Pumpkins and Celebrations

We are going to have lots of pumpkins this year. This not so good (flip phone) picture shows the 4 varieties we planted: one "jack-o-lantern type (big orange) which has not so much meat and therefore not so great for cooking. The other varieties are meaty and all good for cooking (and for feeding to pigs.) Mrs. Curley will put some up so we can have pies and breads and soups throughout the year; the rest will feed the pigs. 

So far 110 spaghetti squash picked and counting!!! (Also good pig feed - we are running out of freezer space.)

Today is the feast of the be-heading of John the Baptist, AND it is Mrs. Curley and my wedding anniversary!

Here are a couple pictures - one about a week or two before our wedding, and the 2nd one of the (many) happy times here in Bethune. I think you will be able to tell which is which.

Oremus pro invicem!

I think I have written about EB White before in this space. Today I read in a Pillar column:  

EB White wrote once that all that he hoped to say in books, all that he ever hoped to say, is that he loved the world — emphasis his own.

This reminds me of Pieper's writing on feasts and festivals that they (festivals) are at heart a celebration recognizing that all of creation is good.

Looking back at my reading of EB White's "One Man's Meat" I find the following quote which is very appropriate and I find to be very true.

I don't know whether I came to the country to live the simple life; but I am now engaged in a life vastly more complex than anything the city has to offer. -E.B. White

Oremus pro invicem!

The bounty

We eat a lot of green beans throughout the year and usually grow quite a few of them. This year the crop wasn't coming. So I went to a new source for seeds and planted a late crop where I had just harvested the corn. We started harvesting beans today. These are young and tender, high quality. Hopefully with a lot more to come.

We have finished with the Patty Pan squash - but we have quite a bit to still put up as you can see. Mrs. Curley has been using it to make breads; delicious.

Still getting quite a bit of good Okra now. AND we started picking the spaghetti squash. As you can see, we have a wheel barrow full with a lot more to come.

God is both good and great!

Oremus pro invicem!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere

We are growing lots of pumpkins in every open space this year. The pigs will love them (I love pumpkin pie) and they came from seeds saved from last year of several varieties.

The structure in the background on the right is our chicken coop. It is getting hard to get in there and collect eggs!

Oremus pro invicem!

Now Reading: In Defense of Nature

by Dr. Benjamin Wiker of Steubenville (2017).

The premise is that both the Left and the Right only get it 1/2 right (and 1/2 wrong) on the environment and morality - and that they are intimately linked; not just that it is a sin to pollute - but that sins against (for example) temperance cause lapses in morality in more than one realm, which thus connects them. The left denies morality (God, sin, etc.). The Right denies the damage to the environment is real. Neither sees there is a connection between the reality and their denials.

For example, lack of temperance leads to gluttony. Gluttony leads to eating things that are bad for you, especially junk food. Food scientists make hyperpalatable food to feed the gluttony. The increase in bad food eating increases the consumption of junk food and drive thru food. This in turn increases the garbage in landfills and on the streets. Everyone loses but big business. 

I am probably poorly stating his thesis, but it is well worth the read. It is also easy to read. 90 pages in and that just being in a waiting room a couple times.

Oremus pro invicem!

Also... 3 days of rain with at least one more to come. All this rain destroyed the tomatoes but is great for the okra. My little pigs don't get sold in the pouring rain. We've been busy trying to keep them fairly dry. 

Breakfast

 Fabulous cinnamon roll from Mrs. Curley!

Oremus pro invicem!