A view from my neck of the woods

good morning y'all.         it looks to be a beautiful day so far, although it is quite early to make such a judgement call.       it is 7:35 am when I'm typing this out.        I just looked out the back door and the sun is trying to shine.        it's kinda strange, I don't hear any of the usual sounds I typically hear of the morning.        I guess that means everyone is still unactive as of the moment.       I don't even hear the typical birds and frogs talking to each other.        those are sounds that I never get tired of hearing.        it brings joy to my soul to hear the birds and frogs and just all usual morning sounds.        I'm not hearing the train like we usually hear, or road traffic that is the norm for around here.       but I guess I'll start hearing it soon enough.    

I took pics of my deck garden the other day and finally got them sent to me from my cell phone to my computer and thought y'all might like to take a peek at what's growing out back.      lots of tomatoes and peppers.        those are just a necessity.        I'm not the greatest gardener by any means, but I try.       as long as I've been trying to container garden, I still honestly don't have clue, but I keep trying.         I keep praying and God keeps answering my prayers.         I'm clueless about fertilizer and all that stuff, but like I said, I keep trying.   

and, back to first paragraph, just like that, I hear a train on the other side of town, it will be rolling thru here in a few minutes. 

Now, on to the garden:  

the first pic is the shot from the ramp, just before I step onto the deck.    from the back corner to the opposite front corner.        you can click on the pictures and it will bring us the full sized version.

this pic below, I'm still standing where I was for the first pic, I just pivoted towards the corner of the house and took a pic back that direction.         you'll also notice some colorful pieces on top of some of the poles I'm using.          those are pool noodles from the dollar tree  that I cut and put on top of the poles to keep the poles from poking holes thru the mesh that I use to cover the containers.        the pool noodles work well.   

this one below, is down the ramp, to the landing and that's where my 3 fig trees are for now.        they are covered in sheer mesh bags to keep from sprawling out and also to keep squirrels and birds from digging around in the containers.        I noticed the mesh looks funny, I'm sorry about that.        I'd like for the fig trees to show up better.         I'm not gonna have any figs this year, I trimmed them last year and cut them back too much and I cut off all the growth that would have had figs this year.         that's my thoughts on it anyway.         I actually got 36 cutting from the 3 figs and only 1 cutting survived the winter.        so I guess it's fair to say that I don't know anything about fig trees either.

the pic below is the front of the deck facing the woods as you can see.         the tall containers are "Keter" containers.         these were made in Israel.        I don't know where they are made now, but I do love the fact that these were made in Israel.        I got them at a place called Bargain Hunt about 4 years ago.      we kept going and asking about when they was gonna go on sale.       the regular price for them at BH was $85 each.        (they're about $150 from amazon right now)        we went one morning and asked  about  them, and  the lady  we  asked  said  I don't  know  if they're  marked  down yet, let me ask.       she asked the  manager  about them, and  he said that he just got the memo on them this morning and that they had indeed gone on clearance.         the lady told me and I asked how much they are now.         she told me and I started crying!!!        I looked at my husband with tears streaming down my face and he was smiling real big and we both just started laughing and I just had a pretty big Jesus moment right there, praising Him and thanking for such a blessing!!        we got 4 for less than the price of 1 at their original store price.         $20 dollars a piece!!!!!          Yes, thank you Jesus!!!!         and these 2 keters have greenbeans in them.         there is cane poles with pool noodles in the sides and centers of both to help hold the mesh up that I had put over them to keep birds and squirrels out of them.         these are in full bloom and I should have small greenbeans by the end of next week, the first weekend in June.           in front of the are tomatoes, peppers and a planter full of stevia.        I've got dry some stevia so it can bush out even more.

the pic below is just down from the greenbean filled keters.          you can't see it to well, but there are 2 low benches that I have containers setting on.          on the back row and up the rail on the side of the deck is where I have watermelons and all kinds of squash growing.        some of them, I've replanted the seeds two or 3 times and if they don't come up this time, I'm planting more greenbeans.          also, I have 4 containers with corn in them.        this is just for fun, I totally don't expect it to make corn, so I'll probably plant more greenbeans soon.          we love greenbeans.

the pic below is of my early girl watermelon and you can see peppers and tomatoes around it.        I hope it does well.        we had 3 or 4 watermelons last year and they were delicious.

this next pic is where I played "I spy" in the garden and low and behold I spied some fresno peppers in my garden.       yay!!!

this is one of my little dollar tree stackables with micro toms and orange hat toms.       there is 9 tomatoes in this little planter and they are loaded with green tomatoes.         the very last tomato that I planted in the top wasn't a micro or an orange hat.        it appears to be full sixed and I may have trouble with it if the wind blows.        hahaha          I've thought about cutting it off some, I'll wait and see.

this next pic below is down the row where I have the melons and squash set.       some of the seeds haven't come up yet and I may end up planting something else.         I don't know yet.       I have 2 containers with squash/pumpkin that have "hull-less" seeds.         they are stinkers to get sprouted.         the seeds are expensive and I'm just about out of seeds, but I really want to grow some of these.    

ok, now this next pic below is on the wall of the house and you can see the legs of 2 more keters.         I have a container with the mesh over it that has okra seeds in it.          when they sprout, I'll remove the mesh and put forks in the container like the of them have.        then beside the okra is tomatoes and peppers.       

the pic below is another view of the containers on the benches that we had looked at earlier, but I realized that I didn't get a pic of the sunflowers I have growing.       the very last container on the bench is the sunflowers.          these are supposed to be a mini variety.        I can't wait to see them when they bloom.

now, the pic below is back to the keters that are at the back of the house.           this keter is filled broccoli rabe and I don't expect it do much.         they just don't look like much.         so what I actually done was put more tomatoes and peppers in this keter.         so there is broccoli rabe, tomatoes and peppers in this one.        this one and the one next to is still has a black mesh over them just to keep birds out.        the holes are big enough for pollinators to get it, but not birds or squirrels. 

this pic below is looking toward the house where it makes a corner on the deck.         that's the backdoor going into our bedroom.         it catches the early morning sun and make the bedroom unbearably hot, so I covered the storm door on the inside with light blocking barrier and I use heavy curtains on the inside to keep the heat out, that's why it's black.         but, right here is my 2 strawberry greenstalk towers.       I had filled them with 50 strawberry plants just before winter.        some of them survived, but about half of them didn't make it.         that's why there are empty pockets.        but these are putting out runners now and I thrilled about that.         I'm hoping I can the pockets filled before winter and we can have a lot more strawberries next season.         these are everbearing strawberries.         they will have fruit all season, but not a huge abundance unless you have several plants.

so the pic below is the last keter, sitting beside the one with the broccoli rabe, tomatoes and peppers.      in this particular one is "red rat tail radishes".        you don't grow them for the tuber below, you grow them for the seed pods that they produce.        they look similar to greenbeans and they are spicy like a radish.        this is my first year with them, and upon closer reading about them, I would be planting them in the keters any more.        info said that they can get to 5 feet tall.        I'll have to use a step ladder to harvest them.          they already have a to of blooms and the info said they would keep on growing and making blooms.         we'll see how they turn out.

this next pic below is over in the corner of the deck and I have 2 other raised beds containers.        they have green peas and onions in them.         I've never had any success with starting onions from seed so hopefully these will do something for me.         and sitting beside those is my little greenhouse on wheels.        it's where  I brought  my plants  from the garage to harden off before I actually planted them.           I'll take it to the garden shed after the fall season is over.        and then I can bring it back out next year when I start the process all over again.        right now it's full of a lot of the stuff I'm using in the garden, so it gives me a storage area. 

well, this is a look at my garden, such as it is.         I'm sure you noticed a lot of forks.          well, they are to keep birds and squirrels and neighbor cats out of my containers.         I had to put black mesh on my strawberries too.         the birds were trying to build nests and they killed about 4 or 5 of my strawberries that had survived the winter.         so I just got the mesh and made a tube and pulled it down over the strawberries.          the pollinators can get to the blooms, but the birds don't have anywhere to make their nests.        and the squirrels can't bury their nuts.         oh, the things we gotta do to have a garden.

I've always said that I plant and pray and God does the rest.         I stand by that statement.         because I don't know enough about gardening to fill a thimble, but I do know The Master Gardener.        and helps me and blesses me and encourages me to keep on growing.          as long as He is with me, I'll keep growing a garden.        I just think that gardens happen to to be a very happy place.        if you remember, it was in the Garden that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day and He spent time with Adam and I think that's why so many people have peace and contentment in the garden.        I know it is a special time for me when I'm out on the deck working and just praising God for the time that He has blessed me with.

well, I guess that's about all I have for you today.       I hope and pray that you seen something here today that you like and if you did, share it with someone you know who may be struggling with life and tell them that God loves them enough to provide a way for us to be in relationship with Him thru the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.       when we spend with Him, it's time well spent.

blessings to you all and happy gardening.      hugs and love, patty

please overlook any spelling or whatever, I'm not real good at this either.  but if I see something weird, I'll change it.  thanks.

Bible Study and Container Gardening 101, from my side of the fence

good morning from my side of the fence.          I hope we're all ready to make this a great day.       I don't know what we'll do today, so it's a mystery right now.         hahaha          it look as if it's gonna be a cloudy day and then rain tomorrow and saturday.          that's what some of the weather people are saying, so we'll probably just have to wait and see.       I may get a few groceries today.         I don't know what else will be on the agenda.        I have another one of those raised beds like in the picture below that I need to get filled with soil now that my sweet husband got the tables made for me.        they will be my lettuce houses and maybe some brassicas in one.         I don't know, we'll see.       anyway, I'm pretty happy to finally them fixed where they are usable as you'll find out below.         so, let's get to it.    

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let's do a little bit of "2 minutes in the garden with me".           when I thought I would share these pics with you, I though that I would share a little bit of what I've learned about container gardening over the last 8 or 10 years.          it may not mean much to most people that inground garden, but it might be useful to those gardening in containers.

these are my 2, 4 tier greenstalks that I got planted with green bean seeds on monday.         and yes, thats about 2 and half months too early for my neck of the woods.         but when I got them sowed, I put the frost covers on them.         I did last year and when I took the covers off late last spring, they already had blooms on them.          I had greenbeans a few months earlier than ever before.        so I done it again this year.

this is one of 2 raised bed planters I got last year.        the legs on them were really wobbly, so I just planted one and didn't do much with it because I was afraid it would fall and I didn't want the mess on the deck to clean up.         so hubby and I put our heads together about what I wanted and he built it out of salvaged lumber from the straight line winds that brought down the neighbors pine trees on our shed in 2023.          we salvaged as much lumber from that as we could, so this was treated lumber and it will last a long time.         he made 2 tables just like this, so now I can fill the other raised bed and get it on the other table and get them filled with lettuce and other goodies.     

now on to Container Gardening 101.          this is what I've learned from hard experience.          I've had a lot of people tell me I couldn't do what I do in containers.          obviously, that was before container gardening  became a big  thing.          even  in my  area, I  still keep  having people tell me I can't do that.       they just about lose their stuff when I tell them that they should have told me that about 10 years ago, because I've been doing it for a long time now.          if they had told me when I was still young and stupid, I might have believed them.         but getting old and cranky has it's benefits.         I can say, "here, hold my ensure, watch this" and it really opens eyes now.        hahaha

one of the things that I have learned about container gardening is that I have to ignore the "this plant loves full sun", "grows best in full sun", or any of the other sayings about growing this or that plant or your whole garden in full sun.       I have learned to IGNORE the full sun statements on any seed pack, because it DOES NOT WORK for container gardening.        I'm not a scientist or anything like that, I'm just someone that can take it upon myself to find out what I can and can't do.        what I have learned is that containers do NOT like full sun.        they just don't.       I have my own theory about that and like I said I'm not a scientist, but here goes.       containers absorb a LOT of heat.       sitting above ground, sitting on a deck, sitting on concrete, sitting on gravel, sitting on asphalt, they absorb a LOT of heat.      when seeds are planted in the soil, the soil itself disperses the heat out equally, so it's not so hot in one concentrated spot.        in a container, it absorbs all the heat and it stays in one spot right there where the roots are.       I don't know what the temp of inground soil gets, but like I said, it disperses out side to side and goes on down into the ground.        the containers hold the heat in like the box of an oven.        they just get hotter and hotter as the day wears on.       that can burn the roots.       that can kill the plant.  even if it doesn't kill the plant, it will not thrive in full sun in a container.        try it for yourself.       plant a tomato or a pepper in a container and then put it in the full sun all day for weeks and see what happens.     you'll get peppers and tomatoes that are sun scalded if you get anything at all.        yes, peppers like it hot, but in containers, they will get too hot, being in full sun all day long.       I've had some of mine lose some of their leaves because they are too hot and not loving being in the sun.       it makes no difference where you live, if you're growing in containers, your tackling a whole different beast and it comes with it's own set of challenges.       

even now, I have  people that  just  can't  help  themselves,  to tell me that  what I'm  doing  is  all wrong.        I just tell  them that if I listened to all the negativity I wouldn't even have enough smarts to get myself out of bed in the mornings.        but I'm smart enough to tackle the job and learn, just to see what I'm capable of doing.         no, I'm not the smartest, wisest gardener out there.        heck, I don't even claim to be a gardener.         I just claim to be someone who has sought out ways to do what I love to do and do it in such a way that I can be outside and enjoy nature.         only because I have allergies and I can't be outside for days on end working in a garden.        I had to figure out a way to keep me out of the grasses as much as possible, so I wouldn't have terrible rashes on my ankles and legs.       I also wear a mask when outside, just to keep from getting sinus infections.        so I've had a vested interest in trying to figure out how to garden in such a way that allows me to do it.       that led to growing a tomato on the deck in a pot.       that led to more pots of tomatoes, pots of peppers, pots of beans and lettuce pots and so on and so on and more containers, larger containers, vertical gardening towers and raised beds on legs and you name it, I guess I've got it.         and again, I'm not the greatest gardener.        I plant a seed or a seed start, and I pray and let God do the rest.         any smarts I have, have come from Him giving me wisdom and insight enough to keep trying something different until something works.       then repeat what works.         my husband told me one time that insanity has been described as doing something the same way, time and time and time again, and expecting a different outcome.        so, if one way doesn't give me a good outcome, I'll try something else.         and with the temps that we had last summer, we'll be trying something different, if we want to grow some food.       so, set your mind that every day is a day to learn and do something different when necessary.         keep good records of your successes and try them again.          if something fails, record it so you won't repeat the same mistake twice and then forget about it and move on to trying it a different way.        I'm not set on doing something a specific way, but when it I know it works, that's how I'll keep doing it.        also, what works for one area on the map, may not work for another area on the map.        but, it's up to us, where we are, to keep trying until we do find what works.         don't give up just because something doesn't work the first , second or third time, you just haven't found the  way to make it work yet.      we'll take on some more Gardening 101 in the up coming weeks.       

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time for the giggle for the day:

Q - Why are horses so sleepy? 

A - They’re always hitting the hay.

neigh winnie  😂😂😂😂😂

hum, wonder if that's why I'm always sleepy?       nah, I prefer straw.     

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picking up with Isaiah 5,    this was an interesting segment of this chapter and I thought it was worth sharing.          read this carefully.       does any of this sound familiar??????          oh yes, you bet it all does!!!!         God says "WOE, to those......."         a quick search of woe and I found it means anguish, grief, trouble,  and is often used as an exclamation of judgement, misfortune or sorrow.       so, anguish, grief and trouble to all those who call evil good and good evil.        God will take care of all of this in His timing.       of that we can be sure.        these 4 verses below describe the days and times we live in perfectly.        

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes  and clever in their own sight!

22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing intoxicating drink,

23 Who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

Isaiah 6,        we see "holy, holy, holy", meaning God alone is set apart and worthy of our praise.        no other being is worthy of these accolades.        He is mighty and majestic, and it should show us just how unworthy we truly are.          how many of us are willing to say, "here I am, send me!!"?         we're all called right where we are to be a beacon of hope for those around us who need to know about God.

Isaiah 7,     this particular chapter tells of the coming Immanuel, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!!    Praise God!!!          He is mighty and majestic!!!      and greatly to be praised!!!

Isaiah 8,        one of the takeaways from this chapter is that God's word alone is what saves souls, not what man says about God.         what I say or what I type about God is not capable of saving souls, only the word of God can do that.        people with good intentions can lead you to the word of God that saves souls, but they themselves can't save you.        even people with good intentions can mislead you, or lead you astray, by accident.         so prove what anyone says with the word of God.        prove what I say or disprove what I say with the word of God.        I sure don't want to mislead anyone and if I have it's been by total accident.        so I try to be very careful with I do say and make sure it is scripture based.   

next time we'll pick up with Isaiah 9.

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I think we'll call it done and move on with our day.          as always, I'll ask to keep seeking after the heart of God in all we do.         I pray that we all have a great day and remember to thank Him for waking us up this morning.        blessings of peace and perseverance be ours today.

hugs and love, patty

Bible study and gardening ideas

good morning from my neck of the woods.          it's starting out to be a smashing day.         we walked a little while ago, it was still a crisp 41 degrees, but it has since warmed up to 56, so it should be a good day today.        I hope so anyway.          over the last 2 days, my husband worked on a couple of tables to set 2 of my larger gardening containers on, up on the deck.        I'm excited about that.         I had gotten a couple of long narrow containers last year, with legs off the ground about 24 inches.        I got one planted last year, but the legs are really shaky on it and I was afraid to do much with it so I just kinda left it alone.          after all the major projects was gotten out of the way this year, he took some treated lumber that he salvaged from 2 years ago when straight line winds took out the neighbors pine trees, which then took out our shed at the back of the property.         we salvaged as much as we could from the flattened and he used some of that lumber to make these 2 tables for me.          the containers also have lids that act as a greenhouse.          so I should be able to keep something like lettuce growing for a longer time in the fall and winter and possibly even get them started earlier in late winter or early spring.         anyway, I have high hopes for these containers.    we'll see what I can accomplish with them.        when I get them set up, I'll try to remember to share pictures.        nothing is pretty, because  we need to  replace  the old  deck, hopefully  some day soon.      with the cost of everything now, it may not be possible.        but, I remain hopeful.          as I'm typing, I hear the train rolling thru and I'm reminded that in just a couple of short months, the foliage on the trees will prevent most of the sound from the train even being noticeable.         that's such a change each year, going from haring that and then not  even paying  any attention  to it.        yesterday, I  kept  hearing  lawn  mowers  in the near area.         it was kinda funny, since all that's growing now is the wild onions and and wild garlic.        they could have been raking leaves though.        but it's that time of year when all the familiar noises of spring and summer start happening.       we hear the birds and even a few tree frogs but it won't be long till even the noise making insects will be kicking in with their noises.         what are the sounds that you hear that makes you stop and listen for a few minutes?

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giggle for the day:

Q - What did one hat say to the other? 

A - You wait here. I’ll go on a head.

well, what else would he say?  hahaha

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starting with Chapter 1 in the book of Isaiah, we see God is bringing a lawsuit against His people for all their sin and rebellion.          any country on the face of the planet could read the Book of Isaiah and think it was written for them in this modern day.        the people all across the planet have become more evil and wicked with the passing days.         sin requires repentance.         nothing more, nothing less and nothing else will suffice.         that is the only way we'll be restored back into full fellowship with Him.

Isaiah 2,    did you realize that there will be a time when ALL nations will worship the One and Only True God?          this chapter is telling us about that time.          what a day that will be!!!          can we even begin to imagine what true peace will look like?         I can't.           pride and arrogance will be brought low.           idols and idol worship will vanish!!!         what a day of reckoning.

Isaiah 3,     this chapter tells us that God will remove corrupt leaders.         I wonder if anyone today would think that they are those corrupt leaders?           I think this world has had it's fill of corrupt leaders and I just  have to know within  myself, that God has seen it all!!!         when  corrupt leaders are removed,  that means  we will have  to turn to each  other to survive.         most  people today don't even know  one thing  about survival.      and then we see that people will start taking from other people just to survive.      keep  on reading  this chapter  and we will  see  where  God will put women in their place.       He will take away everything that most are so proud about today.         I was thinking a little while ago while taking a shower, that I am probably one of less than a hundred women in my area who have never had a single manicure.         most people I know spend more money in a year on manicures than a lot of people spend on groceries for a year.         sad thing about that is that most of the money spent on manicures and braids is government money.        not money they earned.      is that vanity?        I don't color my hair, I don't paint my face, I don't wear jewelry, I'm just a plain patty.        and I'm ok with it.         instead of sweet smelling perfume there will be a stench of rotten.          to be honest, I think I already smell it!!

Isaiah 4,      this short chapter tells us that God will put the women in their place.        they will be begging for a man to take away their disgrace.         I hate to think what women have helped cause the problem, over this big huge planet.         this is what we get when we have women wanting to take men's place in government.          does that sound anti-women?        well, it's not.       God made women and men, both with different jobs.        we have women wanting to take over men's jobs and we now have a world full of "girly men"!!!         but the word of God says that we certainly have our part in it.        but we see that God is cleaning up the bride for future beauty and glory.          there will be a time when Gods people will be holy and cleansed from all corruption.

next time we'll pick up at Isaiah 5.

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well, I guess we'll wrap this one up and we'll get on with our day.         I pray that in everything we do, we'll continue to seek after the heart of God.         times are changing and Christians need to be walking as closely to God as we can.        hard times are coming and they won't be for the weak.         we need to realize that our strength comes from Christ alone!!!!           "I can do all things thru Christ, who is my strength!!!"           this should be our only thought.         I can do absolutely nothing on my own, but with Christ, I can do what ever is necessary.        God will make a way when we are seeking His way and His heart.        keep God at the forefront of all we do and do not take our eyes off the cross!!        blessings of steadfastness and peace be ours today.   

hugs and love, patty