Mothers are Forever

This summer Grandma G. and Grandma H. passed away.  These two wonderful ladies were such a big part of our lives.  We have all felt such a heavy loss to our families.  Before I can continue to post I must share some of our words about our mothers.  Below are the talks Lynne and I gave at our mothers funerals. 

  

LaRae Hawkins passed away on June 26, 2011

 Lynne's talk at her mothers funeral

“What Can I do to Help”    

 Six little words that my mom would always say. When ever mom would come over, the first thing she would say would be “What can I do to help?”  This is how my mom lived her life, not only did she always ask us how she could help, she showed us to help others in her actions.  I Want to share some of those moments that have influenced my life.  In my talk I will refer to her as mom and grandma--she magnified both of these callings with such great honor!

When I think of my Mom, I think of a loving and accepting woman who wanted to make people happy.

I have always thought of my mother as larger than life, super hero, indestructible.  As a child I watched my Mom spend her free time making crafts. I would often find her making candles o

ut my crayons, decorating cakes and giving me graham crackers covered with frosting, or drying flowers from the sand at the great Salt Lake.

I remember riding my bike to the BYU Marriott Center to spend time with her in the office.  This was my second home.  She always had a bowl of candy at her desk, and more candy hidden in drawers. She had a way with people, her laugh was contagious and friendly and she was so genuine.  She befriended all who dropped by to say Hi. I have always been so proud that I am one of LaRae’s daughters.

When I was 15 years old, I broke my leg very servery and she did everything she could to make me as comfortable as possible.  She moved my up room next to her, bought me a wheel chair, got me a TV in my room with an Atari game machine on it so I could play pong, and even rented a hospital bed for me.  I was in a cast for over 6 months, and she was always there for my every need.  I felt like a princess!

Mom’s job came with quite a few perks.  I remember going to many concerts at the Marriott center, where she would walk me down to the floor and introduce me to many of the artists, or being able to sit on the front rows of most of the concerts and ball games.  Her enthusiasm was contagious and as a result We were all huge fans of the BYU, and we got to go on quite a few trips with the teams.  My two favorite vacations were the Holiday Bowl trips and our trip to Hawaii with the basketball team.

I was also fortunate to work with her in the ticket office for a short period of time.   I was able to watch her first hand, work her magic.  It was so much more that just a job to her--she truly cared about everyone she served :  athletes, the coaches, the customers even the refs.  She wanted everyone to be happy and enjoy their experience and she would do everything she could to help.

Once again, her moto:  “what can I do to help?”

I think my mom loved working with the athletes the most.  In fact, I fondly remember as a teenager, she was so close with the many of the basketball players, that we would have at least 4 to 5 really tall young men over every Sunday for dinner.  Boy could they eat a lot of tacos and BBQ hamburgers.

Some of you do not know where she got the fascination with rubber ducks.  A few years before she retired, my mom got a cute rubber duck with three little ducks as a set.  She really liked this little set because she said that it reminded her of us three girls.  Well she started putting them in different places throughout the house, and every time I would come by, they would be either in the bedroom, or kitchen, or even outside to get some fresh air...some where new every day.  Well one day my daughter and I thought that we would play a little joke on her, so we kidnapped her little toy ducks and left the first of many ransom notes demanding a silly ransom, if she ever wanted to see her little duckies again she would have to pay up.  Every day we would leave notes, clues and pictures indicating the where abouts of her little ducks.  Quickly LaRae was on a mission to save her little ducks.  She was investigating everyone at work, and all family members and friends trying to find out who was holding her little ducks hostage. Her little ducks went on quite an adventure...almost being run over, hanging of bridges, almost be turned into duck-la-range... After a week or two, we had her go on a scavenger hunt all throughout Orem and Provo until she meet all the requirements  to have her little ducks safely returned.  The final ransom was 100 nickles, no more no less. She always enjoyed mystery and problem solving and she was true detective on this case.  So this  was the beginning of a Duck collection that continued for many years to come.

My Mom was always willing to try anything we were doing.  Early in our marriage, Rich wanted to go fishing and wanted to go worm hunting in her yard, mom jumped right in and said she knew just how to catch worms! She told us that you had to be really quiet and use a red flashlight or you could not catch them.  She was in charge of the light and Rich was on the ground ready to grab the big worms.  Rich knelt down on what he thought was a rock to snatch a large earthworm.  After he caught it, Mom finally cried out in some pain telling him that he was kneeling on her toe.....not a rock.  He broke mom's toe that night and her toe has been crooked ever since that worm hunting adventure.

When ever we were sick or ran out of groceries..... she showed up with bags of food or Kentucky Fried chicken... Out of no where Mom would show up with a hug, smile or something to brighten your day. Her example of compassionate service is paid forward to our children as we follow grandma Hawkins’ example. 

We loved going to the nursery with grandma.  She loved having beautiful baskets all over her yard, and in her later years she enjoyed our daylilies in her garden.  When she came over during the summer months she would go off on little walks with Rich around the yard looking at all the new and different lilies and asking all kinds of questions.  I think Rich reminded her of her Dad, a farmer. a photographer, and teacher.  

Mom was a naturalist at heart....she loved plants and animals.

She loved spending time at the Cabin sharing experiences with family and guests.  We spent hours watching the humming birds jostle for position around her many feeders surrounding the cabin. No one could attract as many hummers as mom.  This is the reason I have such a fascination for humming birds.

When the kids were young we all went to the cabin as a family. We had wonderful conversations on the porch, cooking over the outside griddle or just going for long walks. We spend hours walking and looking at the flowers.   

Grandma supported her grandkid’s in many ways.  We enjoyed having her come to Heather, Rachel and Angie’s volleyball games and Richie’s soccer games.  She might not have been able to keep track of where Richie was running around on the field but she was one of his biggest fans.

I few years ago, Angie and Rachel were playing Volleyball in Reno, Nevada and she and I decided to just take off on a road trip with Jessica.  It was spontaneous and fun to just get away, we laughed so much and just got to relax with her.  She did have to pull a few slots while in Reno.  I don’t think she ever lost money when she played the slots.  She had a touch that I definitely don’t!  She loved watching all my girls play volleyball!

One summer, Richie had a soccer tournament in Southern Calif.  Grandma , Kim, Greg and the kids joined us on the Journey.   We had many wonderful conversations as we drove through the hot desolate desert.  Family, faith, adventure, plants and animals were at the top of her conversation list.  We look back on this trip fondly.  Grandma even came deep sea fishing with us.  She definitely had a sense of adventure.

Mom had our back.... she was one of my biggest supporters and she helped give us confidence so that we could be successful.  She always wanted us each to know that we were loved and thought of.  She is a very big part of all our families success.  

The quick little phone calls:  “ just thinking about you” or “is there any thing I can do to help you?

* *what made grandma happy was having her family around her.  

**I feel that the best memory and gift that we could all give my mother would be to pay if forward.  At home, in the workplace and everywhere in-between.  Do what ever we can to make others happy.  Be there for our children the way she has always been there for us.  Make this world a happier, friendlier, brighter place to be.

~ What can we do to help? ~

I Love you Mom, and I miss you,  Thank you being such a wonderful example to me.

Luanne Glassford passed away on July 9, 2011

Rich's talk at his mothers funeral 

My earliest memories of my mother are from about the age of 4........ she was rocking me in her chair as she was preparing me for a nap or bed time.  I remember feeling loved, and safe.  A gentle touch and soft melody was comforting to me, and the many children blessed enough to have this experience.   Very early in life I knew my mother was on my side.  Not only did she provide for me physically and mentally, but spiritually as well.  I never once questioned her faith and her firm belief in the Gospel of Christ.  She backed up her words with action.  Throughout all my life she encouraged me to actively live the gospel.  She motivated me to do good with not only her words.....but facial expressions, tone of voice, and most importantly her actions.  I wanted to be good because of her goodness. I never wanted to let her down.

She was my friend and continually taught me about the wonders of life.  She is the sole reason I love creepy crawly things.  As a young impressionable kid she helped me catch spiders and bugs and place them in jars.... we put them in the window seal of my room.  We watched them feed, grow and interact.  She was not afraid to get dirty or chase down a little bug for her son.  As a young boy I wanted all kinds of animals.... Mom helped me get chickens, pigeons, turkeys, ducks, dogs, rabbits, rats, hamsters, Camen (allogator-like), turtles etc...... She cultivated my interested in living things.  Thank you Mom for sharing with me God’s handy work.

Grandma would have us out in the garden at a very early age.  We did more harm then good but she recognized the value of  teaching cooperation and hard work.  She taught us how to plant, weed and harvest the crops.  I have continued to follow in her foot steps and have had a garden ever sense.  At least once a day I will talk to Mom about how the garden is doing.  During the winter we had conversations over the phone  about what seeds we are going to buy and new garden strategies for the following year.  I will greatly miss coming in from the garden and showing her a mutant tomato or telling her what treatment we gave her squash and pumpkin plants.  Since her passing I have wanted to share garden experiences with her.  In my heart I will continue to do this my entire life.  I hope to pass her love of plants to my children.  It is part of my heritage that seems as much spiritual as it is a physical..... even more so now.

Grandma loved our daylilies.  For a few years we competed in the Utah Daylily Show and Mom always came to support me.  She fondly talked about these daylily competitions many times. Grandpa and I will be introducing a line of daylillies in her name soon. She always made me feel good about myself.  Even if I did not do as good as I expected.  

Last summer we had a hugely successful garden. Grandma and Grandpa were active participants in the entire process. From planting seeds to harvesting and canning our crops, she has not afraid of doing the hard and dirty work.  We have great memories gathering and cooking the abundant fruits and vegetables. Last year we preserved a lot of the harvest and grandma taught us how to make spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, salsa, peach and plum jam, apple sauce, peach and apple pie filling. Every step of the way Grandma was there teaching and helping.  I would get home from school and Grandma and Grandpa would have the fruits and vegetables picked and ready for processing.  She had a passion and loved to share her knowledge with all of us.

Family get togethers were very important to Grandma.  Just a few weeks ago she taught Rachel and I how to cut a whole chicken and prepare it for the family barbecue.  We could never have enough family get togethers for grandma.  We have had many friendly cooking competitions among family members.  One I will always remember was called the fall festival.  Grandma made awesome chili and a wonderful dessert and was so happy to have everyone over.   After our meals, mom loved playing games.  It did not matter what the game was as long as we were together.  As a kid my favorite family game with grandma was blinds man bluff.

Grandpa and I have gone on many early morning fishing trips.  Grandma would wake us up…. Fix breakfast…. Pack us a lunch…..wish us luck….. tell me grandpa is going to catch the biggest fish….. give us a kiss good bye….. stand on the porch and send us off with a wave.  When we arrived home she would help us clean the fish. She masterfully cooked the fish and serve them with her famous cubed fried potatoes.

When my wife and I moved to Lindon we had four children.  We talked about having one more child but worried about how that would affect Lynne.  Pregnancy was getting difficult for her and the doctors did not recommend her having anymore children.  If we were to get pregnant with our 5th child, Lynne would be essentially bed ridden during the pregnancy.  I talked with my Mom and Dad and they agreed to come up from San Diego and take care of Lynne and the rest of the family while Lynne was assembling little Richie’s physical body. Grandma did everything for us: cooked, cleaned, fixed boo boos, counseled and broke up arguments…..she is the peace maker.  She never complained once.  We could not have had Richie without Grandma. Grandma has blessed my family in so many ways, and has taught us what it truly means to give of yourself.

Having Mom and Dad live with us has blessed me with some very tender moments that I will never forget.  Before falling asleep at night grandma and grandpa would take each other’s hands and verbalize their love for one another.

Our entire family is forever thankful to Grandma for her tireless service. May we all follow her example and have our actions speak louder than words.  This is not the end..... just a new beginning..... I love you Mom

Oliver Called Grandpa G

Soon after Oliver was born, He got to talk with Grandpa Glassford. As Grandpa was talking to him over the phone, Oliver started trying to grab the phone and making cute little baby noises. I am so glad that Rich got to at least hear this darling little boy's voice.


The Blaser Family are all doing well!

Oliver Eric Blaser Is Here!

Wow! One more little miracle is here.
Time 9:08 am on June 27,2011 Little Oliver arrived happy and healthy.


Baby Oliver is here, safe and sound...
Happy Birthday Oliver and Chad!


He weighs 8 lbs 4 oz.
He is 20 inches long, and has 10 toes and fingers!
His head is 15 inches diameter. Normal heads are only 10 inches. Big headed baby!

Just a little bit of hair (more like fuzz), but if he is any thing like his Dad, he will have a full head of hair and beard in no time at all!

He does have good lungs and knows that if he cries, Dad and Mom will come running.

Mom is doing very well and felt no pain! She is trying to be patient with the nurses, but she wants to hold her baby but the nurses want to take care of her first.


Once she was able to hold her sweet little gift, the Doctor came back in and played the guitar and sang to the happy new family. This is a new tradition, really made it a special, relaxing time with mother and child.

Congratulations Angie and Chad, We love you!

Angie is Headed to the Operating Room

The baby is coming!!!

Chad and Angie got to the hospital at 5:45. Got all hooked up and ready for the arrival of baby Oliver when set back #1 came. Other patients needing emergency C-sections. They got put on hold. They starting prepping them again when set back #2 came, The Doctor's assistant was unable to make it to the hospital--possibly delaying surgery til they could find new assistant--lunch time or after hours. Luckily the Doctor found another Doctor leaving for the day and she offered to assist in the operation...

They quickly finished prepped her,

Got Chad dressed...

and off they went to the operating room.

Heather and I are now along in her room, with an empty bed....waiting to meet our newest family member!

First Fishing Trip

We headed to Strawberry Lake to experience our first fishing trip. We planned ahead and checked with the weatherman, but he was wrong... go figure. It was FREEZING! The fish bit a little bit, but I am sad to say, we didn't bring any fish home to eat.

Mom was Derek's best buddy on this trip, she entertained him with Cheetos and donuts. (Not the healthiest but very effective)


Jacob is a little camera shy... so when he finally looked at me, his facial expression was sure interesting!


Jacob kept his pole very tight and had the pole at a good angle!


Grandma and Grandpa tried to stay warm with blankets.



Daddy still has a great cast!!!


The fishing trip was lots of fun, I cant wait until it gets warmer and we might actually catch a fish!!

Summer Begins...

We made it through another year of school! Rich did an amazing job teaching the kids, the students did an amazing job learning, and I just kept on cooking in the kitchen.
All in all, it was all good.
Now is time for summer. We are knee deep in preparing the gardens and planting all our vegetables for this year. We have a good head start on our tomatoes with the green house. Our peas, onions, Brussel sprouts and beets are coming along well, and are looking forward to some fresh vegetables soon. We just planted our beans, cucumbers and peppers.
Now it is time to weed, and water...
The boys are having fun with their pumpkins and gourds. We will be posting images soon so you can see their great growth!
We hope you are all enjoying the first taste of summer as well.

Happy Easter

We are still hiding the kids Easter Baskets. Ever since they were little, we would hide their basket and they would have to search the house (or outside) to find their treats. Before the rooster cock- a - doodle do's, little Easter feet scurried around the house searching for treats. If they could not find their baskets.....no candy. The kids really looked forward to this Easter tradition. Each year they always say "Daddy, next year hide it hard, don't hide it so easy!!", but when they can not find it the must resort to the "hot or cold" technique. This can be a humiliating part of the hunt... as a parent I enjoy watching the Hot or Cold.

About 5 minutes later, Heather actually found her basket...I guess you can imagine what her bedroom looked like, since it took her that long inside her little bedroom to find her basket!

Luckily, all baskets were eventually found, and Rich and I were actually surprised by the kids with our own Easter baskets hidden.

Later that day we had Jessica and Dan's family, and Kim and Greg's family over for dinner and an Easter Candy hunt. We did have one little alteration to our afternoon Easter hunt. There was a little resistance but after a little persuasion the all bought into it. The new change was for for kids over the age of 3. They had to partner up, one partner was blind folded, the other had to direct but not touch any candy. Oh my goodness, this was the funniest candy hunt I have seen! We had wrestling, running into trees, walls, crawling on the ground, crawling over each other, and even a little cheating by those who could see because they were getting frustrated by their partner.

We had a great Easter with all our family.

Not Enough for Frosty but Still a Pain

This morning we woke up to a few inches of wet heavy snow. It melted around noon but it is still very cold. Occasional breaks in the clouds brought some much needed warmth.  The sun boosts my spirits as I long for warm summer days.

 This gnarly piece of wood was given to me by Grandma and Grandpa.

 This gives you an idea of the cold we experienced this morning.  I think we should get some warmer weather this next week. After Lynne and I returned from shopping Jim and Richie were up in the Orchard working on their pumpkin hills.  

 In the video we are setting up the little mini greenhouses to warm the soil before planting the pumpkins.  It was suggested by the Utah Pumpkin Club to warm your soil for about a week before planting. 

 Richie came up with the lid idea.  He took an old garden hose and used some ties to attach the plastic.  I thought it was a great idea.  I have seen some use wood or PVC pipe. 

 Here is our finished product.  We put a piece of wood on top but will find a rock to place on it in hopes to keep the lid on during wind storms.  There is also a stake driven into the ground on the back side that is attached to the hoop.  I think we will add one more stake for support.  This week we plan on planting our pumpkins and starting the long gourd seeds. 

When Will It Stop

Lately the weather has been a monster.  The wind has opened its jaws wide on my hoop house and delivered multiple smack downs.  Despite its brutal attacks inside the hoop house its warm and humid plants are growing and I have been pollinating tomatoes. So far we have been blessed with hoop house protection.

Garden Update ...Greenhouse

Spring cannot come soon enough for our family.  Snow and cold is just not our cup of tea.  Rich has been growing many different tomatoes and other vegetables I cannot even pronounce. 

  This year Rich wanted to grow some Heirloom varieties.  After a few months of growing baby tomatoes in our front room, he now has some ready to plant in his new hoop house. 

Here is his beloved beet.  As you know, he is the proclaimed President of the Utah Beet Growers Association or commonly called Beet Nation.

Rich has wanted to have a green house for many years now.  We have researched many different options and sizes and decided that we should build what is called a hoop house so he could start planting some of his tomatoes.

As we were working on pruning the fruit trees, Rich looked over and said that we needed to move the boat, and then he just stared at the covering that had been protecting the boat. We decided to use the blue tarp for the boat and use the portable garage for the greenhouse.  He asked me if I thought we could convert that into a green house, then we could cover a good portion of the garden area.  

It will be brilliant, if the wind does not blow it over or rip the plastic.  Only time will tell.



 We went to work with this design, and with a lot of heavy clear plastic, removal of a few of the posts in the frame, roto tilling the ground, and some muscle.  Now we have one huge green house in our back yard! Nice thing is we can take it down in June and turn it back into a shade tent.

Richie brings his little babies into the greenhouse.

 Rich and Richie have spent an amazing amount of time out in their little creation.  We now have approximately 35 tomatoes in the ground and some beets that have leaves bigger than the end of the growing season.


One at a time their Heirloom tomatoes get special treatment.  

 They still have more to plant but this is a good start.

We also have planted onions, peas, radishes, Brussel sprouts, and more beets in the ground.  The new plant of our garden this year is called kohlrabi. It is a weird shaped, cabbage like thing that Rich just thinks look so cool, we have to grow some!

Rich has put a heater inside to keep it warm enough during to cold nights.  This has worked really well thus far.  Last night we had another huge storm with wind gusts that made us think it might just fly away or rip apart!  We woke up to it still in one piece but covered in 6 inches of snow!  This is a lot of work, causes much stress and anxiety, but if this all works out, Rich will have tomatoes, beets....able to eat two months earlier than any other year!

Good job guys! you have worked really hard for this!

Lynne

"I Can't Belive I Did That"

A few days ago I had one of those "I can't believe I did that" moments.  Most of you know for the last couple of years I have been struggling with short term memory loss and cerebral processing speed.  Doctors have given me a couple of medications to help with this in hopes to maintain or improve my situation.  My latest medication is a patch that delivers medicine through the skin.  The drug enters the blood stream and is delivered to the target (brain) without going through the digestive system.  This is important as some of these drugs can tax the liver.  So I have been instructed to put on the patch daily before going to bed. 

Lynne usually puts on what we call my back patch. This medication also helps with hair removal when dislodging the patch.  Lynne finds my previous days patch and violently removes it with a grin on her face.  Needless to say my back is looking kind of patchy.... sorry I should not have given you this image.  Last week Lynne was feeling under the weather so I had to remove and stick on my own patches.   I thought I was doing a good job until I found 4 patches on my body.... Ha!  I could not believe it.  I can't even remember to apply and remove a sticker properly. The other night I was watching a commercial on TV about this medication and after touting the benefits of this "great" drug they stated that death has resulted from patients wearing multiple patches.... oops.   Lynne is feeling better now so I should be getting an appropriate amount of medication.  "I can't believe I did that....."

Catching Cricket

We have a little Pomeranian named Cricket. She is a cute little dog that gets scared easily and is kind of an air head of a dog. Well the other day, I was driving to work, and I noticed this little orange furr ball crossing our main street. I saw Cricket running across this busy street. I quickly made a u-turn and headed back to pick her up. I pulled next to her, opened the passenger door and called her name. She ran to my car, jumped in, barked and jumped back out. I was getting frustrated cause I could not catch her, so I decided to call Heather who was home to tell her where her dog was, and that she was acting scared and wouldn't let me catch her. Heather laughed and said, "Mom, Cricket is in my lap right now and I have just given her a bath... I looked over that the little dog I was trying to catch, and realize that I am trying to kidnap someone else's little Pomeranian! Looking back and laughing, I can't believe that I was able to get it in my car for that short time while it was running all over. So embarrassing!

Beet IT

Well my quest for the giant beet has been an interesting experiment in genetic diversity and optimal environmental conditions.  On both fronts I will continue to look for the best I can provide my team (Grandpa G., Jim, and Richie).  All of the latest botanical psychology has been used to ensure the Beet IT Nation (green and red)  is success this season.  Yesterday was the first day I exposed the beet team to a needed and intense part of their training, REAL light.... straight from the source it self.  Nothing can take the place of direct leaf to sun contact throughout the season.  It is the Beets first experience and as a team and we hope no injuries come from the ever intense competitive nature between these two abiotic and biotic forces of nature. Time will only tell as this epic battle unfolds over the course of the season.  Early participants were ordered from Baker Seeds in Dec. and have been slowly working for this very day.  We still have some participants in embryo that will join the team later this month.  Training will be direct sowing and require no transplants or media shock.  Only another championship will satisfy this group of dedicated botanical athletes.  This newly created sport (yes you read right, a sport because they call bowling, golf and curling a sport why not beet growing) has a budding group of enthusiasts and we are banking on endorsements and T.V. coverage later this fall. Let me introduce you to a few of the real champions and their coaches below. These images were taken during media day 2011.  We have a few big time beets that are still undergoing contact negotiation, they want a better spot in the garden... go figure.

I am on the left and am the Head coach of this crew.  When my beets start giving me flack I have them read my shirt.  

Richie's (bottom right) job is to pump up the crowd and get those beets growing.

Jimmy (top right) brings calmness and zen to the coaching staff.  I am confident in these two coaches and expect big beets.

 Beet Nations Athletic Director Sir Richard I (above) is arriving later this spring to monitor our progress.  He has been called the BEET Whisperer by many who know him.  Opponents tremble while his beet teams reach their true genetic potential.

More to come in a few weeks, until then...grow um big.

Coach Glassford

Happy Valentines

This year I enjoyed a Valentines breakfast and a lemon tree.  Yes you read correctly.  Lynne bought me a lemon tree so she can have zesty fresh lemon bars.  I grew up with a lemon tree in our front yard and remember fresh lemonade and tart desserts. I am a little nervous about keeping the lemon tree healthy and productive. 

 

 Ok see if you can guess who had what meal for Valentines breakfast.  You can choose from the following breakfast diners.  These names are in order from oldest (wisest and most decrepit) to youngest: Papa G.,  Momma G., Jimmy, Rachel, Heather, Richie.  Good luck!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines.... if it was not as good as you planned... better luck next year.

Dwight Kurt Schrute III has nothing on Richard Havloch Glassford II

What do Dwight and I have in common.... the love of BEETS.  Yes I said BEETS.  A portion of my life's attention has been directed towards the development of the largest beet known to man.  I speak of a table beet or what some call beet root, not sugar beets. I will post my success and failures as I chase the elusive world record beet.  Family renowned beet expert Richard Glassford Sr. (my beloved father) is my beet root confidant. Both Grandma and Grandpa G. have been growing quality beet roots.  You can check out Grandpa G's family record on our main blog page.  

 Beet seeds are a compound seed, made of many connected little seeds.  These seeds are some of my Detroit Red line.  I have some large ones still in the ground that I am saving for seed production. We are carefully selecting only the big ones.

  If you look closely you can see how the multiple seeds are clustered together.  It is easy to see in the top seed.

It is no secret that this is the year of the giant beet.  Many of us are working on the perfect culture to maximize our beets genetic potential. We planted some of our beet seeds two weeks ago.  This is one of our seedlings.  Just think... this could be a world champion.... or maybe just dinner. 

 You can see the seed attached to the top of a leaf.  All three seedlings in view came from one seed cluster.  I culled each little peat pot to one plant.  Last night we enjoyed the little culled beet greens on our salad... tasty!

 Did you Know That

* Scientific name is Beta vulgaris

* Native to the Mediterranean

* Leaves thought to been eaten before written history, how did they figure this out?

* French chefs polularies beets in the 1800's

* Beet powder used as a coloring agent in food and clothing

* Many colors of beet root:  red, white green, pink, purple

* Some have beautiful tree ring like patterns in the root... go ahead give a root a cut and check it out.

* Most of the beets grown commercially end up in a can

* Grandma and Grandpa G. prefer beets pickled

* Beets are an important part of the Eastern European diet

* Swiss chard is closely related to beets

 * Beet greens are better for you than beet roots

* Beets are a power food containing anti cancer properties

* One of the only crops you can eat the leaves and roots

* Eat too many beets and you might see your urine or stool (pooh) turn pink or red, beeturia

* People with kidney or gall stones should avoid beets (oxalates)

* There are many modern varieties of beets, Red Ace is the most commonly planted

* Beets can be used to make homemade wine... interesting!

* A cup of beets is about 75 calories

* Ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed beets...they really liked them

* Sugar beets are about 20% sugar and beetroot (table beets the red ones you normally eat) are around 10% sugar

* If you like spinach you should like beet greens

I have been putting my little beet babies under lights for a few hours every night.  During the day they are placed next to a south facing window. The leaves you see are called cotyledons or seed leaves.  Some of them are starting to get their true leaves.

What people say about beets (at least those that are living with us)

Richie "its the way to a woman's heart"

Heather " the bigger they get the nastier they taste"

Lynne "it turns everything pink"

Big Rich " Grandpa is the beet master... he knows them like the back of his hand...grandpa makes the beets happy with lots of water

Jim "baby beet leaves taste great"

Rachel "Daddy gave me . 50 cents to try my first beet... I was bribed" 

If you read this post please let us know what you think of beets. 

As you can tell, by prematurely planting my red beets,  I am slightly excited to start our garden.  We got our second shipment of vegetable seeds this past week.  Here are a few of the new varieties we are growing this year.  I am expecting two more shipments and we are going to buy a few plants from the local nursery. It will be Lynne's goal to keep me out of the local nurseries.  Last year Richie and I would sneak off and go buy some plants.  Spring is a wonderful thing.  If you want a little bit of spring, plant some beets in a pot and stick it next to the window.  You can grow some fabulous greens and maybe have a few beet roots for supper.  

Happy Birthday Derek

This past week we celebrated Derek's first birthday.  He had a great time with his presents and cake.  He is one of the happiest little kids. We have a few images of the party. 

 

 Father and son working as a team to blow out the candle.

 

 Derek chilling, smiling at all his fans. He was the star of the evening.

As he sucks off the sweet frosting I think he bit his little finger.

 

See the little red spot on his finger.  I think it is an owey from an accidental finger bite.  

 

He likes to use this foot.  The little guy his quite creative with his feet.  Maybe we have another soccer player on our hands.   

His first big grab of cake.

 It took him a little to start eating the cake but once he realized it tasted good, he was in it to win it.

 He was a clean cake eater.  Our kids were a serious mess. 

 I don't think Derek has eaten many sweet things but you can see he is not taking the little bite, chew and chew philosophy.

 Yummy...

Lynne and I found an interesting little troll like alien droid like stuffed creature.  It is so strange we had to buy it for Derek (Heather had shown it to Lynne earlier, I think she wanted one too).  Derek was very intrigued by the circular mouth and the carp like action it creates when you squeeze the "things" mid section.

Derek pulling his finger out of the carp-like mouth.  I love the inquisitive look on his face. 

As Jessica squeezes the thorax of the creature it makes the sound of a thousand aliens from galaxies beyond. 

We also got him an orange ball.  The little guy really likes playing with things that roll or bounce.  The ball is like a big super ball it can really bounce.  In this image he is throwing me the ball. 

He loves to play catch. 

Pick a boo!

Happy Birthday Derek.  We look forward to many years of fun with this little guy.