Grapefruit in Pink...

Sometimes...
a pink grapefruit is all I want for breakfast


with just a sprinkle of raw sugar


it was good

Have a lovely day, or night.

Growing My Stevia...

A few years ago...
I discovered stevia...
a plant whose leaves are used both as a natural sweetener...
(and I do mean in the true sense, natural)
and medicinal purposes


I also discovered about that time...
that processed white sugar is unnatural and just bad for the body
all the nutrients that make raw sugar work as it should in the body...
have been processed out

white stevia that is usually found in stores is processed, too

I used to be able to get raw, unprocessed stevia, still in it's green color...
from a farmer who has an organic and true natural market in Naples, Florida
the green color, of course, comes from the powdered leaves...
and unprocessed stevia still has it's medicinal properties intact

but, it cannot be found here on this island...
and so, I ordered stevia seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds


very tiny seeds...
that working outside...
I had to take care they didn't blow away on the breeze


handling them like they were nuggets of gold...
I planted 4 seeds
3 came up and 2 are doing well


here's hoping they keep growing this well...
it would be nice to have my green stevia, again

and while stevia seeds were sowed...
a few vegetables and herbs were put in their trays...
they are now in the ground, growing steadily along...
and we hope for some purple carrots, beets, mustard...
and more lemon balm

for more info on the stevia plant and it's nutritional value...
it will also give info on how to grow it


And God said,
Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed,
which is upon the face of all the earth,
and every tree,
in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;
to you it shall be for meat.
Genesis 1:29

Thank You, Lord.

May your day, or night be graced in the blessings of God's fruitful earth.

Bingo...!

Thank you, Katie!
we can credit Katie, who left a comment on the last post ...
on giving info on this smooth-billed ani ...
I just could not find it anywhere on the net, myself


these birds (beautiful in their own God given way)...
are of the cuckoo family 
and...
now, I know why these birds show up whenever we turn over new soil...
and put in new seedlings for the next harvest
they hang around cultivated areas for the freshly dug insects and bugs...
and come for the fruits they enjoy eating

they are definitely noisy...
and do have a clumsy way of flying...
I have been amused at watching them land like rocks on tree limbs...
grabbing to keep themselves from falling to the ground

but, they seem to do well walking on the ground

the females share nests and broods together...
helping each other out...
bringing up babies (how nice!)


this was a great help, Katie!
now, I can rest  : )

May you have a lovely day, or night by God's grace.

Wondering...

if I only knew what bird this is...
I could tell you


it's a fruit eater, for sure...
they come to our garden looking for the tomatoes...
and starfruit...
and probably eats seeds...

we have noticed our chickens don't much like them...
although they are not nearly as big...
about the size of a small parrot and it's beak similar to one

do you know what bird this is?

May your day, or night be blessed in God's grace.

I Didn't Know...

When my husband called me over into the garden...
there was a beautiful surprise that gave me an education


this is our third pineapple on the farm coming up out of the stalk...
but, what I didn't know...
was that the baby pineapple BLOSSOMS!!
and pineapple plants are bromeliads


I haven't grown pineapples before...
so, it's a good excuse for not understanding how pineapples grow...
I think

the flowers are a gorgeous pinkish purple color...
the honey bees certainly like them

and as the blossoms fall off eventually...


they give way to the sectional parts of the skin called the "eyes"...
which are actually lots of tiny fruits fusing together

and if you look at the bottom of the fruit...
you will see the suckers coming up

those will be re-planted to grow more pineapples...
after the pineapple is ready to harvest

did you know?


May the Lord show grace to you this day, or night.

Beach Time...

This week...
we took the dogs to a little, out of the way, beach
no one goes there except a few fishermen on a rare occasion

we park the car and walk the dogs down to it...
making our way down a hill and through the woods
no wonder it's out of the way


we had discovered it a few years ago when living in this area at our beach cottage

the dogs love this beach and can't wait to run down the hill ahead of us and splash into the sea


and they will sit there and wait for us to make our way down...


knowing there is a game of fetch to come


go get it! Shadow


fun for the dogs to go get...
and fun to watch them go get


okay, Foxie girl, you're turn coming up
you can see the anticipation in their positions...
waiting for that stick


go for it, Foxie


bigger than you are, girl...


but, you're bringing that log back...


yeah, I know...
no matter how heavy


what? is that the end?


uh oh...Foxie lost her collar...
somewhere in the sea

where, oh where...
could that collar be?


oh well...
so much for collars...


how about a sand bath, instead


no, let's play


that's even more fun than going back into the sea and looking for that collar


the collar eventually found under the sea and retrieved...
husband takes a scenic break


he found this...
and I took the photo of this...
the empty shell of a sand crab...
basking uselessly in the sun


across the way and to a small peninsula...
sits a lonely seaside building
it's been there a long time...
for some reason never getting finished
just a shell of a home that never was
I can't help but wonder who and why


an occasional sailboat off in the distance...
going somewhere


and there are the ever present sea creatures of various kinds

this one below I have no idea of...


a jelly-like water balloon...
usually found among the seaweed...
that bursts salty water when popped


and there is another empty shell...
this one of some kind of creature...


maybe a lobster or shrimp type


and in the water there among the seaweeds...


my husband brought up so I could see it at close range...


and take photos of a lovely starfish


it's alive and beautiful in a coral color


how can anyone say there is no God?

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
Corrupt are they,
and have done abominable iniquity:
there is none that doeth good - Psalm 53:1

and...

Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools... - Romans 1:23

There is no fear of God before their eyes - Romans 3:18

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - 1 Corinthians 3:19

when I see the intricacies of the Lord's creation...
how innumerable the varieties of creatures and designs...
it is truly a wonder of His power and endless abilities

O Lord, how manifold are Thy works!
in wisdom hast Thou made them all:
the earth is full of Thy riches - Psalm 104:24


after the photos...
I placed the starfish back into the sea...
to glimmer and shimmer, where it does so best
after all...it is a sea creature made by the wisdom of God...
to glorify and praise the Lord; in it's place, during it's season
God has made a place and a time...
a season...
for everything


May the Lord shine His grace on you.

When a Neighbor Walks By...

he leads his sheep as their true shepherd


have you ever noticed how a herd of sheep will follow their shepherd...
but, run from strangers?
I see it often living among the farmers here
and it makes me think on the Lord Jesus Christ...
who is the Shepherd of His own sheep

and He did say...

I am the good Shepherd,
and know my sheep,
and am known of mine - John 10:14

...and they shall hear my voice:
and there shall be one fold,
and one Shepherd - John 10:16

how good it is to know that my path to heaven...
is led by the Shepherd of my soul

May the Lord give grace and mercy to Shepherd you on your path

Pilgrim's Farm Honey Winner...!

We now have the winner!

Soozeedoozee was the randon drawing name picked 


Soozeedoozee...
your honey is waiting in it's box to come across the Caribbean sea to you


I want to thank everyone who participated!
It was fun and I'm only disappointed that every name couldn't be drawn from the bag

Have a sweet day, or night in the Lord's grace.

Last Day for Giveaway...

The labels came in...


since this honey is going on a long trip...
I sewed up a little bag to soften the bumps along the way


nothing to crow about...
but, just a wee extra to go as part of the giveaway


if you look at the jar carefully...
you will notice that we do not over strain our honey
we like to keep the goods intact for their nutritional value


if you are new to the blog...
feel free to look over the posts for this week on the giveaway...
for Pilgrim's Farm raw honey
if your country accepts imported raw honey and you are one of many honey lovers...
slip in a comment with a name...
for a chance to win this 8 ounce jar

the winner will be announced Monday, Feb. 20.

Have a great day, or night.