Sunday, October 30, 2011

Getting Caught Up



I have a volunteer sunflower growing in the garden.
I am so glad. With most of the garden gone it is nice to see
one out there growing.



In the spring, I wanted to grow sweet potatoes.
As long as I have been growing gardens, I have never been
able to get sweet potatoes. All of the seed catalogs don't ship
to California.
I decided I would figure it out. I found a site that said to
get a sweet potato and put it in water like you did when you were a kid
and where ever a leaf grows from a eye use that to grow sweet potatoes.
So I did it. Yesterday we dug them up and we got this many from one
sweet potato. We might have got more if I had been more patient.
Then I remembered standing in my grandmothers kitchen and seeing
all of the sweet potatoes lined up on her window sill with sweet potatoes
in jars. Now I know why.
I will grow more next year. But I will have enough to use for Thanksgiving
I think which was what I wanted them for anyway.

When I first started blogging, I really was very new at
blogging and even being on the internet very much.
Amazon was about it.
The very first person I made friends with in the blogging
world was my friend Sue at Pear Tree Lane Farmhouse.



This week she sent me a couple of boxes of goodies.
She sent me grape jam and sweet relish and apple butter.
She also sent some lovely hand lotion for my hands because
we farm girls do have rough hands from working in the garden.



She sent some little Thanksgiving figurines. I really don't
have much for Thanksgiving so I like these. I
put them on my mantel.



Then she sent this lovely garlic she grew. Doesn't it look
nice in my kitchen. The picture doesn't do it justice.
It is the loveliest garlic.



I had to show you how my daughter looked today dressed up for work.
She is going to be a mime. I was on the computer and she walked in
and it scared me to death. She doesn't look at all like herself and I jumped
and yelled.

I don't do well with costumes or even clowns. When we go to amusement parks
I run away from the jokers dressed up in costumes. I really don't like them.

I hope you have a really nice week.

~Kim~

22 comments:

Meg said...

LOL! She looks hilarious. Gosh I can't believe you got so many sweet potatoes! Yay I'm so glad it worked, so now next year I know how to grow them! Mmmm, I love sweet potatoes.

myletterstoemily said...

hi kim!

you always inspire me, but your sweet potato
adventure is the best! our grandmothers had
so much wisdom. can you imagine that many
potatoes all from one!

meg needs to knit the mama potato a sweater!

Dog Trot Farm said...

What a wonderful surprise. Such thoughtful gifts, I have always wanted to learn how to "braid" garlic and onions, they look very nice hanging in your kitchen. Did you make the wooden pumpkin? Very cute. Great sweet potato crop, how will you store them till Thanksgiving? Your daughter looks adorable, Happy Halloween to you. Your friend from snowy Maine, Julie.

Debbie said...

I think sweet potatoes are at the top of my list of favorite things....just LOVE them...how exciting you figured out how to grow your own.

Isn't Sue wonderful?? I just love her to death. A sincerely sweet, giving and generous, (I've gotten one of her gift boxes before too!) wise, Godly woman only describes her a little bit!

Your daughter looks great!! Fun...I miss Mel dressing up...she always did for something or another. My boys only when they were forced, and even then they never got into it, haha...but Mel had some good ones.

Hope you had a good Sunday!

HUGS

Kim said...

Your daughter looks awesome. But I'm with you, clowns and mimes freak me out.
I love sweet potatoes, baked in wedges and dipped in mayo and ketchup.

Stephanie V said...

Good advice on growing those sweet potatoes. Do you think they'd grow this far north? I remember my mom having them in water but never in a garden.

I am always happy when there are a few volunteer sunflowers - or anything else. Somehow I think they're the tough ones.

Marti said...

I love sweet potatoes, I will have to try and grow some in one of my barrels, my answer to gardening. I have grown them in the window for their vines, but have never planted them.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Sweet potatoes are so good for you and you really grew some beauties. My sweet potato casserole that I make for Thanksgiving is always a big hit. They are not called sweet for nothing.

Pom Pom said...

Hooray for you, sweet potato grower! Those will taste good on Thanksgiving!

Patrice said...

I love growing sweet potatoes. I have some HUGE ones sitting on my kitchen counter. I wonder why they don't ship to CA.Check email soon. I'm leaving here to write to you.

Jill said...

Great job on the sweet potatos! How much fun is that! Nice bunch of goodies from your friend. I'm sure you'll enjoy them all.

Your daughter looks great!

Jacque. said...

oh...I remember the sweet potatoes in water! What fun!

Simple Home said...

Congratulations on growing sweet potatoes! I've never tried them. Potatoes themselves used to be a big crop here in the desert, but I've never tried them either. I may do that next year. Thanks for the inspiration.
Have a great week!
Blessings,
Marcia

Samantha said...

My grandmother did the same thing with sweet potatoes..
Your daughter looks great! :)

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

My father-in-law's family were sweet potatoes growers...they had their own label.

My grandmothers had them lined up on the window sill also...I didn't know that...thanks for sharing.

Oh Sue...isn't she just a precious jewel in the kingdom of God. Benjamin has adopted her...he keeps asking me to take him to see her.

Have a great week...I will remember the potatoes and maybe try them next year...enjoy the fruit of your labor and then use that lotion on your hands!

Sue said...

Good morning Kim, I am so glad that you finally got your boxes, I am so sorry for taking so long, like i said I am the queen of procrastination. lol.

Kim you did great with the sweet potatoes, I wish I had thought to send you some in the spring for you to grow. N.C. Is known for sweet potatoes. I didn't get by yesterday, as I have been trying to catch-up on my blogging, but I read your last post, and enjoyed seeing how your kids dressed up, and as always enjoy seeing what beautiful creations you create with your hands.

We finally got our killing frost Saturday night, and boy it was a doozy, But am thankful we didn't get snow, I went to the garden yesterday and everything is gone! that is always such a sad feeling. However I am already dreaming and planning for next year.~smiling~ how about you? I was sad to hear a bout your white chicken,that too is always sad. My chickens are special to me too, but like you I don't want to see any animal suffer.
Well, dear Friend, I have got errands to run, with dh, hope your day is filled with many blessings.
Hugs,
Sue

Kessie said...

Look at all those sweet potatoes! I forgot all about your sweet potato experiment. I'm glad it was so 'fruitful', ha ha.

Also, Ems the Mime cracks me up.

camp and cottage living said...

Kim
You daughter did a great job with that make up!
And, wow! That was a lot of nice gifts. So sweet of your friend, for sure!!

Debbie said...

oooohhhh i just love sweet potatoes, they will last until thanksgiving?? or do you have more in the ground??

Gumbo Lily said...

Well done on the sweet potatoes! I want to try next year. Great garlic and nice friend.

Nancy said...

I love sweet potatoes any way you fix them....So glad you were able to get them to grow.....I can't wait to hear all about how you fix them.....