Tag Archives: food choices

Fall Friday

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Today is definitely a fall day. It’s cool, windy and a great day for hot cocoa…and it reminds me that in a few short weeks, hunting season begins!

For those new to my blog, last spring we had a TERRIBLE problem with deer in our yard. We aren’t sure on the exact number of deer that we were unintentionally feeding/housing, but we do know that about 180 of them died in our yard. Game and Fish estimate that approximately 10% die in a normal year, and every time we called them, they claimed there wasn’t a problem here. So, if 180 dying was 10% of our number of deer, well, you can do the math, right?

Needless to say, these deer are a nuisance and a danger to our cattle herd. And I do what I can to relieve the problem.

This year, we started out early with the special youth season. Two does have already been culled from the large number of deer already hanging around the area. Here’s my niece’s take on her successful hunting experience:

We (my dad, brother and I) were on our way to stake out at my aunt’s house. We were on the road to the south of my aunt’s house, when my dad said, “There are three deer in that field. They’re all does.” So we kept on driving and my dad asked me if I wanted to try to get one of them.
I said, “I don’t know will the farmer let us?” We went and asked the farmer if we could try to get one of the three deer. And being as kind as they were, they said, “Yes.”
I was so excited I was going to get my first deer!!!!!!
I loaded up my gun than headed to the field they were in. When we had walked to where we needed to be my dad went first to check it out and make sure the deer were still there.
Then so we weren’t seen we started crawling on our hands and knees through the cut wheat. We crawled about 75 yds to a haybale and check out if the deer were still there. My dad spoted them after a few minutes and so slowly on our hands and knees crawled forward. After crawling for 200 yds, my dad saw them at 153 yds and so I sighted up and went in for the kill.
I aimed at the first one I saw. I was so excited it was finaly here it was my turn to get a deer and I was ready to shoot my deer. I told my
dad which one I was aiming at and he said, “Whenever you’re ready, fire.”

So at first I was pulling the trigger slowly and then I got impatient and just pulled the trigger. I hit it and I was so excited! I was grinning from ear to ear. My dad told me, “You just barely nicked the shoulder blade nice shot.” And I got the biggest of the three!

My niece's first hunt, and a successful one at that!

And just for those that are wondering, yes, my sister and her husband are an avid hunting family and this doe will go a long way to fill their freezer with great food for the winter months! For those that hunt, but find that their freezer is too full to take all the meat, there is a great program in the state called, “Feeding Families, Meating Needs.” Check it out here!

I hope to be adding my own successful hunting story in just a few short weeks!


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
How NOT to Share Your Views

			
						

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I had an opportunity to talk to some “urban” folk while on our trip to Hutchinson, KS, to speak at the #140Conf Small Town. It’s trips like this that make you realize just how many misconceptions are out there.


It was an eye-opening experience for me…but it’s one that I intend to relive and learn from, as often as possible.


First of all, the people at the conference weren’t necessarily “rural,” even if they were connected to a small town. And remember, the term “small town” is definitely relative. I would consider small anything less than 1,000, but that’s my experience. Some consider less than 100,000 small…I consider that a big chunk of our state! 🙂


Anyway, the fact of the matter is that I was in amongst a group of people that didn’t necessarily have farm connections. And some of my conversations made that very obvious.


For example, I was speaking to a wonderful woman from New York, who loved her local farmers and local farmer’s market, considered herself a vegetarian and enjoyed getting fish and organic eggs from happy, free chickens there. (Now, she did clarify that she probably actually qualified as a “pescetarian,” or someone who eats fish.)


When I tell people about my trip, their first response tends to be, “Well, did you tell her she’s wrong?”


No. No, I did not.


First of all, we were having a wonderful conversation, and I was telling her about my farm and our cows and how we raise things here. We were listening to each other and connecting, not debating.


Second, her reasoning wasn’t scientific, it was emotional. She didn’t say that her eggs were healthier, or that cattle were evil, or that I was destroying the world. Nope, she simply said she liked her farmer’s market and she liked happy, free chickens. How could I argue with that?


I guess I could have told her that chickens that are free, are rarely happy, unless they happen to be one of the leaders of the group. I could have explained how most birds, left to their own devices, will peck and claw and scratch at the weaker, smaller birds, until the bird dies. (You realize it’s called the “pecking order” for a reason, right?) I could have explained how some farms need to put little blinders on their birds when they’re all in one pen, so that they leave each other alone and don’t kill each other. I could have, but I didn’t.


Why?


Sometimes the soapbox isn’t the place to stand. Sometimes you make better connections, better relationships and better impressions by simply listening, learning and using the knowledge gained in the future. And it’s easier to hear down in the crowd, not up on a soapbox.


And maybe, just maybe, the next time she thinks about beef and farms and happy, free chickens, she’ll remember our conversation and remember another mother, just like her, that’s doing the best to raise her children the same as her. And maybe she’ll contact me through social media and ask the questions that she has about her food.


And that’s enough for me.

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
A Meal for a Crew – Steak Pizza

			
						

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I’m linking up to a Latte’ with Ott, A’s September Iron Chef Challenge. And this month, the ingredient of choice is Red Star Yeast. I was looking through recipes, and thought I would do The Pioneer Woman’s Steakhouse Pizza, but didn’t have much of the ingredients (except yeast, flour and steak!)…so I decided to make my own recipe.


I was nervous if it would turn out, but since the pan was empty in less than 15 minutes, I’m assuming that meant it was edible.


Here we go!


Great ingredients make for a great meal!


 


Ingredients (crust):


    

  • 1 teaspoon Quick Rise Instant Dry Red Star Yeast
    • 

  • 3/4 cup warm water
    • 

  • 2 cups flour
    • 

  • 3/4 teaspoons salt
    • 

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 



Sprinkle yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. Let stand a few minutes. Combine flour and salt. Drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour. next, pour in yeast/water mixture and combine until dough comes together. Coat a separate mixing bowl with olive oil and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat dough in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set it aside for 1 to 2 hours, or store in the fridge until you need it. (Note: I made the dough the night before. It worked really well the next morning!)


Mixed dough


 


 


Dough - after being in fridge for 14 hours!


 


 


Pizza ingredients:


    

  • Dough (see above)
    • 

  • 14-15 oz. pizza sauce
    • 

  • 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
    • 

  • mushrooms (or toppings of choice)
    • 

  • steak (arm, ribeye, skirt, cut of choice)
    • 

  • 3 cups shredded cheese (pizza blend is what I use)
    • 



Ready to hit the oven!


 


Directions:


On a cookie sheet, spread out dough. Combine pizza sauce and BBQ sauce. Spread evenly over dough. Top with toppings of choice, end with cheese. Bake at 400* for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese it bubbly and crust is turning golden.


Cook your steak as desired!


 


 


While crust is baking, cook your steak to about medium-rare. Let it rest. When pizza is done, slice steak into very thin slices and place on top of the pizza. Stand back and watch it disappear!


Did I say, Mmmmmmm?!?


 


 


Yummy!


 


 


This is what was left, about 15 minutes after it came out of the oven!


 


 


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Eating Dinosaur Eggs

			
						

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Just thought I would throw out a quick blog update, so that you didn’t think that I had fallen off the face of the planet. Actually, harvest is upon us and things are getting busy around here. This week we:


    

  • need to clear an area for our new hay shed
    • 

  • need to freeze more corn
    • 

  • need to can more salsa and tomatoes
    • 

  • finishing my Dad’s siding project
    • 

  • county Farm Bureau annual meeting
    • 

  • attended a funeral
    • 

  • school functions/homework/etc.
    • 

  • prepare for corn chopping
    • 

  • get ready to wean cattle
    • 

  • prepare for my trip with Katie to the Small Town 140 Conference in Hutchinson, KS!!! (I’ll be a presenter there!)
    • 

  • prepare for a return trip to Rochester
    • 

  • get ready for a super-huge, ginormous rummage sale next weekend
    • 

  • get ready for Applefest
    • 

  • get some freezer meals ready for the rest of harvest
    • 



Sounds simple, right?


But this little story had me giggling this morning, so let me share with you…


EJ (4), asked if he could eat some oatmeal for lunch. I didn’t have a problem with that at all, I mean, a simple, fast meal that dirties one dish and can be made in a minute? Sure, count me in! I had picked up some special instant oatmeal packages the last time we were in Aberdeen, so he grabbed one of those and away we went.


EJ’s job was to open the package and put it in a bowl. I add the water, we push the buttons on the microwave together and voila! A meal is served. But he had a bit of a problem when he opened the package.


Dinosaur eggs in your oatmeal? Why not?


“Mom, what are those?”


“Hmmm….well, it says that those are dinosaur eggs.”


“Mom, I don’t think I’m hungry any more.”


“Don’t you want dinosaur eggs in your belly?”


“No, they might eat me.”


Well, being the nice mom that I am, I only tormented him for a little bit, then explained that they were actually just like little jelly beans. I would’ve kept the ruse going longer, but I didn’t want to have to make something else for lunch! 😉

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Why Social Media?

			
						

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A few weeks ago, I was reading a newspaper when I read a letter to the editor about the downfall of society occurring at the hands of social media. At first I dismissed it as a lash-out from someone who kept getting rejected from Facebook friends, but then I realized that even I have family members that question the importance of social media. They wonder, “Why?”


Let me explain why it’s important to ME.


1) As a stay-at-home mom, I find myself needing adult interaction. Yet, living on the farm and spending a lot of time at doctor’s appointments and what-not makes it difficult to have actual playdates, coffee breaks and other get-togethers. Through my blog, Facebook and/or Twitter, I can chat with a friend for a minute or two, and feel caught-up in the world.


2) I have met some AMAZING people through social media…and some of them I’ve never seen in person! In fact, one of my dearest friends I met through Twitter, and only met her in person a year ago (she only lives an hour away!). She’s one of my Prairie Mama companions and a true friend, a sounding board, a ball of energy and an amazing mother. She has taught me that quality can mean so much more than quantity…and when we get together with our other Prairie Mama Sarah, we can spend 30 minutes and cover every topic from labor and delivery, to breastfeeding in awkward places, to the role that social media can play in connecting agriculture to the consumer. We may not see each other often enough, but I’m grateful every day that I met her through social media!


Rural mothers...fast friends.


3) I can connect through social media. It’s amazing to see the connections in action. For example…imagine a busy mom in the city, hearing all this garbage about “industrial” ag and how our food isn’t produced in ways that will be sustainable for years to come and how it’s HER fault for not making wiser choices at the market. Since she’s only hearing the story from someone behind a desk a few hundred miles away, what else will she believe? But now, thanks to other means of communication, she can locate a farmer’s market, contact a local grower, or talk to someone who may be hundreds of miles away, but is actually INVOLVED in agriculture, and ask the questions that she has.


She can find out from farms, like ours, that our cattle spend the summer in their pastures, but winter where there’s better protection from the elements; she can talk to farmers that raise pigs, and find out how their barns can be climate-controlled; she can speak with a farmer that raises chickens, and find out how their facilities keep the birds healthy and safe. All of that, without ever having to leave her home. But better yet, she can leave her home knowing a farmer, and can put a face to the product…and she can find a local farm to visit.


She can research the different farming practices, talk to different types of farms, and decide for herself what types of products she wants to provide for her family. She can be an educated consumer…and a connected one.


4) I’m connecting to family members that I had lost touch with…and classmates as well. And in my opinion, anytime you connect with an old friend, it’s a good thing.


5) There is strength in numbers. When I type something, and I know that someone else agrees, or feels strongly enough to disagree, at least I’m able to have those conversations with as many people as I like. And sometimes it’s comforting to know that when you’re going through a tough situation, that others have your back.


I could go on and on about how thankful I am to have these opportunities today…how has social media made a difference in your life?

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Blog post replay

			
						

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George is having surgery today, so I’m setting up a few blog posts ahead of time. Any thoughts and prayers you can spare are gladly appreciated. He will have his tonsils and adenoids removed, as well as tubes put in his ears. We’re hoping this will help cut down on the number of strep infections and ear infectios that land him in the hospital.


My hope and prayer is that the surgery goes smoothly, without complication, and the recoery is quick. High hopes, right? But with the short stick that George has been dealt with, I think he deserves a run of good luck and complication-free life! 🙂 So keep those prayers coming!


So here’s a replay on a post I did back in December…it rings true today, just as much as it did then:


An open invitation


2 Dec




I think the activities of the last few weeks are kind of catching up to me. That’s the only way I can explain how I feel right now. I was going through some of my e-mails and other “office” type stuff when a tweet came across Tweetdeck that had a profound effect on me.


Normally, I don’t let these kind of things bother me too much, because if I did, I’d be crazy. But this was a link to the article that Time did on the high cost of cheap food. Basically it was a piece written by someone who sits behind a desk, has food at their fingertips and never again thinks about where his next meal will come from.


Here’s my challenge, or perhaps an open invitation, to these types of people:


Come, spend 24 hours fighting the wind, snow and ice of a driving blizzard, while trying to carry calves or herd cows into a barn, just so that they are safe and protected in the storm. Then sit at the computer when you get in, while wondering if you should lay down for a few minutes, or just head back out, and while at the computer, read an article that claims that you don’t do enough to provide safe food. Then you can complain about where your food comes from.


Now THAT’s a snow bank!


Spend countless hours, weeks, months preparing to put your crop in. Spend every dime you’ve made in the last year, in hopes that you will make that, or maybe even a little more, in the coming year. Plant your seeds, watch it start to grow, take care of it the best you know how. And then watch as Mother Nature decides that she wants your crop…and have it wiped out in the blink of an eye. Then read about someone who thinks you should be happy enough with the fact that you’ll get paid a portion of what your crop was worth. That even though you have nothing to show for all of your hard work, it doesn’t matter, because you chose that line of work. That if you really wanted to, you could always get a job in town, never worrying about where food comes from, because the grocery store never runs out. Watch that unfold before your eyes…then you can complain about where your food comes from.


Put in a 20 hour day, working from before sun-up to past sun-down, taking care of whatever comes up during the day. Spend countless hours outside, loading bales by hand, helping a cow deliver a calf, fixing fence, changing tires. Then listen as someone on the radio claims that the crops you raise are going to cause our children to die at a younger age. That our country is fatter because of the unhealthy food that is grown. All while the same people are sitting behind a desk for eight hours, children are in school longer and in activities less, homework consumes all available time after school, as opposed to activities outside, menial labor is seen as substandard employment and fast-food is the king of family meals. Listen to that all day…then you can complain about where your food comes from.


All safe and warm inside, no matter what’s going on outside.


Watch your son’s first ball game from a video tape, celebrate your wife’s birthday two months late, walk into church while the second hymn is being sung…all because a cow was calving and needed help, you had one more round to make before the storm let loose, or the crop needed to be planted, sprayed or harvested. Have your life played out around seasons, weather and all things that you have no control over. Work in those conditions…then you can complain about where your food comes from.


My family strives hard every day to make sure that our work ensures that the food we produce is the safest, healthiest and cheapest it can be for the consumer, as well as for ourselves. If we abuse our land, our animals or our crops in any way, then not only is our bottom line affected, but our whole lives are as well.


Fortunately, we live in a country where people don’t have to do any of the things I’ve wrote above, and still be able to complain…loudly and publicly. People attack an industry they don’t understand, because it’s easier to lay blame than to accept it. But the ag-community is responding. Perhaps someday soon there will be more articles in the national news thanking our farmers, ranchers and those that work hard so we can provide for all. Perhaps.


A girl can dream, right?



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Where’s My Relaxing Summer???

			
						

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I remember when I was a girl (hey now, don’t laugh, it wasn’t THAT long ago!), summer break from school was a relaxing time. We played, slept in, stayed up late, whatever we wanted to do. We went fishing, took drives to check fields and worked in the garden.


Where is that summer now?


Yesterday started off as a Tuesday, and ended as a Monday. We have 20 days until school starts, and so many things to pack into our “summer” that I almost wish school would start now! (Almost, I said almost.)


In the last few weeks, George has battled yet again another case of strep. We were referred to an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist, who promptly decided on Monday that he needed to have his tonsils, adenoids removed and tubes in his ears…and the sooner, the better. Which means Tuesday. So then we need to have a pre-op history and physical done. Which could only be scheduled yesterday.


With George’s OTC, illnesses are taken very seriously. Two of his strep infections have landed him a stay in the hospital. Both times he had seizures, both times he ended up on high doses of antibiotics, both times I had the bejeebers scared out of me. According to the ENT, removing George’s tonsils and adenoids will improve his snoring/lack of sleeping habit and will greatly decrease his chance of getting strep. Yay! He also failed the tympanogram. Meaning there is fluid in his ears and his ear drum is not moving much. So we will also be getting tubes.


Tubes/tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy…sounds like a fun day, eh? Oh well, as long as it makes things better in the long run, I’m all for it.


But to get back to yesterday.


After George’s pre-op appointment, we needed to get Big Bro’s new glasses. On our way to that appointment, Scooter started crying that his ear hurt so bad that he couldn’t move his head. Thankfully, there’s a FastCare clinic next to the eye doctor. We stopped in and found out the Scooter has swimmer’s ear. Figures. There’s only four days left of the pool being open.


So…after some running around, three doctor’s appointments, we met with Grandma B. at “Donald’s” for supper. We don’t eat out very often, so I wasn’t used to ordering for George off the Golden Arches menu. What do you get a child who can’t eat most of the menu?


I asked the manager (who happened to be the one waiting on me) if I could order a hamburger Happy Meal, minus the meat. I explained to him the situation, and he promptly went to the kitchen and made sure it was made right. Bun, check; ketchup, check; pickles, onions, mustard; check, check, check. The manager also threw in extra apple dippers, just to be nice. As I brought his meal to him, George was the happiest little boy around. He had the same thing as his brothers…and enjoyed every bite! I actually tear up, just thinking about it.


Sometimes, it’s just the little things in life that make your day.

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
King Arthur Flour meets Grandma Vivian’s Dumplings

			
						

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I’ve joined a party…and am creating history all at once!


As part of A Latte with Ott, A’s King Arthur flour Iron Chef Challenge, I decided that I would make Brandenburger family history…I would use my Grandma Vivian’s Dumpling recipe. (Mind you, this recipe has never been written down [to my knowledge] and for certain isn’t on the internet.)


This recipe isn’t something you just “throw” together for a quick lunch, but it’s a wonderfully delicious authentically German dish that is requested time and time again at my house. Especially at family gatherings!!!


First of all, you need bread dough…and this is where the King Arthur flour comes in. For those that have been reading my blog for a while, you know that our youngest son has OTC, which limits his protein intake to 10-12 grams per day. Well, it just so happens that King Arthur flour has a product  that is lower in protein! Woohoo!!! And I used this flour for our bread dough (although it’s labeled for wonderfully, delicious and super light pastries, pies, etc.). It worked beautifully!


Anyway, on with the recipe:


Grandma Vivian’s Dumplings


Ingredients –


3 cups flour (I used King Arthur Perfect Pastry flour – only 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup!)


1 1/2 TBSP. butter


1 cup water


1/4 cup milk


1 package instant dry yeast


1 tsp. salt


1 1/2 TBSP. sugar


1 qt. chicken broth (liquid)


potatoes


2 cups heavy whipping cream (pic shows half and half, which is what I used…but Grandma always used heavy whipping cream…half and half tasted just as good!)


Everything you need!


First, we need a simple loaf of white bread dough. This is a simple, easy loaf recipe…and trust me, if I can make it, anyone can!


Mix together 2 1/2 cups flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Set aside. Then mix together water, milk and butter, heat until hot to touch, but not boiling. (I microwaved for 40 seconds.)




When making this dough, mix together dry ingredients, then mix and heat wet ingredients before combining.


Then, pour your wet ingredients into the dry and mix until a dough-ball is formed. Take the 1/2 cup flour that’s left-over and add as needed to make a smooth dough-ball that doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl. (I ended up using just about all of the flour this time, but it will vary, depending on your humidity, etc.)




Dough - finished but not raised.


Cover the dough with a cloth for 10 minutes, to let it rest. Then shape into a ball again and let it raise for 1 hour.




Fluffy, yummy dough ball!


Now, we’re ready to make dumplings! Peel and cut your potatoes, enough to fill the bottom of your kettle (4 or 5 quart kettle or dutch oven works wonderfully!).




Enough potatoes to fill the bottom of a kettle, or maybe even a little more!


Add the chicken broth. (I use chicken broth instead of water to boil my potatoes. It adds great flavor!) You can flavor your potatoes if you’d like, with salt, pepper, onions, etc. Whatever you would normally do for boiling potatoes. You won’t be draining any of the liquid.




I use chicken broth instead of water with my potatoes. Yummy!


Heat the potatoes to a boil.




Potatoes are boiling!


Remove the kettle from heat. Punch down the dough. Tear off about quarter-sized bits of dough and layer across the kettle, on top of the water and potatoes.




Pull apart the dough, enough to fill one layer across the potatoes in the kettle.






Dough, completely covering potatoes and ready to cook!


The next part is very important: Place lid on kettle, put it back on medium heat. DO NOT REMOVE THE LID!!! In fact, if your lid does not seal well, or isn’t a very heavy lid, place something on top of your lid…such as:




If your lid isn't heavy enough to make sure there's a seal, set something heavy on top of the lid! Be creative!


Why is this important? The steam from the potatoes and water is cooking the dumplings. If the liquid in the kettle evaporates too quickly, your dough will fall and will be more solid, than light and fluffy. (Grandma would call them “klutzy” when that would happen.) Once you can hear the potatoes boiling again, turn the temp down a bit and simmer. Cook for 30-45 minutes or until the “dumplings start talking to you.” (Grandma’s terms) In cooking terms, this means to listen to the kettle and the dumplings are done when you can hear them starting to fry a little bit.


And then lift off the lid and pray…just kidding…it should look something like this:




Dumplings are done!


Next, stir up the dumplings, mixing the dough, the potatoes and whatever liquid is left. Then pour the cream on top of the dumplings and stir.




Add cream to the finished dumplings.




And finished product, all mixed up...yum!


And that, my friends, is my Grandma Vivian’s Dumplings…actually wrote down and save for all of posterity. She would have been proud of me! She was my best friend, and has been gone for almost a year now. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her, and wish that I would have just one more day with her. She taught me so many things about life, but the thing she cherished most was laughter…and good German food! 😉




These are authentic German dumplings...made from scratch! (And low protein!)


Grandma would normally serve this with chicken, but it goes well with any protein item of your choice: beef, lamb, pork, etc. (Not sure it would go well with fish, but go ahead and try! Life is made for rules to be broken, right???) With this particular meal, my sister and I ate these dumplings all by themselves. Just because we could.


Enjoy!


King Arthur did provide me with flour to use for this recipe contest however the opinions listed here are my own.
























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Wordless Wednesday – Mini-veggies

			
						

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As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’ve been working hard on getting our garden to make it through the year. You see, it’s not just because I like vegetables, or I think we’re the only ones who can grow a tomato right, or I don’t like getting vegetables from my store or anything like that.


It’s much more simple…I want to provide for my son.


George’s condition? George’s diagnosis? George’s illness? Hmmm…what do I call it…let’s just go with OTC. George’s OTC will not allow us to provide him with the wonderfully delicious beef that the rest of our family gets from the farm. And he never will be able to enjoy it…at least not much. George is limited to 10-12 grams of protein per DAY…and well, that just isn’t much in the scheme of things. And meat is basically out of his realm of menu options. Completely.


George loves his fruit! It's a good thing, since that's about the only thing he can eat a lot of!


 


 


So we go with fruits and vegetables. And since North Dakota isn’t real high on the fruit scale of production, we’re going to do our best on the veggie side. Like these:


These sugar snap peas are just about ready!


 


 


The cucumbers are showing up! Yahoo!!!


 


 


These peppers aren't much yet...but they're getting there!


 


 


Tomato...tomahto...can you say salsa???

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Mary, Mary…

			
						

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Well, after wondering if my garden would pull through the flooding, it’s obvious that it handled it rather well! Yay!


In fact, I spotted my first pea pod already filling…can’t wait for more!


I thought I would take a few pics of my favorite blooms to share with you…enjoy!


The hard, fast rain has compacted the ground a bit, but nothing a little hard work won't help out!


 


 


These spaghetti squash will serve as George's noodles in the upcoming months. Can't wait!!!


 


 


We have a pea pod! Yay!!! Can't wait for the others to set on!


 


 


Cukes, cukes and more cukes. Hubby loves them, and so do the kids!


 


 


The peppers have been the hardest hit, but they're coming around.


 


 


Some of my tomatoes look great, and some look pretty sparse, but this little guy is trying to blossom...giving me hope! My salsa is demanded around this house!


 


 


Hopefully in the next few weeks this patch will be pumping out the produce and my boys will be enjoying my hard work. I won’t lie to you, it’s been a really tough year to do this. But in the end, it’ll all be worth it…


Right?