It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

having never celebrated Christmas growing up, I have a child-like excitement for all things

Christmas!

this year I decided to spruce up the place a bit...

Awww, Kissing Clauses! One of my favorites.

JOY!

Scott's family will be joining us for Christmas this year, hence all the stockings.

Christmas Tree in a Jar.

I can't take credit for the idea, but I used some Styrofoam I had at the house for the snow and it sticks to the jar so it looks like it's snowing.

Homemade Snow Globe.

Here's my tree in a vase.

On the table

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

Funny story, my friend went to the post office and was looking at all the holiday stamps trying to figure out which one she should get.

She finally decided on the Raphael painting of the Madonna and Child.

When she tells the lady at the counter which one she wants she said,

"I want the stamp with the Raphael painting."

The lady said, "What? Which one you talkin about?"

My friend said, "You know, the stamp with the Raphael painting of the Madonna and Child"

The lady responded, "I'm sorry ma'am, I don't know which one you be talkin about."

Again my friend said, "It's the stamp with the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, painted by Raphael."

The lady exclaimed, "OHHHH, DA BABY JESUS STAMP?!?"

HIL.AR.IOUS!

I found these old tins at a thrift store. They had so many that I bought a whole bunch to wrap presents in. It's cheap and easy and you can use them again and again.

happy holidays!

UPcycled on Etsy

Treasures!

Farmer Scott on Drought Proof Plants

Farmer Scott talks Summer Produce

Check out Farmer Scott on Great Day Houston!

July 20, 2011

Farmer Scott on What's Ripe?

Farmer Scott on What's Ripe?

June 14, 2011

an apple a day...

It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician. ~Meryl Streep

Can you believe we have actual apples growing in our yard!?!

Eggplant

Bells

Poblano Peppers!!!

Can we say, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES?!

Cherry tomatoes

"The best prescription for your garden is your shadow"

says Farmer Scott

Our water collection system.

We mean business here folks.

Happy Gardening

Zaphira! Zaphira!

If Deborah Duncan was Oprah, Scott would be Dr. Phil!

Scott was asked back to the Great Day Houston show this morning!

Check out these two video segments on planting tomatoes and citrus trees.

He's such a regular now they even made a "Farmer Scott" animation.

And notice the "Farmer Scott" music they are playing in the background.

LOL, awesome.

Farmer Scott on Tomatoes

Citrus and Tomatoes

Trip to Nicaragua!

Last month Scott and I were able to take a trip to Nicaragua to meet with some coffee farmers up in the mountains of San Rafael. The scenery was breathtaking and everyone we met was so kind. Here are just a few pictures of our time in Nicaragua.

It all starts with these guys...

Farmer Javier

He is a leader in his community and actually some of his coffee is sold to Starbucks.

He was great to talk to and was very open about his experience growing and selling coffee and the practices he'd like to see change.

Of course my favorite thing about Farmer Javier is the way he tied his shirt into a knot!

Farmer Cruz

Cruz was able to build a coffee mill in his house where he is able to process his coffee beans.

Not all farmers have their own mill. The community usually works together to help each other pulp, wash, and dry the coffee beans so they will be ready to sell.

Planting Coffee

Young Coffee Trees

Older Coffee Trees

These coffee trees produce coffee cherries.

Inside these cherries there are two coffee beans or seeds.

After the cherries are picked they are either run through a pulper where the outer layer of the cherry is removed, submerged in water where the muscilage is "washed" away, or the entire cherry is left out to dry. These are just different methods of processing coffee. This process is very specific and important when it comes to quality of the coffee.

(this machine is taking off the outer layer of the cherry and leaving those green colored coffee beans)

From there the coffee is dried and sorted.

Hopefully broken or bad beans are removed and the beans are sorted according to size so they can roast evenly.

After the beans have been dried and the outer layer of dried parchment is removed, you end up with GREEN BEANS!

The next steps are roasting, grinding, brewing, and enjoying!

Scott and I spent a few days with the farmers discussing their farms and what they would like to change. Scott used his knowledge of organic farming, coffee, and the specialty coffee industry to make suggestions to the farmers.

We hope to continue to have a relationship with these farmers and to lend them knowledge, information, access to the coffee market, and support where ever and whenever needed.

We do know that there is a huge need for a clinic in the mountains of San Rafael where these farmers live. There is a need for clothing for the children and the farmers are wanting to change over to organic growing practices as well.

Thank you to all who supported Scott and myself on this trip! We had an amazing time and made some good friends. We ask that you remember these farmers and their families in your prayers and hopefully there will be many more trips to Nicaragua and you all will get to meet these people for yourselves! Or even help build them a clinic!!!

I'll leave you with a few more pictures of Nicaragua.