The fruits of my labor...

click HERE to join

Note as of 8 a.m. --I decided to play "Meet me on Monday" this week. Scroll down beyond my macro and morsels in this post to view my answers.


MACRO MONDAY



I love the smell of tomato plants in the morning!!
[you thought I was gonna say "napalm"?]




A beautiful dianthus in macro. Love the center detail.




- - -<><><>- - -

MONDAY MORSELS

I remember my dad and his love of gardening. I think it runs in our blood. My grandfather, my father's father, was the same way. They both were always seen working in the gardens or yards. My grandfather's 'specialty' was roses! He'd have the most beautiful blossoms ...and huge they were! He could slip rose bushes too. That, I never did get the hang of it. My attempts turn to mush with root rot! And my father, he was nearly 'carried away' with his gardening techniques. He tried everything. He had a peach, apple, pear, apricot, and cherry 'orchard'---two trees each [three kinds of apples, Jonathan and red and yellow delicious; along with tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions, garlic, green beans, carrots, parsnips, sweet peas, grape vines, raspberry bushes, cucumbers, pumpkins and three kinds of melons. I swear he could grow anything he put his mind to...except for one and that was blueberries. He was never successful with blueberries. He even tried and accomplished pineapples...and they produced. In Colorado!! Oh and his flowers!!! Roses, tulips, pansies, carnations, columbine, dianthus, violets, lilies, iris galore, just to name some I can remember as I type. Now, mom, she was the indoor plant lady. She could grow african violets and amaryllis with no effort at all it seemed. Anyway, their yards were a neighborhood showcase of blossoms. Well, I'm not a 'fanatic' like those two were, but I do love to dub around in the yard. I also remember how my dad, with his 1st cup of coffee of the morning in hand would be seen outside in his small acreage, just walking around checking the growth, weeding, spraying for insects, or setting up the irrigation. The fruit of his labors always paid off in a big way. I, on the other hand as a kid, didn't see the fascination 'til I grew up and had my own home. Needless to say, I now find myself outside each day when things begin to take root for the season. I think if Dad is looking down on me right now, I think he'd be proud that I experimented with a pomegranate tree, that isn't one he tried in Colorado, last year and was successful. It's blooming right now!!



- - -

Speaking of food. Have you seen the prices of fresh produce lately?!! Here in south Texas anyway!! Heck, a couple of weeks ago, roma tomatoes were $.70 a pound. This weekend they were up to $1.97!! And the personal watermelons [usually the size of a large canteloupe] are nearly $4.50. Grapes?---over $1 a pound; nearly $2! Apples? Depending on the kind of apples...exorbitant. Blueberries per pint...over $4.00. A pint!!! The local news tells us the price hike is all because of the ice storms about two months ago; ruining all the crops. Ummmmm, let's see---cantaloupe "Product of Mexico". Label on the grapes "Product of Chile". So on and so forth. Ummmm, what has that to do with an ice storm in Texas? Dunno!! And the REAL SAD part of it is, with THOSE kinds of prices, I should easily lose weight...just drinking water. But...so far, no pounds shed. Except for the 'pounds' in weight of my pocket book!! Less and less when I walk out of the store!! Oh oh....got the water bill last week...the cost of water treatment went up. {My son would say "You voted for him". Wonder what that means? LOL}

- - -<><><>- - -

I thought I'd try this meme today. I've seen it around for weeks, and I do like to read bloggers' answers when I pay them a visit. So, on with the meetin' and greetin'!....



1. Crunchy or soft tacos?
SOFT, flour tortillas!! [my homemade ones preferably]

2. Do you scrapbook?
Nope, not me.

3. Do you take any daily medications?
Yes, for HBP.

4. What is your favorite sound?
So many...I love the sound of a gentle rain, thunder off in the distance, birds singing, ocean waves, music [especially instrumental], giggling, my cats purring, !silence!, so much I can't type it all.

5. Where were you born? The Cornhusker State USA