Starting to see the fruits of our labor! Love this time of year…. This nice haul of asparagus reminds me of walking home from our pond as a kid. I’d catch a mess of crappie and bass and stop off at the old fence line to pick fresh asparagus. Mom would make a meal to remember!

Thought I’d share some thoughts and an experience from this weekend. While perusing the treasures of a Des Moines antique mall, I happened across this little gem. Hidden behind an old milk can, resting against the toe of my shoe as I leaned in for a closer look at a Wagnerware cast iron skillet. I wondered, “What’s this and why is it on the floor?” and “What’s with the orange labeling?” My curiosity got the better of me and I picked it up and flipped it open to this…. “Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul May keep the path, but will not reach the goal; While he who walks in love may wander far, Yet God will bring him where the blessed are.” I had to spend the $3 and put it in my collection. Now, if anyone reading this is familiar with the book, you already know what a true treasure it is and what we can learn from its consumption. Took me all of 45 minutes I think. But what a great way to spend a Sunday evening while watching an amazing sunset. It’s about a fourth wise man who set out to find Jesus, just like the three wise men… but he kept getting delayed. Every time he tried to stay on track, someone needed help. A hurting stranger in need. A peacefully sleeping child in danger of certain death. A life in front of him that couldn’t wait. So he stopped. And helped. Again and again. By the end of his life, it looked like he had missed his chance… until he realized something: He hadn’t missed it at all. The truth is, you don’t have to find Christ in one grand act but rather along the way… people come first…kindness, acts of mercy, protecting the weak and needy are where we are most closest to Christ. Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” ‭

Spent quality time with the family last night instead of following the masses distracted by their entertainment addictions. Locally raised beef steaks salted and cooked in butter over a fire. Take care of your household and be the leader the Lord has made you to be. 1 Timothy 5:8

Wife and I recently got a sauna so I decided to couple with a cold plunge. Invigorating! I

Seems one cow knows how to do her brows. Kind of a Angry Birds vibe. 😂

I bet this nap is the best ever.

A great evening for a fire.

It’s great hunting over a good dog.

Nice view this evening.

Turns out that a pasta machine makes a terrific tobacco cutter! #tobacco #pipes #smoke

First batch of cider bottled. Hoping it’s not rot gut when I try it in a couple of months.

Started a whiskey vanilla maple cavendish yesterday. It’s my first attempt so hopefully it’s smokable when I’m done. I have plenty of leaf to experiment with so I’ll keep at it until satisfied. #pipestr #smokestr #tobacco

🍂 Last Pickin’ Before the Frost 🍅🌶️🌱 Got the garden cleared out today before that first frost sneaks in! Hard to believe, but the green beans are still blooming — tough little plants just don’t know when to quit. Picked a nice batch of peppers and tomatoes too. Fun little tip for the season: you can pick your tomatoes green and let ’em ripen inside through the winter. Just spread them out somewhere cool and dry, and they’ll slowly turn red — a little taste of summer when everything outside’s gone gray. It’s always bittersweet putting the garden to rest, but there’s something special about that last harvest. Feels like the land’s giving one final “thank you” before the cold sets in. 🌾