Marketing

We are so lucky to have quite a few local farm markets near us and one of my sweet joys of Summer is visiting one. Oh the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of nature's bounty!

For the last week, our family has feasted on the most delicious sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, blackberries and freshly baked bread. All courtesy of various local farmers.

Is there anything better?

I apologize for being away once again. Summer has been a whirlwind for all of us. Add to the mix a nasty virus that played havoc with my health and then attacked Bill, Grace and finally Dan! All are well, or almost so, now thank God. So it's back to business at hand...enjoying Summer!

I hope all is well with each one of you!

Love to all!

Produce-in Pictures

Take one farm stand. Add lots of veggies. Add tons of flowers. Add one camera totting blogger, obsessed with photography. Now, what do you get? Noooo....they did not call the police. They just shake their heads, cluck their tongues and say, "Here comes that crazy blond with the wild hair who photographs tomatoes. Humor her." Sooo, what do you get? Okay. Didn't you do the math? Surely you do not expect ME to do it. We have been over this before. I. DO. NOT. DO. MATH. So don't ask me what it adds up to. I'm stumped. In the meantime, here are a few pictures for you....

Farm Fresh And Furry Blessings....

Oh did it storm last night! Lightning and thunder and hail (Oh MY!). Then, at 1am, the sirens sounded. One of our local police officers had detected some rotation in the clouds. Nothing came of it but it is good to know that so many look out for all of us. Of course, when I first heard the siren, I calmly and bravely woke my family and led them down to the basement by running wildly through the house screaming and flapping my chubby little arms like a deranged goose evading the Christmas dinner plate. We had a lot of rain yesterday and then again today. Much needed rain! Our poor grass has had a tough time growing this year and the mower (Oh yeah, we actually have a PUSH mower! My environmentally green husband insisted) was so lonely it was taking out personal ads. The air already smells and feels so much more crisp & fresh! Earlier today Grace, Mom and my buddy T took a little drive to a favorite local farm & politely and pleasantly purchased some just picked pretty perky produce. Say that 10 times fast. Go ahead. You know you want to. Colorful fresh flowers for the table compliment all the delicious produce! Dinner tonight was meatless and healthy and oh so delicious! Would you believe that Grace ate plate fulls of green beans? Oh and doesn't she love new potatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe and fresh picked corn! She could not get enough! Our two new friends agree that the corn this year is awesome!

After dinner we all went to our church for the annual Blessing of the Animals. There was a smaller turn out because of the hit and miss showers but those in attendance were sweet, well behaved and rather polite! There was nary a growl nor hiss heard among the throng! And the animals behaved too! Our minister was called away due to a parishioner's serious illness but 2 very kind and special staff members assisted in our Reverend's absence. We decided not to bring Henry and Lucy as they both dislike their box so. Okay. Let's be truthful. What they really do is squall and scratch and scream like banshees when they see said boxes. It is not pretty. It is very UNBlessing like. Grace brought their pictures and they received their blessings in this way! Here is Kipper....one of the prayers asks God to "Help me to be less naughty and to always mind my human parents." Kipper says he is afraid he did not HEAR this part. This precious doxie was injured a few years ago and his back legs are paralyzed. He gets along quite well! Such a sweetheart. Here is my Mom with Abby. Sweet Abby is scared of her own shadow I am afraid. She decided these people were going to give her a shot or take her temperature or clip her nails. I made sure I got a picture of "Holly" for you dear Andi! Now, how do you finish off an evening of blessings? Why, at Ritter's for frozen custard of course! Kip meeting a new fan... Notice the sleepy eyes? Let's get this car in gear Dude! Whoa...blessings and custard sure take a lot out of a little dog. G' Night All!