When was the last time, you raked up a large pile of leaves, getting the heart pumping, and the other muscles working?  Then, once that pile was finished and ready to shred and place in the compost pile, what did you do? Did you drop your rake and jump right in? Why not?  Too busy, too tired, just too . . . ? When did we forget to be spontaneous like children? Starting with Thanksgiving and moving through Advent, this is the season of gratitude, peace and love. Oh, and don't forget.  Joy. Happy Advent everyone.  May you find room in your heart for that babe in the manger so long ago.  If you celebrate another holiday this time of year, may you also find:  Joy, Peace, Love, and most of all, Gratitude.  It is the savory seasoning which brings the rest of those emotions into being. My wish for...

Last month, as I worked in the garden, picking the last of the green tomatoes, ripe 'Yummy' peppers and a couple of overlooked carrots and green onions, I reflected on  how my tomatoes performed this season.  The best grower and producer of any tomato was 'Giant Belgium.'  GB outperformed every other tomato in the group, with the plant itself eventually growing to seven feet tall.  Because I didn't stake it properly (I am not a good staker), GB sprawled all over my pricey 'Rhapsody in Pink' crapemyrtle and 'Belinda's Dream' rose.  Fortunately, these two, tough plants didn't seem to mind. In spite of the wicked, early summer heat (hovering around 107F every day for two weeks at the end of June), I still picked a dozen or more of GB's gigantic fruits.  Unfortunately, I found this pink tomato to be mealy in texture and not acidic.   Diva and I (the...

with a few survival tips and a recipe to boot! For those of us with food allergies and intolerances, the holiday season is difficult and sometimes painful.  I am often asked what happens when I eat gluten or dairy.  After several years of trying to delicately answer this question, I now say, "it's gastro-intestinal" and let it go at that.  But, really, it goes much further and is much, much worse.  Sure, there's the initial sickness which lays me low for a day, or two, or three, but it also causes more long term effects, including debilitating exhaustion; brain fog I can't explain; horrible muscle and joint pain; and weird moodiness. So, when I say I can't have it, I really can't, not even a little. If you have food intolerances, here are a few strategies for getting through Thanksgiving next week.  If you're eating with friends and family, and...

With winter creeping this way, have you considered why you garden?  Winter is a time of rest, renewal and review.  Why do we shovel load after load of manure and leaf mold?  Why do we keep trying to grow a particular plant even when it would be much easier to throw in the trowel?  After all, much of the world's population never even sticks its hands into the local dirt, while others garden no matter where they live.  Think of balcony container gardens, green walls and green roofs.  Even city life can't keep true gardeners down. While you're thinking on this, my friend, Mary Ann of Idaho Gardener fame, is holding a little contest over at her place on why you garden.  She assures me the prizes are splendid, so why not join in the fun? Why do I garden? The question brings a smile to my face.  You might...