Good Friday - What is it?

   Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, and is traditionally celebrated as the day Jesus died on the cross. Although we don’t know for sure that Friday was the day Jesus was crucified (there are many arguments that it may also have been a Thursday or even a Wednesday), this day was chosen as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

   Protestants across denominations usually observe the day with solemn services consisting of hymns, Scripture readings, prayer, and retelling of Christ’s death on the cross. Some families choose to have a quiet service of remembrance at home. God does not require us to celebrate Good Friday, but it can be a spiritually enriching experience as we remember the pain Jesus went through both before and during His crucifixion. It can also be a preparation for the joy that comes when we celebrate Easter—the day of Jesus’ resurrection—on Sunday.

   If Good Friday is such a solemn occasion, then why do we refer to it as “good”? Although there was technically nothing good about the day Jesus suffered and died for us, the outcome certainly is! It was the day Jesus became the perfect, sacrificial Lamb who shed His blood for the remission of our sins (Romans 5:8; 6:23; 1 Peter 3:18). This was the greatest act of love known to man—God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place. And because of Jesus’ Sunday morning resurrection, those who place their trust in Him believe in a living Savior who will one day return to claim His own (John 14:1–3).

   Even if we choose not to celebrate on Good Friday, we should always have Jesus’ death and resurrection on our minds and hearts. We can commemorate this throughout the year with prayers of thanksgiving and by celebrating the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus commanded His followers to do in order to “proclaim [His] death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

A brief visual reminder and great song of this day and its importance!

"Cord in a Bucket" How to Store Extension Cords

  A few years ago, I was at work fussing about how all my extra long extension cords (50' or more) were getting all tangled up together and how it would take me forever to get a job started because of all of the time it took to untangle. Well one of my buddies said why don't you make a "Cord Bucket"? I said "whats that", so he explained how to do it and I came home and went to town making them and haven't had a bit of tangle ever since.
 So what will you need to get the simple project started?
 1) A 5 gallon bucket as I used or a plastic container that you can store a single cord in.
 2) A drill and a hole saw big enough to get your plug through.
 3) Your tangled extension cord.

  Start by untangling your cord, of course and lay it in the hot sun. Laying it in the sun will make it more flexible and easier to wind into the bucket! Trust me it makes it a lot easier, when I use my Bucket cord in the cold weather its a little harder to wind in but well worth it.
  Then with your drill and hole saw, cut a single whole down next to the bottom of the bucket, (see figure 1). Fish about 4 inches of the cord out.
  Then start to wind the cord into the bucket, take your time and wind it all in in one direction, (see figure 2). This will make thing much easier when you use it later.

Figure 1

Figure 2

   Finally when you are done you will have a wonderful "Cord in a Bucket" that is so easy to use, rewind and store. My buckets have lids, so that I can stack them!

Notice the plug for the outlet is still sticking out of the bottom of the bucket!

   When you need to use it. Just sit the bucket next to an outlet, plug the cord into the outlet and pull out however much cord you need to use, when you are done just rewind the cord back in the bucket and its ready for next time! So easy a Caveman could do it, lol!

James 1 " My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ..."

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"Get Started Gardening With The Right Seeds"

   Well Finally! Over the past week I have been able to get my hands dirty in the garden. I have been on cloud 9. First last weekend I got all my tomatoes and peppers started and under the lights. And as of today I have my broccoli plants in the ground. Along with turnips, beets, 2 different radishes, spinach and salad lettuce. But I believe I have ran into a little problem, I think I am gonna have to expand and build more raised beds. See the problem is, I want to plant more that I have room for, SO, off to build I go! At the bottom of this article I left links to some of my past article gardening tips for you to enjoy!
   I also want to give a shot out for Botanical Interest Seed Company! All of my seeds that (I didn't save from last season) came from them the past two years. I have had great success with their products! At Botanical Interests, not only is the seed inside our packets the highest quality available, their packets are designed (inside and out) to give you the information you need to be a more successful gardener!

• Over 500 high-quality varieties
• Many heirloom seed varieties
• A large selection of USDA Certified Organic seed varieties (learn more about organic seed)
• Guaranteed - the germination rate of every variety is tested before we package it
• All our seed is untreated
• No GMOs - we enthusiastically signed the SAFE SEED PLEDGE: We do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants
•  

Here is more great articles from "The Redeemed Gardener" on Seed Starting:

"Sink or Float Tip"
"Heirloom vrs. Hybrid Part1"
"Damping - Off 101"
"Jell-O in the Garden"
"Hugelkulture Beds"
"Reaping What you Sow"
"Most Important Seed"

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First step To Sowing Seed Outside

  Knowing when to expect frost is a huge factor in figuring out what to plant and when to plant it. Use this frost chart as a guideline for planning your spring and fall gardens.
  The frost chart below is organized by USDA Hardiness Zone, but understand that these dates are approximated based on years of regional weather data. In most cases, the first and last frost will occur within two weeks of the date listed, but wacky weather patterns can result in a very early frost or late frost. Use the chart as a guide for planting, but count on your local weather forecast to plan frost protection measures. 
                                                    USDA Hardiness Zone

	First Frost Date	Last Frost Date
1	July 15th	June 15th
2	August 15th	May 15th
3	September 15th	May 15th
4	September 15th	May 15th
5	October 15th	April 15th
6	October 15th	April 15th
7	October 15th	April 15th
8	November 15th	March 15th
9	December 15th	February 15th
10	December 15th	January 31st (sometimes earlier)
11	No frost.	No frost.

The Jell-O "Planting Tip"

NO! We aren't gonna talk about Jell-O wrestling, lol! Just a tip for staring seeds that Grammy told me about the other day on the phone. She said was when starting seeds, you can sprinkle Jell-O in before you plant the seeds! She said it does 2 things: The first thing it does is the gelatin in the Jell-O helps keep moister in the starting mix. The second thing it does is the sugar feeds the plant as it grows. So just a little quick tip for your garden! 

Quick Tip, Less Weeding and Save Water!

  Here is a great way to conserve water, keep down unwanted grass and weeds in your garden and at it doesn't cost to much. As a matter of fact if you will work with family, neighbors and friends that just through them away you can get them for free and its a wonderful way to recycle! My Grammie used to do this to her entire garden and other than hoeing around her plant, she rarely pulled a weed, because there wasn't many!

  All you need is old News Papers:

1.  Water your garden really good before laying!
2.  You can either take the news papers and soak them in water in a large container before you spread them or wait to a non windy day and lay them, then spray down with water. It always seems to become a windy day when I try the later, God has a since of humor!
3. Lay enough that they are overlapped well and no ground is showing.
4. Keep watering, this will make the lack of weeding easier. Oh, if you get board, I guess you can read as you garden, lol!

  You can also use news papers as a  way to clear grass in a non tilling effect. It takes 6 - 8 months to do this but if you plan ahead, it sure is easier.

1. Figure out the summer before where you want your new garden and mark it.
2. Lay about 1 inch layer of news paper. You can either take the news papers and soak them in water in a large container before you spread them or wait to a non windy day and lay them, then spray down with water. Also with this method, lat rocks or boards on them. (Keep it as moist as you can)
3.  In the fall remove rocks and spread about 8 inches of chopped up leaves on it.
4. On top of the leaves spread your compost, manure, top soil or sandy loom over it.
5. Now here is the hard part! Sit back, read The Good Book and let the worms do all the work.
6. Next spring, just till everything under and plant. You will start out with good rich soil!

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