the ants go marching

Last weekend at the date farm Jay and I discovered an ant hill where the ants were busy transporting tiny little leaves to their dwelling. It was so interesting watching them toting leaves the length of their bodies. I tried to photograph the spectacle but the video captured the marvel much better. It has the added benefit of watching the ants scurry when Lily runs in their direction.

late date

After our Thanksgiving celebration we spent the rest of the long weekend at the date farm. Jay pulled the last of the dates out of the trees while he trimmed dead palm branches. The dates were vine-dried but many of them still edible.

In other date news; Lily finally discovered that she likes eating dates. I had tried numerous times to introduce her to this sweet treat but would politely take the date from my hand and then promptly let it drop out of her mouth. Somehow last week she discovered dates actually taste good and ever since she has been like a kid in a candy store helping herself to dates, chewing their yummy goodness and spitting out the pit. Silly Lily!

golden pm

 Lily, Jay's phone, and I went for a walk after the rain as the sun was going down.

 I wanted to get my pic with the pretty sky....but the camera wanted to focus on me. When I tried to put some more color back in the sky this is what happened. Kinda cool.

golden am

Another weekend at the date farm...

 That's one happy dog!

And one temperamental Snorkie.

coming soon

to a mailbox near you

home away

Before we went to Michigan Jay hauled our camping trailer to the date farm in anticipation of harvesting at the end of August or beginning of September.

 But the dates are ripening early this year.




We have spent the past two weekends at the farm and will continue to call it our second home for the next few months.

I joined Jay on some early morning rides in the basket to pick before the heat of the day, then spent time sorting and cleaning back down on solid ground.

cleaning

We spent our holiday weekend at the date farm. Along with some work around the farm we walked and prayed and anointed the entire 80 acres.

promise

While standing near the 

swimming pool 

at the date farm this week I was 

delighted

 to spot beautiful 

rainbow

 stripes rippling through the water.

pickin' n grinnin'

 First you find a date tree 

and you shake it, shake it

Dates, Dates, Yum Yum Yum!

Then you take a towel and you 
wash them, wash them.

Dates, Dates, Yum Yum Yum!

 

Then you use your hands to sort them, sort them

Dates, Dates, Yum Yum Yum!

put them on a tray to dry them, dry them.

Dates, Dates, Yum Yum Yum!

it's a date

Last year we totally missed it....September came and went...and the date harvest happened without us. When I realized what had happened I made a big note on September 2013 so that our busy schedule didn't keep us from missing what was important. 

Last week when Jay and I looked at the calendar together it was obvious that if we were going to travel across the state and help with the harvest it had to happen right away. So, despite that fact that we had just returned from New Mexico on Tuesday morning, we packed up late Friday and headed out, this time traveling west for two and a half hours, towards Dateland. 

As always, Abba's timing was perfect. Our elderly friends, working together, had harvested 1 of the 16 trees that had been nurtured for harvesting.  Unlike years in the the past, they didn't have any full time guest living with them to help with the extra work during their most labor intensive time of the year. And they were down in numbers due to the death of one of their members this past spring and the increased dementia symptoms of another member of their "family".  And the extended forecast was looking like rain.

By the time we headed home there were 10 trees harvested, three tables full of dates waiting to be cleaned and sorted, several more boxes of dates  waiting in the wings, and about 30 trays of dates cleaned, sorted, and drying in the greenhouse. Our tried aching muscles and date stuffed bellies were blessed to be able to help our friends.

A bonus perk of helping our visit was enjoying the peaceful oasis of their beautiful property. The years of lives dedicated to living a holy lifestyle has resulted in a shalom saturated environment that leaves one feeling rested despite all the hard work.

This photo is for my sew-loving nieces....

wouldn't you love to have a sewing room like this?

light on dark

I was visiting with a friend at the date farm on Thanksgiving when I glanced out the sliding glass door and bolted out of the room trailing my apologies. I grabbed my camera and dashed out the door to catch the sun lighting up the palms with a rich blue-gray stormy colored sky as the backdrop.