Hello, I am new here

[nChrist]

        ROFL!

YES - I remember eating spam when it didn't cost so much. In fact, I liked spam fried with some cheese on top for an excellent sandwich. I don't know why it got so expensive. You can get higher quality fresh meat cheaper than you can get spam now. It just doesn't make sense.

SO, I'll have an egg omelet with cheese and REAL HAM - NOT spam.   

[Soldier4Christ]

It is cheaper to buy ham now than it is spam. Spam is good though for putting in an emergency food kit.

[Debp]

Debp, As far as I know each banana tree puts fruit on once a year.
The part of yard we cleared the brush off of actually belongs to Water Management, (government). Our main concern has been having it cleared to reduce fire danger. Florida, is considered the lighting capital of the world. We have lots of really tall pine trees on the property, and we were concerned should lighting ever hit on of our trees, that if the brush got going it might spread faster than we could get it put out or control it. Also the last hurricane that gave us wind damage knocked down and broke off many of the trees that gave us some wind protection. As you can see in the background of some of the pictures is a line of brush. This was a invention of mine, as in putting up a small fence on treated stakes, the fence being light-weight mesh fencing, along the river side of property. This area gave us a  place to put all the weeds and fallen branches and cut brush, a sort of long compost bed. Each year the stuff will rot down and build up the bank of the river, and also give us a bit of wind protection. It provides a continual place to put yard waste while serving a useful purpose. For now we will be attempting to keep weeds from growing up again and hopefully be able to plant some grass or other low growing plant in there that is beneficial to wildlife in the future.
I plan to put up more pictures of our main yard so you can see how I manage plantings there. Glad you enjoyed the view.

Good idea about clearing the brush....we also have wildfire dangers here, but in the suburbs.  I'm in the heart of the city so no problem....we don't get the floods or mudslides either. 

The compost is a good idea, too.  But will your river bank ever get too high and block out the view?  Must be nice being so close to nature.  I like any type of waterways; even enjoy our fountains in downtown L.A.

[islandboy]

Hi Debp, We thought about the view, or wind protection and decided wind protection was more important. We have a few lookout points along the river where there is no fence, and of course the fence is only 4 feet high at best, so it is easy to see over it. It basicly keeps the yard waste from blowing back all over the place. Every summer as a generally rule with the rains the piles rot and go down very quickly. Of couse more is added all the time as palm trees shed their branches often. Now the hard part will be keeping it mowed so the weeds don't take over again. And there is still one more section to clear. One nice thing about the brush pile it gives the wild rabbits a safe place to hide from the hawks and owls.

[islandboy]

In doing some research on the web, I discovered these two websites that provide information about Florida native plants and more, so thought I would share the info with all you nature lovers out there.
The Florida Native Plant Society:  http://www.fnps.org       

University of South Florida Atlas of Florida Plants:    http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/

Both sides have links that go on forever on many different subjects. There are pictures and Latin names, as well.

[islandboy]

We went and bought a new lawnmower. I sat on and looked at and admired the riding lawnmowers with their $1200, price tag and then with a long longing sigh, went to look at push mowers and self-propelled mowers. Well, I knew I did not want the self-propelled ones, as I didn't want to be dragged around my yard. Plus, they are heavy to handle. So we went on the up  isle  looking for a push mower. We didn't get the cheapest one, but instead picked one with a 5 1/2 horse powered engine, and it's a mulch mower so it can handle some the the weeds that grow around here. Tried it out tonight and it was soooooooooooooo, nice. The wheels are bigger than my old push mower and we set it up a little to make the pushing easier. It was like pushing a grocery cart around a store. So I mowed for a half an hour and made the front yard look so nice and smooth instead of the weedpatch it was being to become. Even thou we are having a drought, it seems the grass continues to grow even without rain.
Still clearing brush and pulling weeds, but my easy fences are really coming in handy. I have put them all over the place along the property border along the river and oxbow. It is just a great idea I wish I would of thought of it 6 years ago. I have offset the fence a good 6 feet, that allows for the plants and trees along the bank to have plenty of room, and a place for wildlife to build nests and have protection. And the throwing on of brush gives us a good wind break.

[Debp]

We went and bought a new lawnmower. I sat on and looked at and admired the riding lawnmowers with their $1200, price tag and then with a long longing sigh, went to look at push mowers and self-propelled mowers. Well, I knew I did not want the self-propelled ones, as I didn't want to be dragged around my yard. Plus, they are heavy to handle. So we went on the up  isle  looking for a push mower. We didn't get the cheapest one, but instead picked one with a 5 1/2 horse powered engine, and it's a mulch mower so it can handle some the the weeds that grow around here. Tried it out tonight and it was soooooooooooooo, nice. The wheels are bigger than my old push mower and we set it up a little to make the pushing easier. It was like pushing a grocery cart around a store. So I mowed for a half an hour and made the front yard look so nice and smooth instead of the weedpatch it was being to become. Even thou we are having a drought, it seems the grass continues to grow even without rain.
Still clearing brush and pulling weeds, but my easy fences are really coming in handy. I have put them all over the place along the property border along the river and oxbow. It is just a great idea I wish I would of thought of it 6 years ago. I have offset the fence a good 6 feet, that allows for the plants and trees along the bank to have plenty of room, and a place for wildlife to build nests and have protection. And the throwing on of brush gives us a good wind break.

Glad you got a nice mower and that the wildlife will have a good habitat!

[islandboy]

The Faithfulness of God

Faith is holding on to the faithfulness of God, and, as long as you do that you cannot go wrong. Faith does not look at the difficulties.
Faith does not look at itself or at the person who is exercising it. Faith looks at God. Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God.
And it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man's faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God. He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered.
Words by: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones



Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.  Psalms 119:89-90

[nChrist]

The Faithfulness of God

Faith is holding on to the faithfulness of God, and, as long as you do that you cannot go wrong. Faith does not look at the difficulties.
Faith does not look at itself or at the person who is exercising it. Faith looks at God. Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God.
And it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man's faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God. He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered.
Words by: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones



Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.  Psalms 119:89-90

Hello Islandboy,

AMEN! This is short, powerful, and it really says it all. The big message is that all Glory must go to GOD - not us. Our real strength is IN HIM and FROM HIM. We can grow stronger, but it's still IN HIM and FROM HIM. Many of our problems in this short life are cured when we learn this. Maybe we could call this a "Relying Faith" - becoming stronger by relying on HIM in all things. By the way, this is what HE wants anyway. GOD'S Faithfulness is always perfect!

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NASB
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

[islandboy]

I found an interesting article about the small green lizards (Anolis carolinensis) that are native to Florida, and also the brown lizards (A. sagrel)  that are native to Cuba. The green lizards grow about 7-8 inches long, but the brown lizards get up to 9=10 inches long. When the brown anoles arrived about 60 years ago, the greens began to disappear, as the green anoles sought higher places to live and the browns live closer to the ground. Both the greens and the browns compete for the same food, as in insects, spiders and flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches, etc..  The bad part about having two species of lizards is that they can eat each others young. In both types the females lay an egg once every week or two, in leaf litter, or they bury the egg, a leathery miniature white egg in soil. The green hatchlings have to find their own tree, as neither their parent's or other lizards will share a tree, all being very territorial creatures. So while they are young they are often eatten by the browns. The greens can survive colder weather, but the browns can not. The Cuba or brown anoles can be found in a variety of colors, such as black, speckled, different shades of brown and gray. When the males contest territory or a female they flash their dewlap, which is a fleshy projection under the chin. When anoles do pushups, an activity that people often spot, they are not exercising. Instead they have been startled or irritated. There are several characteristics of all anoles, as in their ability to climb with  their suction cup like feet and they shed their skin about once a month and eat it to preserve nutrients and lastly they are famous for losing their tails when grabbed, but the tail grows back.
More information can be found at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Fort Myers, Fl, at http://floridastateparks.org

[islandboy]

I know many of you no doubt wonder why I have bothered to put in stories and info about our State of Florida's bugs and wildlife. In a way it is the realism of nature created by God, and it also brings us back to our roots in God. Each State deals with it's own wildlife adventures, as well as, horror stories, but do we really take time to see the nature around us. As  Debp's story about cockroach pins that movie stars tote on there outfits unfolded I was thinking about swatting them not wearing them. The dragonfly story to me was a waste of tax payer money, it was also God's way of controlling the mosquito population. And while you might have wondered about the article on lizards, let me tell you they are no joke to a lot of folks who visit Florida, every year and are startled by seeing lizards streaking across the floor or underfoot as they walk outside, as the lizards are hunting food or chasing each other. I remember my mother when visiting letting out a little scream as one dashed over her foot in the kitchen. She was sneaking up on it with the flyswatter, when I stopped her. I explained calmly to her that they help in controlling the bug population, by eating spiders and flies, ants and roaches, thus saving my lungs from bug spray fumes. I have lived in this State for over twenty years now and so I guess I know a few things about bugs and a bit about plants I have grown and battled and a bit about history. But what I find most interesting is the way each thing is interconnected by the loving hand of God.

[nChrist]

Hello Islandboy,

I like watching the small lizards that aren't any danger to people. I don't care much for the big ones with teeth.   

We have a few kinds of harmless lizards here, but they're rarely around people, and they're so fast that they're really hard to spot. I have no idea what they're called.

A little bit further West from us, they have the big and dangerous lizards called Gila-Monsters. They're poisonous and can kill folks, so I have no desire to see one except in a zoo. AND, if I remember correctly, they can outrun most people, so that's a really bad combination.  I try to respect dangerous animals and give them plenty of room. One of the good things about where we live is the huge wildlife refuge. The animals have everything they need, and I think that most of the animals are perfectly suited for the habitat.

[Debp]

I know many of you no doubt wonder why I have bothered to put in stories and info about our State of Florida's bugs and wildlife. In a way it is the realism of nature created by God, and it also brings us back to our roots in God. Each State deals with it's own wildlife adventures, as well as, horror stories, but do we really take time to see the nature around us. As  Debp's story about cockroach pins that movie stars tote on there outfits unfolded I was thinking about swatting them not wearing them. The dragonfly story to me was a waste of tax payer money, it was also God's way of controlling the mosquito population. And while you might have wondered about the article on lizards, let me tell you they are no joke to a lot of folks who visit Florida, every year and are startled by seeing lizards streaking across the floor or underfoot as they walk outside, as the lizards are hunting food or chasing each other. I remember my mother when visiting letting out a little scream as one dashed over her foot in the kitchen. She was sneaking up on it with the flyswatter, when I stopped her. I explained calmly to her that they help in controlling the bug population, by eating spiders and flies, ants and roaches, thus saving my lungs from bug spray fumes. I have lived in this State for over twenty years now and so I guess I know a few things about bugs and a bit about plants I have grown and battled and a bit about history. But what I find most interesting is the way each thing is interconnected by the loving hand of God.

Hi Islandboy, your posts about nature have always been very interesting.  You are right about the lizards helping to control the bugs...I hadn't thought of that before.  But, of course, I don't see any lizards in the heart of the city.    We do have them in other areas of L.A.

I haven't been posting as much as I have gotten more busy where I am a moderator but I try to check in here now and then.

[islandboy]

Debp and Pastor Roger, You will both find this website interesting. The name of it is Tropical Plant Library, it is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The web address is:  http://mgonline.com    The site provides articles and pictures of plants, plant names with latin names. It is really a great site to check out plants. So next time I talk about the plants, trees, and bushes in my yard, you will be able to go to this site and see what they look like.

[Soldier4Christ]

Those are some really cool looking trees on that site.