Prayer for the World on March 13, 2012

Holy Father, Most High God, Gracious Creator:

Thank you for your countless blessings. It is truly amazing the works of your hands and the massive nature of your forgiveness. Give us a refreshment in love, a quenching of humbleness and an aching to serve you. Bless those who are in struggles and are in need of love. Comfort those that are abused and who need a hand or a prayer from another. Dear God, we know we are not perfect but help us to strive to be more like you.

In your name I pray.

Amen

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Happy Gardening

When you are gardening, you have to watch for so many pests.

There's the:

1. Loose livestock - in the BVI, that could be cows, sheep, goats, donkeys or horses. They make extensive damage and depending on which animal bites your plant, it's dead. The only good thing is that they leave their manure behind to fertilize what's left. The animals understand food security much better than the humans. The owners are horrible though because they leave their animals to bother everyone.
2. Birds - We've got thrushes here in the BVI and they love tomatoes, eggplants, mangos, soursop and anything these birds think is delicious. They are smart and cunning birds who make one pick in a fruit and then move to another. I remember when we had the swing open windows, the thrushes would just fly in and look for food on the counter. No one has really found a way to get rid of them. For cash crops, there's netting that can be used but for large fruit trees, you just have to pray they leave some for you.
3. Iguanas - In St. Thomas, farmers will have issues with iguanas. However the staff at the UVI Cooperative Extension service have some great ideas that are eco-friendly to keep the iguanas away. It is also against the law to harm these creatures so any solution must be green and safe for the iguanas.
4. Small Pests - Pink Hibiscus Mealybug, Aphids, Scale Insects are the many other plant pests can be detrimental to a garden. Crickets, caterpillars and other worms/nematodes are also silent killers that can kill a crop overnight. Mango Seed Weevil are also small pests that destroy a mango crop. These are just a few examples as there are many more small pests that can damage crops. Consult with your local agriculture representatives on how to deal with these problems.
5. Man - Humans are the worst pests. They are supposed to have a conscience but they don't. There are folklore stories about persons who got sick or died from being poisoned from eating stolen food. I let my property grow into into thorns just for the two foot bandits. You want it more than I do, then cut your own tracks through the cashas!

These are just a few examples - and these are more relevant to my limited experience. Be sure to keep an eye out for all types of pests in your garden.

Happy Gardening!

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POEM: What I have to give

giving you love

is the only thing
that I can offer
it's all I have
all I can freely give
of the little I own
you may think it's less
but it is my very best
when I give it
I'm not left with emptiness
there won't be an empty nest
but it'll be like an elegant dress
or a head full of beautiful tresses
it is what I have
and when I give it
I give it all
I don't stall
and there won't be a recall
the best thing in the world
is love
and we should give it away
everyday
and in every way
LOVE

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Blog No. 405

I've gone past 400 blog posts and 11,000 page views and I feel like I have so much to share. There are people who need to be inspired so the little things that I say might boost someone's day. I started this blog as a an opportunity to introduce myself to the world. I went from posting hardly ever to making sure that a post goes up at least every other day.

I share my life experiences and little insights that I learn. For example, I know that I'm not the only person who fidgets in meetings. I'm guessing I may have always had ADHD but somehow was able to control it. I tune things in and out. I guess that's why I like writing music reviews because I get to focus on the music which I do enjoy.

I've learned recently that although I'm a math wiz, that does not mean that my son is. I just have to find the ways to help him get focused so that he can pass. I've also learned that each child is different and the precision I get from one does not mean that the other will perform at the level. I have to appreciate their individual talents.

I am blessed not to have children who throw tantrums in public. Throw a tantrum? Are you kidding me? I would be reprimanding immediately. I have no time for nonsense. Oh and to you the reading public, if Mommy tells her child 'no' - it's 'no'. Ask a question politely before you intercede because you don't know the background of the story.

See, I have a lot to learn and a lot to share as I learn. Let's work together to improve ourselves, our community and life as a whole.

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Quick thoughts for Monday, March 5, 2012

Writers beware - your words are impacting people
Investors beware - stop trying to get rich overnight, you'll go broke even faster
Buyers beware - spend smart and watch the online shopping
Christins beware - the devil is a liar and we can't let him win

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My Thoughts on a Winning Attitude

Having a winning attitude means that despite sorrow or a fall, you keep the faith and keep going forward. It's not many people that have winning attitudes. Many have whining vibrations as they sound like a siren.

I get a lot of defeats but I curse a little, pout for some, suck my teeth and pick back up the saddle. I am not perfect but I can say I think I have a winning personality. I have to find a way to survive.

I sometimes am the first one to raise a concern and other times I might be the last. I've learned a lot in my years and I have to truly come to accept that some people are just not nice. I have much more to live for while God lends me time.

So if you see me singing or playing a game on my phone, I am building my winning attitude because if I start a whining behavior like some people, then I would lose my mind.

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A Wannabe Farmer

My farming days are fun. I love to see the plants blooming but of course my eventual hope is that I would get a nice harvest. I look for every bit of loose soil I can find that I can stick something in the ground. Sometimes I don't always get positive encouragement like when my son said "Mommy, why don't you get a real garden?" If he wasn't a child he would have gotten some tough words for sure. I am just a novice even though I work for the Department of Agriculture. I am not formally trained in farming but I have sat in on some workshops.

I love the concept of growing food because it is raw science and our only means of survival. I have been able to secure my own chive, parsley, sweet thyme and now small leaf thyme. If the tomatoes, butternut squash and other little crops survive, then I should definitely be eating healthier. It is also a joy to share this with my children as they are doing science and it surely helps them.

I am looking forward to share pictures in the near future once the cows don't get out and get rutless and make a mess.

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