A Bowl Full of "Cherries"

Several days ago, we noticed that the coffee cherries were getting ripe. First, there were just a couple red fruits on the branches. Then suddenly, it seemed the whole bush was loaded with them! They clung to the branches like pretty red beads -- almost too pretty to pick. But I had determined, after seeing so many blossoms this year, that I would try to harvest them and see if I could brew some coffee from my own, home grown coffee beans. It took about seven months for the flowers to turn into ripe cherries.

Last year's crop was just too small to deal with, but I did do a little research to see how to prepare them. So this will be an experiment. We'll see how it goes.Some of the cherries still need to ripen; it will take me a few more days of picking. I did notice that some of them had been nibbled by birds, so I guess I will leave a few for my feathered friends. Next, I will have to remove the pulp, or husk, from the beans. I will be doing this by hand, so it will take some time. Once I get that job done, I will post an update. So stay tuned!

The Sun Will Come Up in the Morning

It has been a week (or maybe I should say a year!) fraught with emotion. Another presidential election has come and gone, with many people happy and many others angry and disappointed. But, as President Obama told Americans, "The sun will rise in the morning." And it did. You see, while nations rise and fall, and leaders come and go, God is still in control. And He always will be.

This morning, I noticed that my coffee cherries are beginning to ripen! It looks like I will have quite a few to pick, and I'm hoping to actually have enough to brew a little coffee. Quite by accident, I noticed a year or two ago that the fruit of the Coffea arabica is quite sweet, although there is not much flesh on each cherry. I will have to start picking them as they ripen, but I must not let the dog see me do it! Penny observed us picking the fruits of our strawberry tree (see my post, Coffee Break: The Strawberry Tree) a while back and decided to try them herself. Each morning, she reaches up at the lower branches in search of some sweet fruits for herself, which she gingerly plucks from the tree and eats. I am afraid if she sees me pick those coffee cherries, she will do the same. Of course, if that were to happen, I might be able to try some kopi luwak!

My star fruit tree, Averrhoa carambola, is blossoming, hopefully to be followed by some lovely golden fruits. We haven't gotten many star fruits from this tree, but maybe the fertilizer we applied will change that.

The hummingbirds and painted buntings have returned from their summer homes, and I have been enjoying their show each day as they fly to and fro and splash about in the bird bath. The butterflies still dance around in the garden, the bees still buzz, and the mockingbirds still sing from the trees. This evening, the sun will go down in the west, spreading glorious color across the sky. And the sun will come up in the morning. 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!

Psalm 113:3 (ESV)

It's November!

Today I saw a meme on Facebook stating, " It's November 1st...We're officially allowed to talk about Christmas." Ummm...Not yet, please! Let's enjoy November! It's such a lovely month.

November is still autumn. The flower of the month is the chrysanthemum (I didn't have a picture of mums, so I went with the marigolds instead!), and its birthstone is topaz. These are golden yellow in color, not red and green! Autumn leaves still cling to trees, hanging on for dear life before finally falling to the ground. It's a month for raking leaves and making our homes cozy for the coming winter months. And pumpkin spice drinks, along with delicious pumpkin breads and pies, should be enjoyed to their fullest.

November is a month with important holidays that shouldn't be overlooked. First of all, Election Day is the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday of the month. This is a day when Americans go to the polls to cast their ballots, deciding who will represent us in our government. We are blessed to have this right, and we should take it seriously. Next comes Veterans Day. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, which commemorated the end of World War I, it later became a day for us to honor all of our military veterans. It is the sacrifice of these men and women that protects our freedom and our way of life.

And then comes Thanksgiving! Somehow, in our haste to celebrate Christmas, we have come to forget the story of the Pilgrims. We have forgotten about the sacrifice those brave men and women made for religious freedom. Traveling across the ocean to a wild land, they endured hardship and sickness and death so that they could freely worship God. At the end of their first year on a new continent, they set aside a day to give thanks to God for His blessings. Interestingly, the Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas.

So I say, let's make the most of November. Let's get out and vote. Let's honor our veterans. And as we roast those turkeys and bake those pies, let's celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends and remember how blessed we are. After those leftovers are refrigerated and the dishes are washed, then we can think about Christmas!

Happy November!