Not only did oldest son, Bill and his family pop in with strawberry shortcake but some kind of neighbors came to offer to help weed. (Not that we didn’t need that!) It worked out so nicely. Matt and Jordan, plus the kids, weeded several rows of beans by the time Bill’s family arrived. So, it was just in time for ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and lots of wonderful visiting.

The beans look so good, all weeded nicely. Only 15 more rows to go…

For my birthday, Will had gotten busy and changed out the old batteries in the new golf cart for new ones, plus he cleaned up the battery box and worked all day on getting it ready for a run. Then, when he had it finished, he came into the house and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. I was so surprised! The new batteries were all charged up and we went for a cruise over to the Wolf Garden. That puppy goes 40 mph! No, not on our bumpy driveway, for sure. But it was a lot of fun. The big surprise for me was that although it is about a foot higher to get in, I could actually make it without a struggle. Maybe my knees are getting a little better!

Sarge was excited about the new Bad Boy golf cart too.

Well, it’s raining again today. Our friends, Mike, Dara, and Sherri came over in the rain, so we ate pizza and now they are packing seeds. Mike and Will loaded manure onto Mike’s truck and an old big round bale of hay for mulch on their trailer. Sherri brought more of the chicks she had brooded for us. Just another batch to go. They all look great! It’s fun, seeing all the different breeds as we’d bought a batch of mixed heavy breeds.

Our flower beds are blooming like crazy but are pretty weedy too.

Gotta run so I can help pack seeds. Let’s all hope for normal weather — country-wide! — Jackie

35 COMMENTS

  6. A Happy late Birthday 🎈🎂 to you!! 🎉🥳🎉 I’m so glad it was a great day for you!! It wonderful about your new golf cart. When n I’m working on my the yard I use my husband’s scooter to save my back and bad leg. But you have a lot more ground to cover then me! I tie my garden cart on on to the rear of the scooter at the handle of the cart. Does a good job in hauling stuff.
    How late do you plan on selling seeds this year? I’ve got to get some before you shut down for next year. Then I plan on packing them up into the freezer. I may have one of three surgeries soon and if I can’t do a garden the seeds will just keep sleeping in the freezer. I’m putting oxygen absorber in the jars. Just makes me crazy to waste things. I’m so glad you have folks coming over to help. Take care!!

    • The more we can do to save our bodies while still working is a great idea. I know, for me, I’m always trying to figure out how to do more with an older body that doesn’t cooperate.

      We sell seeds year around so we don’t every shut down. We just switch over to new seeds as they are harvested and dried. It’s a smooth transition and we donate our “old” seeds to those in need.
      I hate wasting anything too!

  7. I am most happy to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We did a podcast together a while ago (not that I expect you to remember but *I* remember being star struck and stumbling over my words LOL) Soon thereafter I had to move and start allllll over but BH sent me a free copy of your book Starting Over and I did just that three years ago at the age of 55 (don’t throw anything at me! I know I’m not that old!). I now have nine garden beds producing (I grew them slow and steady to not get overwhelmed), a good flock of laying hens, and the fencing is finally done and ready for our milk goats (arriving next month!). I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank you for your continued inspiration and encouragement to so many of us; you really have made a difference in the world <3

    • Your testimony is good news. It’s so encouraging to me to hear. The Lord Bless you. Regards from far north California.

  8. Hey there, what a wonderful birthday you had. So glad for you and the knees will steadily improve over time. Your flowers are beautiful.

  10. Happy Birthday, I have been one of those folks that look so forward to your post, my sister told me about you so I just want to say thank you for sharing your stories with us.

  13. Happy Birthday Jackie. Nice new set of wheels, thanks to Wills hard work You must be healing well for knees to get in/out no pain . By the way, thanks for sending the rain Monday! You mentioned you wish you could send some of your s. We got a nice, not huge measurable amount. But 10,000 acre fire was slowed up! Praise The Lord

    • Amen to that! I’m so glad you at least got some rain. That’s a big fire. I so hope you get more rain to get it contained.
      I was so surprised that I could get into the golf cart at all, as it’s a lot higher than our old one. That sure encouraged me after fighting these darned knees so long.

  15. Happy birthday, Jackie. We’ve been following your helpful hints, successes, challenges for years. We’re the fourth generation to live on our small farm..one of our 7 adult kids have guaranteed there will be a fifth generation as both of us are 81.

    • That’s wonderful Cecilia! I love multi-generational farms and sure wish there were more of them around today. Thank you!

  17. Family, friends & good food, sounds like you had a Blessed and Happy Birthday! Will getting the new cart fixed, and your knees getting better is a Blessing too. Jackie, thank you for taking the time to share about your life.

  19. Sad to say normal weather is going to be as rare as hens teeth in some areas. We’re getting some heat but not drought, not deluges of rain. While usually August weather, we’ll power through it.
    So nice to have neighbors willing to weed. While there are no gardens anywhere the size of yours in our neighborhood, the handful of us that garden (which are too few given our location) would step up to help if need be.
    One and one half days left of cat/homestead sitting (garden is fine, flowers need water. I am of the mindset I don’t plant anything I can’t eat).

    • I guess everyone is different. For me, flowers are food for the soul. It brightens my day and I always take a little time to enjoy them before going to work on the food and seed gardens. With 5 acres into gardens and the rain, rain, rain, the weeds are horrible this year so help is not only appreciated but needed. That’s why we’re so grateful to have any help at all. It’s amazing at how much gets done in just a few hours with more hands than ours going at it.

      • There are so many edible flowers out there, that I stick to those, even if I don’t eat them. Who knows, someday, I might need to.

      • Hi, Jackie:
        We just finished nearly a week on the coast of Washington state. I didn’t know I was so fond of flowers until 2023, and then 2024, vacations we took cross-country when I delighted in spring wild flowers, taking many pictures. Then in Washington just took many more pictures of flowers in their rain forests. It’s so fun and delightful.

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