Illuminate ME

06/13/2026

Illuminate ME is at the St. Mary's County Fairgroubds today from 11-7 for the Crab Festival. Come see us!

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

Homemade Pickled Beets:

Made from beets grown in our garden using our own aged 3-year compost. No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals are used in the growing process.

Our pickled beets are prepared with simple, wholesome ingredients:

Fresh garden-grown beets
Honey (no processed sugars)
Pink Himalayan salt
Pickling spice
Water

Because we rely on natural soil fertility rather than chemical fertilizers, our beets are grown at nature's pace. The result is a product made from carefully tended vegetables grown with sustainable practices and attention to soil health. A lot more work involved with the way we grow, but you get a healthier product at the end.

06/03/2026

Tonight, I finally retired my old work boots.
Margaret has been trying to get me to put on a new pair of boots for months, but I refused. My philosophy was simple: if the old boots were still attached to my feet, they still had life left in them.

Well, tonight Margaret found me sitting in the garden pulling a thorn out of my foot.

"How'd that happen?" she asked.

Turns out the sole of my boot had more sunlight coming through then the sun on an uncloudy day. My work boot had become a convertible.

At that point, even I had to admit the old boots had finally given their two-week notice.

Those boots survived gardens, compost piles, hard mower decks, tractors, chicken pens, mud, rocks, briars, and years of abuse. They were so worn out I could identify different soil types by feel without taking them off.

Margaret just looked at me and said, "You know, you have a brand-new pair sitting in the house."

She was right, but I wasn't about to quit on those old boots while they still had a pulse.

Unfortunately, they died doing what they loved: letting sharp objects poke me in the foot.

Rest easy, old friends. You've earned your retirement. 😂👢

P.S. Margaret was right, but let's keep that part between us. 🤫🤣

06/01/2026

Margaret said I need to invest in a new pair of work boots...I said I will as soon as the ones I have are worn out...I just got em broke in!

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Canned pickled beets today....