Does This Count as Farming?

I've debated back and forth about keeping this blog since I'm so inconsistent with it. But recently, I've realized that I need a place to talk about stuff that is not related to work. And I know family in Ohio has said multiple times that they would like to finally see pics of our house. So...without further adieu, we are starting in my favorite place - the garden :)

 Does this count as farming? I surely think it should. I mean, come on people, farming is in my blood! 

My little 3x7 plot us using the 'Square Foot Gardening' method. I decided to plant cucumbers, tomatoes (cherry and "Better Boy" varieties), green and red peppers, peas, baby watermelon, summer squash, bush beans (pole beans would have been better with SFG but I missed the planting season) and baby pumpkins. I also planted green onions but those didn't grow. So I stuck the remnants of store bought green onions in the ground and those re-grew! 

Being a first-year Texas gardener definitely has a steep learning curve. Here are some of the things I've learned, many the hard way.

1. You can start planting in, like, January. And no, I'm not exaggerating
2. If you don't plant by the beginning of March, you've missed a large part of the planting season, but it's okay because you get a 2nd chance in September for 'cool weather' veggies like carrots, onions, etc.
3. I am zone 9a. It took forever for me to figure this out and I am posting it here for memory. The greater Houston area can be zones 8a or 8b or 9a or 9b...geesh.
4. It doesn't get cold enough to kill most bugs during our 'winter,' and this is not a good part of the subtropical climate deal.
5. Buy the Disease Resistant seed varieties if at all possible. My peas were struck with powdery mildew and I doubt they will make more than one crop.
6. Grubs are from the devil. Seriously. I found out this morning that the reason my squash and pumpkins are dying is they have been eating the stems from the inside out. See here. Michael and I spent a 1/2 hour slicing these buggers out of the stem with a knife and squishing them. We still aren't sure if it's too late to save the plants, but at least I can replant still if I have to.

I know this will largely be a learning experience, but it has been really cool to see how only God can provide for the seeds and plants to grow and bear fruit, and we are hoping to have some veggies to share with our friends within a few weeks time!

Kitchen Paint Colors

So Michael and I have been kicking around ideas about painting the living room for awhile and are looking for some input! Our cabinets are in pretty good condition but are 50+ years old and replacing them is not an option, so we thought maybe painting them would be a nice face lift. Also, the flooring, counters and appliances are new and we need to work with these colors. We are looking for feedback on what colors to go with, so please pick your favorite and leave a comment! <3 Danielle

Our Kitchen Now

 Crisp Linen Cabinets, Hearts of Palm Walls

 Crisp Linen Cabinets, Zeus Walls

Greek Villa Cabinets, Hearts of Palm Walls

Zeus (Grey) Cabinets, Hearts of Palm Walls

Urban Bronze Lower Cabinets, Greek Villa Upper Cabinets, Hearts of Palm Walls

Rethinking Genesis One

Genesis 1 often causes so many biological & theological debates, but God has such a greater purpose for this text than simply stating a written order of creation. What does any good author do at the beginning of a book? They must establish the characters and their motives of course! The Bible, being the inspired word of God, is no different. There is a basic framework to the creation story; repetitive phrases that revel a great deal about God and His character. Here is a quick look at what we learn about God's character in Genesis 1 from a few repetitive phrases.

• "God said" - God spoke everything into being. Before anything is created, God speaks it.
• "And it was so" - God has all authority. Everything He spoke came into existence.
• "God saw that it was good" - God didn't make mistakes. He delights in what he created. He worships and glorifies himself.
• "God separated" - God creates order. The Earth, sun, moon and stars all have their place.
• "according to their kinds" - God continues to make order. Things are made according to their kind, seeds to seeds, fruit to fruit, sea creatures to sea creatures, birds to birds, livestock to livestock, ground crawlers to ground crawlers. And now here is the beauty of this phrase "according to their kinds." When it comes to the creation of man, God says, "let us make man according to Our likeness." God has used the creation of creatures according to their kinds to reveal that we are set aside as something different. You and I were made in the very image of God. This is a beautiful truth.
• "God blessed them" - God commands and blesses the birds and sea creatures to multiply, and man to be fruitful, multiply, fill the Earth, subdue it and rule over it.
• "I have given you" - God is so giving. He gave all of the seed bearing and green plants for food to everything having the breath of life in it. Every seed bearing plant. Later in Genesis 2, we see that this is every seed bearing plant expect that of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This shows God's character and men's shame in such a stark light. God's commands are not burdensome. He gives in abundance, and we still want the one thing that He said no to. The Good News today, is that we have a Savior that knows our shame and sin, and has given His all so that we can know Him. Thank you Lord!