An Almanac? + A Surprise Giveaway : )

Patricia PacJac Carroll here again to talk about gardening and the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Me a farmer? Well, it’s a stretch but thanks to my sweet son, I do have a garden this year. You can see me and my wonder dog Jacs are lying down on the job, but we are excited about getting fresh vegetables.

I am not sure the Old Farmer ever farmed in Texas. I have tried gardens at various times with much the same result. Great excitement in March, April, and May. Then June comes bringing heat with it. Ugh! Ever try to pull weeds when it is HOT!!! And the ground like cement? Not fun.

One year, I did have success with the small-sized tomatoes. My neighbor had the immaculate garden. Mine? Not so – my lines were never straight. Not sure what I planted where. My theory - if I don’t know a pepper from a tomato I don’t deserve to eat it.

As the months rolled on, my neighbor’s nice garden didn’t fare so well. Mold and bugs got her tomatoes. I’d forgotten about my garden. So one day I trotted out to my weed patch and poked through the above-knee-high intruder plants. What a surprise! I had more little tomatoes than I knew what to do with. So we ate them like grapes. Apparently, no bugs could find my tomatoes.That was probably my best effort. I refer to it as my camouflaged garden.

Enough of my garden stories. As you can see my thumb isn't green but a nice purple thanks to a session of playing ball with my faithful dog Jacs.   : )

                                              

Click here to go to the website> The Old Farmer's Almanac. You'll find a treasure trove of interesting facts and stories. I have always wondered what they were. Never had one. Wasn’t sure if you had to be an  old farmer. I am certainly getting closer to the age description, farmer is still questionable. But I bought an Almanac this year just to see what it was about.

The almanac started as a calendar for planting, tides, weather, astronomy, and you name it. That hole in the corner? Started by fans of the Almanac who wanted to keep it handy. So they punched a hole and drew a string through it to hang in the barn, kitchen, even outhouse. Later when technology became available, the good folks at the magazine punched the hole for convenience.

Hmm. All kinds of interesting things. The Almanac is rich in American history. Benjamin Franklin had Poor Richard’s Almanac. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, begun in 1792, is the oldest publication and longest running magazine in the US.

Abraham Lincoln may have even used the Old Farmer's Almanac to help a client win a case in 1857. 

Since my attack by breast cancer, I have begun to eat veggies. Lots of veggies. Although they aren’t as good as the juicy hamburgers I am used to, I am learning to enjoy them. (sort of) But they are good for us. And nothing better than a homegrown tomato.

Do you like to garden?  What are your favorite flowers?

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Patricia PacJac Carroll has one book available on Amazon, Liberty Belle. Set in 1859 Denver, Liberty Belle is a story of finding freedom and forgiveness. A jilted bride, a wayward sheriff, a small boy, outlaws, and a gallows provide plenty of action, romance, and hope.

Her next book, Golden Dreams, will be out Soon.

Katy and Rev find out that you have to go through your past to reach your dreams. 

Find out more about Patricia PacJac Carroll
 on her website 

And on her blog [Invasion of the Booby Snatcher] about her journey to healing  from breast cancer.

Enjoy the day! And thanks for stopping by.  : )

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SURPRISE
Give away on my blog for Kathleen L. Maher's new book about the civil war. Look at that lovely cover!! Can't wait to dig into this story.

Bachelor Buttons: Rose Meehan must choose between two suitors when the 1863 Draft Riots break out in Manhattan.

Winner will be chosen from comments on this post 
on 05/14/13 at 5:00 PM.

You'll want to win this one.


http://www.amazon.com/Murray-Puras-American-Series-ebook/dp/B00CLJD4JW