Harvest The Rain

So far this year rain levels here have been pretty good. Everything is growing and looking wonderful. I can't wait to start harvesting fresh vegetables.

Last year was a different story with an almost 16 inch deficit in rain. I've decided that I want to set up a rain barrel system to harvest some of the rain now for the drier months. I have to get my husband on board to help me.

In surfing the internet I found a wonderful article about harvesting rain at Mother Earth News. Great info for those who are interested in building their own rain system suitable for whole house use.

Then there is the pdf file The Texas Manual On Rainwater Harvesting. Pretty dry reading but it contains fascinating facts about how rainwater is captured and used in different parts of the country and world. Did you know that The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center in Austin, Texas, harvests 300,000 gallons of rainwater annually from almost 19,000 square feet of roof collection area for irrigation of its native plant landscapes?

And finally there is this article from the Maryland Environmental Development site with even better info on a simple barrel system that seems more in keeping with a small home garden.

The Road not Taken

by Robert Frost, 1874-1963

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay n leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood, and I�

I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Practical Recipes For The Housewife

Surfing the web I came across this old recipe book online. It is so interesting to see these older recipes, many of them very usable, and tips for the Housewife of days gone by. I thought I would share them with you. Let me know if you try any of the recipes and how they turn out.

Edit: You will see a blank page when you get to the site. Move over to the right side and you will see arrows to turn the pages with.

Letters From War

I am so grateful to our military men and women. We have several members of our extended family and some friends in service and some over in Iraq. For some reason these folks have been on my mind more than usual the past few days. My prayers go out for them. I remembered this touching video I saw several months back and decided to share it. Enjoy it and remember to say a prayer for our men and women in the armed services.

A Good Read or Listen

If you have never read any books by Kenneth Davis I would highly recommend them to you.

The Don't Know Much About series is well written and most importantly far from boring. I'm an huge fan and include his books in my permanent collection. This is my 3rd time through the book but my first listen. It makes interesting listening while doing housework or other busy work.

If you had asked me back in high school if I would voluntarily crack a book about geography I would have laughed in your face. Davis treats the subject with wit and an enthusiasm that is very apparent to the reader, thus inspiring you about the subject all while being enormously informative. Good for adults and older teens (As always parents might want to preview)