This is the last green bean harvest (February 28, 2023), and the biggest. Thank the Lord for such a big harvest.
Lord willing, hope to plant green beans in the next garden.
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Friday, February 24, 2023
this is the day, this is the day
This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it...
More than a month ago, one of my granddaughters mentioned to me, "Grandpa, I want to try your Crunchy Eggplant recipe with zucchini."
So, I asked the Lord to help me do zucchini right this time. Last year was my first ever attempt at growing zucchini. It looked great, grew to a huge size - all green and health looking. But, didn't get any fruit - not even one.
This time, prayed, and did my homework - found some good info on the internet. God dropped loads of ideas into my head on how to do it right on this second attempt.
Our problem here, on this small island, everywhere you want to plant - rocks, rocks, and then more rocks. Eggplant and Roma tomatoes, no problem, their roots don't go deep. They grow well in the top couple inches of the ground. Zucchini, on the other hand, need a foot or more of good soil to really flourish.
Praise the Lord! The cardboard box, zipties, and stakes, are working. One of my neighbor-friends, broke a good trail into the jungle not far from my house. Found plenty of this black-fluffy soil and put it in the zucchini grow-box. Got some cheap Black Beauty Zucchini seeds, planted 5 in the box, and only kept the first two plants which sprouted.
Exactly one month later, to the day, went out to the garden, right before sunrise, and there's the first zucchini blossom. Really hope my granddaughter likes it.
Just had to sing that song, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, I will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it..."
Hope you enjoyed this blog post. God is so good. Jesus loves you.
If we turn to him with all our hearts, he restores us - anytime, anywhere, in any circumstances.
Monday, February 20, 2023
in the middle of the sea
May God bless the Mariana Islands, protect all our families, guide and give wisdom to our local governments and community leaders in Guam and the CNMI, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Saturday, February 18, 2023
eggplant 5th month harvest
Been growing these Black Beauty eggplants for 5 months, in my home garden here on Rota, in the Mariana Islands. This harvest, today, is the biggest and best yet (thank you, Jesus!).
This harvest is going to my new home church - Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ of the 4th Watch, to share with the brothers and sisters there.
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
my garden on Rota: Feb 2023 update
My Garden on Rota: February 2023 Update
1st Big Green Bean Harvest
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
watermelon patch completed
my garden on Rota: watermelon patch completed
last harvest of the month
Just harvested 28 black beauty eggplants from the garden - the last harvest for this month. That makes a total of about 175-200 harvested for January 2023. Thank the Lord for abundant harvests! These go to the food stamp people, tomorrow (of which i'm one).
Friday, January 27, 2023
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
1st bananas of 2023
The 1st bananas of 2023 appeared on December 30, 2022. The banana plant is too big, and too heavy. In the garden, the winds are at least 15 mph almost all the time. To prevent the banana plant from falling over and losing all the bananas, I cut two pine poles, lashed them together, and used them to support the weight of the bananas.
After five days, three bunches of bananas had already started developing.
After ten days - 8 bunches of bananas.
Without the support of the two pine poles, the banana plant would have fallen over already. The large reddish-green tail thingy, at the bottom of the banana bunches, should be cut off, the sooner the better.
Eight new bunches of bananas will be ready to eat in about one month. These are Manilla Bananas, very similar to Chiquita Bananas, but maybe a little sweeter.
Hope you enjoyed this post, and thank you for visiting my blog site.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
crunchy eggplant
Thanks for visiting my blog site. Hope you enjoyed the video.
Have found that loads of pepper in the batter is quite good, as well has sprinkling shreaded mazarella cheese on each piece, right out of the hot olive oil, is unbelievable.
If you actually tried to cook it yourself, would really like to hear from you. If you like, post a message to me.
"He fills my mouth with good things."
"Man does not live by bread alone."
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
firsts for the new year
Welcome to my blog site. This post is about the "Firsts" in my home vegetable garden, on Rota, in the Mariana Islands, CNMI, USA.
First Roma Tomato
Of the 30 Roma Tomato plants in the garden, this afternoon, was very glad to see the very first tomato. As before, pollination was a big problem, with the winds off the bay, usually blowing every day close to 10-15 mph.
To attract bees, hung bunches of sticks in the nearby tree, hoping they would live in the garden. Also praying for more bees. Without a doubt, God answers our prayers. So, if we don't ask, it's not His fault.
First Sweet Bananas
Maybe, you're thinking, sweet bananas? Out here, in the Mariana Islands, bananas are either "for cooking" or "for eating." The ones for eating are sweet, while the others are not.
This particular one, produces Manila bananas, which are as sweet and yummy (if not sweeter) than Chiquita Bananas.
At the very start of a new bunch of bananas, a large pod thingy, grows quickly out of the main staulk of the plant, and slowly, gradually, unpacks itself, until all the bananas come out.
Two things must be done in a timely fashion to guarantee a good harvest -
1. Prop up the main staulk with one or two poles, to keep the banana tree from falling over (a new banana bunch is quite heavy).
2. After the new pod has unpacked all its baby bananas, the remaining purple growth, at the very bottom of the bunch, must be removed (one wack with a sharp machette).
This particular one happens to be the largest and best producer of Manila Bananas in the garden. If you want to know why, just post a comment with your question, and i'll gladly share my observations with you.
First Swamp Spinach
Maybe you have seen a previous post where we set up new cuttings to grow Kung Xin Tsai (aka, Kongkong, or Swamp Spinach). That was about a month ago.
After doing a couple small sample harvests, decided to find two more containers to grow even more - it was so delicious quick fried on high heat, with loads of garlic, olive oil, and oyster sauce. Talk about, "Healthy and yummy!"
Looking at the Kung Xin Tsai makes my mouth water. It's Kangkong for dinner tonight (off to the back yard, with a pair of scissors)!
Hope you enjoyed the post.
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Saturday, December 31, 2022
bible study: 2
He was glad to know i no longer use cannabis, and said something like, "Now we can talk more often." Since i've known him, he's always made sure i understand that he doesn't smoke cannabis, nor drink.
God bless that U.S. Vet, some day, with the saving grace found only in Jesus Christ.
Grateful - again, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were in attendance. Looking forward to experience the sweet fellowship, only possible in Jesus Christ, with others at the Bible Study some day. Maybe next week, next month, next year, or next decade - it has to be in God's time, and in His way.
Earlier this week, while walking home from the store, another friend, pulled over, and started joking with me about the Bible Study signs posted (he already knew i had quit using cannabis).
Laughingly started counting off on my fingers, "Ed, #1, i don't ----------- anymore, #2, i don't ------------ anymore, and, #3, i don't even ------------ anymore!"
All the while, both he and i are laughing uncontrollably. Big difference, my laughter was 100% from the joy of the Lord in my heart. Not so, with Ed.
As my friend rides off on his electric bike, he yells to me, "Don't hide behind religion!"
"Ed, it's not religion, it's Jesus!"
Also, if you and I have ever fellowshipped in the Lord before (recently or in the distant past), at LBC, Vineyard in L.A., Taiwan, Repulse Bay Baptist Church (HK), 4 Square Church (HK), Jackie Pullenger's (HK), Guangdong, Beijing, Henan, Saipan, or Rota, please send me a friend request on FaceBook and i will gladly accept. Don't worry, my intention is only to re-connect, fellowship, and prayer. Would love to catch up with you, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Jesus loves you!
Sunday, December 25, 2022
in honor of Marian Ruby Brown Petway
Marian Ruby Brown Petway
Thirty-nine years ago, on Christmas Day, my Mom passed away.
She and my Dad, were both born and raised in Tennessee. Both of them grew up in Nashville. They lived right down the street from each other.
My Dad, from high school ROTC, went up through the ranks to become a high-ranking officer in the United States Air Force. I was born in Washington, D.C. when he worked at the Pentagon.
People have always assumed I was a Northerner, but, in fact, both my Mom and Dad's side are 1/4 Cherokee. Petways and Browns go wayback. Our roots are, and have always been in the South.
When my Dad entered the military, at that time, there was tons of bias towards Southerners, and no one dared to acknowledge their Cherokee blood. So, my Dad, on his own, got rid of his Southern sound. My Mom, on the other hand, had the most beautiful Southern accent (truly a 20th century Southern Bell).
After giving my life to Jesus, the Lord led me to Liberty Bible College, in Pensacola, Florida. Then, after graduation, was sent out from Pensacola, through GME, to Taiwan as a missionary. Just right after my very 1st missionary conference, at Liberty Church, on Highway 98, my Mom and Dad, decided to move to Pensacola, Florida.
After my Mom got Baptized in the Holy Spirit (years earlier), she served the Lord with all her heart, never wavering, all ways and always, in love with Jesus, right up to the day she went to be with the Lord, which was on Christmas Day thirty-nine years ago (today). Had the honor of conducting her funeral service.
Truly believe God honored her faithfulness with His presence at the service. Never experienced the power of the Holy Spirit so strong and intense as it was, at that time, reading Psalm 91 (her favorite Bible passage), standing behind her casket, in front of family and friends.
She was given a military funeral with full honors - motorcade and 21 gun salute, and buried at Mainside, Pensacola, at the Barrancas Naval Cemetery. Later discovered, my Dad, a high ranking Air Force officer, gave his funeral rights (don't know what its really called) to my Mom. When my Dad, passed away, many years later, we buried him as an airman (an airman in the USAF is like a private in the Army). Both my Mom and Dad's gravestones are next to each other, side by side, as is the United States military tradition.
Going to Bible College in Pensacola, being sent out as a missionary to Taiwan, parents moving to Pensacola, in my heart, was all the Lord, even right down to the exact location and timing of my dear Mother's internment and grave stone.
On this day, December 25, 2022, the Lord has seen fit (don't completely understand why) to yank me back into the Light, and use me as a vessel of honor. Actually, don't know what's going to happen, only know one thing, God does all things well.
Saturday, December 24, 2022
bible study: 1
A friend showed up, right on time, but not for the Bible Study - for eggplant in my garden. It's probably just my imagination, but I want to think he showed up out of respect.
Of recently, every friend I bump into, 1st thing out of my mouth - "I quit smoking bud (cannabis)!" So far, every friend has given me an enthusiastic fist bump (much appreciated).
Made a cup of tea, and sat in the driveway, waiting until 7 (Bible Study at 6), in case someone else showed.
Wasn't in the least bit discouraged, and, God willing, let's give it another go next Friday. This could turn out to be a very cool prayer project/experiment - increase prayer, and pray more specifically. No telling what the Lord has in store next time.
In attendance this week -
Abba Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and me. The Holy Spirit was teaching two things, which had a beautiful connection -
1. Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world.
2. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
In conclusion, let's call our 1st Bible Study a smashing success and thank the Lord.
Also, if you and I have ever fellowshipped in the Lord before (recently or in the distant past), from LBC, Vineyard in L.A., Taiwan, Repulse Bay Baptist Church (HK), 4 Square Church (HK), Jackie Pullinger's (HK), Guangdong, Beijing, Henan, Saipan, or Rota, please send me a friend request on FaceBook and i will gladly accept.
Don't worry, my intention is only to re-connect, fellowship, and prayer. Would love to catch up with you, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Jesus loves you!
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