A Ripe Tomato

At last we have another ripe tomato ... it may be small, but it was yummy. Our last ripe tomato was on Father's Day. It has been quite a long time to wait.

All the tomato plants are growing much better now. We have still had cooler temps than they would like, but come August we should be in good shape.

Yesterday, the girls bought some flowers and herbs so today, we worked on our gardens. We are just waiting for the steady good weather so everything can get to full bloom. Enjoy the sun!

YIkes!

It has been getting colder since yesterday and now the weather is predicting 38 degrees for tonight. YUK! Where we live it is usually a few degrees colder than the prediction ... so it could be possible for a FROST. We'll just think posititvely that the weather will stop dropping over the next few hours and then get warm again.

Bees and Blossoms

Wow, time sure zings along! We've been down at the farm working most every day but Sundays. The strawberries are growing and the flowers are doing well. Since our mowers are pitching fits, the field grass is very high. We are getting a lovely show of wildflowers throughout the field since I haven't been able to keep it cut. I always wanted a field of flowers and now I've got it! Those bees have been busy!

On Saturday, I was mowing with the push mower (while it was still cooperating) as the drive areas and paths needed attention severely. While I was mowing the bee yard, I accidentally bumped the pallet the beehive is on and got stung for the first time. Of course, I broke all the rules so it was my own fault. It was a cloudy, rainy day (sunny day, happy you, happy bees!). I had no protective gear on. I had a loud, noisy machine near the hive (calm, quiet movements near the bees). I had the wrong colors on (wear white, white, white!). And I should have stopped after bumping the pallet but I wanted to get ONE MORE strip done and that's when I got it! Listen to your instincts. Listen to that inner voice. God gave it for a reason!!

And then as I was trying to move away in a slow, calm manner (while trying to get the bee biting me off my eyebrow) I thought of that bee giving it's life for the safety of the whole hive. That reminded me of Jesus. Yep. Right there in the midst of the very mad bee stinging me. I had all these thoughts whizz through my brain. Thanks Jesus that you cared so much for us that you laid down your life. I know you rose again, too, and that's the difference between You and the bees. We know the outcome of Your Sacrifice and instead of death, it's eternal life!