Could you do it?

One of our less favorable tasks this summer included going through the phone "upgrade" process.  We are simple people and don't care for all the bells and whistles of technology particularly that which we don't think is necessary (data package, or camera on our phone for example).  We use our cell phones to- what do you know!?!??- make phonecalls! 

Consequently this severely limits the choices we have in selecting a phone- which we welcome.  Unfortunately, the process also includes hours-yes I mean hours- of dealing with rude, inconsistent, uninformed customer service representatives.  Before I go into a rant, I'm going to pose a few questions that welcome response or opinions.


-Could YOU survive-living a comfortable and fulfilling life without a cell phone, internet, or cable/television?

- Can you raise competent, well-educated children with little or no access to these "necessities"?

- Would upsetting these social "norms" or "going against the grain" lean more on the side of courage or cowardice? Ignorance or bliss?

- Do you think social communication skills are enhanced or diminished by the regular technology user habits of children? of adults?

Could YOU do it? No phone, internet or cable/television for an hour? a day? a week? a month?

Still growing

Schafer, Schafer fan of 'taters
How does your garden grow?
With hots and bells for salsa smells
And zucchini squash not in rows.

Truth be told I didn't make any homemade salsa this year.  We actually didn't get that overwhelming explosion of tomatoes and our jalapenos didn't do well until the end of the summer.  Regardless, we enjoyed the family project and most certainly the yummy goodness that the God's great earth produced!

Humble Beginnings

First fruits

A little later in the season.

Lovely Golden Acre Cabbage we used for Cabbage and noodles one night.  One of Pete's and my dad's favorites.

Broc-o-lock-a lock-o-li

yumm...sun gold

 My sister Kate started a variety of tomato plants from seed in Philadelphia and shared the seedlings.  They took a little longer to ripen up because they were heirloom seeds but they were worth the wait.  I would tease Pete because upon his arrival home he would stay outside and inspect the blushing skin of the fruit for done-ness before greeting me with his usual "Honey, I'm home!".  Even though I would give him a hard time, deep down I was smiling seeing that he enjoyed gardening as much, if not more, than I.  While we were dating he had come over to my house to help till and plant.  It seemed to foreshadow some of what God had in store for us- plenty of hard work and "dirt", sprinkles of living water to nourish the seeds of faith, hope, and love and nourish the beginnings of a life together, that continues to produce fruits.  Like gardening, marriage requires time,effort, care and  ongoing learning and growth (of course).

First batch of beans

 We tried a new strategy this year and did a second planting of beans mid summer after pulling out the first batch of plants in order to increase our production despite our limited space.  Pete learned of this practice after working at the Interval Brotherhood Home garden in the Akron area for the Hoban High School service week.  This will probably become a consistent habit for us considering our liking for this humble legume Pete's mom dubs "God's candy".

Last major harvest in early October.