It's a Blueberry Kind of Day

June 5, 2014

Dear God,

Well hello there. We haven't talked in a couple days and I am feeling the need to sit at your feet, lay my head on your lap, and feel your hands touching my hair. You are my protector, my comfort.

My time with You is so precious to me and I find that when I don't make time for our chats, I get all out of sorts. I went to bed a couple nights ago as the Disgusted Grumpy Out of Sorts Gardner. Those darn rabbits, moles, and bugs are eating up my plants and flowers. Grrrrr! I just hate spraying my plants because the Fabulous 5 have been known sniff and check out the grass and flowers. No poisons here at Seidler Dogdom!!

I planted a couple blueberry bushes this Spring and I am seeing some little blueberries. I LOVE blueberries and am hoping that they grow nice and big and that I reap crops of many baskets of berries. For today, I bought some at the local grocery store and decided that I would make some Blueberry Crumb Bars to sell at the Farmer's Market Saturday. I can't wait to taste them. 

Thank you for creating the blueberry and it's anti-aging properties. I read that blueberries can prevent early aging and protect me against diseases like cancer and chronic heart disease. The antioxidants prevent cell damage by neutralizing the radicals and keeping diseases at bay. Those little round juicy berries also prevent inflammation that is a known cause of aging diseases like Alzheimer's disease and brain aging. With my arthritis, degenerative disk disease, and extreme tiredness, I need all the help I can get. That being said, I might as well enjoy this miracle fruit!!

From the time I was a little girl, I would beg my mother to make anything that would have blueberries in it. My favorite pie was blueberry and I'd gobble up the entire pie if she didn't put it up out of my reach. Come to think of it, that didn't do any good because we had a step stool that I learned to scale before I was a year old. Mom would tell me that there was nothing out of my reach!! Still am sort of an adventuresome sort... I became a very picky eater as a teenager but still had those cravings for those heavenly blueberries!!

What is a blueberry kind of day? It's a day filled with warm thoughts of yesterday and, as a foodie, remembrances of kitchens filled with the scent of blueberry, dough, and spices. There was a time when I was an embarrassment as a cook and baker. I am happy to report, that those days are long gone, and I've managed to put on an apron, chef's hat, and gone to town tossing this and that together to make some scrum-yummy meals and desserts. One of the requirements when I moved to N Central Texas was to gut the kitchen and make it a mini-wonderland filled with stainless-steel appliances, granite counter tops, and cabinets filled with goodies to choose from to create my masterpieces. Unfortunately, my husband is very limited as to what he will eat, so my cooking days have dwindled. The blessing of the Farmer's Market? I get to bring out those pots, pans, and flavorful ingredients ... Miss Dottie is enjoying making tasty morsels for others to munch on!!

Lord God in Heaven, thank you for this season of fresh fruits and vegetables. The opportunity to gather with others to share, trade, and sell, is ages old yet still a viable way to enjoy organic gardening, farming, and ranching. I pray for sun and rain so that our crops (albeit mine is a mini effort) will produce the best tasting products. Father, you are the creator and we sing your praises. Let there be a feasting Saturday of all things blueberry!! For my Readers, I pray for healthy eating habits. Instead of man-made vitamins, open our minds to the ideas of feasting on nuts, berries, colorful veggies, and lean meats. Me? I feast on the name of Jesus, filling up with parables, and words of wisdom. Amen!!

Miss Dottie

The farm my mother was raised on
RJ & Emma Jane Hall on the left
My grandfather, Harry Hall, in the middle of them

NOTE TO READERS: I used to help my mother and father as they planted their gardens, strawberry beds, rhubarb plants, and harvested their mini crops. Our storage room in the basement was filled to the brim by the end of September with all sorts of canned goods plus the freezer was filled in preparation of food for Winter. Both of my parents were raised on farms and knew full well the meaning of sowing and reaping. I learned from them and now am learning from the gardeners, farmers, and ranchers in North Central Texas. Yep, today has been a blueberry kind of day. Yum!!