Fall Garden

It is a beautiful fall day.  It's warm--mid 70's--the sun is shining, but the clouds are beginning to appear.  There is a cold front coming in tonight.

Knowing that we are to get into the 40's over the weekend, I figured I better see what I could gather from the garden that the cold is likely to kill.

Here's what I managed to salvage.  A few tomatoes, some peppers, a bit of lettuce and the parsley.  The parsley may very well manage to last awhile in the garden, but I need it for dinner this evening.

There are a few other veggie plants in the garden that have been thriving in the cooler weather that has been with us since September.  This is our first year for kale and other greens.

So far they look great.  From what I understand, these greens should only improve in flavor with the cold weather.

It was an interesting garden year.  Some things did well and other, well, no so much.  The sweet potato crop was another disaster.  Our onions seemed to rot quickly after they were dug.  The beans did well, as usual, the corn was good, except for what the bugger of a coon ate.  The garlic was smaller, but the crop was plentiful.  As always, these are things that are not in my control and it yet it proves, again, that God is faithful to provide what we need.

P.S.  It seems I was delayed in getting this posted.  I was having company for dinner and did not get my Puritan Prayer added until now.  Suffice it to say, the chilly weather arrived today, although it turned out to be a lovely, sunny day.

I continue to slowly work my way through Jeremiah Burroughs's The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.  Here is a portion of Contentment from The Valley of Vision.

HEAVENLY FATHER,
If I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty,
   make my heart prize thy love, know it, be constrained by it,
   though I be denied all blessings.
It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants,
   for by these trials I see my sins,
   and desire severance from them.
Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations,
   if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil,
   and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee,
   acknowledging this as the highest testimony of thy love....
Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued
   I must not only labour to overcome it,
   but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,
   and he must become to me more than vile lust had been;
   that his sweetness, power, life may be there....
When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me
   that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,
     but in Christ I am reconciled and live;
   that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest,
     but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace;
that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,
     but in Christ I have ability to do all things.

What a Beautiful and Busy Fall Day!

We have enjoyed some lovely days lately.  The trees are turning such vibrant colors, too.

Today my husband and I did a bushel of apples into sauce.   My daughter-in-law offered to pick up some apples for me at an orchard we used to frequent when we lived in that area.  Their prices are a bit better and they offered her "blemished" apples at half the price!  My husband wanted me to mix some apple varieties to get a different flavor.  The orchard owner suggested Jonamac.  She called my husband to see what he thought of the variety.  Since I have never tried this apple, the owner gave my daughter-in-law an apple to try and another variety so she could compare.  She gave her recommendation to my husband over the phone.  I'm sure the orchard lady never did an over-the-phone taste test!  The Jonamacs were combined with Cortlands and we think it tastes pretty wonderful.  Also, my husband is a big fan of "red hots".  These were located at the nearby store and added to help with a bit of flavor and a lovely pink color.  It just takes a bit to get them to melt.  The count for the day is seventeen quarts and a pint (for my dear neighbor) and a wee bit for dinner.  Trying to decide if I should do more.  My total for this year is 27 quarts with just a few left over from last year.

This looks like a fun site to check out different apple varities.

For those of you looking for a website that might offer some help in canning and/or freezing, I found this site that may be helpful.  She seems to have a great deal of information on everything from canning equipment to recipes to try.  (I do miss Granny Miller!)

So often the initial reaction to painful suffering is Why me?  Why this?  Why now?  Why?...{then}.  He comes for you, in the flesh, in Christ, into suffering, on your behalf.  He does not offer advice and perspective from afar; He steps into your significant suffering.  He will see you through, and work with you the whole way....  This reality changes the questions that rise up in your heart.  That inward-turning "why me?" quiets down, lifts its eyes, and begins to look around.

You turn outward and new, wonderful questions form.  Why You?  Why You?  Why would You enter this world of evils?  Why would You go through loss, weakness, hardship, sorrow and death?  Why would You do this for Me, of all people?  But You did.  You did this for the joy set before You.  You did this for love.  You did this showing the glory of God in the face of Christ.  As that deeper question sinks home, you become joyously sane.  The universe is no longer supremely about you.  Yet you are not irrelevant.  God's story makes you just the right size.  Everything counts, but the scale changes to something that makes much more sense.  You face hard times.  But you have already received something better which can never be taken away.  And that better something will continue to work out the whole journey long...

Finally, you are prepared to pose--and to mean--almost unimaginable questions:  Why not me?  Why not this?  Why not now?

--David Powlison

Busy Fall Day

O LORD OF GRACE,

The world is before me this day,

   and I am weak and fearful,

   but I look to thee for strength;...

Be thou my arm to support,
   my strength to stand, my light to see,
   my feet to run, my shield to protect,
   my sword to repel, my sun to warm
--an excerpt from God All-Sufficient, from The Valley of Vision

Usually I sign off with something from Valley of Vision or something similar, but today was very busy with cleaning and laundry and cutting grass.  I overdid it a bit.  My legs were pretty wobbly and I was just having a rough time late this afternoon.  This really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you.

A Wonderful Fall Day!

It was supposed to rain and be dreary today.  We were blessed with a beautiful blue sky and a delightfully comfortable temperature in the mid to upper 60s.  My husband and I even enjoyed lunch on the porch.  Those days are rapidly coming to and end I am afraid.

The forecast says that we will get our first frost tonight.  And if anybody is going to get a frost it will be us.  It seems we live in just the "right" spot. 

With that in mind, I asked my hubby to start our little tiller (the thing works well, but the carburetor is gunked up and it is horrible to start).  Since he will be running the big tiller on the Ford tractor over the bulk of the garden, I pulled up some corn stalks that finished a short row of late broccoli and Brussels sprouts.  I figure that he can run the big tiller whenever he wants and the garlic will be close to the edge and not be bothered.

It was wonderful to be out in the sun and getting my hands dirty...and knees.  I have come to realize that I really enjoy the digging and planting part of gardening.  The weeding and picking--not so much.

It was a wonderful, productive and busy day.

Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of
   atonement achieved, expiation completed,
   satisfaction made, guilt done away,
   my debt paid, my sins forgiven,
   my person redeemed, my soul saved,
   hell vanquished, heaven opened, eternity made mine.
--a selection from The Spirit's Work from The Valley of Vision

Fall and the Love of Apples

The western Pennsylvania area had been pretty dry until lately.  We have received a good amount of rain and I can't seem to remember when I last saw the sun.  The days have been damp and dreary.  It got cold enough in the house so that we finally had to turn the furnace on Monday.  The dear weather man says that the sun is coming and that the weekend looks to be beautiful!  I'm looking forward to hanging out with Hazel, my John Deere tractor, and soak up some Vitamin D while I cut the grass.  It certainly has liked this rain and cool weather!

The one thing I love most about fall is the apples!  One batch of applesauce is canned.  I don't know if I'll do more since we have so much left over, but applesauce is my favorite thing to can.  The house smells amazing!  We bought our first cider of the season today.  Some of that will need to be warmed up tonight and served with some apple crisp.  Some of life's simple and delightful pleasures!

Not long ago, my daughter-in-law and I were discussing the upcoming winter and she mentioned how she really noticed that she was dreading the coming cold and snow.  I can agree.  The last couple of years, I have felt the dread of winter.  The neighborhood around us seems to vanish and everyone huddles in their home until you see them magically appear in the spring when the grass needs cut.  Sundays become more special in the winter...not only worship, but people!! 

Maybe this winter won't be so bad. 

Nothing in this world happens by chance.  Our great God has "measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure" (Is. 40:12)....this same God cares for you with such special care that He has numbered the very hairs of your head....You may rest assured that even those experiences that are causing much sorrow are in accord with His eternal counsel and decree.
--C.H. Spurgeon

Fall Garden Update

It is a bit chilly!  Down into the 40s at night and not getting up to 60 these last few days.  We have received some much needed rain, though.  No doubt, some time this week my John Deere, Hazel, and I will be out cutting grass.

I seem to be having a hard time this year adjusting to it getting dark sooner.  ACK! 7:30 and it's dark!  It just seems as if it is 9:30 instead of 7:30.

There has not yet been a frost, but we were able to get the sweet potatoes dug on Friday.  They look pretty sad.  It must have been the lack of rain when they needed it most.  There are a few that are decent size, but the majority are skinny and small.  They should make good sweet potato fries!

The carrots were also dug and are all canned.  The ones that were saved to eat fresh tasted great.

There is not much left in the garden at this point.  Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and I am still holding out some hope that the peppers will come through.  As soon as the soil is dry enough, I hope my husband can till the upper (newest part) of the garden under for the winter.  The lower part has the peppers in it.  We also need to plant our seed garlic pretty soon.

Despite the hot, dry summer, God has provided for us--as always.  Just looking at my full cupboards in the basement should be a daily reminder of His goodness, grace and provision.

May I never dally with the world and its allurements,
   but walk by thy side,
      listen to thy voice,
      be clothed with thy graces,
      and adorned with thy righteousness.
--an excerpt from Christ is All,  from The Valley of Vision

Applesauce Day -- Chapter 3

Today was a fun Applesauce Day with Andrea and little Daniel. While Daniel didn't "help" he certainly was helpful by being so good at entertaining himself.

We did a bushel of Jonagold, which I've never done before. They turned out great and she was pleased to get 17 jars. I was so glad to be able to help her. I remember trying to can with a big belly and being tired. One regret I have is that my mom was not more helpful. With three kids and so much responsibility around the house--inside and out--it would have been nice to have someone with which to do canning. I really want to be there for my family in whatever way I can be. My talents may not be amazing, but I don't mind helping do this kind of stuff. I admire the Amish who get together to do these things. Why don't we have more of a sense of community and do these things together? It's more fun to have a friend or two around. It makes a long day go fast and a day with friends is always a good day. Why not get a couple friends and split a bushel or two at the end of a day? Laura and I used to split a bushel, but now her family is growing and she needs that bushel. I'm more than happy to be with her and the kids for the day to help! Maybe, when I grow up, I can be a professional canner :-)!

It was a beautiful fall day, again, and Daniel and I took a walk in the leaves. He loved to hear them crunch under his feet. We checked out the neighbor's horses and a pinecone that was a present for his mom....a good walk.

And about the election...while I struggle to understand what people were thinking, I have to hold on to God being sovereign. Without that I would be so depressed. No doubt, things are going to 'change', and I am pretty sure I'm not going to like the changes, it is my job to be faithful and live like a Christian in a culture that seems to forget that it was once Christian. It will be good to remember and be reminded how the early church had to live and how they loved their neighbors and each other. Or Daniel and how they were instructed to live in exile. It will be interesting to see what God is going to do. Is the church being disciplined? Is the country being disciplined? Will the church get it's bearings and grow stronger? We may not live to see God's full purpose fulfilled, but we know that all things work together for good and His glory, that we are His and cannot be snatched out of His hand and that His promises are true.

My good friend, Karen, has this beautiful painted verse on her wall, "God is the blessed controller of all things". He is in control. Always and forever with every thing.

"Believer, the events of history march as a victorious legion under a skillful leader. Do not think we can order our affairs in better style. " C. H. Spurgeon

Keep the faith and don't stop praying for our country and His Church,

Is This November??

What a wonderful, relaxing day. Lunch in the sunshine, bedclothes on the line, did devos in the sunshine, sat with my neighbor, Betty, in the sunshine...it's 68 degrees, some windows are open and it is just glorious!

Right now, I'm waiting for cookies to come out of the oven and I'm hanging out with Mozart. We will have potatoes from the garden tonight, and I'll make some Apple Crisp.

Keith and I will go vote when he gets home from work. I expected to be anxious about the election today, but I only listened a bit to the talk shows. That probably helps. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring, but He is faithful and controls everything...I'm having trouble spelling soveriegn, OK, and this thing doesn't have spell check, that I know of :-).

In my devos today in Tabletalk, I read an article about the gospel in Africa. There are brothers and sisters in Christ suffering over there. Limbs being cut off, just because they preach the good news. Churches are being burned, yet the faithful return, time after time to rebuild. And the church is growing. The author, Dr. Peter Hammond, said this, " Bad times are good for spiritual work." If we are headed for rough economic and spiritual times, this is good to remember. The church grows stronger in tough times. I need to be among those who are tough. Usually, I'm the one who runs from confrontation. There is a lesson from our African church family. That, for me, at least, Christ needs to be most important, not what men can do to me or threaten. I have a great deal of "growing up" to do.

Enjoy another beautiful fall evening!

"I make this sad confession. When my soul is happy and things prosper, I do not live so near to God as I do in the midst of trials and depression. When the world's bread is sugared and buttered, we eat it until we become sick. then the world changes our diet, filling our mouths with vinegar and making our drink bitter. The world's wells are full of sweet but poisonous water. We pitch our tents at the mouth of the well and drink until we forget the well of Bethlehem. When earth's waters become bitter like Marah's stream (Ex 15:23), we turn away sick and faint. But this affliction brings us to our God, just as the barking dog drives the wandering sheep to the shepherd's hand." C.H. Spurgeon