Just a quick update

The gardens have definitely been in a 'slow down' mode the past month. Temps regularly in the upper 90's and heat index over 100 has everything lanquishingly and looking rather spent. Working out there is done in spurts as it is just too hot to stay out there too long. Tom continues to water everyday but there is nothing like God's good soaking rain to bring life back into the plants. We have seen rain all around us - watch pretty shows in the skies off in the distance but generally all we get is a sprinkle. The next couple of days 'supposedly' hold hope for some rain - lets hope so.

One thing that has been producing alot is the cucumbers and Tom is getting really good at doing both bread and butter and dill pickles. He sends them home with family members - all of whom have sent back raving reviews. We have had a fair amount of squash and zuchinni. Mom has been enjoying 'fried green tomatoes' and as they start to rippen we plan to can some of them up along with enjoying them fresh. Second sowing of string beans yielded zip-nada. Corn has been sporadic but what we have had has been really good. Nothing like going out right before supper and picking a couple of ears. This was a learning year with a veggie garden and we have learned alot and will do better next year.

I have been studying what works and doesn't work as far as flowers go. This winter's WSing will be more plant specific. I won't be trying to germinate every seed that comes along. It has been fun but I think I want a little more 'organized' garden next year and plant in drifts instead of one plant of each type. Oh well - thats the fun thing about gardening - it is never the same from year to year.

Mom is doing good. She has had visits with all her doctors in the last couple of weeks and gotten good reports, She will remian on the air 24/7 but everything else was good. Considering she is now 91 we thank God for the good reports. Anyone who reads this if you could just say a prayer for our BIL Bobby (my sister Joyce's blind husband). He had a heart attack this week and had triple by-pass surgery on Friday. He is doing OK after surgery but is scared. Being blind he had no visual idea of what to expect and did have trouble with all the tubes when he came out of surgery and wanted to take them all out. He had to be sedated. The sad part is Joyce is in a nursing home so can't be with him so he had to go through much of this alone. Hopefully they can get him into the same home she is in for his recovery and they can see each other.

The rest of the family is doing really good. The two older grandsons have been having fun in camps and Tom and I have John every afternoon after he gets out of summer school. He finishes next week and then will join his brothers for the last two weeks of camps and then the school season starts for them. WHERE did the summer go????

We continue to keep our eyes on what is happening in the Middle East and wonder how it will impact our lives but each night sit our on our back porch and thank the good Lord for our little piece of heaven and the ability to enjoy it as we do.........life is good here at the 'Heartland'

thank you for stopping by and leave us a note

Lynne ~~he who plants a seed - believes in tomorrow~~