About a month ago, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida with sustained winds of 155mph causing lots of destruction. Southwest Florida was devastated.
Thankfully, we were spared much of that damage here in Central Florida. By the time Ian arrived here, the winds had been downgraded to a tropical storm. Much of the damage sustained in the surrounding area was due to flooding. A pastor/friend who lives on the next block over was flooded out of his house. They are still in the process of repairing the water damage. On our property, one large palm tree fell over. There were lots of broken tree limbs, but no significant damage to speak of.
Before Ian arrived, we were experiencing typical hot and humid weather conditions. After Ian left, we went straight into Fall conditions with much cooler temperatures without the high humidity.
I hauled all my tomato and pepper plants into my screened in back porch where they survived Ian nicely. After Ian left, I hauled them back outside where they have been thriving for the last month.
I think I have mentioned that we have 2 growing seasons here. We are into our Fall growing season. The tomatoes I planted in August are now producing lots of ripe fruit. I have never had a crop of tomatoes this productive since moving to Florida. I think that the biggest difference in tomato production is due to hand pollinating with an electric toothbrush. I know it sounds crazy, but it really works! Because of the high humidity here, the pollen has a tendency to stick in the flower. But if you pollinate the tomato plants about midday, when the humidity drops below 75%, then you can help the pollination process along. In other climates with lower humidity, that might not be a problem. But the guy I learned this from lives in Michigan and he swears by this method.
Blessings,
Bob
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The Problem with Heretics
The heretics were never dishonest men; they were mistaken men. They should not be thought of as men who were deliberately setting out to go wrong and to teach something that is wrong; they have been some of the most sincere men that the Church has ever known. What was the matter with them? Their trouble was this: they evolved a theory and they were rather pleased with it; then they went back with this theory to the Bible, and they seemed to find it everywhere.
―Martyn Lloyd-Jones
