Howdy Sugar Pies! Well, I finally made it back to my Ol’ Missouri home after spending a few weeks in California. This is the view from the airplane as we were landing in Springfield. All of the quaint farms looked like one giant patchwork quilt.
Looking at the beauty of this land, I can see why Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband Manly chose to live out the rest of their days here in the Ozarks! One of these days I’m gonna get out to their homestead which is not too far from where I live! I have a lot of things I want to do and places and people I want to see! One of the gals that I was so happy to go see and spend some time with in California was Maryjane from The Beehive Cottage!
Maryjane and I briefly bumped into each other a couple years ago at an In and Out Burger restaurant. We’ve become darlin’ friends through our blogs. While in California I had the privilege of going to her beautiful home to chat over scrumptious treats she prepared. The funny thing is Maryjane lives in the neighborhood I used to live in before I moved to Missouri! We lived just around the corner from each other. We didn’t meet until after I moved away! Fancy that!
Here is her wonderful craft room! I kinda wanted to go shopping! She has all the supplies to make all kinds of darlin’ things! In fact you need to check out her Etsy store to see all of the cute stuff she makes!
I think I could get very creative in this room!
This is where we had our yummy refreshments!
Take a look at that adorable chocolate cake! It was so delicious! And don’t you just love the little doilies over the fancy mason jars! Maryjane truly has the gift of hospitality…she made me feel so welcome! And of course we chatted a mile a minute! (Hi Maryjane!!!)
Well, as much as I loved being in sunny California I was ready to get home and tend to my little “farm”. Things really had grown out of control and needed some tender loving care.
Before I left on vacation I planted my little garden in this cute-as-a-button horse trough. I bought it at a local Home and Farm feed store. You should have seen me lug this thing out of my car and onto my deck just outside my kitchen. If my hubby had been home he for sure would have called out “LUCY? (Loooooooosy!) What are you doing with that horse trough?” (Lucy.. as in Ricardo… as in… I Love Lucy!). Well, I did explain to him later that I saw this idea in a Mary Jane’s Farm Magazine and how it was such a great idea to grow a vegetable garden in. No weeding! He loved it…I knew he would!
I decided to doll it up a bit by painting a ribbon of chalkboard paint
and then with white paint I fashioned the words Farm Fresh.
When I’m doing outside chores I love wearing my Tomato Wellies
(I have Chicken ones too, from Gardener’s Supply Catalog).
A farmgirl’s gotta look cute ya know!
Bessie Mae stands guard!
My grandson Johnny enjoys Grammie’s garden too!
The Bible tells us that whatever we plant, that is what we will harvest (Galations 6:7). If I never planted the seeds or seedlings for these delightful veggies I would not have any growing here to harvest. This same truth goes for planting seeds of love, joy, comfort, kindness, patience, and goodness in our homes. When we are faithful and intentional about serving our family with tender loving care (with a cheerful attitude), in due time we will reap the rewards. One of the rewards is giving our loved ones a happy home-life that will warm their hearts and comfort them all through their life. So keep planting those love-seeds darlin’s!
“Let us not grow weary in doing good
for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galations 6:9
Along with tomatoes, I’m growing basil…
Parsley…
Sage, which I hope to dry and use with my Thanksgiving Turkey and stuffing this year…that’s the idea anyway!
Mint…yummy in lemonade and sweet tea!
I also have two kinds of bell peppers… the one on the right is called Big Bertha…ha! Love that!
So now my deck with my little “Kitchen Garden” is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the summer beauty of the Ozark hills.
It’s also the perfect spot to drink my strawberry water and read THE MOST DELIGHTFUL BOOK EV-AH!! Oh.My.Goodness! I’m so lovin’ this book by Fannie Flagg! Standing In The Rainbow! The setting is Southern Missouri (where I live!) in the 1940’s (it’s so vintage-y!) and it’s about a darling radio homemaker, Dorothy, her family and the quirky and quaint townsfolk. Here’s a little excerpt:
“In the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, as more and more electric lines were strung down country roads to the farmhouses, the long, lonely days of isolated farmwives living far away from their nearest neighbors were suddenly filled with warm and friendly voices. They were the voices of other women coming into their homes via the radio. As early as 1924, women all over the Midwest known as “radio homemakers” began broadcasting, supplying the wives with new recipes, tips for raising children, household hints, gardening advice, local news, and entertainment, but most importantly a good friend.”
The main character, Dorothy, is just as warmhearted as she can be and has the gift of gab…I guess she would have to with her own radio show! In fact each page is filled with chatty old fashioned goodness. It makes me wanna be a radio homemaker!! I’m only half way through the book and already feeling like I don’t want the story to end! It’s a perfect summer read!
Now honey, have you tried ice cold water with splashes of fresh fruit? It’s quite refreshing and good for you too!
You can cut up any kind of fruit put it in glass and fill with ice and water. So simple!
You get just a subtle hint of flavor. If you want a little more flavor you can crush the fruit at the bottom of the glass then fill with ice water.
You can garnish with fresh mint like I do. Look how pretty it is!
After you drink the water you can eat the fruit!
So refreshing on a hot summer day!
Well, I need to put the book down for a bit to finish the tour of my little “farm” for you!
I have a couple of peach trees that are overloaded with peaches this year! And that is a blessing! Because last year, the morning that I was heading down to pick peaches, I was shocked that over night they had all disappeared! What?! I couldn’t believe my eyes! One day there were peaches…the next day they were gone! Except for the pits. They were all over on the ground. What animal could have done this? And did they really need to eat all of them? I bet they got a tummy ache! So much for the peach jam I was gonna make! Well I was perplexed. In fact all of my boysenberries were gone too. A few months later I had the opportunity to talk with a professor from an agricultural college and I told him my story. He thought it was probably a family of raccoon, birds or some squirrels. They had quite a party! I told him when I lived in California we never had that kind of trouble growing fruit. I asked him what I should do about it for next year. He said I should “harvest” the critters. Huh? I asked him what that meant. He chuckled and said “you need to get yourself a gun little lady!” What?!! He explained that where I live…on the edge of the wilderness…the animals think the food that I grow belongs to them…if I don’t want them to eat it I need to shoot ’em. He said his wife has her own gun and protects her garden that way. I asked him how the folks here in the Ozarks in the days before grocery stores survived if the critters ate all the food they grew. He said they “harvested” the critters and ate them. Oh. Anybody got a recipe for squirrel stew? Lol! 
Well, I thought if I did get a gun I could go by the name Ruthie Annie Oakley! Lol! The legendary Annie Oakley became known as “Little Sure Shot”. She honed her shooting skills after her papa died when she was a little girl. Her amazing natural talent as a shooter allowed her to hunt for food for the family when she was just ten years old. Later in life she went on to perform her shooting stunts in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Her story and the way she overcame hardships is truly inspiring. I think the only way I would choose to pick up a gun like Annie to “harvest” critters is if my family was starving. Since we are blessed with food on our table, I won’t have to shoot the cute little squirrels.
But I still had to find a solution to the critters and birds eating my fruit…
I found it! It’s made out of metal and makes a lot of noise…it’s not a gun…it’s tin pie pans! I tied them to my trees and when the wind blows they bang together…bam bam bam! (kinda like a gun) They’re also shiny which scares the birds away! So far so good…and no ones gettin’ hurt!
I also clipped whirly-gigs to the fence posts and tree branches. With the gusts of wind we get up on our ridge these things spin like crazy! Any movement will scare birds. Well, I have learned a lot about growing things, especially here in the Ozarks, but I have a long way to go! I have to say it is very fun to see food growing that I’ve planted and better still, eating it!
My apples are doing good…I think I hear a pie singing my name!
And would ya lookie here!! I have pumpkins!!
I shared this story on facebook, so for those of you who didn’t get to read it…Last year just after Thanksgiving my hubby threw some of my pumpkins over the deck railing onto a 20 x 20 patch of dirt to feed the deer. This spring I looked out and saw big leafy plants growing. Low and behold they were pumpkin plants! About 15 of them! Well, I decided to grow a full-on pumpkin patch and planted three more rows. I’m so excited about my first (accidental) pumpkin patch! The only thing is it’s only July and some of these pumpkins look ripe…should I pick them or leave them to grow bigger?? Anyone know?
I’ve got lots more on the way too!
Well Sugar Pies I hope y’all are having a wonderful summer! I sure do love to hear from you…so do stop to say howdy! Have a blessed and safe 4th of July!
God bless America…my home sweet home!
Aunt Ruthie
P.s. My summer e-book will only be available a little longer. You can click up at the top if you’re interested.
83 Comments 
Add a Comment
Well now, THAT was a read! I enjoyed every minute of it, too. I wish that our garden and produce looked as wonderful as yours. Hope that you find out the answers to those questions about pumpkins. Oh, and doesn’t that story you’re reading remind you of blogging?
Oh my! So happy to have you back, I was needing an uplifting message today. You must drive right over and visit the Laura Ingalls museum! I went 2 years ago and could have spent the entire day. I couldnt beleive all of the things on display that Laura had written about in her books. It really made them come alive. I had to re-read all of the books again. While I was there, I picked up some great little cookbooks and a few other treasures to enjoy and remember my trip. Have a happy summer.
I am reading Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg and the same characters are in it, as in your book. I love the small town feel of all her books. Your garden though little it lovely. I am also growing the same herbs. My mint is getting away from me though. On my bucket list is a Laura Ingalls tour. When I was a young girl I read nothing but her books. I insisted that I have a tin cup and a tin plate. Enjoy being home!
I love the idea of the horse trough for your tomatoes. I’m looking to do more container gardens. My garden is so far from the house and trying to water to it is a bit of a problem until I find a good water system. Learning the rural life one day at a time.
I love Fannie Flagg I have all her books and have read most of them a couple of times. She has a gift to make you laugh and in the next moment you have tears streaming down your face.
Thank you for this beautiful and delightful post!!! Sweet as always! :-) Everything looks great-nice pumpkins! I always look forward to your Fall posts-my favorite! I am still hoping and praying that maybe someday God will lead you to hold a Christian Home Holiday Decor/craft workshop??? Perhaps you could do it and give the money to a great cause. Hope you enjoy the Grandbabies!
Aunt Ruthie!
So delighted by your post!
I have just seen the horse trough idea and am wondering… Do you fill the whole thing with dirt, or just set your plant I. Buckets? It looks so deep.
So glad you Are Enjoying the book! It’s so homey, I just love it!
Blessings!
Ok how do get peaches that big and pretty, mine are small and have worms and ants in them. Beautiful post as always.
Ruthie,leave your pumpkins till the vine dies off,thats when they are reading for harvesting…you can can pumpkin pie mix,freeze it..bake pumpkin pies and here is recipe for you
Pumpkin Cheesecake bars
2 cups pumpkin
1 tub of Cream Cheese
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 vanilla cake mixes
1 pound of butter
Cut pumpkin into slices -splash olive oil over and bake in a med hot oven till tender, peel the skin off and let cool.
When its completely cooled add cream cheese ,egg &sugar mix till well combined..set aside while you move on to the base and topping.
Mix both cake mixes and butter till combines into a shortbread consistency take half for the base..press into a dish about 25cmx 15cm pour over the pumpkin mixture then crumble the remaining shortbread like mix over the top bake in a med oven for approx 30 minutes.
Nice served with IceCream and Maple Syrup. Enjoy with family n friends
Hello Sweet Ruthann!
I miss you! Thank you so much for coming by during your visit to CA! I enjoyed every minute you were here! You are truly a beautiful women inside and out. Just full of goodness and sweetness! LOVE your kitchen garden and all that you have grown on your darl’in farm! You are such an inspiration. I just saw a huge, fat squirrel come from the backyard…humm, wonder what he was doing??? Reading your post, I realized he was munching on my Ana Apples growing on the side of the house! Need to get my pie pans out as soon as I am done here! Love you girl! Happy 4th of July!
Hugs,
Maryjane
PS…thanks for the heads~up on the book! It sounds right down my alley! It will be my next purchase! xox
I could hardly believe my eyes when I started reading this new post of yours! I was sitting in church, thinking about this same exact book ( I know!) and Neighbor Dorothy, trying to remember what the name of it was, and now here is your post telling me! I kind of think you are our own Neighbor Dorothy! Don’t miss ‘Can’t Wait to get to Heaven’ which I think carries the story on. And I have one of those elegant Ball jars on a stand and the same exact doilies for glasses that MaryJane has! Needless to say, I was standing on my stepladder finding things this afternoon! So thanks Ruthie, you just made my day!! xoxo
I have been harvesting ‘accidental’ pumpkins for the past few weeks. If you end up harvesting them before your summer is over you could make a pumpkin chutney/relish. It’s beautiful with cold meats and quiches. We discovered a least a dozen growing down the steep hill on our property and it was quite an effort to reach them. Some creature or creatures had eaten two whole pumpkins – completely hollowed them out! We have to net our peach trees as bats and possums love them and as they are protected no critter harvesting is allowed!
Well, hey Aunt Ruthie! Glad you had a good time in California.
I think you are a blog pioneer, just like those lady “radio homemakers”. You reach out to us, across the internet day and night. We weary Christian homemakers and mothers. The world has nothing to offer us, and this God given need is hard to fill.
Titus 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Many women today never had a godly example growing up. It is hard to find a homemaking mentor, an experienced mother, a godly woman, who is available to us (cause a lot are too busy working fulltime). I’m just sayn’.
Besides, how would we ask? How would we know who to ask?
I am a first generation Christian, homeschooling and I belong to a large congregation. How does one seek out a mentor? Although, my Church is Bible believing and people loving, this is just one area not addressed, yet. So, to be able to get on my computer and find a sweet, Jesus loving gal with godly grown up children, who is willing encourage me, share tips and remind me to act out love, to my family, is just pure joy.
Thank you!
Just lOVe all of your ideas, thank you for sharing them! You have quite a wonderful variety in your garden it must be so nice to just go back there and get “FARM FRESH” fruits and veggies. I like your ideas to keep away the critters. Hope it works! I have been looking for a summer read, I am going to check out this book and of course I will be drinking ‘fruit water’ while reading. It looks so refreshing and relaxing on your deck, so cute! Enjoy your harvest and your summer! Because of you I MUST make plum jam every summer. I can’t wait to get some in jars and stock up. :-)
As always, loved your post! Thanks so much for the garden tour. I really like the idea of the garden in the horse trough!! And THANK YOU for asking the question about the pumpkins!! Our pumpkins are large and turning orange and I haven’t known what to do with them…leave them on the vine or pick them?? Of course, my goal was to have them all ripened up by September or October but it’s still early. I read a previous post that said to leave them on the vine until the vine dies…think I will do that. And thank you for the reminder of sowing and reaping…sometimes I “grow weary” and your posts are always such an encouragement!!!
Happy 4th of July Aunt Ruthie!!!!
I think you are already a radio homemaker. You talk home, family, cooking, cleaning, decorating and most importantly share the love of the Lord. Only in this modern age you would be called an internet homemaker! :)
Have a great Fourth!
Aunt Ruthie, I love all the photos of your deck garden. The huge planter with the chalk is just adorable. I always enjoy getting good book recommendations, the book sounds amazing! I like how you’re protecting your trees with pie pans! That’s so cute! Have an amazing Independence Day! ~ Jamie
You must read “Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven” and “Welcome to the World Baby Girl”. They are all related to what you are now reading. I love Fannie Flagg books. I have read Laura books from the time I was in 2nd grade and still enjoy them. If anyone is interested there is a book that has all of her Missouri Ruralist news columns. It is quite interesting that so many of the things she discusses is what we women are still striving for. Enjoy your post and love the summer book!
Dear Aunt Ruthie,
Every time I see a new post from you in my reader, I just know that I will get a dose of goodness that will help me be a better momma.
It’s so refreshing and it makes me want to fill my house with hugs and pies! So thank you.
Love,
Mandi
Hi Aunt Ruthie !
What a wonderful post ! love your deck garden ! and love your tablecloth! your ideas are always gorgeous… thank you so much for sharing.
Little John looks to like cherry tomatoes… isn’t he?! what a handsome boy !
What about your Independance day ? (decoration, meal etc…)
May you give us the link when you was interviewed on the news ?
Have a great day and hugs from France
Happy summertime to you too aunt Ruthie! That horse trough garden has to be the neatest idea I have ever seen. It is so you! Loved it! Thank you for taking time to let us see all your goodness and bounty from your back porch. Have a great 4th with your family!
Lots of love from Texas~Donna
I read your post yesterday, & pinned the strawberry water idea. We just got a flat of strawberries at the market on Saturday, and I’ve been busy cutting them up and freezing them. I set some aside, and have been enjoying strawberry water this morning. Thanks for the idea! We also purchased some peaches this weekend. I think I’ll try some peach water tomorrow! =) Have a blessed day! ~Sally
Your blog posts make me so happy :) Thank you SO much!
Ruthie, I love your pics of your fruits and vegetables. For some reason 4 of the pictures haven’t loaded yet. I was born in Missouri, although with my dad in the Army, we didn’t settle there. We live in Indianapolis, IN. My dad always said we were going to move back to Waynesville, where I was born, but we never did. I love it when I get a new post from you in my inbox.
I think we must be twins separated at birth, because your stye is the same as mine and you have also given me additional ideas. Thanks so much!
Oh, i really like your idea of ice water with fresh fruit! I’m going to have to do that!
I would not recommend you leave the pumpkins on the vine until they wither. In southern Missouri, if you want fall pumpkins, you shouldn’t actually plant them until the first of July. (I know…I planted mine way too early the first year, too).
How to tell if they are ready to pick? Chances are that if your pumpkin is orange all the way around, your pumpkin is ripe. But on the other hand, a pumpkin does not need to be all the way orange to be ripe. Some pumpkins are ripe when they are still completely green. The skin of a pumpkin will be hard when the pumpkin is ripe. Use a fingernail and gently try to puncture the pumpkin’s skin. If the skin dents but does not puncture, the pumpkin is ready to pick.
But for me, the most reliable way to tell the pumpkin is ready is when the stem above the pumpkin in question starts to turn hard, the pumpkin is ready for picking.
When you harvest a pumpkin, make sure that the knife or shears you use are sharp and will not leave a jagged cut on the stem. This will help prevent disease from getting into your pumpkin and rotting it from the inside out. Be sure to leave at least several inches of stem attached to the pumpkin, even if you do not intend to use them for Halloween pumpkins. This will slow down the rotting of the pumpkin.
After you harvest the pumpkin, wipe it down with a 10% bleach solution. This will kill any organisms on the skin of the pumpkin that may cause it to rot prematurely. If you plan on eating the pumpkin, the bleach solution will evaporate in a few hours and so will not be harmful when the pumpkin is eaten.
Keep harvested pumpkins out of direct sunlight.
As you probably know, some pumpkins are best for eating and some are best for carving. Depending on your seed source, you probably have a good idea of which you have.
We live in Florida and have a peach tree that produced wonderfully the year before last and then this year the squirrels ate every last peach off of it before they were even ripe. We were very sad. The pie plates sound like a good idea but we have neighbors that may not appreciate the noise. LOL!
I really wish we could grow apples but I don’t think it gets cold enough here.
Loved reading your post and I may have to check out that book. It sounds divine.
HUGS
Kim
You have a lovely garden, Ruthie! I really like that planter idea on your deck! It looks heavy to move but it’s so nice and deep that I think tomatoes would flourish in it. I sometimes make an infusion spray of hot pepper flakes, water and oil and spray my fruits and vegetables with it to keep the squirrels away..it works well if I reapply it every day–just don’t let the spray get in your eyes. Your noisy tin pan idea is also wonderful!
Have a very happy summer!
My goodness, how I enjoyed these photos and every word you wrote. Since my birthday is July 4th (once a firecracker, always a firecracker) anyway, I have collected flags in all sizes and conditions for years. Needless to say, your photos were eye candy to me. Thanks so much for sharing.
I just had “Standing in the Rainbow” downloaded to my Kindle. I just read Fannie’s “Redbird Christmas” and if you haven’t read that one, you should! I loved it. I like to read about Christmas in the summer for some strange reason.
I am jealous of those pumpkins. I tried pumpkins last year and all I got was faux blooms with not pumpkins! I babied those things but they wouldn’t produce. Not sure if I am going to try again.
Hi Ruthie, last year I had problems with my peppers. I live in California and was getting some wonderful peppers growing. I was waiting for them to turn red when little by little they were gone. I think it was racoons. I like the idea of the pans but would it work for racoons. I was so upset because I use a lot of peppers and then nothing. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini and have to do it in raised beds because of gophers and now this. I didn’t plant any peppers this year because of the problem last year. Also did you drill holes in the trough for water drainage. I like the idea you had of planting in that. Sounds like you have a nice supply of fruit and veges. Blessings Kathy
I have always wanted a punkin patch. That yours is here by accident makes it even more fun. Our little garden is doing well here in Richmond , Va. I just finished picking green beans and cucumbers. Our maters are not yet ripe enough to pick, but I just get so tickled to go out and harvest something. I picked squash yesterday. We just sent some beans and squash and cukes home with my son to spread the bounty. The neighbors love our garden as we all eat well. Everybody is coming over for a fish fry on Wednesday , the 4th. Come on by .
Well Ruthie I can honestly say that your ‘read’ was my way of “Standing in the Rainbow” just now…….gosh, you just bring such light and joy to my table – ahem – computer desk! :o) Welcome Home and keep on enjoying the beauty of summer and when time prevails…….come and share your sweet stories with us ’cause it puts the smilies in our day!
God’s Blessings to you and your family,
Barbra.
Is it my imagination or does the pretty girl with the rake look like your little daughter?
Happy Fourth, love the “accidental” pumpkin patch. How fun to have your one fall decor! I like the container garden idea also. Great to have a post from you to kick off the rest of summer, stay cool.
Oh how I would love one of those tasty fresh red tomatoes! We grew up in KC and spent many vacations in Branson, our favorite. We now live in the mountains above Denver and tho I love it dearly, how I miss Missouri and the Ozarks. Thank you for taking the time to write your posts, for sharing your faith which encourages me in my daily walk with my Lord, and sharing pictures of your beautiful home. We are Caretakers at a church camp and live in a tiny log cabin built after WW2. We love our life. Thanks again!
Well, Aunt Ruthie… as per usual this was a lovely post! I so enjoyed the glance into your garden and that book sounds great. Oh how much i would love to get my hands on some of those old homemaking radio broadcasts! I have found a few clips in the CBC (I live in canada) files of old homemaking and cooking tv shows from the 50s which I absolutely adored.
Thanks for the encouragement and I pray you and yours have a fabulous summer. God bless!
I’m Homesick Now for the Ozarks …. So Beautiful and so glad your there to learn all the ins and outs of having a garden so you can pass it on ..
Love the water trough garden .. and your use of the chalkboard paint ..such perfection !
Those little raccoons got into our barn when we were living there and took the lid off of the grain container that was for feeding our horses .. They are smart little critters !
Happy 4th .. from Sara and Abbey !
What a cheery way to start my day!!!
Here in Western Washington the weather has been dismal, at best. Hardly any sun this season and lots of rain…really not typical at all.
My garden is so confused! I may be able to harvest some things in August if the weather gets nice! I’ve had to plant my peas 3 times and quite a few other things at least twice! I love your little planter…what a great idea. I would love to put one on my patio with just herbs in it…thanks for the tip!
I’m a little envious of that pumpkin patch…keep posting pictures!
Enjoy your summer!
Holly
Loved viewing your garden…don’t do any myself, but encourage my daughter and sister…hoping they’ll share! Those green tomatoes looked the most tempting to me. I love fried green tomatoes. Am going to find the book to read before I fly out to California for time with my daughter and her family…grandkid “fix.”
I love this post ! What a wonderful idea of the planter !
Hi Ruthie! I was so excited to se a new post from you! I love reading your blog and seeing your photos! I loved the advice of creating a loving home, cheerfully…I struggle with that sometimes, and your post has given me encouragment! Love you and your sweet blog!
I so enjoyed my visit to your blog today. Glad you had a nice trip! Love those aerial views! So wonderful to see your friend MaryJane. I would just love to meet my blogging friends someday!
Love that patio planter and veggies! A great idea for a mobile home dweller with no space!
Those peaches and apples are beautiful! It’s great to grow your own fruit!
Be blessed , have a sweet summer, and a super great 4th of July with your family!
Thank you for another refreshing “visit”. Whenever you post arrives in my inbox, I hurry through all the other emails saving yours for last. I want to savor every word and picture. Your garden is lush and beautiful! The metal trough container so cute too. We are going to turn one of those large metal tanks into a rustic luxe bathtub. Thank you again for the visit. Blessings to you and yours along with an early Happy Fourth of July!
Love looking at your pictures and readings…….I am new to this site…..and am passing it on along to friends!!!! I am a country gal myself!…..thanks for all you do!
Deborah
Always such a pleasure to read one of your posts, Aunt Ruthie!
I have got to get my hands on that book! It sounds charming!
And, as usual, thank you for feeding us some necessary spiritual food.
God bless you!
Happy 4th of July, Ruthie!!! Welcome Home. So enjoyed your “garden tour” and Fannie Flagg is one of my most favorite authors. I so agree with many of the above comments about your ability to enjoy and share your spiritual strengths. Thanks for bringing scripture to our eyes. God bless us all.
Welcome back to good ole Missouri! Looks like your garden is doing really well. Have a Happy 4th!
Dear Aunt Ruthie,
Welcome home!
You never cease to amaze me with all of your inspiring creativity and godly homemaker advice. I love ever bit of your posts!
Thank you for sharing all of the pictures with us. I love the plates and the doillies that Maryjane has. Everything looked beautiful!
Your peaches reminded me of when I was growing up. We had peach, plum, apricot, pear, and nectarine trees, along with a small garden in our back yard. We used the pie tins to keep the birds from eating our fruit. It seemed to work out well.
I loved seeing all of the veggies, herbs, and fruit that you are growing in your new-found horse trough. What a delightful treasure! You fixed it up so pur-ti-ful!
The strawberry and mint ice water looks divine. I can’t wait to get more freshly-grown strawberries from the local farmers this week!
I love your pumpkin patch, and your table looks so beautiful, all decorated, ready to celebrate Independence Day.
Blessings on you!
So enjoyed your post. Also so glad you found a humane way to solve the critter problem. Happy and safe 4th.
Thank you so much for starting my day off with such pleasant feelings!! Your site is just perfect with a hot cup of coffee! Welcome home, Auntie Ruthie!
Ooooooo i just loved reading books by Fannie Flagg …..My favourite hmmmm fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe oh and red bird christmas ohhhhh just all of them! I wish the sun was shining here so i could sit out in the sunshine but your post has made me smile :0)
I just love love love your post. What a lovely trip you had in Ca and your sweet friend is a great host. I enjoyed every bit of your post and the scriptures you shared blessed my heart. Thank you, you are a blessing. Happy 4th!
Vanessa
Such a fun post!
Accidental pumpkins! We have been trying to grow them for a few years….no luck so far, but one day!
I am from California originally – now in Pennsylvania.
We do reap what we sow…good reminders today!
I love and appreciate everything about this post, especially the scripture reminder <3.
Aloha, Connie
Hello, what a wonderful sight to sit back and look at. Love all the good ideas. Keep up the great job.
Love the Fannie Flagg book… I read it a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. But, now that I think about it, the mom was like the blogger of her era, with her morning radio show. Makes me giggle!
I just think your site is amazing! You are such a doll. I love your country touches here and there. I check in regulary and look forward to more goodies.
So glad you have some pumpkins for the fall season! My husband raised over 400 last year and stored them for several months in a cool storm cellar. We even stored some under our house and lost only one or two. Be sure to keep that wonderful stem when the pumpkin is gone. I have made lots of the velvet pumpkins with those stems and I’m sure you would like them for your fall decor.
Blessings,Becky
Love your post Aunt Ruthie..may you have a wonderful Happy 4th!
Beautiful as always! And your yard and view are spectacular!! Lucky you!! Have a fabulous summer and keep on bloggin’!!
Such a fun post . . . love your outdoor spaces . . . and your trough garden. I too love that idea and have wanted to do it for years. I want a round trough in the center of my garden with raised beds circling it . . . and the beds circling it will be real beds . . . I already have 13 antique iron beds waiting to be put to the task! I too love adding fruit to water. Since we are on our silly ol’ detox diet, I do a lot of it lately. That book sounds wonderful and I will be looking for it in the near future . . . I swear I was born a generation or two too late! Thanks for another wonderful uplifting post. You are a true gem!
Hugs & Blessings
Brenda
I always love your blogs. So,so full of joy and hope. I love the verse from Galations. We must not grow weary!!
Thank you for spreading your joy! I love your garden, peaches and punkins!!
Blessings,
pam
Such a wonderful place to spend the day. I love it.
Your fruit looks so beautiful and delicious. Looks like you’re going to have a great harvest !!
Have a wonderful day. Greetings from The Netherlands.
Thank you for sharing all of this. I so want to visit the Ingalls too! <3
Your garden looks lovely!
Howdy doo!
First of all, as some of the other ladies have mentioned, you don’t need to pick your pumpkins until the vines start dying- they’ll keep getting bigger! We used to pick ours around the end of August, I do believe, but then, I’m the whoooole way up in Pennsylvania, so I’m not sure what kind of growing season differences there may be! Ya’ll are a good bit down south! :)
I love the idea of mixing fruit in with my water- I tried it with watermelon and it was delicious- just a nice hint of flavor. I bought some cherries this week, as well as apricots and peaches, so I’ll be trying those out soon.
I admit- as soon as I read you post, I went over to Amazon and bought a used copy of the Fannie Flagg book! lol I’m trying to be patient about delivery, but…I want to start reading! lol
I’d love to see a post on summer meals at your home- how do you stay cool down there? (Of course, if you have central air, that certainly would help! lol)
Aunt Ruthie,
Love your blog and I look so forward to each and every posting. I have to tell you that I made the laundry soap you featured awhile back and I will never use store bought again! Amazing stuff! I have passed along the recipe to at least 20 other people! Thank you for housewife words of wisdom, encouragement, and the amazing pictures. Can’t wait until your next post!
I loved the book “Standing in the Rainbow”. You should read the follow up ‘Welcome to the World, Baby Girl”. I don’t think it’s quite as good, but still good.
I go on book tour to Los Angeles the first full week of August. Your sweet sister and I are planning to meet. I hope to meet Cat at Vintage Housewive too if she’s close.
Thanks for the pictures of your vegies your growing. I live in Traverse City, Mich. and the vegies that was growing in the garden has been enjoyed by the deer. :-) But, they need to enjoy the produce too! I love getting your blog and am encourgaged by your faith in God. Thanks again.
How do I get your fun music back????
You must be getting some rain where you are, we sure are not getting any down here around Rolla. Your garden looks good.
Hi Aunt Ruthie, I love your blogs,your farmhouse,your decorating,most of all your inspiration to all of us.I enjoy reading all of your blogs,keep them coming our way.
THANKS for the idea of hanging tin pie pans in the fruit tree…we have had the same problem for the past two years. One day our tree was burdened with pears “almost” ready to harvest and the next day they are ALL gone. My husband watched a squirrel in the tree shaking a branch until a pear fell to the ground, then he scurried away to the ground to roll the pear away! I’ll be trying this method next season!
I just found your website. You are living my dream. It makes me cry (in a good way). Thank you. God’s blessings.
You are just adorable!
Love those Missouri girls
Here in Kansas City, people turn a radio on in their garden to scare away the raccoons. It has to be rather loud.
We tied a neighbors’ dog outside by the garden (with their permission of course) and the next morning there was a raccoon at the top of the light pole and the dog was resting comfortably at the bottom. We never did that again but we never had another raccoon.
Dear Aunt Ruthie:
In reference to your over-abundance of pumpkins, I must say, I am having twangs of jealousy. For the first (and last, may I add) time, I planted a seedling yellow squash plant from a nursery instead of growing my own from seed and the dang thing came with an INFESTATION of squash beetles. My zucchini, the yellow squash, and all the gourds… :poof:
With that said I would love to share with you my personal recipe for pumpkin pie. I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I’m not going to post it in a comment. Not that I don’t trust the internet with my family pumpkin pie recipe… but… well… i don’t. I got it on a recipe card when I went off to college (Cottey Women’s! In Nevada, MO! Home of the Comets!) and there’s a secret or two in there that just can’t be put out for everybody, yet.
I guess I take after my grandmother. She’d intentionally leave ingredients out when people asked for her recipes, so they’d never be able to make it “just the way you do, Yadja.”
Anyway, I believe you should be looking at my e-mail address and I promise, I will not leave out any ingredients if you ask. You just seem like someone who’d appreciate a good family recipe, really give it the love it deserves.
I love your horse trough idea. I want to try that with herbs. How long have you had your fruit trees? My husband’s great grandmother had pecan trees peach and pear trees and apple trees but they were killed during an ice storm so we have none now.
Where in Missouri is your pie farm? I live in California, less than a mile from an In-N-Out Burger!!!!
Lovely blog post
like an Annie and aim well lol
I read “Standing In The Rainbow” years ago, and it remains one of my favorite books. I laughed, and I cried and cried. Such a wonderful book! I love all of her books, but that one is definitely my favorite. She is a wonderful storyteller! I just started another of her books, “I Still Dream About You”. One of my favorite authors. So glad you loved this book too!
I’m intrigued by your horse trough garden. Do you punch holes in the bottom, so it will drain? I’m looking for something big enough to grow some nice cherry tomatoes, and that would fit the bill!
You must make the time to get to Laura and Almanzo’s home! We visited there after leaving a Christian Women’s Club conference on Table Rock Lake. I have read all of Laura’s books dozens of times in my 60+ years, and it was so fun to see all of the items that I’d read about many times in her books! You won’t be sorry you took the time, as close as you are!
Thanks for the blessings of your encouraging writing! It is great to read your hints given from a Godly perspective!