Wild Garlic~

I've posted lots and lots of happenings around our little place and I've had a handful of statements or inquiries about the WILD GARLIC. 

Your garlic grows wild. WOW!I planted ours last fall and it is about 6 inches tall. We harvest in the summer. We are putting new fruit trees in our small lot. ~ by Roberta Palm

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Wild garlic? Never heard of it! 'course I thought it grew at the grocery store - lol. You're going to have a wonderful garden full of goodies. Do keep us posted!

By ~ Coleen's Corner

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but I love, love, love that picture of the peach tree with the barn! thanks for sharing girl! (and trying to keep it clean) ~ gail

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I feel as though a certain responsibility comes with blogging, you know?  So, what with all the gals actually READING MY BLOG...lol, (and I love each of you for doing so.) 

Clump of 'garlic' behind the barn

I thought I better read up again and refresh myself on exactly what it is that is growing in my yard--- and subsequently, what we eat~ that we refer to as garlic. I'll tell you, I been calling it 

WILD, ONLY because I did not plant it. 

Clump at the fence. 

I don't have any pictures of our garlic in bloom. When it blooms you know there is garlic below ready to be harvested.  The 'garlic' that we have isn't as pungent as most and doesn't cause us to have bad breath or body odor.... (nope, we get that all on our own...wink~ wink~)

What grows here-- comes back every year, with absolutely no help from us what so ever!  and it GROWS HUGE!  I'm not kidding you at all when I say the bulbs are as big around as my fist!  Now, I am hoping to keep you posted on this -- the flowering and harvesting, because I really want you to see how huge it gets to be.

Three small clumps in the back corner.

This is a good description from: Garlic Central 

Elephant garlic is probably more closely related to the leek than to the normal variety. The bulbs are very large and can weigh over a pound. A single clove of elephant garlic can be as large as a whole bulb of ordinary garlic.

In terms of flavour, elephant garlic is to garlic what leeks are to onions. It is much less intense and sweeter. It has been described - rather unkindly - as "garlic for people who don't like garlic".

This type of garlic doesn't keep as long and so needs to be used rather than stored.  It is also more yellow in color than regular garlic--which is purely white. 

When we pull it up from the ground I give it a good "whop" on the ground and whatever seeds...little pods really that are in the creases of the bulb fall back to the ground. Honey has mowed this down at the end of growing season and it comes back on its own every year. 

I use it just like regular garlic. It is quite tasty. 

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but I love, love, love that picture of the peach tree with the barn! thanks for sharing girl! (and trying to keep it clean) ~ gail

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And- yeah, I know Gail's comment wasn't about the garlic exactly, but she did like my peach trees behind the barn... and I have to say what with the peaches, blackberries and garlic going on behind the barn; it makes you wonder what is so special about the barn? 

We used to have chickens back there! So that ground is very fertile!!!  Oh, I can't wait to get more chickens... 

Anyway-- today we were cleaning out the yard on the far-side of the barn (west) I hardly show pictures of it...because well IT NEEDED CLEANING! 

 But~ I did snap this picture. I like all the rusty metallic-ness (that is my word) of this windmill and check out that handle-less shovel.  

I love this time of year! I love being outside.

God Bless you
and
Thanks for reading!

How Does my Garden Grow?

Today Yesterday, we transplanted some young peach trees that came up on their own out behind the barn. We have three larger trees back there-- and haven't had much luck the last few years because there it too much shade~ the soil is rich and great so if nothing else... we get good trees out of it; just not much in the way of peaches.

So this year~ all things gardening for us; we moved some trees and hope to get peaches off them in the next few years!   We're hoping  since we've thinned out the trees behind the barn-- we'll get peaches there this year.

We placed the 'new' trees in our ever growing Potager-- Kitchen garden. I think that is what it means.  Why a kitchen garden?  Well, it must be because I can see it from my Kitchen window while doing the dishes, of course. 

This is from Garden Webs forum:  

Potager Gardens

A potager garden is the French counterpart to the English kitchen garden, but with an emphasis on growing vegetables. Get ideas and share your visions for new ways to intermingle vegetables, flowers and herbs in small spaces.

So that is what we're calling it. Now when I say Potager-- you know what I mean. 

We also planted some herbs.

Cilantro, Oregano, and Dill.  I planted it near the Garlic that we trans-planted there too.  The Garlic grows wild on our acreage. I found this small clump behind the barn and moved it.  Don't know what will come of it this year-- but we'll see.  I know we'll also get plenty of Garlic from the other spots where it grows wild. Do you know anything about wild garlic? We've eaten it so far without any problems.   

Let's see we planted Okra, Sunflowers and Zinnia's too. 

It's hard to see the little Okra plants...but they're there.  We mulched everything with pine needles.

As for the Hugelbeet~ we transplanted some Tomatoes and a couple of Okra plants there too (experimenting with this thing to see how it will work for us here in our hot climate) 

Speaking of Climate~ Saturday it was in the 80's and then over nite Saturday and then Sunday--it plummeted to the mid to upper 40's and is going to be cool most of the week.  Tomorrow we're getting some much needed rain.  With the TEMPS being cooler-- I wondered how everything would do-- but when we were planting the Hugelbeet today; the soil was really warm when I dug my hand inside to place my little plants!
It's exciting~   all of the activity around our place.

I know that the Hugelbeet looks like a hodgepodge of stuff-- so, I made a diagram to show where things were planted. So you could sort of make sense of it all. BUT REALLY... it's to help me remember what everything is!

I've had to start a Garden journal too.  I sketch it out and make notes and record temps and junk!

Now if we can just get it together enough to get some chickens!  

Oh I'd love me some fresh eggs! 

God Bless you and Thanks for reading!

SURPRISE!

... AND BOY WAS I!


Saturday was my birthday-- I got the usual rounds of phone call 'birthday blessings' but nothing spectacular. Well, my youngest daughter and SIL brought the boys over for a short visit- and then we all went to Sac-A-Burger-- ( a local burger joint in town) for supper. It was fun!

Sunday, Honey and I got up , went to church and went about our usual day of rest.  We had talked about going over to a near by town and checking up on a travel trailer ...we're tossing around some ideas on that.
and....Then! he proceeded to drive all over the COUNTY...looking for more camper trailers just lying dormant on peoples properties ...mmmhmmm. 
The whole time I've got a stomach ache, btw that started a church,didn't really want to go in the first place--no. not today. Wanted to be home having my SUNDAY NAP. 
After a few cell phone calls and now getting irritated with wasteful gas practices-- and OUR nosey kids that keep calling -- What?  I'm just telling you truth.

I get home... glad to be there. Wondering where is the daughter that called and said she was wondering where we are?  and that is supposed to be AT MY HOUSE?  NOW. I'M REALLY IRRITATED. Her CAR IS NOT IN THE DRIVE WAY.

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES! my family surprised me.  Never ever in a million years expected it. 

All my kids- grandkids, BOTH MY BROTHERS... AND my Daddy.  ALL HERE! IN. MY. HOUSE. 

 I got  this cute little picture from my Sis-inlaw--- that sums up how I feel about Honey! cute.

AND~~~ from the kids- flowers and gift cards to all my favorite stores!  YAY! money---

I'm not irritated anymore.

PS~ I've never had a surprise party-- I have thrown them, but not received one. 

So when my oldest Son- inlaw said " you didn't look very surprised."  

I told him "that was MY  SURPRISED FACE~  the look of SHOCK AND AWE. 

God Bless you and Thanks for Reading. 

I don't say this very often but...

I WANT ONE! 

There I said it. 

I feel better~ 

God Bless you 

and 

Thanks for indulging me  (I mean) Reading. 

It is Well~

God Bless you
and
Thanks for reading!


"The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.   
                      ~Deuteronomy 32:4

Looking for Something?

It's that time of year- all the Fleas are gearing up to get outside;make a sale, hang around the food pavilions,

eat some food and hang out with friends! If you're anything like me...You WANT TO GO and check out all the super deals to be had all around the country...but Maybe traveling is out of the question for you right now. 

NOT TO WORRY... 

'Cause there is a NEW Place in Town

Amy's All Things Home's shop

Whatever you're looking for she has it! 

  

Maybe you're HARD-UP FOR HARDWARE... 

some rusty -vintage -TOTALLY -SWEET- Hardware.

OR... 

Maybe you're CRAZY FOR CRAZE... 

You have a PENCHANT FOR PLATES? 

Or maybe you just need a GOOD ol' PLACE TO HANG YOUR HAT! 

She's Even Got some HANDCRAFTED ITEMS 

for you to use in your own craft shop and some items can be personalized! 

JUST FOR YOU. 

Her prices are all fantastic-
She's been working so hard on her NEW SHOP.
Go over and check it out. Tell her Hi, from me while you're there.
(i get no kick backs...Amy's just a friend and my Sister in Christ and I love her! )

God Bless you
and
Thanks for Reading!

Garden Dreams-

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm... dream garden?

Lush green grass-NO STICKERS.

source

Equal amounts of sun and shade,a nice place to sit and relax--

(Country Living ???) 

and enjoy the company of friends and family; without mosquitos! 

source

Veggies growing for a beautiful salad and strawberries, lots and lots of strawberries...

Mild temps- cool breezes- soft rain-

Wind chimes and chirping birds...an occasional interruption in the still dusky nite of a quite tree frog off in the distance.

source

That's what I dream about when gardening.


Like visions of sugar plums dancing in my head....




God Bless you
and
Thanks for Reading!

Hugelbeet!

God Bless You!
That's what I'd say if I heard someone say that in a sentence.


***THIS JUST IN! -- HELLO, OUT THERE~ I've been going around all week saying, spelling and pronouncing this word all wrong.  Yes-- Do you see what my sidebar says?  Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. ~Sicilian Proverb  
Well, my friends I've got a dirty face for sure...I tell ya;   Cause I didn't even notice this until I Googled my misspelled version!  That was hilarious, I was in some sort of weird mixed up twilight zone or something. 
Anyway enough of that--  now onto the REAL DIRT on the matter.  Thank you allowing this slight rant.  

Ok so, Monday morning I got up and got things rolling around the house and came in here to the computer -- I was Checking out some of the posts at New Life on a Homestead  they were hosting a Barn Hop -- I came across this post   (JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE  FARM) It is actually Part I of a series called Hugelbeet Part I   from there I was Googlin'

Around lunch time I had made announcement to Honey... this is what we need to be doing with the rest of the scraps and scrub brush lying behind the barn and with the last bit of leaves that had been rake and pile high-- along with some rotted wood from the bottom of the wood (for burning pile)

Yes-- we'd already cleared all the areas around our yard, on mild winter days and we had organized our wood!

That was the hard part. After doing some research- and having a blank unplanted (because I wasn't satisfied with the bed) spot; we decided we'd give this a try.  So after lunch from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm we  Disorganized our wood!

I layed it out just like I had read. So from the ground up it went like this:

1. Rotten wood on bottom. 
2. Scrub brush and branches next
3. Leaves and raked up matter along with compost and manure 
4. Dirt! 

 I've removed the raised bed box  that was there and we'll be using it somewhere. Not sure at the moment. I used a hoe and dug out about 3 1/2 to 4 inches of dirt you can see it in the fore ground left lower corner.
Honey has already begun layering some VERY SOFT rotting wood.

 Here you can see we've brought some of the branches that were up near the street that we cut after the BIG BON-FIRE.  Yes! as big as it was, we still have wood left to use. There is a huge pile at the back of our field behind the barn too. We layered in these branches and just heaped them on there.  

This is a picture of the leaves from the compost that were last piled on (which reminds me, after sitting most of the winter covered in snow and leaves and then the rain came; I WONDER WHY MY COMPOST DIDN'T 'DO IT'S THING?')  I was hoping to have way more dirt from the compost bin. 

You can see in this picture; the dirt from the garden spot. (not a lot of dirt)   We have put that on top of all that along with the remaining dirt from the bottom of the compost bin. 

Imagine-
My BRAINS are NOT full of fluff  and... 

This is the picture of the the Hugelbeet with the dirt on top.  Not a thick layer but hopefully enough. Really, I took a picture of it, but now--- I'm not so sure.  

I am so excited to use the plants and trees and dirt-- and hopefully spare us from any more VFD trucks driving past our place....REeeeAlly slowly! 

I'm hopeful that by the end of the week we'll have the rest of the garden either into the ground or into the HUGELBEET! I'll keep you posted. 

In the meantime;  if you want to read more up on this type of gardening you may click here or here.

Now for a couple of pretty pictures! 

 Though the daffodil blooms have already faded; the Iris has bloomed and so has the wild blackberry!

 Don't know if you can see that black spot on this Wisteria blossom... it is a Bumble Bee!  This isn't the greatest photo... The Bees wouldn't co-operate with my little Kodak Easy Share.  I told them hold still!

Mmmmm... and this is the Peach orchard behind the barn!  I can't wait for the Peaches.

I'm posting this here~~~ 

Farm Girl Friday #2

Deborah Jean's Dandelion House-

My RePurposed LIFE 
(ps GAIL:  I tried to keep it clean, but we're talking dirt here.LOL!)

God bless you
and
Thanks for Reading!

Avocados

I'm trying to grow AVOCADO trees: 

I found this picture here: Frugal Country Mom 

And then hopefully AVOCADOS! 

source

 from the pits! 

 3 AVOCADO PITS  the one in the middle being the oldest.   Didn't know if  it would grow or not. I let it dry out in the window and it shriveled pretty much, it eventually was tossed into my little gravy boat-slash- sink plug holder and all but forgotten! 
This was before I knew you were supposed to soak them. 
The other two I prepped for planting right away; 


To prep an avocado: 
 First need to soak it.  I soaked mine over night COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN WATER. 
The next day I 
Peeled as much of the brown outer layer off that I could and
 Place toothpicks into the pit. 
Fill  a jar or coffee cup with water and let sit in a warm window or under a grow light. 


Here's Why:  

My shriveled up OLD Pit sat in the window since Christmas...YES! 

and when I finally started trying to grow it ~ It was January. 

It took a while and then finally one day we noticed THIS! 

No that is not a tooth pic there in the circle ...it is the actual root. So we placed it under the GROW LIGHT. 
AND VIO`LA! 

CAN YOU SEE THE little plant in that crack there?  It is going to sprout very soon. 


BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE. 
While the Old little pit was doing it's thing in the Northern Window...V.E.eeRY SLO-OW-LY... 

THIS Pit was in a SOUTHERN WINDOW and it was coming along too 
But THE VERY DAY WE PUT IT UNDER THE GROW LIGHT... by EVENING, it had SPLIT! 
It has only been under the grow light a approx. 2 weeks and it has already begun to sprout inside the little crack, although no root is protruding yet. 
I'll have to take another PROGRESS PICTURE OF IT. 


Below is the 3rd Avocado with some scaring... I sliced my finger when I cut open this Avocado... OUCH! it hurt. SO THE AVOCADO ISN'T THE ONLY THING WITH SCARRING... 

 I' m showing this one because the SPLIT IS GOING TO RUN  opposite the scarring line. 

It looks like it may split in a another day or so. 


This is what I've learned or come to understand about growing Avocados. They are pretty hardy as fruit trees. 
They do Very well in warm climates. (I'm in Texas, so this is good)  The smaller the pit, the hardier they are in cool temperatures and can stand extremes in the TEENS. 
With any Hope at all... I should yield fruit from my 3 Avocado Trees in 3-4 years. 
I've not gotten too far ahead, 
I'm assuming ,once big enough, that planting on the South side of my house would be the best place for them and shield them from strong CHILLING Northern Winds.  I'm not certain of watering, a little? or a Lot?  Drainage and soil type also is something I need to find research as well.  I never question if I should plant them in the Ground or Pot.  If in doubt... I just plant in the Ground; because after all EVEN A HOUSE PLANT started out in The Garden, right? 


Oh! and the most important thing that I've learned about growing Avocados is: 
THE MONEY I'LL BE SAVING! 
YEAH! CAN YOU SAY, GUACAMOLE? 
mMMMmmmm.... I LOVE it! 


So, I've not ever done this before. Maybe you've grown Avocados and have something to add in the comments. Please feel free. 




God bless you 
and 
Thanks for Reading!

All I Need ...

And trust 

is the Deep Deep Love of Jesus 

God Bless you Today, 

and 

Thanks for Reading! 

Natural Home Remedies~ ACV

ACV- that is short for Apple Cider Vinegar

BSM- that is short for Black Strap Molasses

BS- ehem... that is short for Baking Soda

I'm speaking mainly about ACV and some of it's uses in this post. 

There are lots of uses for ACV. 

Most recently in our house I've used this for yellow jacket stings~

did you know that a female yellow jacket is the one that does the stinging and she can sting repeatedly? 

YES! 

Recently, a yellow jacket ran up the pants of my little grand daughter (2 yrs old) - she was outside playing with her daddy; when that yellow jacket ran up there and began stinging! 

My SIL ran her to my house and said 'she was stung repeatedly, what can I do?" 

So we poured ACV on a soft cloth and applied it to the stings. 

It helped to neutralize the venom and keep any swelling down and it made the pain go away. 

The other way that I use ACV is for reducing Fibroids. 

I first came across this site last year in Feb-2010 

Earthclinic.com

I'll try and keep this portion of the post short and to the point

if you have questions you may email me. 

I had been diagnosed with Fibroid Tumors in late Sept. 2009 after having spent months with 

horrible issues regarding my cycle.  I had become quite anemic. 

With Honey being recently retired and us not having insurance- I turned to alternative medicine- holistic- Home Remedies, what have you. 

I began drinking ACV and baking soda on a daily basis; at first it was 3X  daily-- 

Below is a picture:  the baking soda is in a dish on the left-- I keep it in this covered dish on my counter- but it is just plain ordinary baking soda, in fact this is from the Dollar General. 

The Apple Cider Vinegar is Organic and is from the Herb Mart in Mesquite,TX (suburb of Dallas)

I was drinking 8oz. of water, 2 TBSpns of ACV and 1/4 tsp of baking soda. I did this for 3 months. 

I had TREMENDOUS results, lets say. Until this month. 

Well FIRST,  I stopped drinking it after I was feeling better. 

I should have reduced the times of day and kept up the regimen. 

This month some of the same symptoms returned and I am currently drinking the ACV and BS (baking soda) and have added Black Strap Molasses. 

 After only 3 days of adding the BSM (black strap molasses) I've already noticed an improvement. YAY! 
The BSM is very high in IRON content. I will continue this for a time. I hope to have continued improvement and will report back on it. (since it's only been 3 days) 

Now ,I can tell you,  I only drink 1 TBspn of the BSM and it is with 1 TBspn of warm water. So far I've tried it with milk and ice... but after doing some research I've learned that milk, coffee, tea and soda pop (caffeine) hinder the effect and the effort it takes for the body to absorb and metabolize the IRON. 


Vitamin C will help in the absorption of the IRON.  

So this is how I drank it today. I warmed the BSM so that it was sort of melted and then stirred it right into my OJ. 
NO. 
Not the greatest concoction in the world to have to drink. But what medicine is really? 
Not all medicine can taste like bubblegum....LOL! 


Lastly-  The ACV is also good for arthritis.  If you have arthritis, which I do, and have been living with it for about 15 years, you will notice a benefit from drinking the ACV and the BS. 
I have a terrible pain in my shoulders at night when I sleep and in the winter time, my hips. 
I've noticed that while drinking ACV and BS that the pain is lessened and at times non-existent.  


There you have 3 reasons to have Apple Cider Vinegar in the house more specifically for the medicine chest. 


I'm linking this post here: 

Head on over and read what other Farmgirls are bloggin' about: Some live on farms, but it's not necessary. .  I was just invited by Deborah Jean, to join this week and it is the first time for her to post  HOST a blog hop! 
As I said yesterday, I'm turning a corner here at Corn in My Coffee Pot and am excited about the newly discovered bloggy niche I've finally found for myself! 
I hope to enjoy blogging more about life on the farm, being resourceful, living and loving retirement and doing it with pride! 
 *** and I posted here:
 




God Bless You 
and Thanks for Reading! 


DISCLAIMER:  I am not a doctor.This is just my very own testimony about the benefits of ACV, BS, and BSM. These tips and ideas regarding Your health are just that TIPS AND IDEAS. If your interested in these things you should discuss them with your doctor or take it upon yourself to research and study more about them.  I take no responsibility for your decision to do so, anymore than you would assume responsibility for mine.  
I will be more than happy to discuss via email any questions you have regarding my own personal testimony with these products. Thank you very much.

Ever Have one of those Days: The Pits

...and you feel like life is the PITS?

Well, I've NOT been feeling myself lately. 

I'm suffering from ANEMIA- if you've ever been anemic well then you know how it is. 

It's the PITS! 

These are my AVOCADO PITS that I'm sprouting.  

I hope to do a post on this sometime soon. 

But I wake up to these little things everyday; and look at them, just to see how they're coming along. 

I'm impatient. 

All of this is happening ,when you're searching already ,for what it is you need to be doing with your life.  What is the best way to go about your daily life...and what on earth are you going to blog about????
Yet THIS IS MY LIFE. 


I recently have had lots of time on my hands...just resting mainly. Trying to feel better. (Researching Holistic Healing) When you have time on your hands... you have time to sit and think.  
***It has occurred to me... 
I don't keep house the way some do. 

No this is NOT my house--- it is the 100 plus year old barn out back... 
but... If I don't start feeling well soon my house may start looking like this! 


What I mean is -- I don't do trendy. I  HARDLY EVER DO NEW!  (and if I do, it is at the very best price I can find). What it means is-- I like to grow my food.  Make my own laundry soap. Use the furniture I have. Make my home lovely in an old fashioned simple kind of way. Remake an old pair of jeans into a nice garden or painters  apron instead of tossing them to the garbage. 

***It has also occurred to me... 

I like doing things the old fashioned way. 
I cook on a stove very similar to this one.(its in the header at top)  
NOTE: This one was actually my Grandmother's ~ as you know there has been a sudden surge of items to my household that were previously owned by my family. This one will be cleaned up and made to work properly and sold to the highest bidder. 
Daddy wants to sell it.  


I like homemade bread, homemade soap,and home-cooked meals and holistic medicine. I like flowers. 
...and I like rust. 

See that?  The red rusty "T" post for the fence there in amongst the flowers?  
I like that! 


I guess if you've read all this way-- then I'll tell ya.  I'm turning a corner in the blog world of mine. Because, I've finally discovered I'm not a trendy, pretty as you please, check out this new -whatcha ma callit kind of blogger. 
I'm more of a homesteading, using what I have, check -out-how- I- finagled -this! Kind of blogger! 
I'm living on the cheap.  I've got a few ideas, and few suggestions. I do nothing the same way twice -normally. 
and I do nothing on a professional level.  I'm just guessing here folks. 

Do I like Pretty, yes! I love pretty. 

But I have to come by it ANY way I can... PRETTY (what most call pretty) doesn't flow naturally for me. 
It's always a work in progress.   
These types of things must be in the air or something I read Donna's (FJI) blog today... and She gave a list of how she deals with thoughts, feelings, stress.  I'm taking her advice and 
THIS IS ME WRITING A POST ABOUT HOW I'M FEELING. 

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6 

I'm a work in progress!
God bless you and Thanks for reading!