Rejoice and Be Glad!

Today is the day the Lord has made...

 

I will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

 

 

Even when things aren't going my way,

 

I need to try to be more patient with the process of life.

 

"I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He breaks off every branch

 

in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit,

 

so that it will be clean and bear more fruit."

 

John 15:1-2

 

 

 

 

 

And sometimes things

 

 (and others)

 

just get in the way and I need to continue to just work around it

 

and not let it eat me to no end and compromise the good days ahead.

 

So over and onward.

 

(I know it doesn't happen in one day.

 

But I will move on to the best of my ability, for my own good).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past spring I thought my grapes were doomed for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Half of all my buds had been compromised by a garden pest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little diligence paid off.

 

Some careful attention in gardening and fruit spray

 

has resulted in a wonderful yield by summer's end,

 

which I honestly didn't think possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always make sure your last application

 

is well before your harvest

 

to assist in safe handling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were actually able to pull off two large rubber tubs full of fruit, from just two vines.

 

And so, in reflection of my own post,

 

I have a lesson to follow.

 

Good things will come to those who wait.

 

"I am the vine, and you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me,

 

and I in him, will bear much fruit:

 

for you can do nothing without me."

 

John 15:5

 

 

 

 

Sharing with

 

Sunday Best at My 1929 Charmer

 

Garden Party at Delightsome Life

 

Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage

 

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage





Grape Berry Moth

Last year we had such a bountiful harvest of Concord grapes from just two plants.

They were just beautiful and we were able to share quite a bit with family and neighbors.

Naturally, we thought we would have an even larger crop this year,

but it was not meant to be.

We are finding extensive damage that has literally just occurred (everything was fine last week)

and through my hasty research I believe the Grape Berry Moth is the culprit.

Eggs are laid in mid-May that hatch larvae in four days and they feast on all of your fruits.

It all happened so fast, we weren't even aware.

Now there are almost no grapes left.

Research dictates that if this happens to your grapes,

you should continue to treat the pests all summer...

they are in the stems and in the ground, and will come back again

if a management plan is not established.

You can see how the small fruits have been devoured and the stripped stems protrude like hairs.

They should ALL have a tiny grape on them.

This is not a leaf-eating pest, they are attacking the crop.

They can be treated with Carbaryl, an insecticide found in the product Sevin.

I'm using it now to save my vines, but I guess my grapes will no longer be pesticide free.

A little irritated over the fact that the grapes are blown for the whole year now.

If anyone has any other idea on what this may be other than the Grape Berry Moth,

let me know.

EEeeeekkkkk!!

Do you remember the scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacay when they hear a 'little squeaky sound' and Clark sees the source in the tree?


                                                   "SQUIRREL!!"

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

It was the only thing Dan could compare it to when we had our own Lampoon moment this morning.

See, I found some evidence of a PEST.  And yesterday morning I did some cleaning before I went out for Black Friday (where I added more bleach to our supply) and came home and did some more disinfecting.

We had a carefully baited trap, topped with a dollup of leftover Thanksgiving dressing, Grandma's family recipe, mind you, maybe I will share sometime.

Anyway, the trap was placed in the cabinet, near the point of entry where the kitchen lines up with the newer addition to the house.

Well, this morning the trap

WAS GONE.

The way our cabs are configured, they had to notch out a huge hole to accomodate our piping when they were installed.

I thought maybe the tripped trap flew down in that little area.

Dan went to investigate armed with nothing but a flashlight and a Hello Kitty mirror.

He could find nothing, so I took a peek.

Oh, I saw him.  I poked him with a bamboo skewer and that freakin' thing was ALIVE and scuttled towards the front of the cab where Dan's elbow is located above.

Ok, well, I got out of there in a big hurry, more like a bat out of hell.

  No one, needless to say, was willing to stick their arm down there to get him out.  I would've if it were dead, but...well, you know.  IT WAS STILL MOVING.

I've picked up birds galore, rabbits caught in fences, etc, but this was not my cup of tea.  You couldn't see where you were grabbin'.

SO, with one child armed with a plastic baggie, and Dan armed with a bent wire coat hanger (fishing pole AND hook of choice), AND the Hello Kitty mirror again...

..Dan the Man

SAVES THE DAY

once AGAIN.