ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY EIGHT.

I don't think that I need to introduce this smiling young man above. But I will tell you that he is my son, the best son that I have. He dont seem to care much about fishing but he said" somebody has to do it." Someone said that when the fish hear Jim's name mentioned that they tremble. You will remember that he is the one who writes Tennessee Granddaddy six days each week. If you have not been reading it you should look at it if you need to smile. DAD.

.

Good Morning
.
.

Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009
.
The link above will take you to the final entry for the 2009 tomato crop. Please use the speed show when viewing. I hope that you have enjoyed watching the tomatoes grow from a small plant until you can see a small basket of tomatoes in the last picture. The first entry was on April 24th and the final one July 14th. 2009 Thanks for watching this. DAD.

.

We have been having a lot of rain. Since midnight 1:39 inche have fell and it is still falling gently here in the Tennessee Valley. Here is what AOL says is going to happen today.

.

Today
Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 84F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph

.

.http://www.power4home.com/index.php?hop=ttinc1

.

This link above looked interesting to me. I have not had time to look at it yet but I am going to do that. and I want my great grand daughter Mandy who writes It Ain't Easy Bein' Green to be sure and read it. Dad.

.

Posted on 15 July 2009 by tomatocasual.com

.
Reader Questions: Tomatoes Shriveling, Yellow Leaves
Tags: iron, shriveling, yellow leaves

.
By Vanessa Richins

.
Wendy:

..
“The top of my tomato plants are shriveling up, but the new growth seems to be a little healthier.Should I cut the tops off so the bottoms get the nutrients?”

.
Hi Wendy.

How old are your plants? Are they determinate or indeterminate?
I’d want to figure out what is going on with your plant first. Are the leaves turning any color or just shriveling up?
Where is the new growth? Has it been raining a lot? Do you see any signs of insects?
The problem with removing the tops is that this would Read the rest of this entry »
Related Posts

.
Reader Questions: Problems With Yellow Leaves on Tomatoes
Reader Questions: Plants Growing Upward, Watering Tomatoes
Reader Questions: Wilting Buds and Watering Containers
.

I sure do understand what Wendy is saying, because I am having the same problem. But we are going to get help. DAD.

.

I should have mentioned that the tea and coffee has been ready a long time and I forgot to tell you. Sit down right here and I will make you smile. Dad

.

State Flowers

.

This link to the state flowers is so beautiful. Do you know what your state flowers is with out looking ? Now be honest with me. Click and see and thank My good friend Boyd for sending this. DAD.
.
If you want to see two beautiful Shelties in training today be real sure and go by and see Sara, you will find her at Sara's Dog Training . Watching her has made me want another Sheltie. DAD.

.

These links below are my most important Albums & Cams.

.
.Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2008..
.Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009.
.DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 1 Side view of garden.
.DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 2 View of lighted bird bath.

.

I am going to stop before you throw me out, I know that you have a hard day ahead of you and you need to get going. But please don't worry. We are all going to make it a good day, we can do it. You already know the things that Dad tells you to do. I hope to be able to be here in the morning. I will be thinking about you today.

.

BYE BYE DAD

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY SEVEN.

When I see a basket of tomatoes that look like these I cannot keep from SMILING . I hope that Jim feels the same way because this is the very basket that we are taking him and Beverly Friday night. You will remember that they both came down here in April and helped us set out the 45 plants that you can still see on my Cam # 2. DAD.

Good Morning.
.

Thoughts from a friend.
.
"One day I was going to the airport in Madras, and the road was full of trucks and buses, a real traffic jam. I was afraid I would miss the plane. We got there just in time, and I got into the plane. We took off, and I was now looking down on that road that we had struggled through. Like walking up on top of the hill here and looking down, and all those buses looked like little toys. I felt I could reach down and wipe them all off the road, and that is how things look from where God sees them.

.

Some times we face problems that we feel that we cannot go on any more, and God would like us to stop for a while and come up to where he is and to see things as he sees them. If there is something hindering you he could take it out of the road in a minute. So, you just keep that vision clear. "
.

State Flowers

.

This link to the state flowers is so beautiful. Do you know what your state flowers is with out looking ? Now be honest with me. Click and see and thank My good friend Boyd for sending this. DAD.

.

If you want to see two beautiful Shelties in training today be real sure and go by and see Sara, you will find her at Sara's Dog Training . Watching her has made me want another Sheltie. DAD.
.
THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND.
.
There are days so dark that I seek in vain
For the face of my friend Divine -
But tho' darkness hide, He is there to guide
By the touch of His hand on mine.

There are times when tired of the toilsome road
That for ways of the world I pine -
But He draws me back to the upward track
By the touch of His hand on mine.

When the way is dim and I cannot see
Through the mist of His wise design -
How my glad heart yearns and my faith returns
By the touch of His hand on mine.

In the last sad hour as I stand alone
When the powers of death combine -
While the dark waves roll He will guide my soul
By the touch of His hand on mine.

There is grace and power in the trying hour
By the touch of His hand on mine.

I do not know who wrote the poem above, but want to give credit to whoever did. Dad.

My door bell rang Monday afternoon, it woke me up from a short nap. The UPS driver handed me a box and I want you to see what I had received. Let me tell you who sent this to me. I have a good friend Vicki that lives in Birmingham, and she is the one, Vicki has been our friend for several years, and she reads my blog, and she loves home grown tomato sandwiches. If you are wondering what the Gold Finch is setting on, it is tomato soap. Thanks so much Vicki
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Above is a photo of two of Jamaka's adorable cats. I am glad that we have Jamaka as our friend. Thanks for sharing, Jamaka~

.

Here is my thought for this day.

" That the aged men be sober, grave ,temperate , sound in faith , in charity , in patience."

.Taken from Titus chapter 2 and verse 2.

.

Here is what AOL says about the weather for us today.

Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%

.

These links below are my most important Albums & Cams.

.Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2008..

.Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009.

.DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 1 Side view of garden.

.DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 2 View of lighted bird bath.

And I hope that you do not forget the side panel for other interesting things.

..© 2009 Dad's Tomato Garden Journal all rights reserved.

. I must bring this to an end. I hope to be back in the morning. I know that you are going to have a happy day. Sending my love to all of you all around this world. Smile today.

.BYE BYE DAD

My email is white6416r@aol.com.

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY SIX

Good Morning.
.
.
LEARN BIRD SONGS.
.
Here above is a link that all you bird watchers will enjoy. You can see your state bird, and see other birds and enjoy their song. I have enjoyed this very much. I used this a few days ago, And I just wanted to remimd you of it once again. DAD...
.
Posted on 11 July 2009 by tomatocasual.com
Reader Questions: Too Much Rain for Tomatoes
.
By Vanessa Richins
.
Terri asks:
.
“I live in NJ, we’ve had too much rain; a few of my tomato plants are not doing well.
Is the rain the prob? Leaves are drooping, appreciate response.”
Hello Terri. It is probably true that too much rain is hurting your tomatoes.
It’s a strange thought isn’t it - when you think of wilting leaves, you would think it was due to lack of water. However, overwatering can also produce wilting leaves.
It’s especially problematic if you have a clay soil. In the different soil types, a key characteristic is the size of the soil particles. Clay soil has the smallest particles, so they are very close together and don’t drain water well.
.
Roots work in the soil to take up nutrients and grow. However, since they’re underground, they use a different energy process that requires oxygen, instead of photosynthesis. When the soil has too much water, the plants aren’t able to access the oxygen and start to die.
As MSUCARES notes, “Sometimes tomato plants can recover from saturated conditions should soils dry out quickly, but roots are usually damaged so severely that investing in a new plant is the best way to go. Besides, even if the roots were to survive they would be susceptible to a number of soil borne diseases such as Pythium and Phytophthora root rot.”
It depends on just how long it’s been raining and how hard it was. You could perhaps wait a bit to see how they recover (hopefully). It might be easier, however, to just pull them out so that the root rots don’t set in.
I hope they still have a chance. Good luck!
.
Share Your Tomato Questions
Tomato Casual Answers Reader’s Question: What’s Up With My Tomato Juice?
Random Autumn Tomato Sightings in Portland, Oregon
.
.
In the last few days I have not been able to see the eaglets very often when I go up to the Eagle Web Cam . I found this link below that I thought was interesting. It tells about the sick eagle that we saw last year, read it and see how it is doing. DAD.
.

Last Season's Eaglet
The 2008 eaglet was removed from the nest in May to be treated for avian pox. He is currently thriving at the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro. Click for updates.
.
Here are a few wonderful receips, useing your crock pot. What could be easier than that, Even Dad can do some of these, and I am going to try. Click on link below.
,
http://www.campbellkitchen.com/mealideas.aspx?rc=897.
.

"Lord, please let me be half the person that my dog believes I am".
.
This saying above is for my friend Sara who I am sure that you know operates the Sara's Dog Training school. I don't miss a day without looking at her blog. If you love Shelties as much as Dad does you will be doing the same.
.
.
These links below are my most important Albums & Cams.
.
Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2008.
.
.Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009.
.
DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 1 Side view of garden.
.
DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 2 View of lighted bird bath.
.
.© 2009 Dad's Tomato Garden Journal all rights reserved.

.
When I first started the blog this morning I did not have one thing in mind to write about. So I just typed in Good Morning and tried to think of something interesting to talk about. So don't be surprised if things look a little strange and all out of place, but I think that you know not to expect very much out of this old 96 year man. DAD.
.
Here is my thought for this Tuesday morning.
.
" Charity never faileth-."
.
This is the first part of verse 8 chapter 13 of 1st Corinthans.
.
I am going to stop right here. The tea & coffee is ready so be sure and don't leave untill I have filled your cup. This Starbucks coffee is good and strong this morning, and that is the way that I like it. I am going to try and see all of you in the morning.
.
Do your best to make this a good day. Smiling will be one way and another is to be kind to everyone that you are with today. Try it out for yourself and see if I am right.
.
Here is my email white6416r@aol.com and my cel phone # 865-850-5763
.
BYE BYE DAD
.
.

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY FIVE.

Good Morning.
.
Mary and I did make the visit to Laura's Llama farm on Saturday. As you can see I made a few new friends up there.

.

This Llama was so friendly( I am sorry I forget his name.) they love raw carrots and Laura let me feed them. I have a picture of it that I will show you later.
.
This Llama above is one of the Llamas that will make your hike a pleasure. All you have to do is walk along and enjoy the beautiful views. I am going to slip in a link right here that will let you find out more--

http://www.hikinginthesmokies.com/policies.htm
.
(when this page comes up you will see a list on the left side, The first one is Home, click on that and you will see Laura and Lucy picture.)
.
Lara and Lucy will be glad to talk to you, and they will treat you nice. If they don't you just let Dad know.
.
I haven't begun to tell you enough about our pleasant visit with Laura and all those llamas. We had a wonderful time. Laura and David had a cook-out, and we sure did enjoy our time with them and others there. They had a wonderful meal-hamburgers and chicken cooked on the outdoor grill; potato salad, pasta salad, fresh green beans, home grown tomatoes, watermelon, many other delicious dishes and many desserts -including cookies, cakes, and brownies. Most of all we enjoyed being with our friends and we appreciate Laura and David for inviting us.
.
Dad's Views and Tomato News .
.
I need to explain the link above, it is a link that I use for interesting things that come in that may be to long for my regular blog, and I may want to show them that day. You may find some interesting things here. This link will always be in the side panel.DAD.
.

The tomatoes are beginning to ripen and it makes me think that all the work that we have done this spring and Sumner was worthwhile. Smile. DAD.
.
.This link below will bring a little joy to your heart, it will cause you to appreciate your good neighbor.
.
http://members.iglou.com/riplou/MyNeighborsRoses.htm.
.
We have not been to Sara's Dog Training in a few days, so we must go there today. Sara we enjoy watching you train your Shelties, and we admire you very much. I wish that I lived close enough come to see you at work. DAD.
.
This would be a good time to check the two tomato growing seasons, 2008 and 2009. Let me know which one you think is the best. Here below are the two links to view them. Be sure and use the slide show. DAD.
.
Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2008
..Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009
.
DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 1 Side view of garden.

...
DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 2 View of lighted bird bath.
.
Here below is my thought for this Monday morning.
.
"Time is so precious-do not waste it."
.
I feel like that I waste so much of my time thinking about old Dad, and not thinking of others.

.

We did have a little much needed rain last night, and maybe a little more this morning. here is what AOL says about our hopes for today. The tempeature is 69 at 4 a.m.

.
Showers and a possible thunderstorm during the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 86F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

.

This is enough for today. I hope to see you again in the early morning, and I will have a good hot cup of tea or coffee waiting on you. I won't promise a smile right now, but I will do the best I can. I hope that your day will be a good one, and that we all can be content and happy with the place that God has given us. And just be thankful for another day of life that we have been given.

..

My Cel-phone # is 865-850-5763. My email is white6416r@aol.com.

BYE BYE DAD.

.© 2009 Dad's Tomato Garden Journal all rights reserved.

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY FIVE

Good Morning.
.
.
Time is so precious-do not waste it.
.
I do not write a blog on Sunday,we try to always be in our Sunday morning meeting, seeking to learn better how to spend the rest of our lives. Best wishes to all of you, and we hope that your weekend goes well.I hope to see you on Monday morning. Our Love goes out to all. Dad & Mary.

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY FOUR.

Good Morning,
.
Time is so precious-do not waste it..

LEARN BIRD SONGS
.
Here above is a link that all you bird watchers will enjoy. You can see your state bird, and see other birds and enjoy their song. I have enjoyed this very much. DAD.
.
It may be a little to late in the tomato growing season for this link below to be of much use . But we can save and remember it for the next season. It has been a lot of help to me in the past and I will be looking at it more. DAD.
.
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/Diseases/tomaprob.htm
.
.Here is a link below that will take you up to see Laura and Lucy, I am sure that you remember them. They are the ones that can take you on one of those care free hikes. I wish that I could go on one of them but my hiking days are over, when you are 96 you need to stay close to home a place where you can get one of those naps.

But Mary and I are going to do the next best thing this afternoon, we are going to visit the Llama farm. Now you be sure and click on this link below and find out a lot about hiking that I do not know. DAD.
.
http://www.hikinginthesmokies.com/index.html.
.
Here is something interesting that my friend Helen sent to me. It was a little long to get in my regular blog so you can view it here, It brought tears to my eyes and I am sure that it will do the same for you. Dad. The link is right below.
.
Dad's Views and Tomato News .
.
We have not been to Sara's Dog Training in a few days, so we must go there today. Sara we enjoy watching you train your Shelties, and we admire you very much. I wish that I lived close enough come.to see you at work. DAD.
.
I am useing the AOL weather report, I like it better than what I was useing, Here it is for us here in the Tennessee valley.
.

Today for 7/11/09
Sun and clouds mixed. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph
.
This is of course is Saturday morning, I know that the most of you get a chance to sleep late, so I do not say very much about tea or coffee. I just have it ready and you can stop in any time today and help youtself. I will be glad to see you.
.
I am going to stop right here, but I hope to be back early Monday morning if all is well. I hope that you all have a nice, quiet, and peaceful week end. Mary and I always have just about the same plans for our week ends.
.
Oh I forgot to mention my two outside cams and my two tomato garden albums. Links are in the side panel, I hope that you can view them.

.
BYE BYE DAD.
.
white6416r@aol.com.

© 2009 Dad's Tomato Garden Journal all rights reserved.

ENTRY # SEVENTEEN HUNDRED & EIGHTY THREE

Good Morning.
.

Time is so precious-do not waste it..

.

Picture taken in Dad's Tomato Garden, June 9, 2009 .

.

This would be a good time to check the two tomato growing seasons, 2008 and 2009. Let me know which one you think is the best. Here below are the two links to view them. Be sure and use the slide show. DAD.

.

Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2008

..
Dad's Tomato Garden Photo Album-2009

.

Embracing Imperfection
.

When I was a little girl, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular, when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned toast in front of my Dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my Dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my Mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: Baby, I love burned toast.
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, Your Momma put in a hard day at work today, and she's real tired. And besides - and a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!
You know, life is full of imperfect things......imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

.
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

.
We'll be friends until we are old and senile.
Then we'll be new friends!

.

Would you like to take a hike in the Smokies, let Laura and Lucy tell you how. Click on link below.

.

http://www.hikinginthesmokies.com/policies.htm

.
http://dadstomatonews.blogspot.com/
.
This link above will take you to something that Helen sent me that was to large to fit in my for blog today. Thanks for this Helen it is good.I did want to show it today. Dad..
.

"I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on. "
.

OUR FRIEND'S COMMENTS:

. I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors.
It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it
cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not
as expensive to use as the can of Bug-spray you buy that doesn't last 30 minutes.
So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood
door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window
frames, and even inside the dog house. .
.

Why don't we drink our tea or coffee while we look at the weather. Both are ready and here first is the weather by AOL.

Today it will be
Mostly sunny skies. High 87F. Winds light and variable.

Now you sit down over there in that easy chair and I will pour you whatever you want and i might smile for you. I do feel a lot better this morning. DAD.

.

DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 1 ( Side view of garden.)

..
DAD'S OUTDOOR WEB CAM # 2 ( View of lighted bird bath).

.

This is all that I have this morning, and my coffee cup is empty and I am tired before I even get to the real work. But I am going to make it, I feel so much better than I did yesterday. Now I hope that all of us will start this new day with peace and contentment in our hearts. Count your blessings and you will be surprised . I wan't to be back in the morning if God gives me another day of life. Love to all of you from old DAD. Smile for me.

.

BYE BYE DAD.

wmailto:white6416r@aol.com..

865-850-6763 ... Cell phone .

.© 2009 Dad's Tomato Garden Journal all rights .reserved.