Winter in Florida

It is amazing how many birds can congregate in the pasture!

There is a University beef unit near our home and during the winter months we have a bunch of sand hill cranes that like to hang out there!  They are so funny looking and sounding!  It is amazing that critters so tall can be so skinny!

Peach Update!

Last year I started part of my project with some mature trees that were already planted at the farm.  The second half of my project requires young trees and we finally got those planted this Fall.  In this part of the study we will be able to compare nitrogen rates and nitrogen application forms (granular versus fertigation), along with leaching potential of the different rates from a very early stage of growth.  We will eventually be able to compare production rates and quality on these trees but the biggest advantage of the young trees is the ability to measure leaching.  With measuring leaching we are observing how much nitrogen is actually being used by the tree and how much is being lost through the soil profile.  One of the concerns with increasing the nitrogen rate on peaches in Florida is that the tree may not use that extra nitrogen and that extra may end up in the water table as it filters through the soil.  Since we can't see the water table directly we can hopefully monitor the movement and estimate how much is being lost among the treatments.  We don't want to do this with the mature trees because we don't have a good way to apply fertigation and a big part of the study is comparing the two application types (granular and fertigation).  In order to accomplish this we have installed a whole new orchard, including irrigation and injectors for fertigation and then planted our young trees!  In order to do everything we felt necessary we have planted 200 trees total!

Baby trees all in a row.

These are the sprinklers for each tree.

Hard to see but here is all 200 new trees!

I will be starting the second year of research with our mature trees and when we went to check on them earlier this week I was really surprised to see some of them already blooming!  There weren't enough blooming to be concerned about the upcoming freeze (yep, we got down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit here for two nights!) but it was still crazy to see peaches bloom in January!

While it is still down time as far as production goes, there is a lot coming up to do for the project and hopefully I can do a better job keeping you all up to date!

39 Weeks!

Here we are at 39 weeks!

 Chris and I have been trying to find more places to take walks and a fun place that is close is Paynes Prairie.  Paynes Prairie is a nature preserve here in Gainesville where there are wild horses and bison, and of course LOTS of gators! 

This particular day was 39 weeks for me and Ebenezer!  I can't believe we only have a few more days until his due date!

Jealous Kitty

"Are you sure I can't get in? I would fit just right!"

Pandora loves that we are getting ready for Eb's arrival... mostly because she thinks everything is for her!  It has been a challenge to keep her out of all of his things because she looks so cute and fits in them so well - but we definitely don't want to risk any smothering so anyplace he will sleep is off limits.

Another Year is Dawning

Last Christmas my grandparents got me an awesome devotional book that I have been reading at random called 'One Year Book of Hymns'.  I meant to read through it last year, but since that didn't happen I wanted to give it a try in 2012!  I love hymns and with our new church we don't get to sing them at church as much as we are used to so we had been singing some through the week here and there to get our fix.  This devotional gives me the chance to read hymns (new ones and old favorites too) and also get a little of the story behind each of the hymns as well.

The hymn to kick off the new year was 'Another Year is Dawning' and it sums up what I hope this next year looks like for me - especially with so many new things to learn and trust the Lord for!

Another year is dawning:
Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee;
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.


Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.


Another year of service,
Of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year of dawning:
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee.

~Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

I hope the sentiments in this hymn can prove true for me during this new year.  I am also grateful for the sense of freshness the Lord has given me for this new year.  The reminder that not only is each new year a fresh start with fresh grace and mercies - but everyday is fresh as well.  We can wake to new mercy and grace every day of our lives because of Christ's sacrifice and love.  I hope the anticipation of fresh grace can color the days of this year!

Baby's Room: Some Assembly Required!

We have been working over the last few months getting ready for our new little man, and there has been so much to put together!  This has included doing some major rearranging too!  The best place for Eben's room to ultimately be is what was formerly our guest room/ office.  It will still sort of be our guest room but we needed to move some of our stuff out to fit all of his wonderful gifts!  So our desk has moved into the living/dining area of the apartment along with my sewing machine (for now) and all of our books.  Here is some of the progress and finished products!

First we put together the stroller from Chris' mom!

Pandora really thought the box was for her!

The master carpenter!

Chris got me a sonic blast!

Finished Project!

A more recent project was Eb's dresser/changing table combo!  I am so proud of this piece of furniture because it combines the role of two pieces in one, so it doesn't take up as much of our precious space!

Of course Pandora felt her services were necessary!

Until she got bored...

Once it was finished she though it was the perfect place for her!

Chris did a great job putting this together - it was a lot more involved than I thought it would be!

Once major assembly was finished there was a LOT of organizing and arranging left to do!

Before...

All of Eb's clothes and blankets before laundry and sorting...

Pandora didn't seem to mind the mess!

After!

I love the cross stitching pieces Allison made for us!

We are so excited to show Eb his new room and so blessed with all the gifts that have been showered on us!

Oh, Hello 2012! How long have you been here?

Wow! A fresh, new year has really crept up on me!  While I don't always make a New Year's resolution, I do appreciate the opportunity New Year's represents to reflect on the previous year and think about goals and improvements I want to make in the coming one.  Needless to say, I'm rather behind in even doing that this year!  While reflecting on all that happened in 2011 and all that is about to happen in 2012 I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. 

2011 was such a full year, with blessed time with family and the brand new experience of carrying a baby - I am in awe at the tangible provisions and protections from the Lord I can see scattered through the year.  Knowing all of the development that has happened and complications that could have arisen during my pregnancy with Eben, that fact that I have healthily carried him full term seems like such miracle!

2012 has so much in store for our little family.  I am expanding my PhD project, Chris is going to have an internship which will hopefully allow him to graduate this coming winter, and we are going to learn how to be parents!  I have so many plans and can see so many areas in my life that need improvement, including expansions on last year's resolutions, but - in spite of my compulsive desire to plan all of 2012 out right here right now - I feel it much more important to rest and bask in the fact that God is keeping His promises, and to trust in His faithfulness to do the same in this fresh new year.