Funny Thing, Gardening

We're trying again this summer to grow a garden.  I have to admit, it's mostly Brombeere's work, she has done most of the planning, preparation, and planting, along with some help from me and Schwartzebeere.  But, by and large, she's done most of the watering, weeding, and harvesting that's happened so far.  But I do occasionally go out there and poke around.  Anyway, at our house, we really like home grown tomatoes, and as a result, Brombeere, if she grows anything, usually grows tomatoes in the garden. So I was out there the other day, just checking on things, and noticed that the tomatoes are coming along quite nicely.  She has planted several varieties this year.

Cherry tomatoes

She has several bushes of cherry tomatoes growing out there.

More cherry tomatoes

She also planted some regular sized tomatoes this year.  They also look like we'll get a few pretty soon.

She even tried a new kind, black tomatoes.  I'd never heard of black cherry tomatoes before, but she's giving them a try.  And, so far, they look promising.

Black cherry tomatoes

I noticed this morning that way off on the other side of the garden there is also a volunteer tomato that's come up and is flowering. A volunteer from last year's effort. Unfortunately, its late enough if the season that we probably won't get anything off it.  It likely will freeze before it actually has any tomatoes ripen on it.

But the most unusual thing going on, among all the things Brombeere is growing, is the tomato she bought that is fully self-contained.  Its supposed to grow, mature, and produce tomatoes all in the pot it came in.  It actually did produce a couple of tomatoes earlier in the summer.  Alas, the grandkids, who are small and had never been introduced to gardening, saw the little green tomatoes growing and thought they looked like fun little balls.  So they picked them and were playing with them when we saw what they'd done.  They then got their first lesson in gardening, gently but firmly, after which they have done better.  Shortly thereafter, all the leaves shriveled and died and we figured the plant was done.

Imagine our surprise when, still looking all the world like it was dead, that little plant produced another tomato!  Not many of them looked the fully ripe, the bright red color you think of for tomatoes. But they were ripe enough to pick.  One had even fallen off the plant on its own.

So I brought in those that looked ready in and we'll let them ripen the last little bit in the house.  But they sure look and smell nice!  And there's plenty more out there that we hope will get ripe in the days to come.  Good stuff from the garden!

Commonplace Book

A Commonplace Book. “Commonplace”, from the Latin 'locus communis', meaning “a theme or argument of general application.”  For me, it is a collection of thoughts, ideas, anecdotes, poems, observations, and quotes that stood out and caught my attention, some with comment, some without. Essentially a scrapbook, a repository of thoughts too good to just pass over and let go.

  

"Man should not slow the watch and the calendar to blind him to the fact that each moment of his life is a miracle and a mystery."

(HG Wells 1866-1946, English writer) 

"It is not the privilege of those called as leaders to slide the Church about as though it were on casters, hoping to put it into the path that men or youth will be safe within it."

(Boyd K Packer, Inspiring Music—Worthy Thoughts, October Conference 1973)

“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

(Alexander Pope (1688-1744), British poet)

"Therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared."

(Helaman 12:22)

"We were born to die, and we die to live. As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven."

(Russell M Nelson, Doors of Death, April Conference 1992)

More Bocce Ball

The other day we went out to the lake.  Among other things we played some Bocce Ball, which was a lot of fun.  More recently, we got the game out again and played it with some little kids, Schwartzbeere's kids.  That was a lot of fun.  As before, to start with, the little white ball has to be carefully placed in the playing field.

Once the little white ball is in position, the game is ready to start.  This time, Grandma got the game started by explaining how to play and taking her turn first.  Grandma was tossing the red balls.

 Each person gets two balls to toss.

Next was Big Red, tossing the blue balls.

He was followed by his little brother, who was tossing the green balls.  As you might imagine, each of these players had their own, unique style.  This one liked the "wind up".

Last of all came the little sister.  Another unique style.  Kind of all over the place, with the ball landing who knows where, all without much regard of where the little white ball was.  But she was having fun, so what the heck, right?

As the game wore on and the attention spans began to wane, one young man decided to try tossing both balls at once.

Yeah, that had mixed results.  But the game actually lasted quite a while before they lost interested.  It was a good time.  If you have the patience, playing with little kids and the variations they bring to games can be a lot of fun.

Another Day at the Lake

We were able to spend another afternoon out at the lake, relaxing.  This time Himbeere and his friend went with us.  He volunteered to load the kayaks in his truck; much easier than hooking up the trailer and using it. 

We got out there and put some burgers on to grill - the kids hit the water almost as soon as we got there, especially since lunch had to cook a bit before it was ready.

We found a shady table and got the grills going.  We used the one there at the park but we also brought our own little portable grill.  It does quite nicely. Having two grills going got lunch ready all the quicker.

It was a near perfect day for playing at the park, nice temperature, slight breeze, overcast sky.  Everything an August day can offer.  There were a few others around but not so many that we couldn't keep adequately distanced.  I guess that's something we have to watch now days.

So we chatted while the burgers cooked and pretty soon it was all ready to eat.  The younger kids had worked up enough of an appetite that they were willing to get out of the water to eat.

Good food, good times.

We took our Bocce Ball game and, after lunch, those that didn't head back to the water played some Bocce Ball.

First you throw out a little while ball and then everyone tosses their balls to see who can get closest to the white ball.  Some interesting strategies going on. 

It was pretty fun. 

Blaubeere brought her dutch oven and made a cobbler in the grill, among the coals.

She said it was the first time she had actually made it herself.  I thought it turned out really good, really yummy.

Then it was everyone in the water.

A great way to cool off.

Pretty soon the kayaks were in the water, too.  That sometimes includes some shenanigans, but everybody was having fun.

Wet times, good items.

Himbeere's friend had never been in a kayak before.  She didn't do too bad at all, didn't capsize or anything like that.

It all made for a very nice afternoon.  We might have to make this a habit.