The Harvest Begins...

Remember all those potatoes I planted back in February? Okay, so maybe I never told you about the potatoes. The fact remains, I planted three different types of potatoes back in that month. I wish I could tell you one of the varieties was a blue potato, but I didn't have it available to me at Pensacola Seed and Garden, so I made do with two reds and one white. Or, was that two whites and one red? See, I don't know. No one here knows, so why did I bother? I guess that's just one of the things we gardeners do. Grow things just to see what will happen.


Anyway, with the advent of the first potato harvest, I am feeling a certain largess of spirit. I want to give away potatoes to everyone I meet. Wait. Give them away??? Haven't I been trying to start a farmer's market around here for the last three years? What gives? Maybe it's just something about the concept of being able to grow my own food that has my generosity kicking in. Whatever the case may be, I'm about to knock down my unsuspecting neighbor's door and rain some potato bounty down upon him. Wish you all were closer...

Friday Funny

So, ummm...I'm three. How old are you?A radish and a three year old walk into class...

Say it ain't so!

Well, I finally uprooted my prize-winning radish. It wasn't exactly prize-winning but we had developed a relationship, of sorts. James said it had to go.

Pre-Occupation.

Wow. I was just looking back over the posts from the last few days. About 80% of them prominently feature children...adorable children, I must add. I can't get enough of my little nieces. ElfGirl has gone to stay with her Nana today because James and I were scheduled to go to a conference in Mobile (Get Motivated) but this awful cold has left me wanting to do nothing more than soak in a tub of hot water all day. So, I am home with no little girl (I do have the vehicle--which is a novelty!) thinking of the things I should be doing. I must admit, thinking comes kind of hard when I am doing the thinking over the incessant buzzing in my poor plugged ear.

We have been engaged in gardening activities. We all went to dig antique bricks on Saturday and I am impatiently awaiting soil that is warm enough to receive my cotton, broomcorn and basil seeds. Soon. Soon. Last night's low was about 37 degrees, which came as a slight surprise after the 80 degree weather of the weekend. So, for now, I will be content with pruning, rearranging and gazing with delight on the gorgeous spring colors of our native azaleas and dogwood trees. Here's hoping your spring is moving along on schedule...

Almost forgot...

I've been making these as well. Aren't they sweet? Now, I'll never be ashamed to share seeds with another gardener again.

More on what we've been doing at BrightHaven...

Seeds started in the greenhouse the first of March. They seem to be a bit sluggish.
Sewing sweet little baby shoes for my sister Micah and her husband Drew's new little girl. Micah says she's big enough to be having twins so she is expecting another one is hiding in there!!
Taking photos of the last of the cool weather crops. Today's high will be 76 degrees fahrenheit.
Lettuce mix raised from our own saved seed.
James' project is to re-brick the back pathway, using salvaged brick from an old Pensacola convent.
And that, friends, is why we haven't been blogging all that much. Tune in later today or tonight for the Saturday BookAway. You have until I post today's bookaway to get signed up for last week's.

Why we'll homeschool...someday

I can't imagine losing any precious moments.

Simmons Plant Farm and Bountiful Gardens

I know, I'm going to burn myself out on posting at this rate. But, that's me: all or nothing-girl. I wanted to get this post in about Simmons' Plant Farm before I forget too much.

I placed an order with Simmons' last Monday (Feb 11th) and then proceeded to bug them for two days to make sure they received my order. I even placed a call to them--very friendly folks over there, I must say. Well, after a week of me haunting my front yard, the plants arrived yesterday. I was so excited! They arrived in a big brown truck and were delivered by a super friendly young man who must have thought I was a bit touched by the way I came racing around the side of the house. When he handed me the box, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed in the contents. It was heavy: only $8.00 to ship the entire order!

And what was inside?

• 50 asparagus crowns
• 50 strawberry crowns
• 2 blueberry bushes
• 6 rhubarb clumps (BIG)
• 3 horseradish stick thingies...I'm guessing I just plant them??

I will definitely be doing business with these folks again. Thanks for the great buying experience and the excellent plants. I planted today in the rain...

And, if you're looking to do any seed ordering, I cannot recommend Bountiful Gardens highly enough. I placed an order for tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, sorghum, sage, basil, cotton and pyrethrum seeds last night. $22.00 including shipping. These seeds are all open-pollinated and they sell several heirloom varieties. Great, great, great!

Wordless Wednesday with Apples!

Let me give you a short, silent (albeit not wordless) introduction to the Anna Apple Tree. Anna needs cross-pollination either from the Golden Delicious or from Ein Shemer (a large, strapping Israeli import). Anna is a delicate little tree with rose-colored, sweet-smelling blossoms. Perfectly suited to zone 9a--Gulf Coast growing...

Check out other Wordless Wednesday entries right here. If you've come from WW itself, click here to be redirected to my main page.

Has Spring Really Sprung?

Our new Anna apple tree in blossom already!

If you live along the Gulf Coast, you probably think it has. The past couple of weeks have been a flurry of transplanting, seeding and pruning. I just put in a big order today to Simmon's Plant Farm. They have been in business for over 60 years and have unbelievable prices. I was also able to call and speak to someone who answered all my silly ordering questions. I'm hoping to have the shipment by the end of the week, so I'll be able to give you all a good update on plant quality and speed of shipping. In the meantime, take a look at some of what we've been doing!

Repainting Henry the Gnome...

Going to the chapel. Sundays are usually chock-full because we work in the Kids' Ministry at Harvest Pensacola.Just being with this precious girl. We are so blessed to be able to have her around...

It's that Time Again...

Time for the Great Saturday Book-Away. I can hardly believe this is the third week in a row to be hosting the book-away. I am hoping that you all are enjoying the book-away. I promise each week to find a new book to give away to you all out there. So, please, leave a comment in the space provided! That's the only way I'll know you would like a book. Each week, I choose a recipient by some sort of vague method. I post the winner the next Saturday along with the new week's book-away.

Speaking of winners, this week's book recipient is Susanna. I have enjoyed reading Susanna's blog: The Wardrobe Miser. Check out her musings on fashion and refashion! Susanna, send me your address and I'll get your book right out to you!

Without further ado, this week's book-away is a book that has sat on my gardening shelf for far too long. Wouldn't this be a great addition to your gardening resource library?

Stinkus Muchimus

Go away. I do hate thee. My beautiful, wild garden is tainted by thy most foul fragrance. Make haste and flee from my presence, lest I smite thee with a mighty smite.

For more information on this and other species of fungus, check out this website: The Mushroom Expert. By the way, he's not going to tell you how to get rid of these things. We dig them up but it's rather disheartening to see the mycelium trailing for yards...

Thursday 13--What I SHOULD be doing...

Instead of sitting here...

1. sewing trim on my tablecloth
2. weeding...always!
3. washing dishes
4. listing items on Etsy
5. playing with Shelby Rae
6. planting trees
7. planting more seeds for spring!
8. finishing apron for Laurel
9. studying
10. reading
11. shopping
12. calling to make an appointment
13. getting ready for ElfGirl's visit this weekend!!

Ahh yes, thanks for putting up with my online to-do list. As Pastor Bobby says, if you don't plan to do something. You won't. Visit other Thursday Thirteeners here...

I love beautiful days...

And today was no exception. It wasn't quite as sunny as yesterday, but it was definitely warmer. So, I planted monkey grass, two lemon trees and a grapefruit tree. In my greenhouse, I started a flat of herb seedlings: sage, chives, parsley and Linda's hollyhocks. I would love for all our pathways to be lined with those beautiful flowers!

Last night, I was seduced into making yet another recipe from Pioneer Woman Cooks. I made the quesadillas with green and red peppers, onions and monterrey jack cheese. We adorned the meal with avocado halves and fresh salad from our garden. The best part? I'm afraid it came in a can. Rotel has a diced tomato product with cilantro and lime. I added chopped culantro (that's not a misspelling, it's a different plant!) to the mix and chilled it. Divine!
(photo credit: Tasteful Garden)

I found this plant in the produce section of the grocery store last night. I have never really paid attention before to the live herb plants because they're always the regular, half-dead variety. This plant definitely caught my eye! If you like cilantro, try this herb--it has a bit of a kick.

Oh, by the way, my official website for The Home Gnome is finally up. Take a look around. Tell me what you think. Seriously. I would love some pointers for narrative, color scheme and so forth...

New apron

And it's a great one. James actually found it for me at one of our much-frequented thrift stores. I must say, he has a great eye. The apron itself is actually only one-sided. It wraps around the front and ties in the back so the front is fully protected. What a genius idea!
Even better, I think I will be able to duplicate the pattern. Even though it is great for housework, I think it is the perfect design for gardening work. Wish me luck! Any of you gardeners have comments? Of course, you all can tell me what a cool apron it is--regardless of gardener status...