Garden Report...and an accident

The Don Juan rose arbor is blooming like crazy...hundreds of blooms...the wind has blown some of the plant off the arbor but I don't want to contend with all the thorns right now, have to get some better gloves.....

The upside down planters are great! The tomatoes are way ahead of the ones in the ground...and blooming...


both of us worked for the last two days weeding the garden area and we planted most of it....still want to put in more tomato plants...we have about 35...I want enough to can in the late summer....


we also planted about 30 corn, both white and bi-color, yellow crookneck squash, black beans, and yellow wax beans.....potatoes too......we are talking about more corn as it takes quite a few to do anything with...preserving that is....

we also have peaches, nectarines and boysenberries on the way...




The weather here has been fair...yesterday we had clouds and some sprinkles..nothing much in the way of rain..today much of the same...in the low 70s....some wind at times...our winds can be very gusty.
I am without a car right now..our oldest son borrowed it while doing a job in a neighboring town...he got cut off by another car, and to avoid hitting the car, went over the curb, hitting the back end of our car with a concrete planter that was on the center parkway divider....it broke the axle..we had to have the car towed home...fortunately, we have good insurance...I am hoping the collision didn't bend the frame...he feels so bad and is going to pay the deductible... did the other driver stop? of course not.....I am sure glad we have good insurance..we've been with the same agent our entire married life of 36 years......I will be sad when he retires.....he feels like a family friend......

Favorite Places

Thought I'd share a couple of favorite places....we re keyed a property in Oceanside yesterday and went to lunch at IN and OUT....this is a Californian franchise and they have the best burgers..at least we think so......

They have a short menu...Double and single burgers, either cheese or not, fries, sodas and shakes..that's it......but oh, what burgers!

Typically, they are always very busy, especially at lunch and dinner time.....we ate outside and watched the drive through line..it never went down much...the employees come out and walk through the line, taking orders so you never have to wait....

Alan enjoyed some old fashioned lemonade, a double cheeseburger and fries...he says to say that the fries should be eaten first, they are better hot from the fryer......they are handcut and cooked as you order them....from fresh potatoes....I had a great strawberry shake.....

On our drive home, we stopped at the fruit stand that I've mentioned before.......I just snapped photos as we went through the stand....its on the side of the freeway, up on a little hill...behind it is avocado and citrus trees......we bought a large bag of navel oranges and a bag of avocados..they have the best we've found....from Fallbrook....its a very clean and organized stand...











The last time we were here, I bought honey....its all local...I like orange blossom but they are all good..
I hope you enjoyed the visit to some of our favorites..if you ever get to Southern California..please go to a In and Out...and our local fruit stands.....

No, I didn't embroider this one....this is taken from the Olde-Time Stitchin site..she is having a sale and all her candle mat patterns are only..50 cents plus she sends you a free set of tag patterns to boot.......I ordered several........they are sent email so you get them right away too....
on a more serious note, Yesu Garden, our dear Amrita had a scare...there was a fire on the property....natural or man made, no one knows...plus their electricity keeps going out and its very hot there now as they are in their summer (India)...its over 110 most days (I can relate) and with no power, no fans or AC....sounds like they need to get their own generator......please pray for her and the work they are doing in a dark world.......if you want to read more..just click
HERE...from what I can see, we can donate to their ministry through Western Union.....wish I was in a better financial state or I would definitely get them a generator.....for those times when the power goes out....

Friday Sharing

I was forwarded this message..guess its been going around for awhile but still wonderful

A 92 Year Old Pastor

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak......

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse........ ....


"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me.....
The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet.. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.


"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

Mom's Recipe Box.....Baked Rice Custard

Until I was a teen, we never had pudding of any kind.....when I discovered it....Mom simply said she never liked it as she had so so much of "that kind of thing" growing up herself....living through the Great Depression as a child, Grandma made alot of puddings, and custards as a way to stretch their food budget....evidently, milk and eggs were plentiful.....Mom said Grandma made something called a "float" or "island" which was a type of pudding with a meringue topping...the topping floated on the top of the pudding like little islands......anyone heard of that?
Grandma brought it to the table, in a crystal bowl with some fan fare....Mom got her fill of puddings, I guess....

I was going through the box and found this old recipe for a rice pudding....with all the duck eggs we have now...thought it would be a good way to use some.....

This turned out really well...its delicious......rather easy to make....you could use some leftover rice..its very creamy, fragrant with vanilla and nutmeg....topped it with some whipped topping

Baked Rice Custard

3 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 c. cooked rice
2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 c. raisins
2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 T. butter

Combine eggs, sugar and salt..gradually add scaled milk, stirring to mix slowly....Add rice, raisins and vanilla. Pour into greased 1 1/2 qt. casserole, set in pan of hot water. Bake 350 for 30-40 minutes. Sprinkle with nutmeg, dot with butter. Bake 30 - 40 minutes more, until set. Serve either warm or cold.

We woke up to alot of noise...they are working on the road behind our house...started before 7 this morning....we've been taking photos (after the last experience with the blasting) and watching them as they are getting very close to our back wall....its already cracked in about 3 or 4 places from the blasts....always something, huh? I guess this means the road will be widened and closer to us...we are all having dreams that a car or truck loses control and crashes through the wall...
Alan found the video he shot of the blasting as the company is claiming they only used dynamite...the video shows mounts of black powder on the back of a truck + alot more....they claim they were not negligent and the video clearly shows otherwise...the lawyer says the blasting company knows they are liable.....we have meetings later in the month..should be interesting! I hope the company that is doing this grading does a better job..we sure don't need any more damage....
I know this will all work out for good in the long run...
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

The French iris, that Nancy sent me are blooming! They are very delicate and pretty...

soft violet colors...

We were wondering what color they would be...this is just one on plant, the other two haven't bloomed yet....Thanks, Nancy!

Tuesday Duck Tales

After all the rain we've had..the lawn looks wonderful....Alan fertilized it about two weeks ago....and then he mowed it about two days ago..we took scissors and trimmed ....you can see Mrs. Quack..she likes to go through the grass looking for worms and bugs..she was a little irked when Alan mowed..she likes the longer grass.....we need to restain the fencing...its getting sunbleached....but its alot of fencing...over 100 ft on each side of the property so its alot of work too....so alot of gallons of stain....the wood really soaks it up....big job...
we are still having rain storms..it rained again yesterday and they say another storm next week perhaps..great for us! Alan wishes it would rain like it does back in Iowa so he wouldn't have to use the sprinklers and save us alot in water....but with the rain, comes humidity so its a mixed bag.....
the little fencing down in the left corner is what we used to fence off the garden...Mrs. would make short work of our seedlings if we didn't......she wrecked havoc with my hollyhocks until Alan put up some green fencing.....in compensation, he's been buying her bags of spinach and lettuce...plus occasional goldfish..we put them in her large water container...she jumps in and has a dozen or so feeder fish gone in 20 seconds....all the while, cackling to herself....her eggs are rather tasty...people have told us, duck eggs were tough, but not hers..probably because of all the "good stuff" she's been eating....free range...she also gets cracked corn and duck feed..which all the neighbor sparrows and finches munch on also....its cute to see them pick up her shedded feathers and down for their nests....lucky finch babies with down lined nests, huh?

I saw yesterday, she's eating rose leaves too but I think she's getting pricked..as she eats a couple and then walks away shaking her head...but goes right back...short term memory?





I have a cute Aunt Martha embroidery transfer in my Bonanzle shop..called Duck Tales...these would make the cutest tea towels...I like Aunt Martha's as they are so easy to use....Mrs. Quack approves...

Sunday

We had a nice ride yesterday down to Encinitas but no photos..so sorry but the weather was really deary and cloudy..not a good day for snapshots.....a storm is coming in or so they say...cooler weather and dark clouds...I found this photo online..its a pretty little beach town..the house we re keyed was a duplex..really nice, two story..one thing I really really liked was the private front courtyard...it was large, tiled with Mexican tile and very pretty with palm trees and tropical plants....very quiet neighborhood also and only a few blocks from the beach.......
The area has really grown up since the time I'd seen it last.....but it still kept its small town feel which is good.....



We planted most of our seedlings today and hopefully they will continue to do well...peas and tomatoes mainly....I hope we don't have but a gentle rain when it comes..if it comes....we are also going to be putting up a clothesline so when the weather is good, I'll be hanging out our clothes instead of using the dryer..it will save us alot of energy, I think...we looked at the umbrella type at Lowes but decided against it as our winds are fierce at time (not good for umbrellas)....the backyard is rather private so no one will see it...

If you haven't subscribed to the Hard Times Newsletter, here is the link the way the world is going, I think we need to be prepared. You may not agree with all their political views but the information is invaluable in an emergency....with what happened in Haiti and Mexico..we all need to be prepared...I am not saying we personally are there yet....not by a long shot..



I've also been working working working on my Bonanzle shop.....as listing is free, I am listing all and I mean all, my patterns, transfers, and craft books...there are alot..at low rock bottom prices...

We Have a Winner!

Early this morning, I used the random number generator here
for the Spring Betty Crocker giveaway and drew Pixie13..I will be contacting her today to send her the cooking items and gift card...congratulations! I know you will enjoy getting these.....I will be having more giveaways soon so please check back..........

Can't post much this morning as we are going on a short road trip to Encinitas, Ca to rekey a house....this is a happy one as the house is in escrow and will soon have a new family....Encinitas is a lovely town on the ocean so maybe I can snap a few good photos later......!

A Hot Air Balloon Incident....

Yesterday morning, I looked out the front window and saw one of our neighbors looking up at the sky, and on the phone...so I went out the back and this is what I saw....evidently a hot air balloon enthusiast was having trouble and set down just one house over from us...here are a few photos I snapped...



As it came down, lines were thrown over and a fellow in a van pulled up...he got out and pulled on the lines, bringing the balloon cage to earth....




This was taken out our side living room window....you can see how large the balloon is.....they were deflating it to load it into the van...no one was hurt and as you can see the cats were oblivious....I could hear the little girl ( 3 years old ) who lives next door, chattering happily outside...a unique experience for all of us!



Later I heard some lovely chirping and noticed this pretty yellow bird in a neighboring tree..does anyone know what this bird is? we are thinking a gold finch...