Basil Harvest

I think I grew enough basil this year.

In gardening, you just never know!

This sink is really jammed full--something 

hard to grasp from just this picture.

Maybe this next picture gives a little better idea?

I brought my boys in on this to help out.

(I'm taking advantage of that help before school starts next week!)

They spent almost 2 hours pulling off every leaf.

Quality time spent talking...instead of on technology.

Learning to work together, and learning that

everyone helps out in a family, are huge life-lessons

that I'm very grateful to be able to give them.

Sadly, it seems to be a rare lesson these days.

Kids are always in a better mood after helping out.

Always.  

They feel good about what they've accomplished

and therefore, good about themselves--

because there is dignity in working, 

in taking part in God's creation.

This huge picking will dry down to a much smaller

amount, yet it should still be enough to last many

months.  I'm not sure if I'll can anymore Italian tomatoes

but even if I do, I'm still counting on at least one more
batch of basil this size--maybe two with all of the rain

we've been getting--before the cold months hit.

Do you have any favorite basil recipes?