Sunday, August 30, 2015

Thankful Sunday--August 29, 2015


I am thankful for peaches.

When we moved into our present house, 17 years ago, we were happy to find a peach tree. The thought of fresh peaches in the backyard was exciting for everyone. But, alas, it was not to be. We just couldn't keep ahead of the pests. When we were lucky enough for the tree to set more than a couple of peaches, they rotted long before they were ripe. There was one bug in particular that would burrow in as soon as the fruit was setting. And if any got close to ripening, a squirrel would take a bite out of each one before it could be picked. So after several years of trying, we gave up and just appreciated the beautiful blossoms in the spring. But this year Mother Nature decided that just like the locusts every 17 years or so, ripe peaches would appear. While we are still competing with the bugs, squirrels, and deer, we have harvested and eaten several ripe peaches with more to come. And for that, I am thankful.


12 comments:

  1. That's wonderful, live and learn! Enjoy the peaches!

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    1. We are enjoying them and there are enough, the deer are also getting their fair share.

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  2. Enjoy your unexpected harvest! My hubby picked some up at the farm market yesterday, as well as a "birthday cantaloupe" for my son and some pears. At church today my kids were given a bag of plums, so we are doing well with fruit here. Love it!

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    1. We got a cantaloupe at a roadside stand last week and it was the best we've had in a very long while--ripe and very juicy. Yum. Hope yours and the rest of your fruit is as good.

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  3. Replies
    1. The few that we have gotten to ripen all the way are indeed delicious.

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  4. Ha! My dad used to have a peach tree in his backyard, and it was a constant source of frustration for him - always tempting him with the promise of fresh peaches, but then the bugs, the squirrels, yadda, yadda, yadda. He finally tore the thing out and has been much happier since!

    Anyhow, enjoy whatever peaches the universe sees fit to send your direction! :-)

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    1. I totally understand your dad's frustration and I'm glad he found a resolution to his problem. For now, we're going to keep ours if for no other reason than tearing it out takes a lot of work.

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  5. Next year is supposed to be the year my fruit trees start bearing well. I am hoping this will be different than my tomato harvest, since it seems I only plant vegetables so our resident chipmunks have sustenance. Who knew chipmunks could climb tomato stalks so easily and that they enjoy green tomatoes so much? I hope they will not be huge fans of pears and apples.

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    1. What I am amazed about is that the chipmunks eat all of the tomato except the skin. Did yours do that?

      Good luck with the fruit trees. There's nothing like ripe fruit straight from the tree. Unfortunately, a lot of animals think so too.

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    2. I used to have terrible problems with the squirrels ravaging my garden... then I started feeding them and ever since they've left it completely alone. Apparently peanuts, corn and sunflower seeds are much more attractive to squirrels than tomatoes & cucumbers!

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    3. I tried the same thing with the deer. I had a big bed of day lilies (which they love) and told the deer that that bed was theirs entirely if they leave the other things alone. However, they didn't listen. Apparently, deer are smorgasbord eaters instead of chow it down in place eaters. Oh, well. :)

      I'm glad that you have been able to keep the squirrels out of the vegetables. How about the rabbits?

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What do you think?