The Rest of the Glory Story

Exhausted from unpacking, the glow of the security light seemed to say, “it’s gonna be alright.  You are home!” It was July 2005 and we were partially moved in.

Each night for sixteen years I would think,” thank you Lord for my house.”  Then getting into bed I’d tell my husband, “Did I ever tell you I just love this house?  Thank you for building it for us.”

One day, I thought I heard God say, “What if I asked you to give up your house?”

My response was “Can’t imagine that, but you know best and I pray you will make me willing.” Never thinking He would!

Our family enjoyed sharing life on Shekinah Lane – John’s folks on the corner and our son and family down the road.  All John’s family would come for holidays and we thought we would live there forever.

But God had other plans.

In October of 2020, our son was blessed to find property off N. Mauney Road.  We prepared his house to sell.  It sold in a month – he moved out and stored his belongings in our barn and he and grandson began task of clearing and built a road into the property. 

Two campers, several loads of gravel and many manhours later, the road to Strick Hollow was in.  They had trouble completing the road for people driving in thinking a new subdivision was being built.

Isaiah 40:5  And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.

Our lot was cleared next to build a smaller, one-level house.  Plans needed to be decided, when to sell our house and how.  I listed on Zillow in February.  Then in April decided to list with agent – which was the best decision. Dana Nelson of Coldwell Banker not only staged our house for showing but prayed with us for right buyer. 

“Making Mountain Dreams Real”

Coldwell Banker High Country Realty

Blairsville, GA 30512

  • 706-835-7906
  • 706-745-3500

Have you ever had your house prepared for showing and try to live in it???

I stashed our stuff – in closets, in wardrobes and of course cleaned the house constantly.

All the while praying for the right family to purchase our Shekinah Lane property.  I just wanted someone to love this place like I do.

Our mountain view was crowded out by trees putting on their spring leaves.  Tulips bloomed and roses showed their stuff.  The yard looked amazing as it greened up with spring rains.  The snowball bush I purchased last year was in full bloom as prospective buyers began to come. 

God answered our prayers, the family who purchased our property love it and are so excited to be living on Shekinah Lane.

Isaiah 40: 6“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

The last few months have been a whirlwind.  Preparing for moving sale – packing, moving and settling in our neighbor’s cabin.  What a blessing – neighbor’s cabin just down road from our house on Shekinah lane.  Wonderful friends and neighbors helped with all the moving. 

Just as planned, Kevin Green and his crew finished the house (well mostly, except for air conditioning which was backordered) by end of July.  We began moving things first week of August and have been unpacking since.  Everything will not fit in smaller house!  Still filling shelves at Habitat and our church’s Elijay’s Closet. 

No, I never expected to move from Shekinah Lane.  But God has this season of our lives in His hands; and, our son and grandson are sharing the glory of seeing God move in our lives. 

Shekinah Lane needs to be updated to 29 moves in 56 years and I discovered additional things that made it all the way to add:

  • Amber bowl
  • Horsehead lamps
  • corning mixing bowls. 
Horse head lamps!

So we are now living on Strick Hollow Road! 

Can you see that mountaini?
Not finished yet – but it is coming! Yes, we have a family relic shelf.

Isaiah 40:12   Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?

Those hands are big enough to take care of us!

Have you ever felt numb?

Webster defines numb – to make (someone) unable to think, feel, or react normally.

Nothing – that is how I felt. Numb. I just wanted to cry! Maybe it would make me feel better. Don’t know about you, but I don’t cry easily. Only time I cry is when I pray or listen to worship songs.

Even after a church service or serving at church, on the drive home – felt empty – not sure what is wrong? At first attributed it to being tired but it got worse as days passed.

Each day, reading devotionals and routine of Proverb of day and five Psalms did not seem to help.

Then I realized I was grieving – not a loss of someone – but of something.

We had just moved out of our house, stored furniture, and moved into neighbor’s cabin.  Thank you, Lord for this cabin.

John relaxing
Porch retreat

Thank you for the friends and neighbors who helped us.

Yes, there were angels in human suits all over the place.

From ladies helping pack, neighbor’s moving boxes, friends helping with moving sale and then neighborhood cookout. One friend even took my plants to her house to care for them until we move in new house.

At a restaurant, my husband was having difficulty walking – a man came over and helped set up his oxygen.

In Home Depot the clerk noticed my husband did not have his oxygen turned on – she just happened to be a respiratory therapist.

Next morning at breakfast, another angel came over as we were trying to get to table. My husband was very weak and staggering.  The man came over and helped me get him to a seat – then ordered orange juice for him to drink.

So why the numb feeling?

I sat down to look at new Bible study book – Experiencing God. First lesson talked about Abraham’s call and how he, at 75 years old (I turned 75 in June) God didn’t give him specific directions of where to go, or what he was to do when he got there.  

Unlike Abraham I did know where I was going – a new smaller house. Closer to town and church. I did know what I would be doing – taking care of my husband.

Why was I grieving? The loss of my house, gardens, flowers, neighbors? Could be the pools of water around the new house due to weeks of rain. Could be the appliances and windows have not come in which delays everything to complete the house by end of month.

The Bible study book shared very familiar verses:

– John 15:5  I am the vine you are the branches, if a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.

Wow, reminder!

Matt 6:33-34 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

God spoke to my spirit – you can do nothing – without me! From the lesson – Agree with God that you will follow Him one day at a time!

The song One day at a Time came to mind. I pulled the song up on YouTube by Linda Randle. https://youtu.be/JhUvFqOY00I

  It ministered to me and then it skipped to the next song by her –

God on the Mountain –https://youtu.be/mvkCoC0ZOZc

Here are the words in case you can’t pull up in YouTube:

Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known
But when things change and you’re down in the valley
Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone

[Chorus]
And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night

[Verse 2]
We talk of faith when we’re up on the mountain
But talk comes so easy when life’s at its best
But in the valley of trials and temptations
That’s when faith is really put to the test

[Chorus]
And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night
The God of the day, is still God in the night

Then the tears began to flow.

This is what Experiencing God is all about. He ministers to your spirit in just the way you need when you need it.

My little valley is nothing in comparison to many I know who are experiencing death of a loved one, serious illness, or rejection by a loved one.  But God met me just where I was to bring me out of my valley.

He will do it for you as well! Allow His word and worship music to encourage you. 

The next day we visited the new house site – no change – no windows or appliances, still pools of water all around. I thought, “Oh, no and immediately it  came to me

– One day at a time, sweet Jesus!” 

Love the laundry room!

Hope

Psalm 147:11

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. 
  • Hope I can lose 10 lbs. before the wedding.
  • Hope the diagnosis is good.
  • Hope I don’t get Covid-19 (too late already had it).
  • Hope this virus will go away!!
  • Hope Jesus will return soon!
  • Hope I don’t have to move!

Lord, make me willing!

My February arise mantra of Oswald Chamber’s “My Utmost for His Highest” is kicking in again.  See story in blog –Arise My Love

I’ve been comfortable here on Shekinah Lane thank you very much. Leaving Shekinah Lane?  Perish the thought!

God, do you really want me to give up all this – my house, gardens, mountain view from my office, porch, living room and sun porch? Wonderful neighbors?

Just like the “Arise My Love” blog from last year about leaving our home in NC in to move to a boy’s ranch in Arkansas, my love is asking me again to follow him. 

We need to downsize and move to a smaller place – we can’t maintain the grounds, gardens, flower beds  not to mention I cannot clean all these windows!!

What about our book Shekinah Lane? Although our many moves brought us to Shekinah Lane, we knew this was not our final destination – we are not actually citizens of this world – we have a home in heaven someday.  If we are to leave this comfortable place, God will provide.

  • I hope we sell our house.
  • I hope we don’t sell our house. (I’d really like to stay!)
  • I hope someone will love this place and the house as much as I do.

Lord may my hope be in you and my trust be in you and your perfect plan for us because I know you are faithful.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/179-Shekinah-Ln-Morganton-GA-30560/105427827_zpid/30560/105427827_zpid/

Blessings of J O Y!

Ventured out today to inspect the blueberry crop.  A few days ago, they were full of blooms.

Several nights of cold temps in 30’s and some frost – but always sun came up and warmed up early.  So surely, they made it????

Blueberries before frost

Sad to report just few blossoms survived.  If these make it through tonight’s 30’s, we will have a few blueberries to pick in June.

Blueberries after frost

This verse and song came to my mind:

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

Yes, the joy of the Lord is my strength.  God keeps reminding me – JOY.

Bible study this am via Zoom with our BSB (Bible Study Buddies) gals, studying Philippians – theme JOY.  Many shared about how they have found joy in life during our current situation of sheltering in place.  Here are some –

  • Laughter
  • Appreciating nature
  • Praise music
  • Making a thankful list

So, I’m thankful:

  1. that my tulips are mostly standing and more to come hopefully. 
  2. Sunshine and trees budding
  3. Few blueberry blossoms survived
  4. Got to visit with BSB gals today
  5. Warm house in this cold weather
  6. Internet to keep in touch with family and friends
  7. Neighbors being considerate in shopping for us
  8. Amazon!!!
  9. House decluttering

That’s good for now – how about you make your thankful list and don’t forget to stay in touch with those who don’t have anyone in their shelter place.  One of our BSB’s shared today about a lady from church calling her to check on her and other friend delivering groceries.  What a blessing!

Along with Habakkuk scripture the song also comes to mind!  You knew I’d have a song!  So here is 70’s scripture song that comes to my mind. 

Then found this where Don Moen reads the scripture but different song – but so good.

I will sing by Don Moen

Sugar or Starch?

How could something so sweet be good for you and yet stick to the bowl like starch?

Corn

July and August may be the dog days of summer because of the heat but they are our time to ‘put up corn.’

Sweet corn is my family’s favorite vegetable.  When the family gathers for Sunday lunch or at holidays, we serve a large container of corn. Not just any corn but fresh corn that is frozen quickly to preserve the taste.

To have enough corn to serve at these special family gatherings, we schedule several processing times. Our goal is to put at least 50 quarts in the freezer.

A local farmer provides the corn, hopefully family gathers to help Papaw shuck the husks and then into the house for me to blanch, cool, and cut off cob.

I thought I would record the process for future generations, in case they want to have that fresh tasting corn we have every Sunday for lunch.

Our son and grand kids and whoever might be around help shuck it and then John and I prepare for freezer.

shucking.party
Cha, Kelley, Johnny, John, Cam, Gavin

 

IMG_1138

 

Just a few more ears to go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few tips to make sure you get that fresh taste!

 

Well, which is it sugar or starch? It is both. The grain can produce corn syrup which is placed in most of products we use.  Read the labels.  The corn plant also provides edible starch to make corn starch, jellies and candies.  The dextrin from the raw starch is used to make glue, fireworks.  Crude corn oil is used in making plastic resin, glycerin for soap and refined oil for salad oil, cooking oils and medicinal oils.  Corn is also used to produce ethanol (ethyl alcohol) for fuel.

Of course, our ancestors used corn to process by wet milling, fermenting and adding yeast to convert the sugars into alcohol, also known as “white lightning.” Sorry no video for this process!

Several years ago I was told there was no nutrition in corn.  But read today that corn has vitamins B and E as well as minerals – phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper with traces of selenium. Also good source of fiber.

Get the fresh corn and enjoy the sugar and starch and even some nutrients.

Fake Strawberries

John 15:4-6 New International Version (NIV)

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

IMG_0988
TOMATOES

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh, you accomplished this did you?”

 

 

 

 

After working in the garden at 100% humidity– I stopped to rest and drink some water. Even though I was exhausted, I looked around and took pride in the garden.

My husband told me that he would not be able to help in the garden this year because of his back problems. Stubbornly I pursued the task of planting and weeding. We failed to place a layer of wood chips in the fall which would have kept the weeds under control.

 

IMG_0987
Squash – newspaper to block weeds???

 

Observing the thriving  plants, I thought, “Look at this, I planted all this by myself and it looks so good.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Immediately the Lord reminded me that all I did was plant and weed the garden – he caused the growth with the abundance of rain and sunshine. I felt like Job when the Lord challenged him for using words without knowledge in Job 38-41. Oops, sorry Lord.

He encouraged me to look at the strawberry patch that was overgrown with weeds.

before.right
Right side (before)

 

 

“That is what you can take credit for – a mess. Without me you can do nothing!”

 

 

 

 

Thankfully, after four days of pulling weeds the strawberry patches are cleared of those tall weeds.

after.right
Right side (after)

before.left
Left side (before)

after.left
Left side (after weeding)

 

Just like Job, I was challenged that God is the creator and sustainer of life. Success comes from acknowledging his majesty and authority over all I attempt. Whether it is gardening, volunteering, or any area of my life, the praise should go to God.

It is important to recognize the weeds as they creep into the strawberry patch.

fake.strawberries
tiny runners are weeds – fake strawberries

 

 

 

Just like these fake strawberry vines, we must be aware of the invaders.

 

 

 

 

 

Are we taking pride in ourselves and our accomplishments without acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father and without Him we can do nothing.

 

Thank you Lord for giving me strength and stamina to pull those weeds!

 

Job 38  New International Version (NIV)

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

Which Season Are You In?

One of my hobbies is color analysis. I enjoy the process of helping someone discover what colors are best for them to wear.  Each person can be categorized in one of the seasons of the year – fall, winter, spring or summer.  It is amazing to see how one’s hair color, eye color, eye pattern, skin tone and color preference reveal the season.  Sometimes it is hard to determine their season without the draping process.  This is done by comparing several pieces of drapes in the four season’s palettes.

Some have compared our lives to the seasons of the year.  Spring for youth, summer as the prime of life, fall for maturity and then winter for the older stages.

My favorite way to feature the seasons is the flowers.

The first signs of spring are the bulbs pushing up through the barren ground– crocuses, daffodils, tulips.  Forsythia (or yellow bells) take over the landscape.  They swiftly fade away.

 

Warmer days cause the azaleas and rhododendrons to take the stage only to last a few weeks if we are lucky.

 

Summer begins with my favorite- the glory of the day lilies. If there is enough rain – hydrangea upstage all.  Wish they could last all summer.

 

Summer’s heat ushers in the crepe myrtles and black-eyed susans.

Cooler days are welcomed as the trees take on the show with the rich, brilliant colors of fallview.johnny.house

It seems only a few more weeks and the flowers shrivel and waste away as the leaves drop from the trees and give way to winter’s barren cold.

 

 

Blooms of the Christmas cactus brighten winter indoors.thanksgiving-cactus.jpg

Chronologically I am in the winter of my life.  Although I can view the flowers in my gardens and I feel like a spring chicken.

We often think of someone as we knew them 20 or 30 years ago.  It is fun to look on Facebook and see friends from “way back when” and see how they have changed.  Not me???? But suddenly I look in the mirror and see a grey-haired person who is slightly overweight! Well, maybe more than slightly. Who’s that????

“I’m 17”– my friend Beth says!  In our minds, we are all a certain age – 17 or maybe 30 or even 40 for us over the hill gang – 60 is the new 40 these days.

Don’t you know that time passes faster as we age?  Maybe something to do with our brains and how we process time.

Just like the flowers in my garden, our lives are swiftly fading away.

One day we will be a memory to the younger generation.  What will they remember? I asked my granddaughter “What words would you use to describe me?”

“Flowers, food and family,” she said.

When I am no longer able to take care of the flowers, prepare the food and serve my family, will she and my grandsons remember my faith and desire to follow God like their Nana? Our lives are just like a mist that is here today and gone tomorrow but the word of God endures forever.

So, what season are you in?  It will pass so swiftly.  Enjoy each season and share God’s word with your family.

 

James 4:13,14 (NIV)

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

I Peter 1:24 (NIV)

All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

 Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

 

Dogwood Winter

Dogwood blooms

I failed to take the hint. Admiring the Dogwood blossoms on my way to church made me think they were a bit early. Don’t they usually bloom at Easter time? Easter is almost two weeks away. However, not having John’s folks to remind me I just admired the dogwoods and that was it.

It snowed on March 12 and then a week later it was summer time – well almost. Daffodils bloomed in late February and our Bradford Pear tree budded out as well. Tulips were beginning to pop up.

20170312_154106

This picture was taken prior to the March snow.

after.freeze

The day after the snow the blooms were burned from the cold.

Surveying the yard, I found a cluster of purple tulips. What a delight!
Thank you, God, for the promise of spring. How did these tulips burst in bloom when others have not even come out of ground? It is all in the timing, the angle of the sun, the protection of plants around them. You see these bulbs were surrounded by bushes that absorbed the frost. Also, they were exposed to the first rays of the sun to warm them as they struggled to shine. They were close to the house which provided shelter.

Lord help us to seek you as these tulips sought the sun. May we stay close to the protection and encouragement of others and stay under the shadow of the almighty.

Playing golf in 80-degree weather in March is unusual even in Georgia. Time to put away the winter clothes. After ten zillion trips down the basement stairs to the cedar closet and back up for another load I was exhausted. Contrary to my husband’s opinion, I do not have that many clothes or shoes. I just can’t carry much at a time. Sweaters, sweat pants and boots packed away. Must confess, I was so tired, didn’t finish putting up winter shoes and boots – they are still on table in closet waiting to be placed in boxes. But at least they are downstairs.

Yesterday, April 6,  the high temp was 45 degrees. It was then I realized – it is Dogwood Winter. My in laws were the prognosticators of seasons. They would have warned me not to put winter clothes away too soon. You need to wait until Dogwood Winter and of course Blackberry Winter. When the Dogwood trees bloom, it will turn cold and when the blackberries bloom even though many times in mid-May – we will get a cold spell. They did not need a weather app.

Just like us – we kind of stagnate in our mundane life, complaining about cold weather then we receive a few warm days, or even hot days, and we complain about the heat. So, it gets cold again. We just can’t be happy. What is going on? Does God really know?

Please don’t let my blueberries die when it possibly frosts tonight. They are loaded with blossoms.

John’s dad always said if the wind is blowing the frost won’t hurt the plants.  May it be so ! God sends the rain and snow to water the earth and cause it to bud and flourish. He knows what he is doing.

He also sends his word to us. It will not return to him void. Can he trust me to use his word to encourage, comfort and challenge those I encounter? Am I as concerned about sharing his love as I am about my flowers and garden?

Don’t forget Blackberry Winter is yet to come!

Isaiah 55:8-11 (New International Version)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.


	

How to Make Nana’s Sweet Pickles

cukes-lime
Soaking in Lime

Chopping cucumbers to make sweet pickles, I realized “when I am gone no one in the family will continue this tradition.” My husband’s mom canned her nine day sweet pickles and my husband and our sons could finish off a pint at a meal.

A lady in my husband’s first church made the best sweet pickles and gave me her recipe. When my mother-in-law came to visit I was anxious for her to try my pickles. She bite into a pickle and shrieked while squinting, “Whooooo, they are good.” Maybe a little too much spices or vinegar???

Over the years I fine-tuned the recipe and now each summer I make Mrs. Wages Lime Pickles to the delight of husband, sons and now grandson.

The next Sunday at lunch with my son and his family, I related my sentimental feeling about no one carrying on the tradition of making pickles.

My grandson  Cameron replied with no thought to missing me, “Nana, that is no problem. We can just look up the recipe on the internet!”

So, this prompted me to help my grandson find my recipes “on the internet.”

Mrs. Wages Lime Pickles

  • 7 lbs medium-size pickling cucumbers
  • 1 cup Mrs. Wages® Pickling Lime
  • 2 gal water
  • 2 qt Mrs. Wages® Pickling & Canning Vinegar or other commercial white vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 8 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Mrs. Wages® Pickling & Canning Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Mrs. Wages® Mixed Pickling Spice

Wash cucumbers. Remove 1/16 -inch from blossom end and slice crosswise. Mix pickling lime in water. Aluminum containers should not be used for the lime solution. Soak cucumbers for 12 hours or overnight in the lime water, stirring occasionally. Rinse 3 times in cool water and soak 3 more hours in ice water.

In a bowl, mix together vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Remove cucumbers from final ice water soak. Drain slices. Pour syrup over top. Let stand for 5 to 6 hours or overnight. Add pickling spice to taste.

Drain syrup off cucumber slices into a saucepan. Simmer for 35 minutes. Pack cucumber slices into hot quart jars. Pour boiling syrup over slices to cover and leaving 1/2 -inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids and process pints for 10 minutes and quarts for 15 minutes, using boiling water bath method. (I don’t process my jars – they seal fine if packed in hot sterilized jars and last for years.)

Finished product
Finished product

cam-banaimg_9541

 

So here you go Cameron, it’s on the internet.  I hope you find a wife one day who will make you some of Nana’s sweet pickles. It is truly a labor of love!

How to Garden in a Drought

It is so dry. According to the National Weather Service we are in a severe to extreme drought. We have had a few brief sprinkles of rain in the last three weeks. Our grass is not growing, but our garden continues to thrive thanks to a layer of wood chips.

tomatoes

We were introduced to Back to Eden Gardening several years ago by friends in Indiana.  We already had a garden spot and spread a load of mushroom compost on the ground and covered it with about four inches of wood chips.  Our garden that year was phenomenal.  We had very few weeds, no need to fertilize or water. We replenish the wood chips each fall.

This summer of drought has been the real test. Although some of our vegetables like cucumbers and potatoes are slowing down, others are still producing a bounty.

20160806_081136cucumbers

peppers

Fortunately, we put a layer of wood chips around our blueberries

blueberry plants a few weeks ago and have had a bumper crop.

 

Our strawberries are still blooming!

strawberry

I even found a man in my okra.

man.in.okra

So thankful for the fresh vegetables and my husband to help me gather the crops.