Friday we visited one of the most interesting places I have ever been. It is called ECHO Global Farm and Research Center. The letters stand for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. Their vision statement is “to bring glory to God and blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor.” They experiment with different plants and irrigation techniques to be used in a variety of climates and situations. They find solutions to low water, too much water, nutritional needs and so forth. On the farm they simulate different climatic situations and have very interesting plants. You can learn more about them on their web-site here: http://www.echonet.org   

Bamboo… fast growing, renewable and versitle… leaves for animal food, stalks for stakes, fences, irrigation and construction…

Such as this …. also a cash crop in some areas … 

Papayas … other fruit trees in the background …they have developed an apple that does not need frost to produce fruit…

The Neem tree… a variety of uses from healing skin to preventing tooth decay to keeping pests off crops and people …

These birds like it …

Goats… a good source of milk, cheese and fertilizer

Rabbits … quickly reproducing food source … also produce good fertilizer

Ducks … raised for eggs and meat … raised in a pond like this can produce algae that sustains tilapia (fish) in the water

Highly nutritious vegetable that produces all year in some climates … cranberry hibiscus …  pretty as well

Two types of well …the small one on the left works like an eliptical trainer

A low cost irrigation system for dry climates … I may try it in my own garden in summer

The miracle tree … Moringa … can be copiced (trimmed) to produce a continous supply of edible leaves … 

or grown as a tree …

Some of the properties of Moringa … the seeds can also purify drinking water …

Yes, we have no bananas …

Creative mulching techniques as well as soil improvement techniques are taught…

Many people in poorer nations move to cities thinking their lot will improve and it does not .. they end up living in places like this … urban gardening is researched here as well …

If we lived in Florida, I would definitely volunteer at ECHO!

 Things I am happy about today…

That as long as God is for me, it doesn’t matter if anyone else is against me.

For a long bike ride yesterday.

For the citrus growers and free fresh squeezed juice.

For key lime pie.

For sales.

For the way the stars looked last night… so clear and bright.

For family.  And time for some family pics….

This is my husband, Greg with his brother, Steve and our sister-in-law, Hally

Us with our older son, Matt and his girlfriend, Jackie … he just finished college and has a new job near Miami … I love seeing him and his dad with their heads together

Me with our newest great nephew, Charlie, and our son, Matt

Greg likes holding Charlie

Mommy, Jessica, got him to laugh by playing peeka boo

Nephew, Andrew with Emma

This is Matt, Jackie, Adam and Andrew … Adam and Jess had us all over for a scrumptious meal..Adam and Andrew both love to cook…

Another day at Grammie and Pop’s… Katie and her mommy, Jessica 

More cuddle time with Charlie

Grammie, Hally, and Emma

Katie … she was born prematurely with defects and has had multiple surgeries and trips to the hospital… another one is pending .. she wants to be a doctor when she grows up

This is her twin, Maddie

Emma is a performer … she wanted us all to sing along …

She and Uncle Greg became buddies quickly …

Family can be a great blessing without even trying hard!

It has been a treat with lots of different taste and smell and sight experiences … sensory delight. Nevertheless, grief wells up like a flood at times. I find it difficult to enjoy anything. I really have to work at it and that can be exhausting. Even if one travels to paradise the pain goes along for the ride.

Yesterday we went to Sanibel island and walked in the wildlife reserve. It was peaceful. Here are some moments I captured. 

You know you are in Florida because :

There is water everywhere …

There are more boats …

The flora looks different …

The fauna looks different …

Your hair gets curly and even though it is January, you can go outside without a jacket …

Enjoying the sunshine, family, walks and bike rides.

Following the example of adamswomanlost I will make a little “happying” list. It is a good exercise for improving mental health.

Things I am happy about today:

I have an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe.

I have a truely wonderful and loving life partner.

I have the sweetest, most thoughtful daughter and she has a very nice husband.

I have two beautiful sons.

I have an amazing house in the woods that was miraculously given to us by God Himself.

A really good cup of coffee.

Four ladies signed up for my Bible study today.

Two people told me I looked thinner this morning.

My very small chihuahua who is sleeping on my husband’s lap.

I had a satisfying afternoon nap… I like naps.

My bed… it is like sleeping on a marshmallow but not sticky.

Socks….. I like them so much I learned how to make them.

Sudoku … it keeps me mentally alert not to mention sane lately.

Cyber friends … I have many and they are so interesting, delightful and helpful sometimes that it makes me smile.

Here are some recent photos of my little world.

I realized yesterday that is has been two weeks since I have posted anything on here so I spent time visiting your sites and now it is time to communicate!

2010 was not a very good year for us and we were not sorry to see it go

2011 floated in quietly … we left a party early and came home to watch a movie in our pajamas

We began the New Year as we intend to go on …with a walk in the park (see photos below)

My brother who lives in Tennessee surprised us with a visit last week. He sent me a text at 6:15 in the AM to tell me he was at the Starbucks near us. He just got engaged to his high school sweetheart and he brought her to meet us. Reunited after 30 years. Love her.

After four months, we finally had a visit with our son, Brian. Many tears were shed on both sides. It was great to talk face to face but he is still not coming home.

Made a trip into Philly to have dinner with my sweet daughter and son in law and to see their Christmas decorations … love them.

Treated ourselves to a movie date… saw The King’s Speech … excellent!

We have had loads of snow lately.  I have had a bad cold and not been able to get out all week but I have enjoyed sitting in the family room looking out the window at the deer and the birds. They are both so entertaining.

It was a grey day but there were hoards of people in the park. There might have been an organized 5K run or something.

Like us, many people were walking their dogs.

Some people were venturiing out onto the ice… not a good idea since it is flowing water and not frozen solid.

The wet ground was a little cold for Bindi

Frozen creek

Met these guys along the way

The sun was trying to break through the clouds

I like how these leaves looked apricot as they clung to the branches

This is an old mill alongside the park that is now a playhouse

It was a mild day with no wind

Bindi got her elf shirt all muddy

A bit cold to linger on a bench beside the water

There were interesting patterns in the ice

Tomorrow I will post some recent visitors to my back yard.