My sweet daddy turned 87 on the 14th of July. We had a party last year, but this year it was more low key and mom fixed a nice meal of his favorite fresh veggies from the garden and my sister and I came over to celebrate with them. I had just finished Haven, my sister went to the beach last week and my parents had been up at their mountain house, so we all hadn’t seen each other in a week or so.
The fresh vegetables are all pouring in now, especially the tomatoes, so I knew you all would love to see an update on my dad and mom. When I go too long without sharing about them, I always have someone ask about them. Y’all are so good to be concerned about them, I so appreciate that.
Last year, I shared a long post about my dad’s birthday and shared a sweet video of him at the end, so if you missed that, go back and check it out. He’s a funny guy!
Dad at 87, still going strong. He’s still out tending his 2 gardens.  This is the look I get when I tell him to pose for a pic.
Mom is always by his side, doing what needs to be done. I am so blessed to still have them.  She is a sweet mama!
Dad’s garden here in Marietta is doing good, he’s bringing in lots of tomatoes and other things.
The tomatoes are abundant and I brought home a nice sized bag of them. I’ll be eating tomato sandwiches a lot this week.
The Silver Queen corn is in too and I forgot to get some. I’ll just have to go back, won’t I?
Eggplant is ready too.
This bucket of tomatoes is less ripe than the big bunch they have inside. They have a ton of tomatoes right now. Of course, we all enjoy them.
Lunch was delish, as usual with stuffed peppers.
Cream corn with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.
Update:Â For those who wanted to know how my mom makes her creamed corn, this is straight from her:
Creamed Corn, Iris Style
Cut off corn from cob and scrape into a bowl that can go in microwave. Enough for a meal.
Add salt to taste and cook in microwave for 3 minutes.
Remove, add butter and cook 2 more minutes. Stir and add a little milk and cook for 1 more minute.
That’s it! That’s how she makes cream corn. Of course, it’s wonderful right out of the garden. She said that when she tries to cook it on the stovetop that it sticks so bad, so she figured out how to do it in the microwave.
Fried eggplant and green tomatoes, field peas, steamed okra rounded out the table. It was yummy, of course!
The tomatoes are rolling in and we will be gorging ourselves for a few weeks. They don’t last long enough so you have to take advantage while they’re here.
You can bet I’ll be eating LOTS of tomato sandwiches the next few weeks. Love this special summer treat!
Thank you for sharing in the beauty of my parents. They are special people and I love that my readers have fallen in love with them too. I so wanted to get them down to the Haven Conference this year, but it didn’t work out. My sister was at the beach and I didn’t have anyone that I could ask to bring them down, but next year, I’m going to make sure they come down and see it in person. My dad always asks me about it and how it all went. I was happy to tell him all about it and what a great success it was again this year!
Malinda Clay says
Happy belated birthday to you dad. My dad was also born on the 4th of July. When I was little I thought everyone celebrated my daddy’s birthday. He would have been 88 this year, but he died in 1988 when I was
28 years old. How blessed you are to still have both of your parents. Enjoy!
Carol says
Happy birthday to your dad! Mine would be turning 88 this year. I’m telling ya – I started drooling when I saw that table full of yummy veggies. We used to have big dinners of just fresh veggies when I was a kid – brings back good memories!
Julia G. says
Rhoda – Happy Birthday to your daddy! My daddy turned 87 in April. What a sweet blessing to have our folks still with us. Hugs to them.
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
Thanks for sharing your sweet parents with us! That meal brings back sweet memories of my Mom’s homemade summer meals from the garden. I am so sorry I missed Haven this year but plan to be there next year.
Pamela Adams says
You are very blessed!
Kellie says
Happy Birthday to your sweet daddy!!
I’m in Ohio and have never attended the conference, but I would consider driving them (if your mom promises to feed me). The meal looks delicious.
Judy Green says
How precious are the pictures of your Mom and Dad, and how very blessed you are to still have them with you! Love seeing all their photos, and your Dad’s garden looks amazing. You just can’t beat a meal right of your garden, love all the vegetables and the tomatoes are mouth watering! Nothing comes close to the deliciousness of fresh, home grown veggies! Blessings on you, and your sweet family!
Laurie s says
Those tomatoes look delicious as does everything. I wish I knew the secret, I’ve tried growing tomatoes for 5 years…no luck.
Tricia says
You are very blessed Rhoda to have both parents. I lost my daddy a few days after he turned 75 which was 14 years ago this past June. I miss him everyday. He used to raise a big garden every year like your daddy. I remember going to it & pulling off the vine a big juicy tomato & taking a bite of the warm flesh. Yum…. He also raised silver queen corn & experimented with a lot of other varieties of veggies. I still have Mom who will turn 85 in August. One of my brothers lives with her & she cooks everything they eat. Happy birthday to your sweet daddy. May he & your mother be around many more years!
Theresa says
Love the update on your parents, it is amazing and encouraging to hear of their activities. Agree with above comments, would love to have some of your Mom’s recipes for good southern cooking. Also, tips from your Dad on growing tomatoes. Happy belated Birthday to your Father, and happy summer fun to both parents. You have an amazing family. Would love some more organizing ideas of craft room from niece.
Kathy says
You are so blessed to have both of your parents, both of my parents have been gone for ten years now. You may have already done this but could you post a wedding picture of your parents. We would all love to see them as a young couple. Also, those tomatoes are beautiful and so red. Have you ever tried Tomato Pie? It’s very good, easy to make and if you’re interested let me know and I’ll send you the recipe.
Rhoda says
Hi, Kathy, I did a post on my dad’s birthday in 2012, showing them as a young couple, so check this one out:
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/my-daddys-85-today/comment-page-1/
Kathy says
Thanks for showing me the web page about your family, Don’t know how I missed that one. I remember the big hair days. My daughters were 14 and 12 spending many hours with their hair, hair spray flying everywhere. I so enjoy your blog and looking forward to your postings.
Rhoda says
Kathy, one of my friends just made tomato pie and it was really tasty!
Mel says
Rhoda: Your pictures made me cry today. They made me homesick for my grandparent’s table and farm in South Georgia. The old home burned to the ground last year. But when my granny was alive, she would have a table set exactly like your mom’s on Sunday after church dinner (lunch). Thanks for sharing, and Happy Birthday to your dad.
Melesa Garrison says
Beautiful pics of parents and those gorgeous, red tomatoes! Happy Birthday to your Daddy and cudos to them both for taking such good care of themselves!
Heidi @ Decor & More says
Happy Birthday to your sweet daddy!! He was such a doll at your OPen House — I feel blessed to have met him! Don’t forget that I’m in their area if you ever need help with anything… I would’ve been delighted to bring them down to Haven. 🙂
xo Heidi
Rhoda says
Thank you, Heidi! I appreciate that. You and I are going to get together soon!
Becky in 'Bama says
Oh Rhoda: My mother died a painful death two years ago, and my poor daddy is 82 and in a facility with dementia, but there was a time he grew a garden for us like that – at my house! He and my husband labored hard for many years while we lived there. (LOTS of sweat and elbow grease.) Be thankful every day that your parents are in decent health. At their age, it can turn on a dime. “Life is but a vapor” and parents leave us too soon! Love all the pictures – and indeed the Lord has blessed for your faithfulness. Keep on posting! 🙂
Melodye says
You are so blessed to still have both of your parents! Enjoy & cherish every day. I wasn’t following your blog a year ago, so I went back & watched the video of your Dad’s birthday last year. Both of your parents seem so nice! Happy Birthday
Christy E. says
Rhoda – God bless your sweet, sweet Mom and Dad. My grandparents raised me, but we lost granddaddy in 1978; Grandma Mimi was with me until 2007 so that MY daughter had a wonderful relationship with her as well, Thanks be to God. Your pic of all that home-grown food on the table so very much reminded me of our trips to her house in Tyler for a couple of decades. Couldn’t let but a handful of weeks go by before it was time for a Mimi trip! Thanks for sharing with all of us. Much love to all of your family and a very Happy Birthday to Dad!
Pat @ LifeAtLydiasHouse says
As others have suggested, perhaps you could make tomato pie with some of the tomatoes. I had never eaten it until I got it at West Cobb Diner and it was delicious so I had to find a recipe to make my own! Happy Birthday to your dad! Hope he has many, many more!
revi says
Precious post. You can tell your mom is sweet, and a good cook as well! YUMM.
Frankie Kins says
Your Mama’s okra looks like my Mama’s okra used to. Yum. Happy Birthday to your Daddy and may he have many more!