Lottery?  No, but there are winners indeed.  Though there are no prices or cash to brag over, there are choices for dinner.  Not making any sense are we?  

We're talking heirloom seeds.  Non-hybrid, non-GMO, good old fashioned, what our grandfathers' grew kind of seeds. But when thinking about heirloom seeds, there is more to think about
then what tomato you want.

Here it is, time again for your birthday!  All the things that happen in our lives can be a gift left unnoticed, or simply not thought of as life happens.  Life isn't always what we think it should be, or what we deserve or not deserve.
             
So many times when a birthday arrives, people think of all the gifts
money can buy - especially as people think, "What can I get for so and so's  birthday?". In life, sometimes what money can buy isn't what is important or what is cherished.  People struggle to pick out the PERFECT birthday gift.   So on your birthday quickly approaches, we thought we would tell you what our 'vision' of the perfect gift is:

        Unconditional love, knowing that no matter what someone loves you.  You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be you.  You don't hear, "If you love me you would......or if you love me you wouldn't.........", but you hear just simply, "I love you".

         Knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you'll be ok.  It may take a while to work through it all, but in the end you're alright. You may be changed because of one thing or another, but your still here and your growing into the amazing person you've always been - there is just MORE to you now, never less.

        Understanding that you are strong.  Strong enough to grow and flourish even though life is tough sometimes.  Not necessarily 'seeing the light at the end of the tunnel' but running that obstacle course no matter how hard it is and crossing that finish line,
then realizing you won!

        Having peace.  The peace to know you are who you are meant to be, not what everyone thinks you should be.  Having the peace and time to find out who you are, and realizing you really like who you have become.  The peace of knowing you aren't like everyone else and its ok.

All these precious gifts we want for you............
...................because that is our gift in life, YOU!

always & forever
Grandpa Nick & grandma Brenda Lee

As the days fill with normal temperatures of low 80's, (or better yet - 70's we wish), the blue sky lasts forever as it organizes the clouds for its latest show.  We finish some yard work and walk away tiredly satisfied with the day.  
 
The smoke reminds us that fire season is here, as evacuations take
place in so many areas. How grateful we are to be away from the fires, even as the smoke travels to our valley.

Rain.........didn't we talk about the rainy April & May?  Oh how things change.  The winds pick up with the dry weather and the breeze turns the tall green grass into instant fire starter. One of the  prices we pay for living here.  As we weigh the price, we count the many blessings too. 
   
Than the very next day, comes more rain, not a lot, but what changes a day makes! So, the unusual heat wave of 80's (yikes - yes you laugh, but far too hot for us), then here we are ready to  start a fire and cozy up thankful for its warmth..........24 hours......that was all. Blessed 50's, cool, cool weather. Rain to wash the smoke away. 
Not enough to stop the fires, but those fighting or fleeing the fires
take a big sigh with this blessing just the same. 

Tomorrow?  Who  knows.........but tomorrow is just that, tomorrow.  A whole new day to cherish or curse.  The choice is ours.  Life has challenges enough without us adding to the mix. 
So, we plan on cherishing tomorrow, regardless of what tomorrow
brings. 

                       Tomorrow?  What do you think.........

Brenda Lee

Oh how the thoughts of fresh salads tease.  Thoughts of that red, juicy tomato are so enticing!  Memories of baked root vegetables covered in homemade dressing - the delicious aroma drifting through the house.  More dreams of dinners planned while
walking the many rows of fresh goodness.

Finally!  The garden is tilled, the rows laid out, & soaker hoses are neatly lining the rows.  It's GARDEN TIME! Or at least it was the first week of June. With a growing season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, we weren't too far off our normal planting.  A month later than we would have liked, but the rain  came causing quite a bit of delay for us, with relatives filling in all the other spare time we had  ~grin~.  We have been fortunate to find heirloom and organic seeds that actually thrive in our area, so we know there will be food.

So, before more rains could change our minds, off we went to our little piece of dirt filled paradise. How wonderful the dirt felt between the toes. Listening to the chatter of the four legged kids calling out for attention.  Safely learning all the 'barn rules', they are left to the quite capable hooves of the mature does.

With double row planting, companion planting, and crop rotation in mind keeping track of the garden from year to year is..........well, easier than trying to remember  where everything was.   

Planning the garden is key to our crop rotation, companion planting, and double row planting methods. Some are just one of many parts of a broader method of farming.  So let's discuss our simplified form of polyculture.

Polyculture?