Summer...at last!

Well, it sure has been a long time coming, yet we do not complain as the Sovereign Lord oversees all, including the seasons.

Our garden was mostly in before the plenteous rains came...and I MEAN plenteous. It does appear as though some of the tomatoes, peppers and green beans have succumbed to the standing water. I suppose this bodes well for the mosquitoes, also.

The peas are a bit yellowish but otherwise look pretty good. I think absolutely EVERY sunflower seed we put in the garden germinated. Looks like a good year for fall bouquets. I have planted four different kinds of sunflowers, ranging in height from 20 inches to almost 12 feets. The feature colors from deep red, almost rust, to butter yellow. When they have completely matured and the heads are full I have the guys at the Blessed Life Ranch cut the stalks just above the ground, gather them into large 'bouquets' and tie them to metal fence posts right outside our large, double windows in the great room. It provides food, shelter and perches for the many birds of late summer and fall, especially for those spending the winter. I have also dried them upside down in the garage and then stuck them in snowbanks. Again, food, perches and protection.

The first crop of corn is up and looks pretty good, but REALLY it ought to be as high as an elephant's eye by the Fourth. That will never happen this year. The carrots have bravely pushed through the fertile Red River Valley soil, but, again, they ought to be much, much further along.

With about 11,000 sq. ft. of garden to care for, I am kept busy during the summer months. I love just about everything about the project and I can sure see why God started things out in a garden.

As God prospers this little spot of Eden I will be canning, pickling, and freezing.

I appreciated the sermon on Sunday about the scattering of seed and how it falls on various types of soil or non-soil. Almost everything in life can be equated to a garden for all things take weeding, thinning, watering and trimming. That's how it is relationships anyway.

Well, I'm off now to examine further damage in the garden and make plans to fix or ignore what can't be fixed, to plant again or give up on some things for this year.

And still....I am filled with joy and deep gratitude for the pleasure of living, loving, feasting, singing, dancing and laughing in this great country. We are blessed, we are blessed, we are blessed.