Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nice Surprises

So this morning my phone rings.  It is Youngest Son.  He wants to first tell me about my granddaughters.  They had auditions for the competition dance teams last week.  Boston was with her Dad when he called, so she told me that both she and her sister made the top teams for their age groups.  They have worked hard for those spots on the teams and I am so proud of them both.

Then David wanted to know if I would be home around noon today.  I said I would.  He said he had something he wanted to drop off for me.  I love those kinds of surprises.

David arrived carrying a bucket that was full of beautiful red tomatoes from his garden, three cucumbers and a handful of carrots.  He said the carrots were pretty small as he planted them too close together this year, but it doesn't matter to me.  I'll cook them for supper tomorrow.  Homegrown carrots are so good tasting.  And there was a big bowl of cherry tomatoes - my favorite.  I've been snacking on them all day!

Then out the door he went, calling over his shoulder that he almost forgot something.  He returned with two jars of the bread & butter pickles he and his kids had canned and another jar of his home canned pasta sauce.  I'm going to be eating well this week!  Thank you, Son.

So now I have cucumber chips drying in one dehydrator and tomato slices drying in the other.  I saved out two of the large tomatoes for BLTs and will see about getting a bank loan to buy a pound of bacon tomorrow.  Aren't meat prices getting out of sight?

Dana over at Witless Relocation Program had a good post today about living within your means.  There are so many who think they have to have the newest and best of everything and then can't figure out what happened when they can't pay for it all.

Me...I'm happy with a bucket of tomatoes and some homemade pickles.  And I'm even happier that I have kids who know that these things will make their Mom smile.

18 comments:

  1. What a great son. Good job by the girls. Nice to see you post again.

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  2. Thanks, Rob. It was such a good day that I just had to post!

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  3. Lucky you :) I'm looking forward to harvesting fresh tomatoes again.

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  4. That sounds like a good day, to me. You got some prizes. I love tomatoes with garlic salt, and maybe a bit of cheese.

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  5. Dani...They are so good. Fresh garden tomatoes are a real treat.

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  6. Harry...It was a good day. I love prizes like that. Some of my kids eat tomatoes with sugar sprinkled on, but I like salt. Garlic salt sounds good, too.

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  7. All the riches in the world can't buy the moments of happiness when family shares and a fresh tomato is enjoyed.

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  8. Jess...That's really what life is all about, isn't it. And if it isn't, it should be.

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  9. Thank you for the compliment, Vicki. I'm glad you are now a blogger, and I recognize two of my favorite people on your comment section:

    Harry, who is a rare find: intelligent. He'd be surprised to know I admire him from a distance.

    And Jess: He's my bud and always understands me.

    your friend, dana joy

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  10. Dana...You are welcome. Both Harry and Jess have been commenting here for a while, and I value their friendship as I do all those who take time to read this silly little blog. I enjoy comments. Makes me feel like I'm not just talking to myself.

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  11. Aww that is so nice! Just raised em right Mom!
    Yes I agree the prices have gone up to somethin stupid! That's why we ordered ours bulk and will process ourselves. If we wait to long will not be able to get any,,,,
    Glad your happy!

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  12. You're very wealthy in the things that really matter!

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  13. Thanks, Mary. I am happy, even though my next post is a bit of a rant! Prices here are going up every week, so I shop just the sales. Even at that, todays sales are yesterdays full price. You are right. If the drought continues, the groceries may become scarce. As far as the kids go, I love it when they do something like David did with the veggies. It was such a lovely surprise.

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  14. Gorges...You are right. There are some things that money just can't buy, and those are the important things.

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  15. There is really nothing much better than a home grown tomato. The only thing that is as good are home grown cucumbers. My garden is small this year as I recently moved, but I couldn't go without planting both of them. Not enough to can this year, but plenty for table use.

    You are very blessed to have children that remember you in sharing the simple things that matter most in life.

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  16. Jim...I have no place for a garden here, so the tomatoes and cukes that my son grows are really welcome. I sorely miss having a garden, but may try containers on the deck next spring.

    I hear folks of my vintage complain they never hear from their grown children. I am truly blessed that mine not only come to see me, they bring home grown tomatoes. :) You are right. It is the simple things in life that matter.

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  17. Seeing the smile on your face when I walked in with the veggies made my day. I'm so glad to share the fruits of our labor and to share this with my kids.
    David

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  18. Thank you Son. It makes my heart glad to see you teaching your kids about the garden and about preserving your harvest. The veggies you bring to me are a bonus.
    Love, Mom

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