Howdy folks!

The gardening season is here big time! Grants Greenhouse on state Route 131 has vine ripened tomatoes and green ones. Tony told me last night they are picking lots of tomatoes and folks are buying green ones to fry. Fried green tomatoes are good. The Grants planted 100 tomato plants a few months ago and they are sure producing. There is nothing like a ripe mater pulled off the vine. My daughter Debby will pull the first ripe tomato here in my tomato patch. I set them out April 1. By using the walls of water you can set them out by April. The walls of water will protect them when it gets 20 degree, we have seen this. So next year get you a three pack of walls of water and have the first ripe mater in your neighborhood–it works.

In the raised bed where I raised potatoes last year, I set tomatoes. In cleaning the weeds out I saw a potato plant coming up. It came from a potato I missed when I dug them last fall. My friend Harry, who died when he was 101 years old, told me he planted some of his potatoes in November and dug them early in the year. They will winter over in the cold ground. If you don’t think the potatoes will grow leaving them in the ground and it frozen hard look where you grew your potatoes and the ones you missed came up in the spring.

Since I had my hernia operation, I could not do any heavy work. Since the doctors released me, I have cleaned seven tractor tires out and five raised beds. I have two more to clean as well as the asparagus beds. One is 75 feet long the other is 40 feet long. My family and friends will have asparagus to eat.

I started picking black raspberries yesterday. I got a pint. That is good for the first picking. I like the black raspberries – they are so good. Ruth Ann would make a pie from these berries. That gal could cook and bake real good. The blackberry cake and lots of other things she baked or the green fried maters she fixed were great.

I was talking to Mike at the Afton bait shop this morning. He said his grandma – bless her heart – just recently celebrated 95 years. That is great! Now Mike spoils her and that is good. He said he went and bought her supper. She said, “you are about the only one that called me and said happy birthday.” Mike had a surprise for her. About 40 people came to help her celebrate her special day. Happy Birthday Grandma from the Ole Fisherman and family. God bless you! She likes a certain kind of cake so Mike went to the Amish store in Adams County and got this cake. Now grandma didn’t seem like she wanted to share but Mike said we can go and get more so she said okay. If you have your parents or grandparents cherish them. One day they will not be with you. I have my children and grandchildren. Do as much as you can with them and love them.

Now on something that is not as important as Grandma is. The crappie fishing tournament – the last five are as follows: June 28, July 26, Aug. 16, Aug. 30, and the last one is Sept. 27. This is something new they have decided for this year. If you fish in four of the last five fishing tournaments you can get in the final contest. The champion fish off is Oct. 3 and 4. This is for the crappie tournaments held all summer. Mike said they are catching crappie that still have eggs in them. Good fishing to all!

Start your week by going to the house of worship of your choice and praising the good Lord. God bless all.

More later.

George Rooks is retired as a park manager for East Fork State Park and writes on event in the local area. He can be reached at grrooks@yahoo.com.