Cucumber Thief

Our two small, raised bed gardens are thriving. We were initially worried that the beds wouldn't be able to handle everything we wanted to plant, but it looks like our fears were for naught. We've been able to complement every meal for the last two weeks with our garden stuffs. There is such a feeling of accomplishment- walking out back and tearing off some lettuce for a salad, or pulling an onion to add to our chicken tacos. Our normally long trips to the grocery store have been cut back to 5 swift minutes in and out. I love it.

In full disclosure though, I will admit that our zucchini bit the dust pretty early on. I don't think it's death came down to a space issue-- the plants grew fairly large, they even flowered. Then it all went downhill; the flowers fell off and the plants wilted and died. The crazy thing is that the zucchini plants were located right next to the cucumber plants, which are thriving. We literally have so many cucumbers that we are scrambling to find enough ways to cook them all. So far, we have had cucumbers straight up, cucumbers chopped on salad, tzatziki (a nice throwback to my Greece trip), a cool cucumber salad dressing, and as of tonight... a cucumber/tomato/hot pepper salsa.

I want to share some pictures of our bounty, but first I have to mention that this garden has only confirmed something we have been thinking for a long time--Our little Judson wants to be a vegetarian! Judson has come alive with this garden. When we let him out the back door to do his business- he makes a beeline for the raised beds. He prowls around the perimeter (we have them enclosed in chicken wire), using his little snout/nose to find any cukes, tomaters, or peppers within reach. If he is lucky enough to find anything, he'll snatch it off the vine and then run off as fast as he can to eat it in a semi-hidden location. Even if Hubs or I are weeding in the garden beds, Judson will see what he can snatch. I do believe we've lost around 10 cucumbers and 4 tomatoes to that dog (that we've seen). And he washes all those veggies down with dandelion leaves!

Now for those pictures:

Pardon my Bragging

Yesterday, Hubs turned 30 years old. Therefore, this blog post is all about him and some of the things that I love about that man. Happy Birthday Honey!

1. His smile makes me melt.
2. He holds me accountable.
3. He has a fun sense of humor.
4. His eyes are amazing. Sometimes they're green, sometimes blue, sometimes grey.
5. He loves kids and they love him back.
6. He is 6'5", totally capable of picking me up and tossing me over his shoulder.
7. He loves the outdoors, just like me.
8. He is an incredibly hard worker.
9. His derriére is ooh la la.
10. He loves the Lord and lives to serve Him.
11. He is my biggest supporter.
12. He loves dogs (just about as much as me)
13. Sometimes he brings me flowers.
14. He loves to travel.
15. He balances my dreaming with his practicality.
16. He places a high importance on family.
17. He is a wonderful cook.
18. He has a quiet strength.
19. He cares deeply about people.
20. He enjoys learning new things (like how to can tomatoes and raise bees in your backyard).
21. He thinks before he speaks (unlike me).
22. He celebrates small victories.
23. He has a sensitive heart.
24. He likes to goof around.
25. He is an amazing dancer (just not a public one).
26. He's laid back.
27. He isn't afraid to try something new (ex: the tamales we buy out of a car trunk across from our house- they are so good).
28. He steps up to the proverbial plate.
29. He gives the best hugs.
30. He lets me talk everything through even though he's heard it all a million times (I'm a verbal processor, what can I say?)

The Real 8 Seconds

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love rodeo. If I lived out west and one was available, I would honestly go to the rodeo every weekend. I get such a thrill out of watching all the action. And I’m not just talking about the bull riding—I am talking about watching the horses being groomed before their events, the bulls dancing around in their pens, the cowboys carrying their saddles, the flag girls practicing in the side ring- getting ready for their grand entrance. I also just love the people watching… I like to see if I can pick out the “real” western characters from the tourists who just bought their cowboy hat the day before (mind you, I openly recognize I am sadly part of the second posse).

What’s more, there’s so much that can be learned from rodeo. For instance, “Fast is good, but accurate is better”. I learned that adage by watching the calf roping. “Ride it like ya stole it”… I learned that from the barrel racers- flying past my bench seat on their horses with determination written all over their faces. Then there’s always: “Never kick a cow patty on a hot day” and of course, “Never drink downstream from your horse”. I overheard those two from the man seated next to us at the Mesquite Rodeo (I think he might have been enjoying himself a little too much if you know what I mean). My favorite lesson however, is “Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.”

Ride ‘em cowboy!

A Beautiful Peanut

Babies are a blessing from the Lord. Isn’t that what they always say? And how true it is.

My little sister and her husband recently delivered their very own blessing on June 21st- a 4 pound, 13 ounce little girl they named Madelyn Kay. Maddie came into the world just a wee bit early because of some pregnancy complications, but praise the Lord, she’s healthy and downright beautiful. To add to the merriment of her birth, she showed up on my mother’s birthday and now sports her middle name as well!

Hubs and I had the joy of flying down to Texas right after Independence Day to meet Maddie and spend some time with her parents. Upon first meeting her, I was moved by how tiny she is. Her pint size reminded me of holding our older sister’s twin boys right after they were born. I mean, I know babies are small, but yet, it never fails to startle me. Holding Maddie for the first time, I was so nervous that I was going to break her, but thankfully I came through with flying colors and by the end of our time in the Lone Star State, I felt cautiously at ease.

To comment on her appearance, I would say that Maddie is the perfect match to her mother when she was a baby. Albeit, she has her father’s hair and limb length. By the length of her arms and legs, I wouldn’t be surprised if that little sprout grows beyond my sister’s height by quite a bit. She really is beautiful. Hubs always says that no newborn is beautiful, but I think that is just because he hasn’t seen one of his own yet.

Speaking of which, take a gander at the pictures below… a couple of which feature the love of my life cradling his new little niece. Aren’t they some of the most touching pictures? Hubs has such a tender heart for little kids and I know that one day he will make an incredible father. In addition, just look at how small Maddie looks in Hub’s capable arms. In the one pic, it is almost as if she is looking up at him and thinking, “Who is this Goliath?”


“Before I formed you in the womb- I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you…” – Jeremiah 1:5

8 Seconds