Bible Study and Up-potted Tomatoes

good morning wonderful friends.           we had a good day yesterday and plan on today being good one today as well.          God made it, so it will have to be a good day.        yesterday, we went to Lowes and I finally got some more container soil, so I'll be working on getting some of my containers filled and ready to plant seeds in or set my starts in when the right time rolls around.        the wind has howled and it's rained some.          it was a really windy night and this morning is starting to be windy also.       lots of trees came down in the county last night, taking out electricity across the county.      so I don't know what all else it will do, but I just hope it calms down today.         we got our walk in yesterday morning early and while we was walking, there was wood pecker that was really making a lot noise trying to get at his early morning snack.       I'm always hearing them and mentioning them, but I do love hearing a wood pecker.          when we still lived in another state, there was a metal grain bin in the far back corner of where the yard and the farm started, and the crazy wood peckers would land on that grain bin and sit there pecking on it for hours at a time!!!!        I wish I could have taken a recording of it, but I didn't think about it at the time.        but if you ever hear it, it's hilarious.       I'll tell you what I'd love to hear tonight.        an owl.      we used to have 2 pairs of owls that hung out in the trees close by, and it was an awesome sound to hear them calling to each other.        the 2 pairs of owls were different.       so their calls to each other were different sounding and it was such an awesome experience to hear their calls to one another.        I love the sounds of nature and birds.          it just seems they help to make all the turmoil going on around us all the time, a little more bearable.   

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so, lets do "2 minutes in the kitchen with me" and we'll talk tomatoes.            so I had started tomatoes in one of my Dak Ride hydroponic systems I had gotten form amazon last year.         I started these on Feb 3rd.           I took them from the hydro unit on Feb 26th and put them in solo cups with holes in the bottom so the seed starter soil can soak up water.           to do this, I have to keep the tomatoes very wet for the first week or so, to transition them from water to soil.          these are my small ones, mini, dwarfs, and tom thumb types.        they won't get very large at all, but they will produce like nobody's business.  

the ones below are the full sized tomatoes that I'm growing.          they were really big, should have been taken out of the hydro about a week or so ago, but weather wasn't permitting that.         

I got all of my tomatoes out in the sprout house in the garage with the grow lights and heat mats and everything is set.         I hope it's enough to protect them from any severe cold that we may have coming up before spring arrives.

this is a great way to start your own seeds and they will quickly pay for themselves when you check out the prices of seed starts at some of the places that sell them.        plus you have a great satisfaction knowing you grew them yourself.         I always say that I plant, then I pray and let God do the rest.      

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it's time for our little "giggle for the day":

Q - Where do you learn to make banana splits? 

A - At sundae school. 

well, now I want ice cream!!!!😂😂😂😂😂

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starting at Psalm 120,  have you ever cried for deliverance?     false accusations, lying tongues, deceitful people are ruthless and relentless, but God hears our cries and He answers those who call out to Him.

Psalm 121, this is one of my absolute favorites.   kjv says "I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help!!"       help comes from no one but the Lord!!!!    such a beautiful psalm and we should be confident that God will do what He has said He'll do!!!      He is our help!!!

Psalm 122, there is joy in worshiping God together with others of like minded faith.     when we gather with others and worship God, we share in the unity among brothers and sisters in Christ.     

Psalm 123, praying to God is always the best place to start when in a time of trouble.       when we keep our eyes on God, we're looking in the right place.   we can be encouraged when we call on God because we know He hears us.

Psalm 124, guess what, makes no difference how strong we may be, were if not for the Lord on our side, we will not be successful!!      it's always God's victory, not ours.

Psalm 125, we need to remember that wicked people will only be around for while.      their rule is temporary and we will not affected by them forever.      they will meet their demise.      God is our protector.

Psalm 126, we can rest assured that God will restore everything that the enemy has taken from us.     God is the one turns tears to joy!!       I need to remember this.

Psalm 127,  this psalm shows us just how dependent on God we actually are.      unless God is in what ever you may be doing, it's all useless and a waste of time.     

Psalm 128, do we fear the Lord?         do we walk in His ways?        are loving our families and neighbors and good citizens of the community in which we live?         if so, then we are living our lives based on how important God is to us.      we are living a life that honors God.      

Psalm 129, are you excited when problems come your way?         probably not, but need to remember and have confidence that the justice of God will set things straight.

Psalm 130, in the Lord and only in the Lord, we will find redemption!!!!!     Praise God!!!!

Psalm 131, trusting in God will soothe the soul, just like a loving Momma can soothe a child.       such a beautiful picture of the presence of God in our lives.

Psalm 132, we can trust God to fulfill the promises that He has made to His people!!!       our hope is in the Lord and Him alone!!

Psalm 133, we can worship God in unity.        unity among God's people is something that He will bless in a mighty way.

Psalm 134, may we serve the Lord regardless of any circumstances and may we ask the Lord to bless others, even while we're in difficult times ourselves.  

Psalm 135, in this psalm we see it all.         God is good.       God is great.       God is faithful.        God is greatly to be praised!!!!

Psalm 136, do you ever wonder about the goodness of God?       if so, this is the psalm for you.       it's definitely a favorite!!!          His faithfulness is everlasting!!!!

Psalm 137, this world is not our home.      we're just passing thru.        if you ever feel like you're not at home in this world, guess what, you're not.       our salvation and safety and our home is with the Lord!!

Psalm 138, our thanks, praises and worship is given to God because of His mercy and faithfulness, even in the midst of troubles and trials.

Psalm139,  where can go to get away from God?     absolutely no where!!        we are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of all things, God!!!       there is nothing He doesn't know about us.    He knows it all, praise Him!!!

Psalm 140, we all need to rescued and protected from the wicked people around us.      God is who will give us that protection.

Psalm 141, do you ever feel like you need a guard over your mouth and your heart protected?      we all do and God the is One we call on!!!

Psalm 142, when we are living in fear, we can call out to God for His help!!!        do you ever feel afraid and alone?        David knew that feeling and he cried out to God.

Psalm 143,sometimes we need to meditate on all that God done for us and ask Him to teach us His ways.

Psalm 144, rock, fortress, stronghold, shield, a new song to sing........ what a mighty God we serve!!!!

Psalm 145, great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!!!!!!  we can never praise Him enough for all He has done for us.

Psalm 146, Praise the Lord, O my soul!!!!!   God is the only One we can trust!!!!!

Psalm 147, God is creator of all and in Him is redemption.       praise God!!!

Psalm 148, all of creation is called on to praise the Lord!!!     

Psalm 149,  sing praises to God, sing new songs, make music on the tambourines, praise God in all circumstances!!!

Psalm 150, do you want to know when and where to praise God.        at all times and where ever you are.        anywhere and everywhere and at all times is the perfect time and place to praise God!!!

well, we made a whirlwind trip thru the Psalms.      next time we'll start on Proverbs.

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well, that's a wrap for today.       if you're in harms way of weather rolling thru your area, stay alert and stay safe.         I pray that we will praise God at all times and that we continue to be seeking after the heart of God in all that we do.         I pray that we all have a great day today and that we remember to be thankful to God for it.       blessings of peace and mercy be ours today.

hugs and love, patty

Average or not, and other random thoughts and actions

good morning beautiful, dear friends.           as I sit here this morning finishing up my morning coffee and this blog post that was started back towards the last of October,  yup you read that right, I've heard birds outside calling to their mates and friends.          I've heard dogs barking.         one in particular is unfamiliar.           it's funny how you get used to hearing animals and then all the sudden you hear one that's new and it makes me wonder if someone in the neighborhood did get a new family pet.        in the far distance, I'll hear the random mower, start and stop and wonder what's happening.        hahahaha        I heard the train run thru earlier and wondered about the engineer and what was being hauled from one place to another.         I'll hear the random vehicle go past just outside the house and then I'll hear a car door slam and then all the sudden an alarm in the kitchen will go off and I need to get up and take care of something.       maybe my countertop oven finished baking some bread.        but when I hear the sound for me to do something, I'm quickly brought back to my home and no more wondering what's happening just outside the walls of our home.        anyway, that's just some of the randomness that's taking place here this morning.         and the sun is shining beautifully.          it was a crisp 34* this morning, so it's beginning to look and feel like fall and very closely like winter.          most of the leaves are off the trees by now.         so it's starting to look bare.         and I don't mind telling you that I am missing my garden now.          so that's what I'm dreaming of these days.     

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I did want to just put up some random pictures and tell a little bit about each one and maybe share a little bit of info.        back early in the year, I got about 80 to 90 seeds started which was the beginning of my outdoor garden.        they was growing really well and looking great.       I would take them from the garage to the porch every day when it got above freezing and give them some sunshine and shade and let them get used to being outside.         I had all the starts outside on a night that wasn't supposed to get any colder than the low 40's.        so I knew if it didn't get any colder than that, all my plants would do well.          a little stress is good for them.         well, the temp dropped like a lead balloon and was at 19* most of the night, after we went to bed!!!!!          all my plants froze to death!!          weather bug is the biggest liar!!!!          I do NOT trust it anymore.         after I cried all day, I started trying to solve my problem.          I ordered a hydroponic system from amazon.         I got it and got some seeds started and they came up in record time and they looked so good  and healthy.        once they was stable, I took them from the hydroponic and potted them in container soil in solo cups and then put the solo cups in larger container that would hold 12 or 13 solo cups.        I put that container in the garage in the little greenhouse that I have out there with grow lights and a couple of heat mats.        with the hydroponic empty, I started 12 more seeds.         my husband ordered another one for me and I could then start 24 seeds at a time.          that's how I even had a garden this time.        I grow everything in containers and off the ground raised beds.

this is one of the containers of my starts that was started in my indoor hydroponic systems.        they grow so well and I'm so excited to have them that I can't hardly wait to get my garden started.

this is just a random picture of some of my babies, just starting.

this is both of my DakRide hydroponics from amazon loaded up with growing seedlings.          it's so exciting to the pictures because I know in a few short months, if the Lord lets me live, I'll get to start more.         yay!!

these are some of the lettuces that I grew.           they were so good.         I've been thinking about starting some more to have thru the winter.

this is what basket looks like that holds the pod that I put the seeds in.        when I get read to transplant the seedlings, I gently pull the pod and the plant from the basket and wash it and put another pod in it and put a seed it and the cycle starts again.

this is where I took the DakRides apart and cleaned them for the season.         if you use tap water, they will build up a lime scale from the water.          it is recommended to use store bought water that has been boiled and all the impurities removed and I learned my lesson.        you even have to take the little water circulator apart and clean it.         one of the best and safest things to clean them with is cleaning vinegar.         it will cut the scale, plus it cleans it well with no harsh chemicals.       

well, I guess this is enough randomness about my hydroponics.         keep an eye out for when I get ready to start my seeds for 2025.          I'll take more pics and share more.  

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someone here back had asked about dr and going to the drs and how to deal with them when they belittle us.         this is the response that I shared from a real life actual experience.        my nurse practitioner had sent me to this specialist.      I was looking forward to getting some answers to some long time problems, but instead he sat with my file rolled up in his hand like a little horn, I kept expecting him to toot it.         he sat there and talked for about 45 minutes.           he never once looked in my file.        he just kept talking about the "average woman".             when he finally took a breath, he said, "what treatment do you think suits you best?"           I looked at him and I asked him what I should have a thought about, because he never said one thing about "me", just the "average woman".           

he never looked at the file in his hand, if he would have, he would have seen some of the things that's in my history and my family history.               I just told him that I'm anything but "average" and I didn't hear him say one word specifically about me.             I was sitting there with the check for the office visit written and holding it in my hand the whole time.            after I asked him what exactly he had said that was concerning me, he went stark raving mad,  screaming and cursed me up one side and down the other.           

I stood up and looked him square in the eyes and started screaming myself, since that was the only way he would hear me, and told him if he wants payment for this quackery visit, he better have some tape on hand.          I tore that check   up into pieces   smaller than a dime and threw them in the air.          I told him that I would never pay him or anyone else to treat me like garbage!!!          (I also contacted my ins co, so his time with me was on his dollar, not mine or my ins co.)         he was red faced and madder than all get out, still cursing me to the top of his lungs.           

he left the room and slammed  the   door  behind  him and then  went  to  another  room and  slammed  that door behind him!!           when I walked out of the room and went towards the front desk, his 2 employees was standing there crying.          I looked and seen they was crying and I just hugged them both.         they whispered and said he does this to women all the time.          they was so proud that someone finally stood up to him.           I asked them if they was afraid to stay in here with him now and if they was I would stay with them.          they both hugged me tight and assured me that they would be ok.         they was just so happy to see someone stand up to him.           

there is nothing about me or anyone else that's "average"!!!          think about it, God made us all in His image!!!!          that's enough to say that we all are very well "above average"!!!           and we  certainly  don't  have to pay anyone to treat us like garbage!!          that was a pivotal day for me!!!            I am not an "average woman".         an "average woman" would have taken his garbage.           we don't have to!!!!           because we're not "average"!!

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hey y'all.         I posted about my pepper strings that I'm working on. I just wanted to throw this out there for food for thought.           I usually dehydrate all my excess produce.          it takes up less space than canning and I don't have a lot of storage space.

so over the last few years I've done a lot of experimenting with planting seeds.       not just any seeds, but seeds that had been dehydrated.         in the process of experimenting, I found out that most temps that are recommended for dehydrating is just too high to begin with.         yes, it will get the food dry quicker, but you may end up with "case hardening", which means it got dry on the outside, but still wet on the inside.          anything less than completely dry will cause mold in storage.        so I coined my own phrase, "cracker crisp, rock hard and bond dry".          those are my criteria before I can store it.

in all the experimenting I've done, I've found that my produce is much more beautiful when dry, when I use much lower temps than the manuals or others may recommend.           anything with sugars and starches in it will turn dark with the high temps.           a lot of people will recommend dipping everything in lemon juice to prevent produce from turning dark.           that has never worked for me, but lowering my temps is what worked to preserve the natural beautiful colors.

also, during the experimenting I done with my temps, I was also sticking seeds in the soil to see at what temp, a seed would germinate.         seeds that have gone thru the dehydrating process at the higher temps won't germinate.

guess what, all the seeds that had gone thru the dehydrating process with my dehydrators set at 110*, I got 100% germination with all the seeds I tried.         at 110* your seeds will still viable. they may be viable at a little higher than that, but 110* is what I found to be the sweet number for me to use to dehydrate peppers and tomatoes and for sure.           and I wouldn't hesitate to use my small dehydrator to just load it up with all kinds of seeds at the end of the growing season and dehydrate seeds for next year. as a matter of fact, I'm gonna try it for a lot of my seeds for next year.

this is what my pepper string looks like and just a sampling of my dehydrated goods.

    

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I seen this posted the other day and I thought, you know what, this is exactly spot on.          it can work both ways.         either good or bad.        I pray that we all strive for this to be good.         start reading the bible and let this become who we simply are.        what could be better than that, to become the embodiment of scripture.         to be more like Jesus in every way, every day.        let's do it y'all!!!!        it's needed more now than ever!!!!

like I said, this can be either good or bad, it's just what we make of it.        practicing in sin starts just like this.        also living for Jesus starts the exact same way.        and how we treat others is simply who we are.        intention, behavior, habit, practice, second nature, and it's simply who we are.          let's make sure that who we are is someone living for Jesus with every breath.         

it's hard to do.           because we live in a day and age where people do not care about others.           most people are waiting to jump on someone or shame them in some way.         just like the dude that I called out for jumping on someone for not wording something exactly like he thought it needed to be.      and just like the dr that literally gave me a cussing in his office!!      that's what I call mean spirited.          and nothing about that dr and the dude that jumped on someone on line over him not understanding what the person wrote; there's nothing in these 2 men's behavior would lead me to believe that they sat at the feet Jesus or even knew who Jesus is!!!           and then blame it on having to deal with people all day long.         excuses!!!!     we are who we are and it will definitely show.

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so I guess this is enough randomness for one day.        just a bunch of little things that I didn't want to forget, and maybe some that I should.        hahaha        hopefully some of it was worthy of your time being here.       I hope you seen something here that will be a blessing to you.      may you know the love of Jesus Christ in your life today.        I pray that you have a beautiful rest of your day!!!!       hugs and love and blessings beyond measure, patty