First Fruits

I know this is a little sad, but, I was so proud of my little lunch salad today I took a picture of it and created a new post just to share it with you.

Now, if you know me, you know there's got to be a reason. And there is a reason, of course. Can you guess what it is? Some of you, maybe. Here it comes.

The bulk of my salad (lettuce and edible-pod peas) are from my very own new-this-season backyard raised- bed vegetable garden! Can you tell I'm excited? I'm also growing strawberries. My carrots didn't do too well so this one is from the fridge. The radish and the carrot are from Angel Food.

Almost my entire lunch today was picked fresh from the backyard. That really excites me! And it's only just begun. [Imagine that tune playing in the background.] This is just my first crop. The greens are leaf lettuce so I only removed the outer leaves that often go bad anyway. I did get one strawberry off the plant today. And I harvested a whole handful of the snow peas. I don't think I've ever used them in a salad before. They were great. I didn't even need salad dressing. I just used the sliced strawberries for a little wet flavor.

I have to admit. I did add a small avocado from my fridge after I took the picture. It's from Angel Food too. I guess, depending on how you think about it, one way or another, it's all angel food. I realize the scripture probably meant it a different way but I still think of "the Lord of the harvest". It doesn't have to be November to give thanksgiving for the harvest.

Thank you, God, for your rain and your sun (and your Son).

And thank you for helping me see those 2 fat and happy caterpillars hiding in my lettuce and giving me shoes so I could squash them.

- Wade Baker