Tuesday, April 26, 2011

We can pray everywhere, and often


Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Originally uploaded by El Frito


Are you like me, and you pray often? I love what G. K. Chesterton wrote about his prayer life.
You say grace before meals
All right.
But I say grace before the play and the opera,
And grace before the concert and pantomime,
And grace before I open a book,
And grace before sketching, painting,
Swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing;
And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

I love this philosophy and subscribe to it. Soon I will post some wise words here, from an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, on this same topic.
Have a grand week, my bloggy friends.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Church of the Holy Sepulchre


Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Originally uploaded by still searching...


He gave everything, that we might live.

Happy Easter to All my dear blog friends, of all faiths, and those still searching.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Godetias are Gorgeous


Godetia
Originally uploaded by better_days.geo

Ah godetias, how do I love thee?
Godetias are one of my favorite annuals, with one plant having a tight cluster of flowers so that it is, in fact, a bouquet.
I like the godetias with two tone petals of pink and rose, or of rose and white. There are also all white godetias and all pink. Spring is an ideal time to find some started in your local plant store.
These flowers like sun.
I had trouble remembering their name, until I realized the name starts with the word "God", and now it is easy to remember. When in the plant store, just tell the nursery worker I want the flower that starts out "God".

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Potatoes in a pail


Potato Plant
Originally uploaded by kencf0618


I did it! I planted 3 organic heirloom Yellow Finn seed potatoes in my 5 gallon pail.
My husband drilled about 10 quarter sized holes in the bottom of the pail, I tore up a cardboard egg box and put it in the pail for drainage, filled it with one foot of potting soil, and put in the potatoes and covered them with 4 inches of soil.
Now the pail is out on our patio and I can watch and wait.
I picked Yellow Finn because they can be boiled, fried or baked. Usually when grocery shopping we buy russets, since they are so good baked.
I have about seven seed potatoes left, so will plant them directly in the garden and see what the gophers do!
I am so happy when I plant something new to me. What is new in your garden this year?

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The book winner is .... and growing potatoes in a bag


Potato Sack
Originally uploaded by Earthworm

Mildred is the winner of the book "A Still and Quiet Soul: Embracing Contentment" by Cathy Messecar. I used random.org to pick the winner.
Here is a photo of what I may try, growing potatoes in a bag. It sounds so easy, and the gophers would be deterred, and my sometimes soggy soil wouldn't rot the taters.
I have never grown potatoes.
With this technique I think you add more soil and cover the leaves as the potatoes begin to grow. I understand you can also grow potatoes in a bucket that has drainage holes in it.
If you have tips on this potato in a bag idea please share them here.