Wild Fires in Texas

It is heart breaking to see fellow Texans lose their lives and homes to this devastation.  Please pray for all of Texas and for the ones whom have lost their homes.  A Mother and her child lost their lives in the fires just days ago.  Please give to the American Red Cross or give where you can in any way, blankets, money, any thing.....please pray.  

New Blog

This blog is closing and will be combined over at:

http://www.ourhillcountryretreat.blogspot.com/

Thank you and I hope you follow me there!  Pamie G.

Not much going on

End of year was so busy that I have had not much time to post anywhere.  I am going to work on a new website combining all my loves and will post the change here.  Happy New Year!  Pamie G.

Growing Cotton

I have been reading with great interest home gardeners growing cotton.  There is a horrible pest called the boll weevil that invades cotton crops and for this reason, if your state farmers grow cotton, it is rumored to be illegal for you to grow it in your home garden.  I think there could be a very good reason for this -- the same reason why Texas won't let citrus be brought it in from Arizona and Florida, there is no control over hobby farming to maintain a pest free product.  So please, please....if you live in the state of Texas, do not grow cotton in your garden. Texas Department of Agriculture told me that until Texas is totally eradicated, to please not grow cotton in your home gardens and that there was a $5,000 fine for doing so!  Yikes, I won't be doing that and I hope people reading my blog will pass it on.  Let's don't ruin someone's crop!

Fall Gardening

Don and I have been working very hard on our property.  I mixed three bags of compost in my raised beds in the vegetable garden and turned the soil very well!  I planted broccoli, Big Boy tomatoes, two kinds of lettuce, onions plants and sugar pea pods' seeds and corn seeds.  This is my first time fall gardening so I am excited.  The pumpkin vines continue to grow but only one tiny little pumpkin on it.  Also the last of the watermelon vine is still growing with two melons on the vine. 

For the front porch, I repotted my urns with pansies, mums and ivy.  A friend from dh's work sent me six Blue Tequila Agave.  I will share them with my friend R and my neighbor C.  He has more too!

Happy Fall Gardening Friends!  Pamie G.

Weekend Gardening with my Wonderful Husband

Don and I worked many hours in the front of our property.  He is wonderful and we are finally starting to look neat!

Peaches, Peaches, Peaches

Yesterday was a Peach of a day!  I made pineapple-peach preserves and four of them I added pecans!  Today I will finish them off making freezer jam and a Peach Cobbler!