Oh, Well

I got a new paring knife, as mine were so dull that you could slide to China and back and never suffer a scratch. Remember that little poem that says: "Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace..." Well, that is just WRONG!!!! I was born on Tuesday. And I have been known to walk down hallways, get my feet tangled up around my neck, and fall flat on my face. Yes, just ask my mother, it's true.

Well, last night I managed to attempt chopping an onion with my new paring knife, and severed an artery in my thumb and sliced a nerve. Except, for slicing a nerve, the darned thing sure hurts this morning! So, I probably won't be writing in the blog for awhile . The stitches come out in 7-10 days, and maybe after that happens I will write more. I am keying with my right hand and the going is very slow. I have taken a Tylenol for pain, and will go and lie down again. Enjoy this day...the sun is shining, there is no wind, and the excavation guy is here digging up the spot for the new shed to be built (thank you, Lord, for small favors).

Holy Tomato

I cleaned house all day yesterday. Washed 8 loads of clothes, washed floors, vacuumed, changed bedding, yada yada yada. All those things you do after company leaves you know the drill. Then, I went out to the garden. And that was my mistake.

I thought that I had spied a few red tomatoes when looking out from the bathroom window. I hadn’t been in the garden for 3 days, so I should have known better. What I found was: hoards and hoards of red, ripe tomatoes. Now, let us get this straight first and foremost: I am very grateful for the bountiful garden this year. It is by far the best garden I have ever grown. But I was quite unprepared for the first BIG picking of the year.

We have only 8 tomato plants. We bought one of those little 4-packs, and each little tray had 2 dinky little tomato plants in it. They looked sickly. I caught some carp down at the waterfall in Windom and brought them home. I dug 8 holes for the tomatoes, placing a carp deep in each hole. I planted the little plants, and watered them. I placed a cutout plastic milk carton over each one. Then I did my customary prayer over each individual plant. Well, whatever it was, it must have worked. One tomato plant gave me 40 enormous red, ripe tomatoes. Another plant gave me 32, and yet another gave me 30. In all, I picked 222 huge Beefsteak tomatoes, lugged them in boxes to the trunk of the Toyota, drove them back to the house and then lugged them inside. HOLY COW! They were sure beautiful! No cracks, no rotten spots. Just red, round, firm, HUGE tomatoes. I was so psyched!

Today, I made 6-1/2 gallons of spaghetti sauce. I only used up a little less than half of the tomatoes! I will try and get up early tomorrow and finish the others. I should end up with over 12 gallons of spaghetti sauce and a few more packages of whole tomatoes. Then, I can sit back and relax...


For 3 more days!!!

A sink full of tomatoes

A double batch of spaghetti sauce cooking on the stove

Finished spaghetti sauce cooling, and one of the three boxes of tomatoes

Look at the size of these Beefsteak Tomatoes!

Labor Day

I looked up Labor Day on Google, and clicked on the Wikipedia site. (I love Wikipedia!) For those who do not know the history of Labor Day, here is the (condensed) story:

"Labor Day is a US holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens". Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, two months after the May Day Riots of 1894. All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.


Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer." (Wikipedia)


THIS Labor day was extra-special for me, as my family came down to the farm to spend the long weekend. My mother, my brother, and his girlfriend, Diane spent their time visiting, eating, fishing, eating, having an enormous bonfire, helping out around the farm, resting, and eating. A marvelous time was had by all, and it was especially exciting to get to know Diane, the newest member of the group. She works with Tim at the hospital, and she is an incredibly sweet person. I look forward to seeing her again, soon. Here are some pictures of this past weekend:

My "Leetle Brother" and I

Tim and his girlfriend, Diane. They appear to be looking at mother.

I think that Mom is having a good time!

Yes, she definitely is having fun! We ended up coming home with 64 bullheads and 4 sunfish. Wow, did it take a long time to clean all those fish!!!

Typical family shot, for us! (Tim is eating the fish, mother is groaning...)

Our hu-normous bonfire! (Don in the foreground)

We each planted our own tree, in honor of the event.

We each planted a Crab Apple tree which will bear mounds of beautiful red flowers each spring. What a wonderful way to remember our special Labor Day weekend!