Tag Archives: gardening

Fall is Here and The Soup is On

October 13, 2014 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

Fall… The trees changing colors remind me of a painting in a museum. God’s palatte of colors amuse the eyes and challenge the imagination. A tree stands tall with it’s summer leaves expressing it’s desire to hold on to summer at the bottom of the tree, while the middle hesitantly relinquishes it’s leaves to the cooler temperatures and the top willingly submits in excitement over the seasonal change. From green to an orange hugh to the glaring red with a hint of purple creating a color unknown to the crayola crayon pack.

College Football games, warms coats, turtle necks and gloves. The flip flops are put away and the shorts hit the storage bins. As the heat turns on and the air conditioning is turned off, the blankets are pulled out of the basket as we snuggle up on the couch by the fire place. Once again, the menu choice that takes center stage is soup. Especially when the fall harvest is bringing in the squash and the last of the winter storage vegetables.

As we drove home last night from another weekend away, I looked forward to the yummy butternut squash soup I had made before we left. Simple, quick, healthy and full of nutrients. Butternut squash is a wonderful source of vitamins A, B6, C, and Potassium. It is also filled with anti-oxidents and is good for inflammation.

Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

Start with cutting 2 butter nut squash in half long wise. Scoop out seeds and place the squash into baking dishes flesh side down with enough water to steam. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour, or until flesh is cooked through and soft.

1/3 stick of real Butter

1 large Onion, chopped

4 Celery sticks with tops, chopped

3 Garlic cloves, chopped

Melt butter in pan and saute the onion, celery and garlic. When sauteed to look translucent, add:

2 small or 1 medium Red Pepper, chopped

bunch of Parsley, chopped

When the squash is done, scoop out the flesh from the shell and add it to the sauteed vegetables above. Add also the water from the baking dishes. Do not let it boil. After cooking for about 10 minutes, add:

1 Pint of home made Chicken broth concentrate, I used my canned broth (recipe on previous post last fall)

2 cans of Organic coconut milk

dash of Red Pepper Flakes, add more if you like really spicy

1/8 tsp Chipotle Pepper

1/8 tsp Turmeric

1/2 TBS Sea Salt

Pepper to taste

Cook until all are tender. I use an immersion blender right in the pot to blend. If you don’t have one of those, use a strainer or a slotted spoon to pull out the chunks of vegetables and place them in a blender, blending until smooth. Add back in to the soup pot and serve warm. Make sure not to boil or it will burn.

A warm and tasty treat served with a nice warm piece of baked home made bread. Or, with a grilled cheese sandwich, my kids favorite. By also making a grilled cheese sandwich on home made gluten free bread and using raw cheddar, the kids are more inclined to enjoy any soup I make. 🙂

Hope you enjoy!

Menus / Recipes

Complaining, Venting or Whining…Cannot decide!

August 15, 2014 A Labour of Love 2 Comments

In Psychology Today, complaining, venting and whining are described this way: “Complaining and whining can be distinguished by the nature of the dissatisfaction and by our motivation for expressing it. Complaining involves voicing fair and legitimate dissatisfactions with the goal of attaining a resolution or remedy. When we voice legitimate dissatisfactions but do so without the goal of attaining a resolution we are merely venting. And when the dissatisfactions we voice are trivial or inconsequential and not worthy of special attention, we are whining.” I guess I am slightly complaining in this post about what took place last night. Or, I guess you could consider it venting as it’s over and done with so there is no goal of resolution at this time and to some it could seem like whining since the first part of this post is inconsequential since it was yesterdays issues. Either way, here we go…

It’s been a year since being diagnosed with Lymes Disease and all of the wonderful co-infections that come along with. I am pleased to have come so far in my healing and really have nothing to complain about. That being said, I would very much enjoy getting through a day without a headache. For the last few weeks I have been getting these mild headaches that hit in the afternoons. Most of the time I get through them with a little peppermint oil on the temples and back of the neck, however, last night was very different. I was beginning to wonder if my husband should take me in to urgent care it was so bad. Usually laying down with my eyes closed helps, yet last nights migraine actually got worse as I lied down. Not sure what triggered it other than I was once again on my feet getting things done in the kitchen. It took 2 Aleve (which I hate taking unless absolutely necessary), 1/4 of a melatonin and 2 TBS of liquid Magnesium over an hours time frame before I could lay down and fall asleep without the continual throb that was keeping me wrapped up in the fetal position. Praise God I slept all night and woke up refreshed and surprisingly not tired.

Hence the reason I was unable to share what I accomplished yesterday as far as canning and fermenting. Well, we tried something new and I am excited to taste the end result.

Fermented Fennel, Onion, and Carrots – Taking the fennel and trimming it up, I then placed it in the food processor using the mandoline tool to slice it thinly. Doing the same with the onion and mixing together in a large bowl. I then switched out the food processor tool to the shredder and shredded the carrots. After mixing all together I added sea salt and mixed thoroughly once more. Gathering up some clean sterilized jelly jars I began spooning in the fennel salad mixture pounding each spoonful down into the jar with a wooden mallet. Leaving 1 inch at the top I then added 1 TBS fresh whey and filtered spring water. I will again leave these out for 3-7 days to ferment prior to putting them in the fridge. Burping daily of course. 🙂

The second recipe I made was supposed to be a fennel jelly. I thought maybe I could use the trimmings of the fennel to make a pepper jelly like sauce. Well, after boiling it down all it smelled and tasted like was apple cider vinegar. So, rather than throwing it all out, I went out to the freezer to find something to resurrect the ingredients. Well, it worked. It is really yummy too!

Cranberry, Fennel Chutney Sauce

1 – 1/2 Cups Fennel bulb and fennel trimmings

1 – 1/2 Cups Apple Cider Vinegar

5 to 6 Cups sugar (because I cannot do the sugar, I used birch tree Xylitol. Next time I would likely use only 4 cups as it was quite sweet.)

4 – 5 Cups cranberries, finely chopped

2 small onions, finely chopped

1 tsp. Cinnamon

I boiled down the Fennel, Apple Cider Vinegar and Sugar until it came to a rolling boil for about 5-10 minutes. Then I strained out the liquid and placed it back on the stove adding in the cranberries, onion and cinnamon. I again brought it back to a boil. Turning off the burner I added natural pectin. Unfortunately I hadn’t followed the pectin recipe and it clumped up, so for future I would have kept the fruit and onions in the final product. This time however, because of the pectin clumping, I strained out the fruit pouring it into clean sterilized jars and put them into the hot water bath to seal. Serving it over some cheese with some crushed walnuts will be a yummy winters treat for the family.

Still have to do something with the beets and the cabbage. Maybe today!

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1Chronicles 16:11

Menus / Recipes

Why bother…?

August 14, 2014 A Labour of Love 2 Comments

(This painting hangs in my kitchen… It’s so me!)

Why fermentation? Why canning? Why grow your own food when you have grocery stores on every corner? Why go through the work?

Oh my, so many questions. I’ve heard it all. I’ve even heard, “Sherry you are too sick to be doing all of that”, or “I did all that when I was younger and see no need to keep doing it. I hated doing it then with my mother why would I do it now.” Well, the primary answer to everyones “why” about this topic is this:

Neighbor, “Yeah we have so many tomatoes this year that Sally (name changed) is thinking we should make some pasta sauce. We just aren’t sure what to do with so many.”

MY husband, “Oh yeah. Can the sauces so you have them this winter. It was great this last winter when Sherry was so sick and I prepared the meals, those canned sauces really helped out when I needed them.”

Neighbor, “Maybe they can help one another and do the canning together.”

Said and done! Two verses come to mind when I consider this conversation exchange. The first is from Proverbs 31:10- 18 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.” Keep in mind that as I type this I am aware that it sounds boldly prideful on my part to consider this verse and my husbands conversation. However, when you realize that the title of this portion of Proverbs is titled “A Woman Who Fears The Lord” you understand that all that I do is pleasing to the Lord. I understand who the Lord is and why I am here.

Now, I also must admit that the human side of my being, living in a self indulgent world also realizes that homemaking has become a taboo word for women. The thought amongst our peers is that we were either too stupid to make it doing anything else (and yes I’ve even heard of one persons interpretation of my being a stay at home mom described as “not being highly educated”) or we have an overbearing husband who chains us to the house without allowing us to have a mind of our own. That being said, I have to also admit that worldly thinking can and does creep in sometimes. My worldly thought on the conversation was this, “Thank you Lord that my husband appreciates the sacrifices I have made. I was not at the pool, tennis courts, golfing at the club, sitting down watching soap operas (are those still running?) or going out spending money with friends buying designer clothes and enjoying lavish expensive lunches (as many of my friends did at our last place of residence). I will consider this my paycheck… A wonderful compliment from my husband.” Now, being that I started it out as a sort of thanksgiving prayer, one would assume this was not worldly, however, I would argue with you that it was very selfish on my part to look to myself with pride expecting praise from someone for something I’ve done and sacrifices I made. Really? I’ve made no sacrifices, this is my JOB as a wife and mother. Going to the Word of God you see that Proverbs 31 has much more to say past verse 18. And, it’s all to please the Lord. Does that mean there is no laughter and fun? Of course not. There is great joy when you all sit down together for a meal, or when the aroma of dinner tantalizes your husbands nose when he walks in the door, and the pleasing look in his eyes when he knows that he doesn’t have to worry about one more thing after a full day of work away from those he loves.

Gardening, canning, fermenting, and housework is done to please the Lord. Not to please anyone else. Now, in pleasing the Lord, I am also pleasing the family. It’s a win win.

The second verse was from Titus 2:3, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Again, God honoring to teach the younger women (Sally) how to please the Lord by also pleasing, preparing, saving money and working for the good of the family.

Now, that I’ve shared what’s been on my mind the last two days, I need to share why it’s been on my mind. Yesterday began canning day. With the harvest coming in from our own garden and the local CSA it’s time to begin preparing for winter. Oh we enjoy enough of our harvest now, however, we also enjoy it all winter long. The first comment of my being too sick actually came to reality when I was on my feet all afternoon without sitting down for a break and by dinner time my right leg was numb and I felt like I was again dragging my right foot. Oh swizzle sticks! (as the little girl next door says) Today is a new day and we will try again. Taking breaks this time so as not to overdo.

Yesterday I canned the two day project I was working on. Chicken Stock. Yes, I canned it. I did some reading and educated myself so as not to ruin anyones day with illness. I made my chicken stock the day before, cooking it in the Nesco all day. Then I poured it into jars, refrigerated it and skimmed off the fat the next morning. I then put it back into a stock pot (2 – 3/4 gallons of it) just to the boiling point, poured it into clean hot pint jars, added a tsp. of salt and placed on the lids and began the canning process. Because water baths are not sufficient enough for chicken stock, I used two of my pressure canners at 10 lbs. of pressure for 20 minutes. I made 23 pints of stock. (See previous post last fall on making the chicken stock.) Disclaimer: I would NOT can any chicken that comes from the traditional conventional marketplace. I would only can organic, non-GMO fed chicken stock that was homemade with all organic ingredients using pure unadulterated water sources.

After the chicken stock I moved on to making fermented salsa. I took the beautiful ripe organic tomatoes from the CSA (mine are not done yet), one very large onion, a large bunch of cilantro and about 10-15 garlic. I put them all in the food processor and gently processed them down to a mildly chunky state and poured it all into a bowl. I took clean jelly jars and a few pints placing 1 tsp. salt and 1 TBS fresh whey in each. Then I scooped the salsa into each jar leaving 1 inch space at the top. Wiped each clean and put on the lids. I then shook the jars to mix in the whey and the salt. Placing them on the counter on top of a towel I then unscrewed the lid of the jar so the air would be able to flow. I will leave them on the counter from 3-7 days, burping the jars each day to release the fermented gases before putting them into the refrigerator.

Fermented foods have been a long tradition in many cultures and is wonderful to help aid in digestion. We see the importance of eating yogurt, this is the same only using fresh organic vegetables. Each month my doctor wants to know if I am continuing to eat my fermented veggies, juicing, kefir and kombuccha of which the answer is always yes. We both agree it helps tremendously.

Today, I will be creating and making fermented beats, fennel, cabbage recipes which I will share at the end of the week.

P.S. I am college educated with a 4 year degree. 🙂

Thank you Lord for the blessing of a family to care for. Thank you for the knowledge you have provided regarding health, nutrition, foods, and the human bodies response to unnatural man made resources. Thank you Lord for the daily strength that can only come from you as I open my eyes each day feeling weary. It is only through your almighty grace that I continue on. Lord I pray that I can honor you through all that I do, say and think. Help me to keep my focus on you and you alone so that all I do on this earth will be glorifying to you. Amen…

Gardening, Lymes, Menus / Recipes

Health and Healing, Dinner Part 3

June 24, 2014 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

There is nothing like dinner on the porch with the whole family enjoying fresh wholesome foods sharing their thoughts on their day. Tonights dinner was soup and salad. If your like my family you are likely saying to yourself, “Soup? It’s summer…soup is for winter and cool weather.” My son and my husband both had this look on their faces as if I had 10 eyes when I told them soup. I have to tell you that at the first bite they both were delighted and enjoyed what they thought was going to be a mistake of a meal. So, here it is:

Asparagus Soup (Sherry version)

1/2 Large yellow onion, chopped

4-6 Yellow, Red and Orange Sweet Peppers, chopped

2 Center stalks of Celery, chopped

2-3 Bouquets of fresh asparagus

Sautee vegetables in 2 TBS butter or coconut oil.

When vegetables are tender, add fresh parsley, thyme and sage from the garden. I also added 1 TBS garlic, 1/2 TBS sea salt and pepper to taste. Stir all together and add:

1 Quart of fresh homemade beef broth (cook down soup bones with water and 1 TBS apple cider vinegar)

Add also either 8 oz. milk or coconut milk. Simmer until all vegetables are cooked down and liquid is hot. Then I use an immersion blender and make sure all of the vegetables are broken down so the soup is not chunky. I then let it simmer for another 10 minutes.

For the salad, we picked fresh green out of the garden tower, added fresh grape tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and cut up turkey breast. I added an Organic Creamy Ceaser dressing.

Just a note:

Asparagus is a great source of Vitamins A, C, E & K, chromium, glutathione, and is a natural diuretic.

Lymes, Menus / Recipes

Breakfast, Health and Healing Part 1

June 19, 2014 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

Over the years I have been amazed at the food choices some people make. I have had acquaintances with women who are skinny as rails, spend hours in the gym, go home and eat 1/2 of a chocolate cake. I’m not kidding! I on the other hand can spend hours at the gym, eat salads 3 meals a day and gain weight. I’m serious!

With Lyme disease, I have found it so painful at times and the exhaustion so extreme that cooking anything seemed daunting. I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I praise God for a husband and children who love me enough to take over the “mom” duty of cooking over the last year. They not only cooked, they also prepared healthy meals following the directions I’ve given them over the years. Even as teenagers, their rebellion against food is usually against the bag of organic gluten free cereal. They are becoming more and more against cereal and enjoy their eggs, yogurt and a pancake once in a while. You could say they typically complain if it’s not cooked or prepared just prior to eating.

Research after research shows how unhealthy our food choices are in this country. We have GMO’s and many other toxins in our water, vegetables, meats and fish. So what is one to do? Learn, read, study and educate yourself. I am quite confident that my own battle with Lyme disease and all of it’s wonderful co-infection friends will only be won if I stay on track and continue to try to build up my body with nutrition and not give in to the foods that can make my mouth water at the name or smell.

Since I had the B12 shot, changed my meds around, and made more significant changes in my meal choices, I have been increasingly finding myself better each day. I have moments of fatigue, so I rest, I have moments of pain, so I evaluate my diet or activity level and I make more changes. I thought I would share what a typical day of my diet looks like, since it only changes slightly. Today, we will start with breakfast.

A pint of juice from fresh vegetables provided by my own garden and our local CSA that is now in full swing.

Now, I began juicing each day broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots, celery and cucumbers. I felt great about 2 weeks into it and then I crashed. I learned from a friend who is in the medical field and who also has health issues of her own that if one is hypothyroid caution should be taken with cruciferous vegetables. It dawned on me that I had read that early on in my diagnosis of adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism a number of years ago. So, I read up on what is safe to eat and for the last two weeks I have once again been feeling that my energy is better. I am quite certain that the nutrients released out of the fiber has helped my body regain the vitamins and minerals it needs to help heal itself. When I have to miss a day, I certainly feel it. Here is my daily juicing recipe (all organic):

bunch of celery – Known to be an antioxidant, helps with inflammation, contains Vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, and also potassium, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and many amino acids. Some caution is taken due to the sodium content in celery.

1/4 large cucumber – aids in digestion, helps with hydration, has been found to fight cancers, is also a good source of the B Vitamins

beet greens – vitamins C, A, and K, protein, phosphorus, zinc, fiber, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, iron

organic pre-cooked beets – lowers blood pressure, fights inflammation, Vitamin C, minerals, detoxifies

carrots – beta carotene, Vitamins A, K, C, calcium, potassium, copper, B6, folic acid thiamine, magnesium

cilantro – detoxifying, phytonutrients, antioxidant, is used as an anti-septic, fungicide, aids in digestion, has Vitamins A, C, K and B as well as calcium an potassium

swiss chard – used as an antioxidant, beta carotene, Vitamins E, C, zinc, lutein, also helps in regulating blood sugar levels and is a good source of calcium

dandelion greens – Vitamins K, C, B6, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, zeaxanthin, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper

1 lime – Vitamin C

I also eat a gluten free, rice free Glutino English Muffin. Toasted twice, and on both halves I put 1 TBS each of Coconut Oil. Then I sprinkle Maca Powder on one half with an organic soaked and dried nut butter on top. The other half gets a TBS of my raw honey.

This mornings addition was left over Avocado Cucumber salad. Consisting of:

Sliced and de-seeded cucumbers, avocados, fresh chives chopped up, fresh garden cilantro chopped finely, and two limes which I cut in half and squeezed on top. Add a little salt and stir. The family like it and it was so healthy. I was glad there was some for breakfast.

Gardening, Household Helps

Sherry Sherry Quite Contrary, How does your garden grow?

June 18, 2014 A Labour of Love 1 Comment

A Girl’s Garden

Robert Frost (from Mountain Interval, 1920)

A neighbor of mine in the village
Likes to tell how one spring
When she was a girl on the farm, she did
A childlike thing.

One day she asked her father
To give her a garden plot
To plant and tend and reap herself,
And he said, “Why not?”

In casting about for a corner
He thought of an idle bit
Of walled-off ground where a shop had stood,
And he said, “Just it.”

And he said, “That ought to make you
An ideal one-girl farm,
And give you a chance to put some strength
On your slim-jim arm.”

It was not enough of a garden,
Her father said, to plough;
So she had to work it all by hand,
But she don’t mind now.

She wheeled the dung in the wheelbarrow
Along a stretch of road;
But she always ran away and left
Her not-nice load.

And hid from anyone passing.
And then she begged the seed.
She says she thinks she planted one
Of all things but weed.

A hill each of potatoes,
Radishes, lettuce, peas,
Tomatoes, beets, beans, pumpkins, corn,
And even fruit trees

And yes, she has long mistrusted
That a cider apple tree
In bearing there to-day is hers,
Or at least may be.

Her crop was a miscellany
When all was said and done,
A little bit of everything,
A great deal of none.

Now when she sees in the village
How village things go,
Just when it seems to come in right,
She says, “I know!

It’s as when I was a farmer——”
Oh, never by way of advice!
And she never sins by telling the tale
To the same person twice.

Weekly Update:

The garden tower is providing our lettuce, spinach, bok choy, swiss chard, cabbage, kale and soon our fennel.

The beans and peas are growing taller by the day and will soon provide a welcome addition to our table.

The tomatoes and tomatillos are growing taller and I had to put in the tomato cages. I’m hoping they hold up to the weight since they are not in the ground. Surprisingly the ph is staying within range even with all of the rain. I like this kind of gardening. 🙂

They survived the strong storms, high winds and hail the last few days. The old garden holding the radishes, onions, carrots and beets is already providing radishes for our salads.

memories

Garden Spot

June 11, 2014 A Labour of Love 5 Comments

It’s been a long couple of weeks with our oldest graduating from High School. We’ve had yard work, basement organizing, garage cleaning, food prep, High School Road Rally organizing, etc. Yes there has been more, however, this is the A list. All that being said, my health has been up and down. My latest blood draw came out a complete mess and shows I’m still very sick with many co-infections, yet the Lyme results are actually getting better. I am praising God for this news! I was surprised to find that last week when my doctor gave me a B12 shot due to my B12 being so low, I felt like the energizer bunny the following day. My aching body felt better and I had the energy to finish out the week without debilitating exhaustion (at least 4 days). Note to self: schedule the monthly B12 shot around events!!

So, we made it through last weekend with no obvious issues. Now, I am enjoying a clean house, lots of left overs and the quiet that follows the commotion of such an event. Today my mom and I took my daughter to a movie and out to dinner. Two of her favorite things, and two of my favorite things to do with her.

I thought about my blog and how behind I am, realizing that there is much to report on. The hydroponic system was completed yesterday and I put in the tomatoes this morning. Thought I’d show you how everything is looking thus far. The hydroponics, the Garden Tower, the bean pots and the herbs.

The bees died this spring but a hive was discovered in the neighboring farmers woods so we took two of the boxes with empty frames and placed them on top of an old hive. This is a complete experiment to see if we will harvest any honey in the fall.

The trip out to the old hives had me in a panic, so I prepared by suiting up and brought one of my dearest friends with me to help me with the lifting as my strength still has not returned. The highlight was riding on the farmers tractor as I had never done this before. Before Lyme, I prayed for a farm, now I’ll take an Urban Farm. Although the tractor ride was GREAT! Can you say oompa loompa? ha ha

Who doesn’t love a farm cat! (I looked for ticks before I petted her… Isn’t that sad?

I did also look at the white suit when we returned out of the woods and was shocked to not find any ticks. Another blessing!

memories, Why?

On our way…

May 22, 2014 A Labour of Love 3 Comments

We are on our way….

Here is the Garden Tower –

Here are the bees –

Yes, if you look closely, you will see real bees after I had just shaken them into the hive and if you look even closer I did paint the bee hive with little additional bee friends. 🙂

The hydroponics just arrived today. We will get that going next week…. to be continued…

Why?

Garden Tower Project Planted

May 11, 2014 A Labour of Love 9 Comments

This morning my husband and I began discussing the day over his coffee and my meds. As we talked about all of the projects to begin working on, we decided that the two of us would go out early to get what we needed and also pick up some groceries for the weekend.

One of the items on our list of items to pick was worms for the worm composting Garden Tower. I told him about the place I bought them a few years ago and he gladly drove me on my little adventure. We were able to get our groceries and worms all in one shot. While there, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with Will Allen from Urban Farming. We spoke to him for at least 20 minutes while we discussed his ideas for his own Garden Towers. I had noticed there were 4 or 5 of them in the green house and we began talking about farming, animals, bees (which he offered to help me with…. woo hoo) and aquaponics. I had taken a tour of the facility with the kids a few years ago, however, my husband had yet to see it. I walked him through two of the green houses and was able to show him where the tilapia help with the feeding of the plants above. So impressive. So important. Meeting Will was a great adventure and made my day. What a nice man with such a vision for good health and sustainable farming.

Anyway, we came home after our errands, had lunch and went out to plant the Garden Tower. I planted cabbage, kohlrabi, fennel, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, and kale. I also did my starter plants and put them in the house in the “greenhouse”. Now I just have to wait a little longer for the hydroponics to arrive and by then my starters will be ready for planting. The kids also rebuilt the “old” garden so that hopefully the rabbits will not be able to get into it and they made it half the size it once was. This is where we will plant the carrots, beets, radishes, watermelon and the cantaloupe. Hopefully!

I’m not sure how I’ve had the energy… well… I have an idea but I’m not sharing until I see if it’s short lived or if I may have found something that is working. I’ll know soon enough!

Happy Mothers Day to all those who are moms.

memories

Mind dump…

May 5, 2014 A Labour of Love 6 Comments

I find that at the moment I am at a loss for words and find writing difficult. It’s for no other reason than because I am in a whirlwind of thoughts.

1. Our oldest is graduating! The plans for graduation are slow yet in the process. There is ALOT to do and so little time.

2. So much to do before the graduation! The yard, the garage and the house seem overwhelming at the moment and I’m not sure how helpful it is to have “mom” and “wife” sitting in a chair directing while “husband” and “kids” do all the work. After all, I usually am the one tearing things apart and organizing. My husband can usually count on a day of absolute insanity cleaning. Rearranging an entire room, pulling everything out of the garage for cleaning, or cleaning out the basement and hosting a garage sale. Not this year…. illness has not been our friend. Oh my, how will it all get done…fairies? Elves?

3. Spring planting of the new “gardens”. Yes, new and yes plural! We have ripped out the fence of the garden I now fear and are considering plans for that area. One garden tower has arrived yet it still needs the dirt and the worms and then the seeds to be planted. The 10 pot hydroponics system has yet to come and prayerfully it will not until some of the chores are done and the other garden is up and growing.

4. Treatment and doctor decisions. I have taken another spiral downward after a short reprieve. So, after 10 months of searching for the doctor who treated/cured one patient who I admire for their courage, I found him! So, the question is whether or not we work from here on his protocol that he has written in a book I read in a day, or do I travel across the country to meet him in person. In speaking to one of my two doctors, it has already been agreed upon that what his treatment plan is makes sense and although I have come close to addressing the issues he explains, we have not to the degree in which he would. So, the call was made this morning and I await a call back to see how this may fit into my search for healing.

5. Bees…. Oh the hive must be looked at and I must find the time. Maybe Thursday… If they are getting ready to swarm then I still have time to order another batch of bees, if my queen is dead, then I still have time to order another one to take over. If the drones are ready to succeed their queen with another, I should at least limit their choices. I need to also join the Bee Keepers Club so that I can have a mentor… I really do not know what I am doing and last years hive production was very low with very little return.

6. School is almost done…yet it is not yet complete. There are still things that have to be accomplished and I need to reserve my energy to make sure the spring awareness of summers approach doesn’t distract.

Wow, that actually felt good to get out. Kind of a mind dumping. Sorry all of you had to be a part of it, however, I really and honestly have nothing else to write about. Thanks for listening to me ramble. It really did help. 😉