🍅 Bounty 🍆

 Oh Friends~

You have to see this!

I know we, each of us, live in different areas,

but if you look, look closely, it's there.

There is bounty all around us.

Summer can sure be long and hot.

The longer days can become wearisome

and our bodies can certainly tire.

Or is that just me?

(Cayenne)

As many of you know, I grow a garden each year.

It seems by February,

I am raring to get it going and wanting to plant seeds

despite the icy temperatures out of doors.

This year was different.

We had the summer kitchen flood in January,

then the mess to clean up when the roof was repaired in March.

I didn't get much of a break

so by spring I wasn't as ambitious as usual.

My seed starts struggled.

I was lack luster in getting things in the ground,

and I questioned if we would have much at all

by the time harvest rolled around.

The lesson~

There is always a lesson, isn't there?

We are taught, errr well, back in my day anyways - haha!

not to be pompous or proud.

Pride comes before a fall as the saying goes.

It does seem when we are struggling,

we find ourselves most humble.

(Saskatoon berry juice.)

And here is where I must digress for a moment

so you can see the whole picture.

I am aware of the circumstances of our food supply as a nation.

In the eye of world events,

I realize our nation has become dependent upon other

countries for much of our sustenance.  

The area around us is a heavy agriculture area,

and there are a lot of wheat fields in addition to

hay, peas, potatoes and fruits.

Knowing many of the plains states were experiencing

challenging weather and failing crops,

as I was pushing through trying to get my homely little starts

in the ground and wondering if they would even survive,

I looked over the fields and said a prayer not really for myself

but for our collective efforts.

I realize not everyone here is the praying sort.

Stick with me for a minute if you will please.

That was what seems like ages ago,

but in reality was only a few short months ago.

(We lost our canopy, but the bean wall is outrageous this year.)

And here's where the ends meet

with the lesson and the harvest.

They've been pulling great loads of wheat from the surrounding fields.

They harvested peas from the field in front of our house.

The farmer told me to help myself if I wanted any.

I did but didn't abuse the privilege.  

They've began harvesting onions behind our house.

We are able to glean what's left in the field which is substantial.

I am ever grateful.

And those tender little starts that looked like they were

lost of hope,

well they are producing like crazy.

We picked 23 cucumbers from my one plant in 4 days.

Our tomatoes are packed and just coming on.

I have never seen so many tomatoes grow on 

individual plants.

Nearly every plant is loaded.

The "regular" tomatoes are the size of baseballs to softballs.

The Romas are the size of tennis balls.

Hubby said they will probably all turn ripe

about the time he leaves for hunting.

He's probably right!

The grass hay in the field to the side of us looks amazing.

Critters need food too.

The point of all of this is to put a little nudge of inspiration

in your heart.

When you are feeling like you are wilting and might not make it,

remember also, you might just pull through and have 

an abundance, a great bounty.

And just one more little testimony to how bad it was,

in case you don't believe me,

and/or if you just need a laugh~

We had to leave for a couple days shortly after I got things planted.

My folks came to take care of things while we were gone.

My mom, who I joke can plant a pencil and watch it grow,

said, "Your tomatoes are dead.  I watered them because you said to,

but I don't think they'll make it."

Thanks Mom (heehee).

For some reason, I couldn't give up on them.

That little bit of faith is now paying off.

Keep you well,

and until next time,

Many Blessings.