Seed Train/Left-Handed Scissors

what is a sseed train? There are several hundred members on the gardening forum I participate in. A seed packet may have anywhere from 50 to about 1000 seeds. I use anywhere from 4 to about 75 seeds of any one kind. A seed train is a package of excess seeds that gets mailed around the country to wiiling participants. When it gets here, I'll add some of my excess seeds and take whatever I may want. We have a medicinal/herb train due here in Knoxville sometime in the next week or so.

I found in Windows Office a template for a seed packet. So I printed some out and grabbed a pair of scissors to cut them down to size. Unfortunately I must have grabbed a pair that belonged to my late wife - left-handed ones! :( I never realized how difficult it could be to try to cut along a line while looking over to the wrong side of the scissors. David, you want a pair of scissors?

New Website

Well, I finally broke down and will be setting up my new website for gardening/farming. I don't know yet when I will actually get it up an running, but I guess it will be my big time-consumer until I do. I'll be posting info about the gardens, produce, the farmers market and whatever I come up with that's related. I may also move this blog over there when I get it all together.

Now to find a good logo ...

Healing

Powerful meeting at the V last night! After having had four services this week that seemed to have an emphasis on healing. But this time it was about being practical. Many questions and things to think about.

Pastor Jon back in Beaverton said something on the line of, "If I give my life to Jesus Christ, it'll ruin my life. That's right. Because it will not be my life any more, it'll be his. It won't be my life, it'll be a much, much better one."

Mark opened the meeting with a story that happened to him. Someone came to his door and said "I just want to DIE!" That's right, die to self and live for Him. The old man, the old nature , is dead and the new man is to live for God. And that was the theme of the whole evening. DIE!! Die to self. Trust God. He knows more about what I want and what is best than I do. (Unlike Microsoft and Congress! :) ) He will do what is best for me AND what is best for His body, the church.

What are we going to do when this movement really begins to grow? How could we handle an addition of 3,000 people to the church in one day, like in Acts 2? Practically speaking, what are we going to do? These people all have their own lives and their own problems. How can we help them to overcome and become productive children of God?

To live you must die. Life comes from death. For a plant to grow, a seed must die. In order to live for Christ, I must die to my self.

***

We had several people healed of various injuries in the four meetings last week, culminating in the regular Saturday night service. It was Saturday Night ... LIVE!!!

I continue to pray for you-all.

gerry

Back Pain

I had forgotten how painful my back can be. Time for a big pain pill.

About 20 years ago, when David was little, I pulled a muscle in my lower back. Well, maybe it's in the buttock muscle. Every year or so It reminds me that it can hurt! I wear a brace around my waist, mostly to remind me to be careful, not that I'm not aware of it at this stage of the game. It'll go away in a week or so, but I need to be extra careful till then.

1/18
MarkO and ,, prayed for me Friday night; MarkO and Jeff on Saturday. On Saturday Yve and MarkO, who don't know each other but both of whom I trust, asked me if I had seen my chiropractor. Oops! First thing Monday. Sunday Casey told be to put ice on my back at night and heat in the morning. Again, oops! I had been using my queen sized heating pad all night. I tried the icepack last night and felt good this morning.

Went to the chiropractor this morning. He did some tests and found out a few things that were obvious to me when they were done. I kinda wish I'd known to do this myself, it's so obvious. Back tomorrow for follow-up.

On Gun Control ... or lack thereof :)

picture thanks to kefirmaven, on IDigMyGarden.com Forums

Picture thanks to John Best, England(?) on IDigMyGarden.com Forums

AN ACTUAL CRAIG'S LIST PERSONALS AD
To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last.
Date: 2009-05-27, 1 :43 a.m. E.S.T.
I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings... I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.
First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The even ing was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head ... isn't it?!
I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].
After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, -- on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful!
I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]
I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb ... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car.
Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what 's going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.
The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).
;In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky.Have a good day!
Thoughtfully yours,
Alex
P.S. Remember this motto ... An armed society makes for a more civil society!

(Thanks to Father George Dyer, Houston, TX

Book recommendation - Fortschen

I'm reading "One Second After" by William R Fortschen. It is the story of what might happen in small town Appalachia after an EMP attack which destroys all the infrastructure. It sounds really reasonable and logical and is very well written. I would recommend it to anyone concerned about terrorist attacks.

But be aware that I became quite lachrymose toward the end. :)

Weather, Garden

It's cold! BRRR!! I guess I'm just not used to the cold weather I greew up with in Northern Virginia. Forecast is for windchills around zero tonight. I can't work in the yard or prep the new garden beds in this weather. :( So much to do and so little cooperation from the weatherman.

I ordered the rest of my seeds last night for the coming year. I need to organize what I have and get ready for the seed trains when they come thru. I'm following a plan for one more year, my third. Then we decide what we want for ourselves and what will sell at the market. But that's next year. Meanwhile we'll just read the books and see what develops.

I was working in the North Garden when the weather turned last week. My handy-dandy garden fork is now stuck in the ground. Frozen solid. I can't get it out. At least the weather should moderate by midweek. Actually calling for a low up at freezing next Thrusday! :) And I have seven beds to prep for spring by mid-March. Will I have time?

Epiphany Party

We had a meeting this afternoon that I thought was quite unusual, but I like the idea. Two members of our congregation prayed over the past few months for words that would apply to individuals over the next year or so. They prayed that the right person would blindly pick the word that God wants for them to think on this year. The handed around the tin with single words on slips of paper and each of us picked a word.

Several people talked about the words they picked last year. It is amazing how their words applied specifically to their lives, almost a summary of the most important things that happened in their lives during the year.

My word this year is "truth." I don't know just what this means yet. I will see what the Bible says about truth and pray about whatever God is trying to say to me.