Dad's Views And Tomato News

ENTRY # EIGHTY

2005-10-04T12:53:00.000-04:00

A Boy and His Dog

Edgar Guest

A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they talk and they walk and they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;

And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.
He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;

Faithful he'll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand;
Oh, he owns a treasure which nobody steals,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.

No other can lure him away from his side;
He's proof against riches and station and pride;
Fine dress does not charm him, and flattery's breath
Is lost on the dog, for he's faithful to death;

He sees the great soul which the body conceals--
Oh, it's great to be young with a dog at your heels!

white6416r@aol.com

Entry # Seventy Nine

2005-09-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

Hello to You wherever you are:

The article below is very interesting.

ENTRY # SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR
Eat Smart
From Cooking Light

Tomatoes How to choose, use, and cook with this favorite summer fruit

Tomato Varieties Tomato

Oh how America loves the tomato. The aroma of the vine, sweetness of the flesh, and juicy acidity spur between 25 and 40 million of us to grow tomatoes in gardens, containers, and window boxes each year. There are few greater pleasures than a just-picked ripe, red tomato still warm from the summer sun, or a basket of juicy heirloom tomatoes from your farmers' market.

More than any other fruit or vegetable, the tomato has changed the face of modern cuisine. Whether you toss chopped tomatoes into a beef stew, slide a few slices into a BLT, or layer them with their soul mate, basil, tomatoes have become ubiquitous. But even the reddest, plumpest specimens can disappoint when it comes to flavor and juiciness. Finding the best choice, knowing its flavor secrets, and understanding the best way to preserve that flavor will deepen your enthusiasm for one of summer's great tastes.

How do you pick a good tomato? Not by looks. Some of the best-tasting tomatoes happen to be some of the homeliest. And picture-perfect tomatoes can be flavorless. Picking a good tomato starts at home, or in your neighborhood. Home-grown tomatoes can't be beat. But when you buy tomatoes, smell them -- a good tomato should smell like a tomato, especially at the stem end.

How do you make a lackluster tomato taste better? Even the best tomatoes taste a little better with a sprinkle of salt, which accentuates the balance of sweetness and acidity. If you have a tomato that's flavorless beyond a restorative touch of salt, drizzle a few drops of balsamic vinegar or honey over it to bring out both the sweetness and acidity. Grilling, roasting, and stewing can also give a bland tomato life: When you apply heat, the tomato's moisture evaporates, concentrating its flavor. What makes a tomato mealy?

How can you tell if a tomato is mealy before slicing into it?Tomatoes are greatly affected by temperature, even during the growing process. They originally came from the warm western coast of South America and don't respond well to temperatures below 50 degrees. Cool temperatures can change a tomato's composition, converting its natural sugar to starch and resulting in a tasteless, mealy tomato. For this reason, never refrigerate a tomato. The cold environment causes the water in the tomato to expand, ruining the texture.

If a tomato feels soft, there's a chance it will be mealy, but, unfortunately, it isn't always possible to tell before slicing. What is the best way to ripen and store tomatoes?Place them at room temperature in a single layer, shoulder-side up, and out of direct sunlight. To store ripe tomatoes for any extended period of time, keep them between 55 and 65 degrees.

My grocer sells little net bags of tomatoes still attached to a vine. Are these really worth their high price? Those tomatoes were not necessarily ripe when picked, so they often lack flavor. They're generally not worth the extra expense.

When should you use canned tomatoes? Opt for canned tomatoes when you want them. Otherwise, let the season be your guide and use fresh tomatoes whenever possible.

What are the flavor differences among red, yellow, orange, green, and purple tomatoes? Generally speaking, yellow and orange tomatoes tend to be less acidic than red and are therefore sweeter. These tomatoes have a fruity, almost tropical flavor as a result of their low acidity. Because their sugars aren't fully developed, green tomatoes have a tart, citrusy tang. Purple and blackish varieties have a complex flavor similar to red wine.

In general, when is it necessary to peel tomatoes? Since peeling tomatoes is time-consuming, I avoid the process whenever possible. For most salsas, salads, and sandwiches, or when eating out of hand, the skin holds the tomato together, so peeling is unnecessary. For more delicate soups and sauces, like our Tomato Garlic Soup with Parmesan Croutons, the peel can be a nuisance. To peel, use a small paring knife to score the bottom of each tomato with an "X," cutting just through the skin but not into the flesh. Place the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon; quickly plunge the tomatoes into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Once they've cooled, you can easily peel away the skins from the tomatoes.

What's the best way to slice and seed tomatoes?Anyone who's tried to cut a tomato with a dull knife knows the challenge; the skins are tougher than they look. A sharp serrated knife is the best tool for the job. To seed a tomato, remove the core. Holding the tomato with the core side up, cut the tomato crosswise. Using the tip of a knife, remove and discard the seeds from each tomato half.

Try Cooking Light FREE!

Keep watching I will have a lot to show you later. as we get closer to Tomato season. E-mail me any time you need to. I am never too busy to listen.DAD.
white6416r@aol.com

ENTRY # SEVENTY EIGHT

2005-09-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

Mornin' Ray,

We've got no problem with you using the bluebird story with your readers, but I would ask you to use the corrected version below. I had a couple of typos that Bobbie pointed out.

Stay healthy and happy.
....................................
Good to hear back from you Ray--my new Tennessee friend. My message this morning got so far off bluebirds that I forgot all about them until later in the morning. So here's the story of our first bluebird season.

We have been bird feeders for many years. So when we moved 3 miles away, we fretted about the birds we left behind and set out to attract birds to our new home. While driving past one of our new neighbor's house, I saw a bluebird sitting in their driveway. We didn't have bluebirds at our old house, so we got excited about attracting them to our new house.

Bobbie brought home from her high school a bird house built by Habitat for Humanities kids. I looked at this house and something didn't look right. Some of the boards were nailed on backward--like it was built inside out. I guess the kid who nailed it together was thinking about girls like most of us guys at his age.

After rebuilding the house, we put it up and then ran out and bought three fancy houses with copper-clad roofs. But then we found out they need to be about 100 yards apart. We'd need a lot more land to handle 4 bluebird houses, so we converted the new, pretty houses to wren, titmouse, chickadee, etc. houses by putting a 1 ｼ inch restricter plate--a little NASCAR lingo here--over the opening.

We got families of all birds that frequent our feeders. But what really blew us away was the bluebird pair that showed up the day we put up the rickety house. We placed the house just outside our home office windows, and spent numerous hours watching these industrious birds build their nest, feed four hungry babies all day long, and care for them day after day after they took to the air. The male was particularly entertaining. He was determined to keep any other male away from his offspring, including his own reflection in our windows all the way around the house and our neighbors' car mirrors. I put up a perch across our office windows for him to rest on while guarding his territory.

We cleaned out the house after the babies fledged and darned if they didn't start another nest. We learned that bluebirds love mealworms, so we started buying bags of 500 worms that they gobbled up in a couple of days, so we graduated to bags of 5,000 worms which last about a week. We have had four clutches of baby bluebirds. Each batch of babies hangs around to help care for the next. They grab as many worms as they can and zoom back to the house to feed their brothers and sisters. There'll be three or four bluebirds with worms in their mouths hanging on the house waiting for their chance to feed the babies. In the morning, I put out a half cup of worms and stand back. I have counted 16 birds at a time crowding around the two feeders. The evening feeding is also a frenzied affair.

Whenever one or two bluebirds decide to jump into the bird bath, they all join in and thrash around like maniacs. I have to refill the bath after they get through.

Bluebirds are just amazing. They have entertained us and kept our yard free of mosquitoes and darned near every other kind of insect.

It is costing us over $100 a month to feed these hungry little critters, but they have provided us way more enjoyment than a night at the movies.

We are looking forward to your next posting.

Have a great day,

Bobbie and Roger

ENTRY #SEVENTY-SEVEN

2005-08-29T14:02:00.000-04:00

Our Family by our Airplane around 1947

This picture brings precious memories to me. The time has passed so quickly...
DAD

ENTRY # SEVENTY SIX

2005-08-23T14:52:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon.

I am going to give you a few good receips here in the next few days, It will be a few more day before I have any more receips, they are on the way . I am working on them. 8/27/05. Scrool down for good information on weight loss. DAD

By Joanne Weir

Oh, how America loves the tomato. The aroma of the vine, sweetness of the flesh, and juicy acidity spur between 25 and 40 million of us to grow tomatoes in gardens, containers, and window boxes each year. There are few greater pleasures than a just-picked ripe, red tomato still warm from the summer sun, or a basket of juicy heirloom tomatoes from your farmers' market. More than any other fruit or vegetable, the tomato has changed the face of modern cuisine. Whether you toss chopped tomatoes into a beef stew, slide a few slices into a BLT, or layer them with their soul mate, basil, tomatoes have become ubiquitous. But even the reddest, plumpest specimens can disappoint when it comes to flavor and juiciness. Finding the best choice, knowing its flavor secrets, and understanding the best way to preserve that flavor will deepen your enthusiasm for one of summer's great tastes.

Those Extra Pounds

So many of us carry around an extra five or 10 pounds that we'd really rather not have. Though fad diets may help us lose weight quickly, they don't teach us how to eat healthy for the long-term. So before we know it we're carrying around saddlebags again.
Lisa Sasson, of New York University's Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, says you can achieve successful weight loss by choosing the right foods and taking it slowly. The ideal program is a gradual weight loss of one to two pounds per week. How many calories is that? Sasson says multiplying 10 times your current weight will give you an idea of the number of calories you need for slow, proper weight loss, unless you are severely overweight. Someone who weighs 128 pounds should eat no less than 1,200 to 1,300 calories per day. Below that, your metabolic rate drops, and you lose water rather than fat.
Sasson says the key to weight loss is a balanced approach. Eat when you're hungry and vary what you eat so you don't get bored. Make sure you include foods from all the major food groups. Have three healthy meals and a few planned snacks, and watch your portions. Choose foods that are easy to find and prepare. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will fill you up with fewer calories. Eat slowly and stop when you start to feel full. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and with meals. And finally, allow yourself an occasional treat.
Source: BHG.com - Better Homes and Gardens online

Featured Recipe

ENTRY # SEVENTY FIVE

2005-08-12T17:32:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,

Here is a good poem by Edgar Guest that I like very much.

Home and the Office

Edgar Guest

Home is the place where the laughter should ring,
And man should be found at his best.
Let the cares of the day be as great as they may,
The night has been fashioned for rest.

So leave at the door when the toiling is o'er
All the burdens of worktime behind,
And just be a dad to your girl or your lad--
A dad of the rollicking kind.

The office is made for the tasks you must face;
It is built for the work you must do;
You may sit there and sigh as your cares pile up high,
And no one may criticize you;

You may worry and fret as you think of your debt,
You may grumble when plans go astray,
But when it comes night, and you shut your desk tight,
Don't carry the burdens away.

Keep daytime for toil and the nighttime for play,
Work as hard as you choose in the town,
But when the day ends, and the darkness descends,
Just forget that you're wearing a frown--

Go home with a smile! Oh, you'll find it worth while;
Go home light of heart and of mind;
Go home and be glad that you're loved as a dad,
A dad of the fun-loving kind.

ENTRY # SEVENTY FOUR.

2005-08-11T17:37:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,Here is a little story that my son , Jim sent me, I like it and just wanted to share it.

Business and Fishing

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf . He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospects of catching a fish.About that time a business man came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family."You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the business man to the fisherman, " you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"The fisherman looked up at the business man, smiled and replied, " And what will my reward be?"" Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the business man's answer."And then what will my reward be?" ask the fisherman still smiling.The business man replied, " you will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" " And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.The business man was begining to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. " You can buy a bigger boat and hire some people to work for you!" he said"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.The business man was getting angry. " Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let your employees catch fish for you!"Once again the fisherman said " And then what will my reward be?"The business man was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, " Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said,

" And what do you think I'm doing right now?"+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ENTRY # Seventy Three

2005-08-05T09:23:00.000-04:00

Good morning,

Here is a interesting story a friend sent me.

A TOMATO TYCOON

An unemployed man is desperate to support his family of a wife and three kids. He applies for a janitor's job at a large firm and easily passes an aptitude test.The human resources manager tells him, "You will be hired at minimum wageof $5.35 an hour. Let me have your e-mail address so that we can get you in the loop.Our system will automatically e-mail you all the forms and advise you when to start and where to report on your first day.
"Taken aback, the man protests that he is poor and has neither a computer nor an e-mail address. To this the manager replies, "You must understand that to a company like ours that means that you virtually do not exist. Without an e-mail address you can hardly expect to be employed by a high-tech firm.Good day."Stunned, the man leaves.
Not knowing where to turn and having $10 in his wallet, he walks past a farmers' market and sees a stand selling 25 lb.crates of beautiful red tomatoes. He buys a crate, carries it to a busy corner and displays the tomatoes. In less than 2 hours he sells all the tomatoes and makes 100% profit. Repeating the process several times more that day, he ends up with almost $100 and arrives home that night with several bags of groceries for his family.
During the night he decides to repeat the tomato business the next day. By the end of the week he is getting up early every day and working into the night. He multiplies his profits quickly. Early in the second week he acquires a cart to transport several boxes of tomatoes at a time, but before a month is up he sells the cart to buy a broken-down pickup truck.
At the end of a year he owns three old trucks. His two sons have left their neighborhood gangs to help him with the tomato business, his wife is buying the tomatoes, and his daughter is taking night courses at the community college so she can keep books for him.By the end of the second year he has a dozen very nice used trucks and employs fifteen previously unemployed people, all selling tomatoes. He continues to work hard.Time passes and at the end of the fifth year he owns a fleet of nice trucks and a warehouse that his wife supervises, plus two tomato farms that the boys manage.
The tomato company's payroll has put hundreds of homeless and jobless people to work. His daughter re! ports that the business grossed a million dollars.Planning for the future, he decides to buy some life insurance. Consulting with an insurance adviser, he picks an insurance plan to fit his new circumstances. Then the adviser asks him for his e-mail address in order to send the final documents electronically.When the man replies that he doesn't have time to mess with a computer and has no e-mail address, the insurance man is stunned, "What, you don't have e-mail? No computer? No Internet?
Just think where you would be today if you'd had all of that five years ago!""Ha!" snorts the man. "If I'd had e-mail five years ago I would be sweeping floors at Microsoft and making $5.35 an hour."
Which brings us to the moral of the story: Since you got this story by e-mail, you're probably closer to being a janitor than a millionaire. Sadly, I received it also.

This link will take you back to Dad's Tomato Garden Journal.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY #SEVENTY-TWO

2005-08-02T21:12:00.000-04:00

Tomato Slice 2005

Mmm Mmm Good!

Good Morning,

ENTRY #SEVENTY-ONE

2005-07-28T05:25:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture of Princess watching the birds.

Good Morning,

Princess enjoys sitting at the window and watching the Gold Finches as I type. The weather has been nice here today at two PM the tempeature is 83, and that feels good.

Dear Ray,
Some people revel in the heat while others just wilt. Until recently, I was a wilter. That was because I didn't drink enough liquids. However, with Ken's help, that's changed. He is a master refreshment-maker and neighbor. Now I'm greeting the arrival of August with a whole new, happier perspective. Don't be a wilter -- discover how great liquid refreshment can be with these recipes and ideas.
Smoothies are great year-round but their cheerful color and, often, tropical flavorings make them perfect for summer.
Here are great tips and recipes for creating the tastiest cool special summer drinks.
Fruit juices and coolers are the perfect antidote to the wilting summer heat.
Ice cream drinks are a perennial favorite of young and old.
If you need a basic beverage guide with lots of handy tips, information, and recipes, then you've found it.
Until next week, happy cooking!
Wendy Kalen Senior Food Editor, BHG.com

P.S. Enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to a friend.

The links below will take you to my other journal and my three web pages. DAD.

Dad's Tomato Garden Journal
Dad's Tomato Garden Web Page
Dad's Song Bird and Rose Garden Web Page
Dad's Fried Green Tomatoes Web Page

ENTRY # SEVENTY

2005-07-24T21:52:00.000-04:00

Freezing tomatoes for soup and chili

Good Morning,

It's going to be hot today, be very careful don't get to hot.
The picture above is of tomatoes that we are freezing for the chili , soups and beef stew that we will be useing this winter. It is very easy to do. We use quart freezer bags, skin the tomatoes, cook then just a few minuets and then they go to the freezer. It's fun to do, try it. DAD.

Dear Ray,I had a great time with my family at an amusement park last weekend. It was particularly fun for me to see the foods offered. There were corn dogs, pizza, tacos, lemon ice, gyros, barbecued pork, frozen custard, and a pickle-on-a-stick. So raise your milk shake and join me in a salute to the fun summer foods everyone loves.
Here's everything you wanted to know about pizza.
After moving to Iowa we were introduced to corn dogs and I've yet to meet a kid who didn't love them. Try this recipe.
You're sure to find an ice cream or frozen treat here that's just right. And if you've never tried frozen custard, it's a must.
See how easy it is to use your grill to make your own smoked foods.
Finally, explore a wide variety of recipes using tortillas.
Until next week, happy cooking!Wendy KalenSenior Food Editor, BHG.com
P.S. Enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to a friend.

ENTRY # SIXTY-NINE

2005-07-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

Princess, one of your Tennessee friends

Good Morning,

Most of you have met Princess, but if you havent here she is. She is supposed to be smiling but Mary woke her up from one of her naps, to take this picture and you know how that is. I would be angry too. She loves Fancy Feast and we always keep her a good supply.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

Tomato Tasting.

"Invite guests over to try several tomato varieties.
Poor tomatoes; they often get a bum rap. They're not as hip as hot peppers. But you need not think of tomatoes as barely red disks that sit upon the limp lettuce of a fast-food burger. Nor as bland as the versions found in grocery stores. Tomatoes are so tasty and juicy when they're picked fresh that they can be as sweet as candy or as tangy as a tangerine. With over 3,000 varieties, there are plenty to try. SMILE.
Here's how you can put together a tomato-tasting fiesta that will leave even your tomato-leery friends saying, "Wow!"On a perfect summer day, put up a table and pull out some chairs in the shade. Choose 12 varieties of tomato, featuring guaranteed conversation-starting names such as 'Hillbilly,' 'Bull's Heart,' 'Stump of the World,' Pruden's Purple,' 'Hugh's,' 'Plum Lemon,' and 'Banana.'Slice the tomatoes into wedges and label each variety. Put out some chilled beverages and invite your friends over to sample tomatoes, recipes, and fresh bread. Good way to make new friends."

"Cheers to Tomatoes"-from Outodoor Central, Ladies Home Journal-LHJ.com-Source-BHG

Bye Bye DAD

ENTRY #SIXTY-EIGHT

2005-07-18T19:22:00.000-04:00

Tomatoes are still ripening.

Good Morning,
No need to wait for tomatoes to ripen: There's plenty to do with green ones.
Below are two unusual green tomato recipes.

Baked Green Tomatoes

¾ cup coarse buttery cracker crumbs
4 large firm green tomatoes
Salt and pepper
½ cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter

Cut green tomatoes in ½-inch slices; arrange green tomato slices in a greased baking dish. Season sliced green tomatoes with salt and pepper and spread each with about ½ tablespoon brown sugar.Cover sliced green tomatoes with crumbs and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees until green tomatoes tender but still firm, or about 25-30 minutes. Serves from four to six.

Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese

Here's an elegant side dish that puts all those extra green tomatoes you have to use, according to Cheri Sicard on the Internet's Practical Kitchen material. This recipe serves 4.
4 medium green tomatoes
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano leaves
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
4 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and coarsely ground fresh black pepper

Cut tomatoes into ½-inch thick slices. Coat a shallow baking dish with cooking oil. Place tomato slices in a single, overlapping layer in the bottom of the baking dish.Sprinkle tomatoes with vinegar and scatter minced oregano over tomato slices. Top with crumbled goat cheese and drizzle with olive oil.Broil 5-8 inches below a preheated broiler and broil until tomatoes are hot and cheese is just starting to brown, about 7-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

I would like to give credit for the two recipes and other information above to The Tennessean, a real good newspaper published in Nashville TN, and Mr. Bob Battle who writes a extra good column for the paper. A few days ago he was telling us so many things about Tomatoes, that made me smile. A little later I will tell you a little more, and we'll have some more pictures soon.

Bye Bye DAD

ENTRY # SIXTY-EIGHT

2005-07-17T20:57:00.000-04:00

Tomatoes are still ripening.

Good Morning,

No need to wait for tomatoes to ripen: There's plenty to do with green ones

Below are two unusal green tomato recipes.

Baked Green Tomatoes

¾ cup coarse buttery cracker crumbs
4 large firm green tomatoes
Salt and pepper
½ cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter

Cut green tomatoes in ½-inch slices; arrange green tomato slices in a greased baking dish. Season sliced green tomatoes with salt and pepper and spread each with about ½ tablespoon brown sugar.Cover sliced green tomatoes with crumbs and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees until green tomatoes tender but still firm, or about 25-30 minutes. Serves from four to six.

Green tomatoes with goat cheese.

Here's an elegant side dish that puts all those extra green tomatoes you have to use, according to Cheri Sicard on the Internet's Practical Kitchen material. This recipe serves 4.

4 medium green tomatoes
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano leaves
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
4 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and coarsely ground fresh black pepper
Cut tomatoes into ½-inch thick slices. Coat a shallow baking dish with cooking oil. Place tomato slices in a single, overlapping layer in the bottom of the baking dish.
Sprinkle tomatoes with vinegar and scatter minced oregano over tomato slices. Top with crumbled goat cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
Broil 5-8 inches below a preheated broiler and broil until tomatoes are hot and cheese is just starting to brown, about 7-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

I would like to give credit for the two recipes and other information above to The Tennessean, a real good newspaper published in Nashville TN, and Mr.Bob Battle who writes a extra good column for the paper. A few days ago he was telling us so many things about Tomatoes, that made me smile. A little later I will tell you a little more. Below is the link to The Tennessean. Look it over.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

ENTRY #SIXTY SEVEN

2005-07-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

Look what I had on my table for dinner tonight! These are Better Boy Tomatoes. Smile

If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

--Diane Loomans

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY # SIXTY SIX

2005-07-12T16:25:00.000-04:00

You can see by this photo that the tomatoes are beginning to ripen.

Good Afternoon,
Our tomatoes are begining to ripen, and we are glad. We will be showing you more pictures on this journal and also on Dad's Tomato Garden Journal.

This link below will take you there.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY # SIXTY FIVE

2005-07-11T18:19:00.000-04:00

Good Morning.

Here is my thought for today, thanks for taking the trouble to come here to see it. DAD.

A good friend of mine sent this to me and I want to share it with you,he did not want me to give him credit for this as it was forwarded to him and he does not know who wrote it, but I am going to give him credit anyway......Thanks Boyd.

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:

1. to see

2. to hear

3. to touch

4. to taste

5. to feel

6. to laugh

7. and to love."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder - that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

"Each day comes bearing it's own gifts. Untie the Ribbons".

I think that this a good thought for me.

DAD.

ENTRY # SIXTY FOUR

2005-07-07T21:50:00.000-04:00

Good Evening,

Here is a little poem that I like very much.

Take Home A Smile
Edgar Guest

Take home a smile; forget the petty care
The dull, grim grind of all the day's affairs;
The day is done, come be yourself awhile:
To-night, to those who wait, take home a smile.
Take home a smile; don't scatter grief and gloom
Where laughter and light hearts should always
bloom;
What though you've traveled many a dusty mile,
Footsore and weary, still take home a smile.
Take home a smile -- it is not much to do,
But much it means to them who wait for you;
You can be brave for such a little while;
The day of doubt is done -- take home a smile

http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/nf43.htm

Some have ask about end rot in tomatoes, here above is a link that might answer your questions. Dad.

ENTRY # SIXTY THREE

2005-07-05T17:39:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,

This has been a warm day in the Tennessee Valley. At 5:40 PM the temperature is 83. We have partly cloudy skies and have had light rain off and on today.
Our tomato garden is looking good and we gathered our first ripe tomatoes of the season today, these plants were put in the ground on April the 15th 2005. Seeing those good home grown tomatoes makes me smile.

If you would like to see some of these plant showing their progress click on the link below.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

My e-mail address is- white6416r@aol.com. Let me hear from you.

DAD.

ENTRY # SIXTY TWO

2005-07-03T15:24:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,

We have been showing some pictures of our tomato garden on "Dad's Tomato Garden Journal". The tomatoes are beginning to ripen so we will begin showing the red ripe tomatoes right away. If you would like to view some of the comparison pictures of the tomatoes while they were growing click link below. You will see different stages of their growth. I will be happy to try and answer any questions you might have about growing tomatoes. Contact me either by e-mail or comments.
DAD

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY # SIXTY- ONE

2005-06-30T18:57:00.000-04:00

These tomatoes were produced on plants that are 76 days old and came off our comparison plant that we have been showing on Dad's Tomato Garden Journal. Click on link below to view As these tomato ripen we will be showing you more interesting pictures. Keep smiling. Dad.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal /
We have been showing pictures of this plant since april 15th, every two weeks ,showing their progress.

ENTRY #SIXTY

2005-06-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

Burpee Tomatoes
" When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football."
We will soon be showing you a lot of good tomato pictures, and some good information on handling your tomatoes' I am slow but I will finally get it done. See you soon . DAD
The link below will take you to Dad's Tomato Journal.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY #FIFTY-NINE

2005-06-24T19:49:00.000-04:00

Green Tomatoes 2005
More pictures on

Dad's Tomato Garden Journal.

http://journals.aol.com/white6416r/DadsTomatoGardenJournal/

ENTRY #FIFTY-EIGHT

2005-06-19T22:21:00.000-04:00

On Sunday which was Fathers Day we had a big platter of fried green tomatoes for our noon meal from this patch pictured above. They were delicious. You can see a picture of the fried green tomatoes on Dad's Tomato Garden Journal. Entry # 584. Look it over and you will get hungry. DAD
These tomato plants are sixty days old.

ENTRY # FIFTY SEVEN

2005-05-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon,

It is past time for me to update this journal, On April the 15th we put 50 tomatoe plants in the ground. They are doing very good. We did have a few days of cool wet weather that held them back a little, but yesterday it was 81 and today it is 82, so that will make them grow. We are showing pictures of their progess every two weeks on Dad's Tomato Garden Journal, we will also be showing them on this journal soon.

If you are a fisherman be sure and check out all the good things that Bass Pro Shop has to offer. Great ideas for gifts. Go to Dad's Online Shopping for link.

My e-mail address is- white6416r@aol.com if you would have any comments or questions, would be glad to hear from you.
.