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Blessings Overflowing

Faith~Family~Creativity

June 5, 2014 By Jackie Leave a Comment

In the Garden: Covering Plants with Netting to Deter Bugs

It’s garden update time again. Take a look at how much mine has grown since last week.

Garden Update 6-5-14

We have had quite a bit of rain this week which has really helped everything grow. I also added some manure/compost at the base of almost all of the plants to fertilize them naturally so hopefully that is helping as well. Another thing I did this week was to add netting over my broccoli and cabbage to protect them from those cute white “butterflies” called cabbage months that have wreaked havoc on my plants in years past. So far, so good.

Broccoli with Netting 6-5-14

Before I cover the plants with the netting, I first put some stakes in the ground at each corner and a bigger one in the middle.

Broccoli & Cabbage 6-5-14

Then I used some 77 cents/yard netting (tulle, only the kind with slightly bigger holes) to cover the plants. I had to use two lengths of netting so I overlapped them in the middle and used a few safety pins to hold them together. I added some bricks around the perimeter to keep the netting from blowing away. I think it is working pretty well. The netting allows the rain to get in and the light, but seems to be keeping those cabbage moths out.

Update: I am now thinking that I should have bought the netting with the smaller holes. I have a friend who uses sheer curtains she found at a thrift store. Next, year I will switch to the netting with the smaller holes and see if that works even better.

Protecting Broccoli with Netting 6-5-14

We tried to go strawberry picking this week but the fields were flooded. So, we had to settle for picking the few that are growing in our new patch.

Strawberries Turning Red 6-5-14

They were absolutely delicious! I’m hoping in a few years these plants will spread and we will have quite a few strawberries.

Strawberries 6-5-14

Last week the potatoes shot up so much. I added another round of straw and more soil to each potato tower. They have grown so much this week that I am going to have to do the same thing again.

Potato Towers 6-5-14

Our zucchini plants are starting to grow really well.

Zucchini 6-5-14

The onions and marigolds in cinder blocks are thriving.

Marigolds & Onions 6-5-14

Our green beans are growing well, too. Unfortunately, the storms blew my corn over yesterday, but I am happy to say that today it is starting to stand upright again.

Green Beans & Corn 6-5-14

A few weeks ago I thought I was going to have to replant the sweet potatoes. However, I let them go and hoped for the best. Well, take a look at how they look now compared to just two weeks ago.

Sweet Potatoes 6-5-14

I really am loving the way our garden is looking right now. A June garden always looks so pretty. I am hopeful that this will be the year I can say the same about our garden in August and that the weeds haven’t taken over like they usually do. 🙂 How is your garden growing this week? signature

Filed Under: Gardening & Canning

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jackiesblessings

This little ray of sunshine turned ten years old t This little ray of sunshine turned ten years old today. Janna loves laughing, learning, writing, singing, nature, animals, school, people...just about everything really. 🙂  Janna has been a true joy, and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be her mama. 

While I’m a little sad that none of my kids are “little”anymore, I am so excited to see what the future holds for my girl. Janna is always setting goals, and she just started a new list of “life goals” that already almost fills a page. Whatever the future holds for my sweet Janna, I know she will give it her all and do it with a smile on her face. 

Happy birthday, Janna! You are so loved. ❤️
I really needed today. This month has been very bu I really needed today. This month has been very busy, and an e-learning/snow day was much appreciated by everyone in my house. Joseph, Janna, and I had so much fun playing in the snow this afternoon. Here are a few pictures of our adventures. (Janna is wearing a coat my mom made for me nearly 40 years ago.)
I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that h I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that has happened in 2020. There have been so many negatives for so many people. I can’t say it has all been positive for me either. However, there are some things that have happened in 2020 for which I am so grateful. 
.
The main thing I am grateful for is the extra time I was able to spend with my kids. We had so much fun during quarantine and this summer. I know this wasn’t the case for everyone, but I do not regret the days when we had nothing planned and could just have fun together. Whether it was walking in the woods, playing games, watching a movie together, or even doing chores, I never once heard an “I’m bored.” 🙂 
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In addition to the gift of more time together, I am also grateful for all of the milestones we have celebrated this year. In June, my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary, and then we had four milestone birthdays. Julia turned 21, James turned 18, Joshua turned 16, and Joseph turned 13. (Janna felt left out, so we told her that her birthday was special because it was her last birthday in single digits.) Also, today marks 25 years that JT and I have been married. 
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While I won’t be sorry to see 2020 go, and I hope
and pray 2021 is better for so many people who are hurting right now, I don’t ever want to forget the good times we had this year. 
.
P.S. I took all of these pictures over fall break.
The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual church service yesterday, and I couldn’t resist getting a picture with them in front of this beautiful Christmas tree. ❤️
James has been playing school basketball since he James has been playing school basketball since he was in the fourth grade. Tonight he and his fellow Seniors  were recognized at their game, and I just can’t believe James is this old. 
.
Normally, Senior Night is the last game of the season. However,  because everything in the world seems so uncertain right now, we wanted to make sure the boys got a chance to be recognized. We wanted something “normal” for them. I am thankful James and his teammates not only got recognized but also won their game. 
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P.S. We had our masks on at all times other than when we took pictures.
We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is t We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is turning 13 today, and it just doesn’t seem possible. The beautiful baby boy who was placed in my arms on a cold and foggy day in December is still my “little” guy. However, after looking at this picture of the two of us, I don’t think he will be shorter than me for long. Joseph is still my shy guy, but he is also sweet, loving, kind, and just an all around good kid. We also lovingly refer to him as the cat whisperer because the kittens and cats follow him around like puppies. 🙂 It has been so much fun to have Joseph at school with me this year now that he is in junior high, and I am so thankful that I get to be his mama. Happy birthday, Joseph! ❤️
2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of 2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of those challenges was self-inflicted. 🙂 I just finished my fourth master’s level course of 2020 through Ball State, and I passed the high ability licensure exam last Thursday. This means that I will soon have high ability added to my teaching license. 
.
When I signed up to take my first class in January, I had no idea what 2020 was going to entail. Teaching in a pandemic isn’t for the faint of heart. Taking classes and caring for five kids while teaching in a pandemic has allowed me to see what I am really made of. I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty happy that I received straight A’s. Beyond that, I learned so much, and I am grateful for this opportunity even though I felt stretched to my limits some days. 
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Yes, 2020 has been challenging, but I have been blessed with more time with my family, knowledge gained, and challenges met and overcome.
I almost forgot to post this here. 🎂 Joshua is I almost forgot to post this here. 
🎂
Joshua is 16 years old today. It doesn’t seem possible that my little pip squeak of a baby boy is now about 6’4”. Joshua is now the tallest of the family, and I’m not sure he is done growing. There hasn’t been a dull moment since Joshua arrived, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. He is a fun-loving, hard-working, kind-hearted, and intelligent young man. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. I am so thankful God thought I was up to the task of being Joshua’s mama. ❤️
My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t c My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t cry as soon as he was born but first looked around to see what was going on in the world, is now a 6’2” handsome man. I truly never thought the years would go by so quickly, but here we are. James is 18 today. 

There are so many words I could use to describe James: hardworking, dedicated, persevering, intelligent, funny, curious, kindhearted, dependable, respectful, and helpful. I could also expound upon his accomplishments, and I could tell you how great he is. However, I don’t love James for what he has accomplished but simply because he is my son.

I have been so blessed to be James’s mom, and I thank God every day for entrusting him into my care. I don’t know what the future will hold for him, but I know he will do great things. 

For anyone reading this who is struggling with a tantrum throwing toddler, a strong-willed child, and/or a child who questions everything, I would like to encourage you. Look for the positive qualities your child possesses such as perseverance, dedication, and curiosity and build upon that. I will never regret the hard days of parenting because my prayers and hard work have paid off. Helping James reach his full potential and keep those qualities without breaking his spirit has been worth the effort.

Happy Birthday, James!

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