Author: Timelesslady

Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.

Place – Jamaica/Treasure Beach

On By TimelessladyIn Place2 Comments

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The South Coast of Jamaica is much dryer than the north. Treasure Beach is a beautiful destination, but you must drive close to two and a half hours from the Montego Airport. There are two ways to go, over the mountains, or along the coast. After experiencing both ways I would definitely recommend the coastal trip. I felt like I was on a runaway rollercoaster pretty much the whole trip over the mountains.

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The waves are very large and rough in Treasure Beach. This is not a place for inexperienced swimmers. You can count four rip tides in the picture above. The water is beautiful though, and incredibly warm. If you love to collect seashells and other beach drift, you will be thrilled. I can’t tell you how many sea urchins we found, most we left on the beach…we also found a few sand dollars.

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One of my favorite aspects of Treasure Beach were the neighborhood dogs. Jamaican dogs have a unique look, as do the cats. Their fur is very short, and their ears very large. I loved one little fellow I named Bob; he was so friendly and sweet. I wanted to bring him home with me, but even if I could, how could you take a creature out of paradise? I loved watching Bob enjoy his surroundings.

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Place – Jamaica/Montego Bay and the Glass Bottom Boat

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A glass-bottom boat ride on the Caribbean sea is a terrific experience. Captain Poly and Paula, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, took us out on the Miss Poly. Captain Poly pointed out different fish, sea urchins and types of coral to us. A few of the “brain” coral are so large they probably have been growing for hundreds of years. We also enjoyed seeing the shoreline of Montego Bay from a new perspective. This was our fourth trip to Jamaica. It is a beautiful place. This visit we were fortunate to stay on both the South Coast and North Coast. I’ll post a few pictures of the South Coast tomorrow.

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Captain Poly

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The view from the glass bottom.

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Captain Poly took a few moments to clean the glass off for us.

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Snorkeling is terrific in Montego Bay.

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On our way back to the dock.

Photograph – Faith

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“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
~ Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

“Daily living by faith on Christ is what makes the difference between the sickly and the healthy Christian, between the defeated and the victorious saint.”
~ A.W. Pink

Quote – Sing

On By TimelessladyIn QuotesLeave a comment

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“Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.” John Wesley

Projects & Phlowers – Pounding Phlowers (Flowers)

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers, Projects2 Comments

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What am I planning to do with this beautiful pile of flowers and foliage…why pound them of course!

I don’t know when or where or how I first heard about the technique, I only know I first pounded flowers with my sons when they were both children. Since they are both in their thirties now, that must be near twenty years ago. Yikes!

I love to bring things full circle…this week I pounded flowers with my grandsons.

Start with a pile of beautiful flowers. Choose bright colors and those that are full of moisture. Dried out flowers will not work as well. You will need foliage also…all the different greens you can find. CAUTION: Do not use flowers or foliage that is poisonous. Pounding will release oils and the essence of the flower into the air and possibly onto your skin. Be smart…research any flower you are not sure of as to the degree of toxicity it might contain. Don’t pound any flowers or leaves you are not certain are safe to use.

After I checked what I had in the pile, I removed the trumpet vine foliage and flowers. They can cause contact dermatitis. I also removed my morning glory flower. A good way to choose which  flowers and foliage to use is to check out this list of edible flowers:
Edible Flowers

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First step – Tape heavy paper to some kind of stabilizing surface. We used old watercolor boards I had on hand.

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Then move on to the fun part – place the flowers in a design, cover with paper, pound with a rubber mallet or an actual hammer. (Strike gently with this one.)

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When you remove the cover sheet of paper you will notice some of the petals will stick to the paper. In hindsight I wish we had left all of the petals alone until the flowers were a bit dryer.  When we tried to brush them away they smeared color across the paper. Another way to remove the flowers would be to coax a paintbrush under the pounded petals and gently tease away from the paper.

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The flower pounding was much more successful than the foliage pounding. We found that fleshy, juicy flowers worked best. The prettiest color and most consistent performer was the magenta New Guinea Impatien.

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Marigold petals also left beautiful color on the paper.

We set the pounded flower paper aside when we were finished. After it dries we will come up with a project to use it in. In the meantime the flowers will fade, and eventually turn a duller shade. This sounds disappointing, but combined with the perfect materials, could  mean an outstanding and crafty creation. Happy Pounding! 🙂

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Plants – Coleus Sampler 2014

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Here’s a sampling of my coleus this summer of 2014. The weather in my area has been unseasonably cool, and the coleus have never reached their full potential. They are half the height and breadth of past coleus  grown in Southern New Jersey. Not to worry though…they are beginning to put out flower spikes and next year’s coleus seeds will soon be developing.

Product – Great Products with Great Recyle Potential

On By TimelessladyIn Product4 Comments

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I found Teatulia Lemongrass Tea  in the photograph above at my local Target store. The price initially seemed high, over $5.00, but there are thirty bags in the cardboard cylinder and the contents are organic. Oh My! The taste is spectacular. The tea bag contains only two ingredients: lemon grass and bay leaf. The flavor is light and delicate without being weak. I LOVE it! Even better…the round curves of the cardboard cylinder seem to cry out to me, “Make something special out of me!” It’s a terrific package for the tea, and I hope by the time I drink up the contents, I’ll have a project in mind that is worthy of the container.

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Another new favorite were these delicious Royal Dansk Spiral Wafer Cookies. I love to eat them right out of the tin, and also enjoy using them to dress up a bowl of ice cream when I have company. Two scoops of ice cream with two cookies stuck in the top, and you have an elegant dessert to serve. Even better these were on sale for $ .79 this week in my local grocery. Yes! You read me right! Non-sale price is $1.19, still a bargain for something so beautiful and yummy. And wait…yes…the tin is perfect for creating amazing projects. Oh the Joy!

Please check out the comment section for some additional sites on lemongrass, etc.

Philm – Noah

On By TimelessladyIn Philm4 Comments

While I absolutely loved yesterday’s feature “philm” of “God is not Dead,” I’m on the opposite side of the fence concerning today’s review. I’m not including the official trailer of “Noah” because I pretty much disliked this whole attempt of portraying one of the greatest of Bible stories on the big screen. I thought the movie was horribly done, and filled with imaginary content that neither added to the story, or was in any way near truth. I am only glad I did not see this in the theater, and only wasted a little over a dollar to rent it through Redbox.

Philm – God Is Not Dead

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God Is Not Dead

I cried during parts of this terrific film, I smiled…I clapped my hands together. I imagine most of those in the theater applauded at the same point in the movie as I did. Definitely a worthwhile feature film to rent on DVD. I wish I had seen it in the theater on a big screen.

Phlowers – The Garden Blues with Purple

On By TimelessladyIn PhlowersLeave a comment

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Salvia – Wildflower garden – type unknown

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Unknown Bush/Perennial – Anyone with an idea of what this beautiful blossom might be??? Let me know in comment section. I “should-a, would-a, could-a” written it down, but didn’t, and have since forgotten what this plant is named. 😦

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Blue salvia

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Achimenes

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Persian Shield – true name/Strobilanthes

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Vitex Bush – Also known as Chasteberry

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Larkspur – Wildflower Garden

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Verbena bonariensis

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Hyacinth Bean Vine

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Morning Glory Vine

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Petunia

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Nicandra – Shoo-fly Plant (This is an odd plant with interesting pods after the bloom period. I will posting more information about  this flower/bush tomorrow.) Change that…researched the plant a bit and it is the nightshade family, in short, it is probably full of toxins and quite poisonous. I’m glad it is growing out front where the children can’t get to it. Even though I consider the flower pretty…I probably won’t grow again until everyone is much older.

Quote – John Wesley

On By TimelessladyIn QuotesLeave a comment

Wesley Collage

GOOD WISDOM TO LIVE BY:

“Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.”
~ John Wesley

Pots and Pans – Jam Breakfast Bars

On By TimelessladyIn Pots and PansLeave a comment

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I love the site Budget101.com, another terrific site is:

Grocery Budget 101

I recently tried one of their recipes: Jam Breakfast Bars. I followed the recipe as written, but left the walnuts out of my bars because of a grandchild’s peanut and tree nut allergy. The bars turned out fine without the nuts added. You can find the entire recipe, wonderful photographs, and descriptions here: Grocery Budget 101 Jam Breakfast Bars *

I am very impressed with the information provided by this terrific site. They not only give you the recipe but also great photo directions and break down the cost of making the recipe into dollars and cents. Check it out!

As I was mixing up the topping for the bars, I was a bit apprehensive about the lack of sugar. No problem! The sugar in the jam beneath the topping was plenty sweet.

Here are a few tips I am adding after baking the bars: I taste tested the bars right out of the oven, at room temperature, and cold from the fridge. Surprisingly, I liked them best out of fridge. The jam firms up again, and the bars have a nice texture. I usually prefer baked goods warm but not this time. I also used a 7 x 9 pan instead of the suggested 8 x8, and they bars came out perfect by following the same suggested baking time.

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Don’t be tempted to skip the parchment paper on the bottom of the pan!

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I had to chisel my way through the side of the bars after cooling with a paring knife. The baked jam really adheres to the baking pan. I was SO glad I had followed the directions and used the parchment on the bottom. (No need to grease this way) I am sure that to leave out the parchment would completely ruin the recipe. By the time you scraped the bars away from the bottom of the pan the whole recipe would be crumbled. Next time I bake them I will carefully run a paring knife around the sides while they are still warm.

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After the bars were cool I flipped them out onto a cutting sheet and cut through them upside down. This kept the top of the bars from falling apart during the cutting.

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The bars are sticky so I stored them in the fridge between layers of waxed paper.

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I had everything I needed to make these bars in the pantry except the jam. I used Smuckers Strawberry. In the future I will stock up on jam when it goes on sale and the recipe will be even more budget friendly. Why does costing only pennies per serving somehow make the bars taste even better? Happy Baking! 🙂

* If I don’t know the source of a recipe I use I will include the recipe in my post, if I do know the source I include the link to it in my post. If the link is broken or takes you to the wrong post let me know through the comments section and I will fix it! Thanks.

Pheathers – The Bird Whisperer or Small Miracles

On By TimelessladyIn Pheathers6 Comments

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A “teenager” Blue Jay, wild and reckless, made friends with the ones his Mama told him were the wrong crowd. What an amazing experience this was for all of us.

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We gave him some bird seed. He gobbled up a bit, but seemed to like the attention he was receiving more than the food.

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He first captured our attention by bathing in a muddy puddle the grandboys had created with the hose. The two year old baby was excited and bold, he went right up to him and petted him on the back. We were amazed. No worries for those of you who might wonder if the bird was sick…no…just very young…feisty, strong, and bright-eyed. We wondered if perhaps someone had hand-raised him…he was that tame.

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As I took photographs he pecked the camera.

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He also took a liking to my wedding ring.

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After a bit he flew to a perch in one of the pines bordering our back yard. Fly away home little bird…stay safe. Small miracles happen every day. Thank you God!

Plantings – Updated Posts

On By TimelessladyIn PlantingLeave a comment

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I thought I’d update a few past posts. The microgreen seeds I recently sowed, dated 2011, did great.

The seeds were purchased from Pinetree Garden Seeds. I recently ordered more seeds from the company and had them within a week. The sprouts are now a pretty decent size, and I’ve been “grazing” on them as I pass by. They are clean and ready to eat since they are in pots and elevated off the ground. A few cabbage butterflies have laid eggs, and the cruciferous vegetable sprouts have suffered a bit, but most of the plantings are tasty and still whole.

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The Black-Seeded Simpson lettuce that I allowed to go to seed has really surprised me. I didn’t know lettuce would grow so very high. Yikes! It is near three feet tall and still growing. It is beginning to set some yellow flowers so I think I’ll be able to gather quite a bit of seed from it in a few weeks. I enjoyed experimenting with the lettuce that bolted rather than pulling all of it out of the garden plots.

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I am absolutely “Over the Moon” in love with this gorgeous sage plant that unexpectedly showed up in my wildflower garden. Oh the color…amazing periwinkle blue…a hard shade to find in summer garden flowers. I will absolutely allow this to go to seed and gather it in the Fall. I will also press a few of the florets in hopes that they will hold onto the beautiful color. I have been so surprised by how lush my wildflower garden remained. It is August, granted a cooler one than usual, but still…wildflowers tightly sown still doing well in August??? Amazing!

Plants & Pleasure – Wonderful Wednesday/Gourds

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Pleasures2 Comments

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I’ve tried to grow birdhouse gourds many times over the years. Unfortunately, my efforts usually produce small or mid-sized fruit. Often the developing gourds have rotted on the vine. This year I was determined to try again. I sowed the seeds indoors for an earlier start, and instead of planting them in the ground, I placed the plantlets in pots of very rich soil.

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The pots rest beneath the trumpet vine outside my kitchen window. The sturdy trunk of the trumpet vine provides natural support for the upward climb of the gourd plants. The vine has reached the top of my garage roof now. I am hoping that the heat of the roof will help the gourds grow big, bigger, biggest. Even if my strategy doesn’t work…it does my spirit good when I see the small fruits adorning the vine. I’ll update their progress, or hopefully not…their demise. 🙂 Happy Gardening!

People & Perspective – Steve Harvey

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness6 Comments


Steve Harvey

What is your testimony? As I watched this Youtube video I instantly was reminded of the multitudes that will be in heaven, cheering for the Lord Jesus Christ. I look forward with joy at being a part of that multitude one day. I don’t want anyone to miss being in that crowd! I also want to spread the Good News while I am here on earth. This video is a good example of using the gift God has bestowed on us to share the Good News. Steve Harvey’s gift is not my gift. I enjoy blogging and sharing my love for God through written words. I might not reach thousands of people in my lifetime, but even if I reach just one…it is important to that one. How can you spread the Good News? If a desire to do so is truly in our heart, God WILL show you the way! Blessings on your day.

Painting – “An Iris with Words” / July’s WetCanvas Plant Parade Challenge

On By TimelessladyIn Painting6 Comments

Iris / Plant Parade Challenge July

I am delighted when I find the time to take part in the WetCanvas Challenges. In July I painted an Iris in watercolor in the Plant Parade Challenge. I went outside my comfort zone and added a bit of word collage to the watercolor. The purist within screamed, “NO! The brave soul in me won and shouted, “Onward!”

The painting, 5 x 7, Winsor & Newton watercolors,  is not my best floral, nor is it my worst. It is a watercolor floral I will remember always though…why…because I DID step out of my comfort zone. Hallelujah!

Iris with Words

You can follow the whole thread here:
July WetCanvas Plant Parade July 2014 Thread

The August Plant Parade Challenge/Daisies/Hosted by Just Jean
You  can find the link here:
August Plant Parade Challenge
 

 

 

 

Perspective – Soon and Very Soon

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective2 Comments

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

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In yesterday’s post I spoke of a day on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The boardwalk can be a place of fun and laughter, but also a place of desolation and homelessness. In an attempt to make a living modern-day “troubadours” sometimes set up their instruments on a portion of the boardwalk and play to the crowds of people passing by.

While we were “strolling the boards” we walked by a woman sitting on a bench. I thought at first she was one of these “troubadours,” but soon realized she was more a prophet. Clapping her hands in a steady rhythm, she was purposefully singing a tune I know well, Andrae Crouch’s beautiful song, “Soon and Very Soon.” I am sure others heard the words as they passed by. I hope they understood the message of the song. God bless the messenger in her effort to spread the Good News.

The message of “Soon and  Very Soon” is the coming of the Kingdom of God. Let’s all spread the “Good News” of the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving grace for all mankind.

To read daily reports of current events and  Biblical prophecies being fulfilled check out this site: Rapture Ready

Atlantic City Boardwalk photograph courtesy of Morguefile.

Places – Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ

On By TimelessladyIn Place5 Comments

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Yesterday my husband and I, after living in southern New Jersey for most of our lives, did something for the first time…took the train into Atlantic City. In the past, anytime we’ve been to this famous beach town the trip has been taken in a car. Yesterday we had a great time doing something old and familiar in a totally new way. It was good to walk on the crowded boardwalk, have lunch at “Hard Rock Cafe,” and people watch as we ate at an outside table. Before we left for home we walked out on the New Steel Pier.

The last time I was on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I was in sixth grade participating in “Safety Day.” Not safety as in staying safe, but as a member of the School Safety Patrol. Remember the yellow bands worn across the chest? I am dating myself I think. That was close to forty-five years ago. I can remember the day perfectly, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap were the performers. I am pretty sure they sang the song “Young Girl.” Uh-oh, I’m dating myself again. 🙂

Although the original Steel Pier burned in 1982, the new pier is full of old-fashioned rides such as the ferris wheel and carousel.

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The Carousel is a Double-Decker. The history of it can be found here: Double Decker Carousel

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A staircase leads up to the second level. I can remember riding on horses just like these as a child, and also in the large canopied sleigh too.

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Carnival games line the entrance and border the pier. New-fangled daredevil rides are present too for those not too faint of heart. There are helicopter tours available on the pier that will carry you along the beachfront or over the city.

The casinos loom large on the other side of the boardwalk…

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…but even in the midst of the most modern of settings, Steel Pier still has an old-fashioned charm.

Plants, Problem-Solving and Pleasure – Tomato

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Pleasures, Problem-Solving2 Comments

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My tomato plants have thrived this year. I have been diligent in removing suckers on the indeterminate plants, and now I am reaping the rewards of the time spent caring for them. I am pleased with the heirloom varieties and also the varieties I planted that are said to contain high amounts of the antioxidant anthocyanin. Indigo Apple, along with Gypsy (another dark tomato) have been welcome additions to the garden.

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I’ve had a few problems, this stem at one point in time had several leaves, now it is bare. I never found the culprit, but I am pretty sure it was a tomato hornworm. I am crossing my fingers that he fell victim to a predatory wasp. Hopefully, he is the only one of his kind to visit my plants this summer, and I won’t feel compelled to whip up an organic spray. I’d much rather hand-pick the pests away or let nature’s predators help me out.

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This is the largest tomato I have ever grown. To protect if from squirrels eager to sample its lushness I surrounded it with hair from my cats. I know it looks ugly, but it worked. Here is the harvested tomato, finishing its ripening process in my kitchen. Success!

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If you don’t have cats or dogs, I’ve read that human hair will also repel critters. Happy Gardening!