounds around their home is already a dream of flowering shrubs, bulbs and various trees. That in itself, is enough to get my gardening juices flowing. She had been planning this whole new "playground" over the winter, and had just made some final decisions. So, she was still on cloud nine and it was casting it's spell on me. My version of transformation was more utilitarian, in terms of harvest. I am looking to put my energy and resources into vegetables, fruits and preserving what I do not use fresh.
But just seeing her plans come to life was inspiration enough to make me want to speed up the process. In my case we will buy a new heaver, riding mower to use in the vineyard and on the yard. Our's caught on fire, possibly from the friction of the fan belt below the deck. That incident was the catalyst to research a new mower. A dealer is sending someone out tomorrow to see if Jim's vision of what we need will match the dealer's machine which he is bringing out for a test run.
Old timers used to say, in the spring tour blood thinned. Well, whatever you call it, the urge to dig in the dirt does hit about this time. At least it does for all of us gardening enthusiasts. Good luck with your spring adventure and let us know how it turns out.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
FDR Got It Right
My email pal lives in the north eastern part of the United States. She is the only other living grandmother in our family. I first met her when her daughter married my son. Since then we have visited several times over the years but really got to know and enjoy each others company via email. She sent me some newspaper articles about the bears in her area. She hopes for a sighting but prepares to deter the bears from doing any damage to her home and yard. She has had some close encounters but has no fear. I would have lots of fear if one came into my yard !!
She sent me a note along with the clippings and the note had a quote at the top which says: "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." The author of that quote was none other than our thirty-second president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is better known for saying " there is nothing to fear but fear itself". Another famous quote, "yesterday, December 7 is a date which will live in infamy.". Also a timeless bit of wisdom, "Let us have the courage to stop borrowing to meet continuing deficits". He is the only president who was elected for four terms. I think he had great insight to make the comment about happiness. He also had great courage to overcome crippling polio to achieve so much in those years. No doubt, his struggle with that handicap heightened his awareness of where true happiness lies.
Therefore I declare him to be a great sage to understand that concept. Happiness is not to be found in temporal things. But rather in what we can create,or achieve, whatever it may be. Just watch a child learning to walk, how proud he feels to finally walk without help or his pride in learning to write his own name. A child is happiest when he can share his accomplishments. I think adults are the same. Achievement is best when shared. So, the next time a child comes to you with bright and shining eyes to share something he has done, exalt with him in his achievement; for that too is priceless to him. You will both have achieved an inner joy which money cannot buy.
She sent me a note along with the clippings and the note had a quote at the top which says: "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." The author of that quote was none other than our thirty-second president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is better known for saying " there is nothing to fear but fear itself". Another famous quote, "yesterday, December 7 is a date which will live in infamy.". Also a timeless bit of wisdom, "Let us have the courage to stop borrowing to meet continuing deficits". He is the only president who was elected for four terms. I think he had great insight to make the comment about happiness. He also had great courage to overcome crippling polio to achieve so much in those years. No doubt, his struggle with that handicap heightened his awareness of where true happiness lies.
Therefore I declare him to be a great sage to understand that concept. Happiness is not to be found in temporal things. But rather in what we can create,or achieve, whatever it may be. Just watch a child learning to walk, how proud he feels to finally walk without help or his pride in learning to write his own name. A child is happiest when he can share his accomplishments. I think adults are the same. Achievement is best when shared. So, the next time a child comes to you with bright and shining eyes to share something he has done, exalt with him in his achievement; for that too is priceless to him. You will both have achieved an inner joy which money cannot buy.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A change of Pace
Did you remember to set your clock ahead last night. I did remember, but I overslept anyway. I always look forward to this time of year because I like to have more daylight in the evening. That means more time to be outside and do gardening chores.
I was at one of the garden centers yesterday and was really tempted to buy sweet onion plants. The description sounded a lot like Vidalia onions but of course the seller cannot call them that. I have grown onions before and did enjoy using them. One kind I grew were called Egyptians walking onions. I think the name comes from the fact that from the top of the tall blades a little bud appears which has a lot of new bulbils packed into a tight pod. The weight of it pulls the whole thing down and the little bulbils take root in the soil. I considered them more of a novelty than as a viable onion to use in cooking. Although I did use them as you would use fresh spring onions. My Gardener friend gave me a handful of them from his garden and it was fun to learn about them but I do not plan on growing them again.
What I do plan on growing are heirloom tomatoes and burpless cucumbers. I have the cucumber seeds ready to put in the ground when it gets warmer. They are my favorites to use in making bread and butter pickles. I use the recipe in the University of Georgia book on preserving food. These pickles are favorites of my family and friends. I think the burpless cucumbers make them special as the seeds are very small and do not present a problem in the texture of the finished product.
The heirloom tomato plants I plan on using are coming to me via a Gardener friend who lives near Athens, Ga. Last year I gave her some extra plants I had grown from seed. This year she wants to return the favor so she has ordered heirloom tomato plants from a grower in Alabama. May first is my target date for planting them.
For all of my gardener friends I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the extra time that comes from the time change. If you are in the north and still have snow, then you will have this to look forward to later on. But happy gardening anyway.
I was at one of the garden centers yesterday and was really tempted to buy sweet onion plants. The description sounded a lot like Vidalia onions but of course the seller cannot call them that. I have grown onions before and did enjoy using them. One kind I grew were called Egyptians walking onions. I think the name comes from the fact that from the top of the tall blades a little bud appears which has a lot of new bulbils packed into a tight pod. The weight of it pulls the whole thing down and the little bulbils take root in the soil. I considered them more of a novelty than as a viable onion to use in cooking. Although I did use them as you would use fresh spring onions. My Gardener friend gave me a handful of them from his garden and it was fun to learn about them but I do not plan on growing them again.
What I do plan on growing are heirloom tomatoes and burpless cucumbers. I have the cucumber seeds ready to put in the ground when it gets warmer. They are my favorites to use in making bread and butter pickles. I use the recipe in the University of Georgia book on preserving food. These pickles are favorites of my family and friends. I think the burpless cucumbers make them special as the seeds are very small and do not present a problem in the texture of the finished product.
The heirloom tomato plants I plan on using are coming to me via a Gardener friend who lives near Athens, Ga. Last year I gave her some extra plants I had grown from seed. This year she wants to return the favor so she has ordered heirloom tomato plants from a grower in Alabama. May first is my target date for planting them.
For all of my gardener friends I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the extra time that comes from the time change. If you are in the north and still have snow, then you will have this to look forward to later on. But happy gardening anyway.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Intoxication
This morning, for the first time this year, I got into my golf cart and ventured up to the mailbox. I had letters that needed to go out and it is so pleasant outdoors so I was also tempted to ride through the vineyard and check on things there. The Muscadine vines are not leafed out but the buds look promising. The Niagara grape vine is still alive but not ready to prove it. I did pull some weeds and dried grass from around the cage that encircles it just to encourage it.
Some bright yellow blooms are all along the forsythia bushes which Bruce and Reed helped to plant. They will continue to grow larger and one day there will be a wall of yellow behind the vines near the entrance. There is plenty of separation between them so neither should feel crowded.
The two pear trees are putting out green leaves. I hope to beat the squirrels to some of them this year. I wonder if they are stealing them for the pit inside. But maybe they just like pears, or better yet, they are just responding to instinct - save anything for winter.
I am tempted to count the daffodils in front. The King Alfred are the tallest and with a paler yellow bloom they stand out against the deep yellow, shorter daffodils surrounding them. Nothing else is coming up in that bed but it will in time. What I am looking forward to are the Calla Lilies.
Behind the Cedar House and to the side, periwinkle is making a blue carpet with it's dainty blue flowers. That is a pretty sight to see where nothing else is blooming.
All around are surprises. The Daphne I planted at the northeast corner of the house is loaded with white, very fragrant blooms. I had to bend over to get the full effect of the fragrance and it was heavenly. I have heard that folks plant it by their door so they can smell it coming and going. Perhaps when the sun has a chance to shine on it the fragrance will come wafting up and around the bush.
Just a whiff of that Daphne had an intoxicating effect on me. It made me want to go out to the red camellia and cut more blooms for my table. I have other choices for a table arrangement at this time. The Saucer Magnolia is opening up and I saw some down low enough for me to reach. The lavender outside of the blooms with the stark white on the inside make it pure joy to see.
If you, where you are living have not yet seen the transformation that spring will bring, be patient. It will come and you will be as pleased and intoxicated as I am down here in zone 7. You too, will have a renewal of spirit and enthusiasm for the out of doors. If you have never planted before, please do, you are in for a soul satisfying experience.
Some bright yellow blooms are all along the forsythia bushes which Bruce and Reed helped to plant. They will continue to grow larger and one day there will be a wall of yellow behind the vines near the entrance. There is plenty of separation between them so neither should feel crowded.
The two pear trees are putting out green leaves. I hope to beat the squirrels to some of them this year. I wonder if they are stealing them for the pit inside. But maybe they just like pears, or better yet, they are just responding to instinct - save anything for winter.
I am tempted to count the daffodils in front. The King Alfred are the tallest and with a paler yellow bloom they stand out against the deep yellow, shorter daffodils surrounding them. Nothing else is coming up in that bed but it will in time. What I am looking forward to are the Calla Lilies.
Behind the Cedar House and to the side, periwinkle is making a blue carpet with it's dainty blue flowers. That is a pretty sight to see where nothing else is blooming.
All around are surprises. The Daphne I planted at the northeast corner of the house is loaded with white, very fragrant blooms. I had to bend over to get the full effect of the fragrance and it was heavenly. I have heard that folks plant it by their door so they can smell it coming and going. Perhaps when the sun has a chance to shine on it the fragrance will come wafting up and around the bush.
Just a whiff of that Daphne had an intoxicating effect on me. It made me want to go out to the red camellia and cut more blooms for my table. I have other choices for a table arrangement at this time. The Saucer Magnolia is opening up and I saw some down low enough for me to reach. The lavender outside of the blooms with the stark white on the inside make it pure joy to see.
If you, where you are living have not yet seen the transformation that spring will bring, be patient. It will come and you will be as pleased and intoxicated as I am down here in zone 7. You too, will have a renewal of spirit and enthusiasm for the out of doors. If you have never planted before, please do, you are in for a soul satisfying experience.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Best Place to Live
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be spending the last years of my life in the state of Georgia. Over time, I have lived in Kentucky, Texas, Maryland and now North Georgia. The longer I am here the more I appreciate the climate, the towns, the medical facilities, the churches, the shopping available and the people who have lived here all of their lives. There are just enough new comers to make it interesting. A few towns have a Newcomers Club for any who need or want a group to help them assimilate.
My friend belongs to a group called "Meet and Eat". That is all they do. It gets them out and meeting new people and new places to eat. I guess it is unique in that it has no side issues, no need to keep minutes, or record of who is there and who is not. They look forward to seeing the friends they have made from previous meetings and having a different place to eat.
Another great aspect of this particular area is beautiful Lake Lanier. Many people have settled around the lake because they just like being around the water. We did have a drought two years ago and that effected the lake level for a while. Some had to remove their boats and folks with docks had to contend with moving their dock in and out. If you do not want to hassle with that, there are companies to do it for you. The many parks around the lake make for pleasant visiting to picnic. This is a free fun thing to do. Some parks are not on the water but offer interesting activities like paved paths for walkers while the children have playground equipment to enjoy.
Our winters are short and usually not severe. Our electric servers keep trees cut in anticipation of downed trees so power outage here is at a minimum. Some summers can be humid and make outdoors uncomfortable. When that happens folks have learned to stay in where it is air conditioned. Thankfully that too is short lived.
When the end of February comes we have delightful surprises all around. Ornamental trees start to bloom, daffodils pop up and bloom whereever they are planted. To see this happen so early in spring brings hope to the darkest heart.
Speaking of heart, we have the top heart center in the state in our town. If you are not blessed with good health and even if you are, any medical specialist you may need is found here. And if your heart - and soul - need nurturing we have all of the churches here that anyone could want. Some are huge, like 3,000 members and others are small with less than 100 members. A lot of them offer Day Care for young families and all have friendly, helpful members ready to welcome one and all.
If I have painted a rosy picture of our area it is just because it has so much to offer a law abiding, productive, population. Our sheriff and his deputies are present and ready to help, protect and counsel any resident who asks for it. I have never had occasion to be reprimanded by them, nor do I want to, but they are up to the task if needed.
One last thing,if you like growing your own fresh vegetables, the climate is perfect for that. If you are not a gardener there are summer markets and Pick Your Own farms waiting to see you. I have only touched on the tip of all the agreeable situations here in our area. If you are sick and tired of all the snow, and ice problems of the north, come south, we have the cure.
My friend belongs to a group called "Meet and Eat". That is all they do. It gets them out and meeting new people and new places to eat. I guess it is unique in that it has no side issues, no need to keep minutes, or record of who is there and who is not. They look forward to seeing the friends they have made from previous meetings and having a different place to eat.
Another great aspect of this particular area is beautiful Lake Lanier. Many people have settled around the lake because they just like being around the water. We did have a drought two years ago and that effected the lake level for a while. Some had to remove their boats and folks with docks had to contend with moving their dock in and out. If you do not want to hassle with that, there are companies to do it for you. The many parks around the lake make for pleasant visiting to picnic. This is a free fun thing to do. Some parks are not on the water but offer interesting activities like paved paths for walkers while the children have playground equipment to enjoy.
Our winters are short and usually not severe. Our electric servers keep trees cut in anticipation of downed trees so power outage here is at a minimum. Some summers can be humid and make outdoors uncomfortable. When that happens folks have learned to stay in where it is air conditioned. Thankfully that too is short lived.
When the end of February comes we have delightful surprises all around. Ornamental trees start to bloom, daffodils pop up and bloom whereever they are planted. To see this happen so early in spring brings hope to the darkest heart.
Speaking of heart, we have the top heart center in the state in our town. If you are not blessed with good health and even if you are, any medical specialist you may need is found here. And if your heart - and soul - need nurturing we have all of the churches here that anyone could want. Some are huge, like 3,000 members and others are small with less than 100 members. A lot of them offer Day Care for young families and all have friendly, helpful members ready to welcome one and all.
If I have painted a rosy picture of our area it is just because it has so much to offer a law abiding, productive, population. Our sheriff and his deputies are present and ready to help, protect and counsel any resident who asks for it. I have never had occasion to be reprimanded by them, nor do I want to, but they are up to the task if needed.
One last thing,if you like growing your own fresh vegetables, the climate is perfect for that. If you are not a gardener there are summer markets and Pick Your Own farms waiting to see you. I have only touched on the tip of all the agreeable situations here in our area. If you are sick and tired of all the snow, and ice problems of the north, come south, we have the cure.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Eight Women
Have you ever wondered what goes on in a church meeting with 8 women gathered around a round table? Well I can tell you what happened today. Our group is called Grace Circle. A group which meets at night has a different name. We usually greet and have coffee or tea, and our hostess supplies a treat such a cake, or coffee cake. At this point someone asks God's blessing on our meeting.
Then we have a business meeting. Today the new business was directed to one of our missions called Randy's House. This is a home for young men who cannot live alone for various reasons. We send them money each month and now are being asked to send supplies in small packages, like pop tarts, cereals, paper towels, etc. We decided to put a box (for receiving these various items) in fellowship hall where we will see it and be reminded.
When our leader is ready to begin the lesson she first asks each lady to tell about something good that has happened this past week. Several were happy that all of the snow and ice was gone. Our leader is from Connecticut and liked the ice and snow, and was happy to be able to stay in and catch up on five hours of ironing ! Another was happy that her daughter's eye surgery had been so successful and now she could see tree brances, read certain things, etc. One lady was very happy that a leak in her roof turned out to be a minor thing and easily repaired.
Then we got into the lesson which was from Revelations chapter 12: 1-12. Our teacher likes to have everything under control so she calls on different ones to read from the scripture then she reads from a paper interpreting what was just read to throw light on what the scriptures meant. When we had finished all of this she said that was all she had and were there any comments. That was a mistake as I always have an opinion. I was puzzled by the fact that God allowed Satan to have power to do things on the earth. To my way of thinking he has given Satan full reign at the present time, not only through the weather but by the hatred that is so vividely expressed in some parts of the world, as well as crimes against children, abroad and in our own country.
Our poor leader looked down at her books in front of her and sighed. Yet we all got into a lively discussion, no doubt releasing our own frustrations regarding the things which are out of our control. Individually and as a group we work to bring to life positive things for others here and in other countries. Sometimes it just needs to be said I suppose, that all is not perfect and we need to keep on keeping on to make things better. Still we believe that God's absence in our lives is what allows Satan to do his best work.
Then we have a business meeting. Today the new business was directed to one of our missions called Randy's House. This is a home for young men who cannot live alone for various reasons. We send them money each month and now are being asked to send supplies in small packages, like pop tarts, cereals, paper towels, etc. We decided to put a box (for receiving these various items) in fellowship hall where we will see it and be reminded.
When our leader is ready to begin the lesson she first asks each lady to tell about something good that has happened this past week. Several were happy that all of the snow and ice was gone. Our leader is from Connecticut and liked the ice and snow, and was happy to be able to stay in and catch up on five hours of ironing ! Another was happy that her daughter's eye surgery had been so successful and now she could see tree brances, read certain things, etc. One lady was very happy that a leak in her roof turned out to be a minor thing and easily repaired.
Then we got into the lesson which was from Revelations chapter 12: 1-12. Our teacher likes to have everything under control so she calls on different ones to read from the scripture then she reads from a paper interpreting what was just read to throw light on what the scriptures meant. When we had finished all of this she said that was all she had and were there any comments. That was a mistake as I always have an opinion. I was puzzled by the fact that God allowed Satan to have power to do things on the earth. To my way of thinking he has given Satan full reign at the present time, not only through the weather but by the hatred that is so vividely expressed in some parts of the world, as well as crimes against children, abroad and in our own country.
Our poor leader looked down at her books in front of her and sighed. Yet we all got into a lively discussion, no doubt releasing our own frustrations regarding the things which are out of our control. Individually and as a group we work to bring to life positive things for others here and in other countries. Sometimes it just needs to be said I suppose, that all is not perfect and we need to keep on keeping on to make things better. Still we believe that God's absence in our lives is what allows Satan to do his best work.
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