daily life...

The sounds of big band music are drifting down as Hubs gets ready to start his busy day.  He'll be on the road a lot today, running here and there. So of course we started the morning with a nice fire out in the treetop garden.  

For all of last weeks brutal heat, this week has been so mild and pleasant.  I admit to spending far too much time out in the garden.  We were talking this morning about how quickly it is staying darker in the mornings.  Summer solstice was only a week ago, but the sky didn't lighten until almost 5:15 am.  Last week it was light before 5 am.  So quickly it changes, from the longest day to the shortest day and back again.  It feels so much more dramatic this year than in years past.  

Sitting in the garden the birds were letting me know that their feeders are woefully empty and they would definitely appreciate a refill.  I also caught sight of the white and gray squirrels playing high in the branches, jumping gracefully from tree to tree. I love watching them, as long as they aren't in my garden. 

There is a lot to do today, I seem to have the bad habit of getting distracted and of coming up with more and more ideas to do.  Me working on projects in silence is super bad.  It means that I have time to day dream, scheme and plan... that is frightening. 

I planted my rescued tomato plant this morning.  The roots were filling the glass I had stuck it into when I hoped that it would be able to be saved.  I made sure to put it into rich soil, filled with ground egg shells, coffee grounds, worm casings, organic fertilizer and epsom salt.  It's already had a nice drink so we will see how it does.  My fingers are crossed!  I need to take the time to plant the celery that I started from the scraps.  It looks nice and healthy, so time to get it planted and see where it goes. 

I'm also getting ready to give my herbs a haircut.  Time to dehydrate a few of them, so that the plants keep growing and stay strong. Our house will smell so good.  I love the scent of fresh herbs.  Basil, oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary.  I won't dry too much of the basil, we use basil fresh in many ways. I'm also going to dry out some of the celery that I planted earlier this year. I am so excited to fill my herb and spice cabinet with my own home grown herbs. 

As I was scrolling the book this morning, on one of my gardening groups someone posted that we need to do away with luscious lawns and plants gardens and then share the bounty with one another.  I have to admit that I was quite pleased to know I am not the only one that feels that way. It sort of had an affirming vibe to it. Somehow, at some point in time we stopped taking care of not only ourselves, but others.  I pray we go back to that some day. 

Hubs is on vacation the next couple of days, we're not going anywhere or doing anything, we are simply hanging around the house and working on honey do's.  I have a couple of quilts to finish and he has various projects that he wants to tackle.  We spent time this morning making our honey do lists.  Most of mine is simply an extension of my normal work, his is stuff that he's wanted to do, but hasn't had the time. There is a prediction of rain all weekend, so we figured it was the perfect time to tackle it. 

We are still working on cleaning out stuff that we have acquired over the years but no longer use.  Things that served us well in the past, but for various reasons we no longer need them or use them now.  They are just gathering dust and in the way, it's time for them to move on.  So we will spend a bit of time getting a few of those things cleaned out also.  Honestly, it will feel amazing to move some of the clutter out and be able to check a few boxes off as complete. Some of it we will sell, some of it we will gift to friends or family that can use it.  And some of it we will donate to a local charity. Plain and simple, it's time. 

I am finding less and less of a need for those items that we once used, but are holding on to for the "if come".  Some things simply never have an "if come".  It's time for them to go on to homes that need them.  It feels like it is going to be a very busy weekend.  It will also be very rewarding.  Honestly, I love doing projects with Hubs.  We are a great team and it makes short work of a project when we handle it together. 

Well... I feel lost in a ramble today.  My mind is bouncing around all of the things I want and need to accomplish.  Instead of bouncing any longer, it's time to get with it.... have an amazing and wonder filled day!

love and peace...

that was shocking...

Good morning... wait is it morning?  That was sure the shortest night ever.  Or at least it felt like it, nope, it was really just a short night. I had some canning to finish before I could go to bed and then Belle decided that mommy should wake up when Daddy does.  There is something very jarring about a 40+ pound puppy deciding to wake you up by jumping repeatedly on you with her favorite toy in her mouth.  She just wants her family all together all the time if she is awake. 

Oh well, I wouldn't trade those puppy pounces for the world, but it is going to make for a really long day. 

So, yesterday I wrote about gardens and how they could make such a difference for folks of all means. Yesterday I ran out of the small jelly jars and still have a lot of jelly to get made, I seriously picked a lot of berries and still have a lot of oranges to process that were gifted to me. Hubs and I were calling everywhere to find jars.  Even ordered them from one store, only to be notified that they didn't really have them.  After calling around I found some at Target, only 3 boxes, but it should be enough to get those berries put up.  I also forgot to order wet puppy food, no worries, according to the website, they had plenty in stock at the same store, and for less than my normal purchase from Chewy.  

No problem right?  I also had a short list of items I needed for another recipe that I wanted to make.  Hubs loves curry and I decided I wanted to make a batch.  Nothing fancy, just a few veggies and the curry paste. I figured we could pull off some quick one stop shopping and be done with it. 

Again, no problem right?  Now mind you I have been hearing about some of the shortages we can expect to find, but nothing really prepared me for what we saw.  I felt a bit bad buying the three boxes of jars, they were all they had left.  I do not want to waste my berries, so... I'm sorry to anyone out there looking. But I was stunned by what I saw in every place we looked.  Aisle upon aisle were barren.  Not just low, I mean barren.  And no this store is not undergoing a renovation, it just had one not too long ago. This was all they had. 

These pictures are of the pet food aisles.  I also literally bought all 13 cans of puppy chow.  Again, I felt bad, but considering I couldn't buy it anywhere else and my puppies go through two cans a day along with their dry food... with the holiday, I needed enough to get us through Tuesday.  Or risk not having any.  Buying puppy food wet or dry in this city is a nightmare.  Chewy is doing a bang up business and maybe that is the plan.  But with diesel as expensive as it is and the other issues going on associated with diesel, how soon before that isn't a viable plan?

I would think that they simply hadn't stocked recently, but truthfully, it is one of the few places that carries the mini-milk bones that my babies go nuts over and each time we've been lately there is less and less in these aisles.  So much of it is a random bag or box, and then nothing. 

As we headed over to look for the tomatoes - which I didn't buy because no, I am not paying $6 for two small tomatoes - what caught my eye was the milk coolers directly behind. 

Those cases were simply empty.  There was a small cooler with a bit more not far away, but literally that was it. 

I'd also heard that there is a shortage on women's sanitary products.  I don't tend to look in those aisle any longer, but as we passed them and the paper products I was stunned. 

This is a store in a fairly heavily populated area.  Not too long ago the shelves were packed to the point that stuff would fall off if someone walked to closely. Oh yeah, not the place to get cold medicines if you find yourself feeling ill for an extended period of time either. 

We couldn't help but notice that the toothpaste was literally one box deep on the displays and many other aisles looked like the stores did way back at the beginning of March of 2020.  It's hard to believe it's been over two years of chaos and it is only getting worse.  

I remember going to a store back in March of 2020 and only finding a single case of spaghetti sauce in an aisle, the woman stocking was staring in absolute shock as a woman and her kids asked if they could open it and take one bottle.  I will forever remember the awe in her voice as she said, you aren't going to take the whole thing like everyone else?  And the woman's sweet reply that there wouldn't be some left for others if she did. 

I will tell you if you need toilet paper or paper towels, those aisle's are incredibly over stocked.  My guess is that folks are still using all the stuff they horded way back when.  But that is definitely the place to go if that is what you are in search of. 

I am finding more and more stores are looking the same.  The prices are going way up and the shelves are empty more and more.  I no longer go to our Schnucks, they are far more interested in masking people up than they are in filling their shelves.  But even the Dierbergs has been getting leaner and leaner.  And there are items they keep telling me they can't get in, even though they order it. 

I am not picking on these shops.  What I am trying to point out, is that they keep telling us that shortages and food insecurity is going to be a big thing.  Yet another official stated yesterday that dramatic food shortages are going to occur soon.  That people are going to go hungry.  Another food processing plant in Kentucky this time, just announced it could not afford to keep it's doors open and unless they could find a buyer for their plant they are closing at the end of August. 

We are far too spoiled, too many people do not know how to preserve their food.  They don't grow it, or know where to purchase it if it isn't the corner grocery store.  There are simply too many things that are not adding up.  And shamefully the media that should be giving you the updates are stuck in loops of the stuff they want to beat into your brains.  They are not in the business of giving you information that you need.  They are nothing but propaganda on instant replay. 

I know that we do not need all of the "stuff" these mega stores have in them.  But they have forced the small mom and pops out of business.  If they aren't providing the basics... then what? It seems if you are decorating your home, you are still in luck.  If you are looking to get all of the non-essentials, they have you covered and then some.  But if it is stuff that is required for living, that appears to be in shorter supply. 

I know I'm on a soapbox... but it's my blog and if I feel I need to share what I am seeing and learning about... that is my prerogative.  Maybe where you are living you aren't seeing or feeling it.  Here in the Lou, it's starting to get super noticeable. Not too long around everyone was losing their minds because they couldn't find canned biscuits, FYI those are back in stock, are they not noticing the rest of it?  Can they not see what is right in front of their eyes? If you disagree, that is your prerogative and I will respect it. 

It's time for me to stop venting and sharing.  I have a lot of things on my to do list.  A lot of things that are important.  Especially in the face of what I witnessed yesterday, if I had any doubts in my mind of the state of things, a quick trip out reaffirmed my concerns. 

have a great one... love and peace...

blessings for all?

I'm definitely off to a slow start this morning.  I've almost finished off my super cold coffee at this point and I was sitting here browsing the book, something mindless before I dove into the day.  My niece shared a post that I found super powerful, mainly because it seriously aligns with my own thoughts and beliefs. 

I know that I have written before about filling barren empty public spaces with gardens to meet the needs of all of us.  I can tell you, if my community would give me a huge space to grow a garden that would feed anyone that needed it, I would totally be building a community of gardeners to help me turn it into a powerhouse space. 

I loathe going through areas filled with broken, desolate, barren spaces.  Especially when I know so many people basically live in food deserts.  Even in affluent neighborhoods there is hunger.  There is also a critical shortage of healthy food available to people at a reasonable price.  It is far less expensive to buy junk filled with chemicals and questionable ingredients than it is buy fruits, vegetables and herbs.  

For a very long time I have questioned the reason that we no longer have large gardens, or even garden spaces like are abundantly found in Europe.  Children are completely disconnected from their food sources, often believing that the only place to get something to eat is a grocery store or fast food restaurant.  They don't know the joy of growing their own beans, picking a piece of fruit from a tree, or eating something fresh from a field. 

This is a powerful statement!

All of our food has become so commercialized that far too many believe the food from the grocery is nourishment.  Failing to know that all of the processing, chemicals and treatments are taking all of the nutrition away from that very food.  Making it easy, has definitely made it bland and unhealthy. 

Doubt that?  Go pick your own berries, fresh.  Not only do they taste better, because you've picked them ripe and fresh.  But you have far greater appreciation for them because you are the one that stood under the blazing sun, carefully harvesting the ones that were ripe at the moment you picked them. 

low sugar blueberry jelly - from the berries

Can you imagine the difference it would make to people's health, physical and mental if there were large community gardens.  Where there was no fee to have a basket of fresh, healthy food?  What if we taught seed saving, or growing from the part that you would have thrown out?  Or maybe how to root a sucker branch from a tomato plant?  There is no cost involved in that.  And then think about the ability to learn to can and put that food away.  

do you see all those buds...
new jalapeno's will be ready to harvest
soon. 

I get a bit passionate about this.  Because the truth is, I firmly do not believe there is any reason under the sun for hunger in this country, or any country for that matter.  I believe it is simply a form of control.  

Can you imagine if a community was allowed, ah... there is the rub... to use all common space for gardens?  All that food, with large, vast swatches of vibrant pollinators spread all around.  Sure there would be an abundance of things like zucchini, isn't there always?  But if you can grow zucchini you can make soups, breads (did you know you can dehydrate it and grind it and add it to flour to extend the amount and nutrients of flour?), you can make jams, and salsas.  Some folks have pickled it, or fried it, you can saute' it... I mean the possibilities are almost as abundant as the zucchini's it produces. 

hopefully these pear scraps will soon
be vinegar.

But... imagine the health that is gained by working in that garden.  Imagine the strength of our bodies from bending, lifting, working the soil or harvesting the plants.  Imagine the pride that comes from putting a meal on the table that your labor helped produce.  It improves your mental health as well, and I have mentioned that before. 

these corn cobs became not only jars
of healthy corn, but also jars of yummy jelly
waste not, want not... 

As we are dealing with these increasing prices on everything and I have decided to stop purchasing food that is heavily chemicalized (yep... I know not a word, maybe it should be) as I work on my cantry, I am learning so very much.  I am also questioning more. Did you know that back around the time of WWI and WWII that our government encouraged using all of the public lands to create victory gardens, to feed the masses at home?  Did you know that they provided canners to people?  Because it allowed for everyone to eat and not put further burden on the "commercial" supplies.  

processed and ready to put in the cantry

Why on earth did that ever stop?  Right now we have farmers that are being incentivized to not plant their land, to not have their livestock, to not produce milk, and being penalized for doing so.  Why?  No one to buy it?  Hardly seems true when we have people that are going hungry. 

And it definitely should not be considered stealing. To pick from a community garden should be one of the biggest blessings there is. A living blessing box.  Do I know that people might abuse the process?  No, I don't. We can assume, because that is how we have been conditioned to think of people.  

I guess I have more faith in humanity.  Because I believe that while there might be some that initially appear to abuse the honor system, I want to believe that most would gladly trade their own skills to be able to have a healthy, sustainable supplement to their daily diets. 

Maybe not everyone could do the manual labor.  Health factors, age, caring for very small children, working a job that requires incredibly long hours... there are many reasons.  Maybe they are afraid they don't have the skills, maybe they are concerned that they have a "black thumb". I can't think of all of them, although I am sure those reasons are legion. 

I have faith.  I personally believe that people want to learn new skills.  They want to be responsible for their own health and well-being.  Maybe those that can't work the garden become the ones that shell the peas for the ones that gather them?  Or that do some of the cooking, preserving, distributing... oh the possibilities are endless. 

I loathe green, perfectly manicured yards.  You never see the butterflies fluttering through them, there are no firefly's blinking about in the early evening lighting the incoming darkness like stars here on earth.  So much of what we have been taught are falsehoods.  We don't need the poisons that we spread on the grass.  We don't need modified seeds that only grow when soaked in chemicals.  We don't need so much of what surrounds us. 

I am sure some of that has made farming easier.  I don't know, I'm not a farmer.  But at the same time, it has eliminated the family garden, the community gardens.  There are so few now providing for so many and all of it seems to be controlled by an even smaller number of people that are getting very wealthy.  

Imagine the global wealth and health that could happen if we all gave up a small bit of our fancy manicured yards and spent some time planting something to share.  Imagine the utopia that would be created.

The other day our friends had an abundance of lettuce.  It was pure joy to come home to a bag of fresh from the garden lettuce sitting on our door step.  My little garden doesn't produce an abundance, it's all in small containers, but I use all of it in ways to expand on what is there.  I will eventually have something to return to them as a blessing back. 

What if we were all able to do that? Can you envision it? I am definitely lost in this day dream.  Anyone want to do some guerrilla gardening? Find some vacant unloved lots and turn them into food paradises for any and everyone... If I had the money to buy a plot of land and do that... I completely would.  If you have the land and want to create that vision... I would be happy to help!

I'm not an expert at anything, but I am definitely willing to be part of a solution... 

It's time to get busy on my own little homestead.  The garden needs watered and there are still quite a few batches of current produced waiting to be canned.  Right now, my little fur balls (yes, I know they aren't technically physically little anymore, but they are babies still) are both wanting some of mommy's love and attention. 

love, peace and day dreams for a better tomorrow for all... 

rest easy...

How is it only 7:21 am and so much has already happened?  I have barely been out of bed for two hours - I needed to sleep today.  But in that time, there was a massive puppy love fest, Hubs got a haircut, and I washed and labeled all 67 jars of produce that I canned yesterday.  Sweet Hubs has already put them away.  And as I sat down to type, I noticed a text message from a friend.  I'd just talked to her yesterday, she'd let me know that one of our friends was in the hospital and not expected to make it much more than another six months. This morning I found out that she passed away.

There was a point in time that she was an incredibly important part of my life.  But as life does, we'd grown very far apart.  I don't think we'd talked in probably a year.  If not more.  She retired and went on living her life, I stayed busy working for a bit longer.  By the time I changed my life, too many things had happened, too much time had passed.  We were never really close again. 

I loved her to the moon and back.  I did everything I could for her.  She was important to me and I felt very protective of her.  And everyone knew she was protective of me.  She was like my work mom in many ways. She sat with me for hours while Hubs had the critical revision of his hip replacement, while we waited to find out if his leg and life could be saved.  We laughed a lot.  We even shared my dear Hubs - he was her work husband - she took complete responsibility for his naughty twelve year old side. 

I will miss knowing that somewhere in this city she is safe and living her life.  But I know that she was tired, she'd been struggling for a while.  It was time for her to rest I guess.  I often miss her crazy laughter and wicked sense of humor.  So many times she told me that if things ever got bad in this world she was coming to my house, because she knew I would take care of her. 

I hate that things got in the way of the beauty that was our friendship.  She was a very special person in many ways.  And just like all of us life beat her up.  I hope that heaven welcomed her with open arms and a host of friends and loved ones that left before she did.  

It feels so ironic.  Just last night I was watching a YouTube video by one of my favorite folks.  She was talking about not putting off doing things.  That it's important to move and do when you feel that you should.  To stay focused in life.  She was speaking in terms of gardening and taking care of your family, but in retrospect it could apply to everything in life.  

I had a totally different plan for today's blog, a thought that had been cooking in my brain during the long hours of putting up produce yesterday.  Today is not the day.  It needs to wait. It needs to simmer a bit longer.  Today, I feel an urge to simply get busy.  

Rest in Peace Betty Simmons... you were one of my dearest B's for a very long time.  I will forever cherish the moments we shared... I love you... 

 

the view I love the most...

Today is not a hang out in the garden morning.  I don't think we got the raging storm they were predicting, but it definitely rained a good bit.  I checked on the garden about an hour ago and everything looks just fine. I was worried last night when I finally closed the door and headed to bed.  The high winds did a serious number last time and I was afraid that would happen again. 

Nope, it's hot, sticky, humid and wet.  Hard to believe it is even the same weekend that started so beautifully yesterday.  I'm definitely not a fan of heat or humidity.  So, I'll be staying happily inside today. 

Actually, I have a ton to do today, so the weather is simply being my guide.  If it was a beautiful day out there, I would be crazy tempted to wander out and play. I love to be outside. If the weather could stay mild 24/7, I would probably never come in the house.  Ya know, around 45° to about 80°, that is my favorite window.  I love the crisp fall days and the softness of the springtime.  Summer is a bit brutal for me.  I don't ever see me moving to say... south Texas.  I need it cooler.  And southern Florida is a definite no, the humidity is just not my thing.  

I often wonder if there was somewhere else I would have rather stopped.  And the truth is, there has never been anywhere that has pulled on my spirit enough to make me move.  So many of the places I have lived over my lifetime hold magic for me.  They are places that are filled with great memories and things that I cherish.  Hubs and I play a game when we are out and about and always say "oh I could live here".  And in most cases, I could.  They all have things that appeal to me.  

I miss the beauty of the Colorado sky, that color is burned forever in my memory as the color of a perfect sky.  I loved the richness of the soil in Washington state, so much grew on the farm that I was blessed to live on. I will forever miss Germany and the wonderful adventures I had all around Europe.  I cherished the beauty of a Charleston springtime, so brief, yet so fragrant and breathtaking in it's splendor. 

If I dig further back in my memories... there was so much to love about Crete and the experiences there.  And I vaguely remember my original home of Pennsylvania, although it's been so very long since I've been there that those memories are a bit fuzzy and vague.  I remember the beauty of so many places that I have been blessed to call home. I never figured the Midwest would be my final stopping point.  But somehow it happened. 

Honestly, if we ever moved it would probably be to somewhere in Kentucky.  I find it so peaceful.  I also very much enjoy Tennessee.  Or even closer to where we are now, down in the rolling hills of the eastern Ozarks would suit me just fine.  Somewhere I can garden, enjoy the seasons, live my life... Heck, I have that all right here. 

I don't plan to move anymore.  I'm tired of packing up my life and starting over.  I have a lifetime of experience doing just that.  And frankly, I'm over it.  I've enjoyed the world, I've met incredible folks that I wouldn't trade for anything.  Had experiences that have shaped who I am.  Good, bad and ugly.  And honestly I wouldn't change any of them.  There was a lesson in it all. 

Yesterday as we traveled around down near the Amish community I found myself once again lost in a lifetime long admiration of them.  Well, for the most part.  I deeply respect their way of life and many times longed for that kind of simplicity and peacefulness in my life.  

At one point two adorable little girls came past on a tiny little wagon pulled by a tiny horse, they looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  I wanted to take a picture, but my fingers and heart wouldn't let me.  I know that the Amish do not like their pictures taken, I didn't want to be disrespectful.  Their little matching dresses were a soft powder blue and their bonnets were white.  They looked to be all of 5 or 6, and here they were out in the field together, deeply engaged in conversation and going to wherever it was that they were heading.  

My little grand daughters are very much independent, so that part didn't surprise me at all.  They both have hopped in their little electric cars and driven to my house around that age.  My daughter is a free range mom, raising them to stand on their own two feet. I saw so many similarities in the little girls yesterday and my grands.  Except for the dress.  The independence, the self-confidence, the ability to be out and about on there own.  It was a powerful moment. 

Yes, I understand their culture is very different than ours, and that I would NEVER be okay with the way that they treat animals. I cherish mine, they aren't known for that.  But I could definitely find myself quite comfortable with the majority of their lifestyle and culture.  Who knows maybe I was in another lifetime. 

I am drawn to that simplicity, to the work ethic, to the sense of community, to the way they help one another.  All of those things deeply align with my feelings, thoughts and actions.  Now that being said... while I definitely could handle living that lifestyle, I very much appreciate the things I have.  If I had to do without electricity and modern conveniences I guess I could. Believe it or not I do know how to cook on a wood stove, sew by hand, etc... but... I definitely enjoy the ability to not do those things.  For now they are a change from the normal. I pray with all of the insanity going on right now that they do not become our new normal. 

As much as I want to sit here and reflect on the moments that made up yesterday.  I have tons of produce that needs processed.  I have my own work do do while Hubs is at work this morning.  They say idle hands are the devil's playground, I'm not a fan of giving him a chance.  

In just a short while the pressure canners will be running full steam and I will be working on some jellies and maybe another vinegar or two.  Last night I finished up the green beans and some beets.  Today will be another busy one.  My cantry is coming together quite nicely. 

Stay busy, don't give the devil the chance he's looking for... 

love and peace... 

a trip to the countryside...

Been on the struggle bus today.  My wake up time was 1:11 am.  Not by choice.  Seems the neighbors had friends over and that was the time they decided to move their screaming argument outside.  It was loud enough to not only wake the puppies sleeping on the second floor in the back of the house, but sustained enough for them to not go back to bed for quite a while. 

There are times that I am so envious of sweet Hubs and his hearing loss. Once the chaos started it was on-going for about 30 minutes.  I'm really sorry that her actions led his friends to think he was a total asshole - yup that one is a direct quote.  The fact that the world was slightly a dumpster fire yesterday, led me to refrain from opening the door and yelling out that the neighbors would have to agree. Sadly those particular neighbors are not very neighborly or considerate, so it was a reasonable assumption that their friends fell into the same category.  That and the fact that they were screaming at each other in the middle of the night in a neighborhood they do not live in...

I tried for hours to get back to sleep, I was so very exhausted.  My brain was simply not taking the hint.  Just like now.  Hubs is snoozing away, the puppies are snoozing away and my brain is marching forward with its to do list.  All of the things it wants me to get done today. All of the things I need to do today. 

Around 7:00 am I decided I'd just get up.  Wandered to the treetop garden with my coffee and sat, the puppies wanted attention and I figured sitting there half asleep was just as useful as lying in bed staring at the clock that didn't want to stop moving forward. Hubs joined me for smoothies and chatting while I finally got motivated enough to harvest all those pretty little yellow tomatoes, they were glistening like gold nuggets in the early morning sunshine. 

Going over our plans for the day I mentioned that I had wanted to go to the farmers market, but wasn't sure I was willing to go into the city. I also said I wished that Farmington wasn't so far away as their was an awesome Mennonite/Amish market there that I was longing to go back to. Honestly, with gas the way it is I felt like I was being a bit selfish wanting to do something like that. 

sheer joy heading out for the day

so tired on the trip home... 

Hubs on the other hand jumped at the opportunity! We showered the pups (yikes did they ever need it) and got ourselves ready.  Jumped in my little SUV and we were off on an adventure.  The pups were excited to get to go for a ride, I think they have been missing their adventures. 

I had only been there once with one of my friends last summer and had misplaced the flyer with the address, I have no idea why I never thought to simply look it up online.  Maybe I didn't figure it would be there, but there it was - only 83 miles from our doorstep. It's cash only, although I did notice they take checks for a fee.  There is a sign asking that you dress conservatively and do not wear low cut tops.  I'd chosen to wear a v-neck this morning and felt slightly guilty for it. 

Anyone need 2 turtle doves
or a bunny?  These young men 
can help you out!

As we wandered around the pole barn filled with amazingly fresh produce and handmade items, both Hubs and I had a great time.  I can assure you I have a large amount of canning to do this afternoon, but the produce was literally fresh from the farm, they kept bringing it in the whole time we were there. It was beautiful, fresh, firm, ripened in the field.  We determined it was worth the drive and then some.  We bought several heirloom varieties and Hubs even found himself two new belts.  And I will admit to picking up a few packets of seeds, saved fresh from their harvest. 

After spending a bit of time there we headed back to the blueberry farm that we'd passed driving in.  Puppies were welcome and we wanted to pick some berries.  Hubs got distracted with the babies and took them running in an empty field while I picked berries.  It's been so long since I picked blueberries.  It was something I always took my kids to do when we lived in Washington state.  The whole time I was wishing my youngest grand wasn't out of town, because I am fairly positive that she would have loved the experience. 

It wasn't what we planned to do today.  It was 100% spur of the moment.  It was absolutely wonderful.  

Here in the city, things are a little out of sorts right now.  Folks are highly charged and the fire is being force fed.  Out there, in the country, life was very different.  Very calm, very nurturing of one another.  It was definitely what I needed.  

This world of ours is definitely going through some stuff.  Honestly, this year is harsher than the two previous.  And I don't think it's going to calm for a long while yet.  Who knows if it will happen in my lifetime.  I've opted to just keep living my life. 

If anyone is looking for me, I'll be expanding and tending my garden. Taking care of my puppies, loving my family, doing the things.  I might be knitting dish cloths, I might be working on quilts, I might be making soap or g-tube bibs.  It all depends on the needs of my suburban homestead on that day and at that time. 

What I won't be doing is loosing my stuffing over things that are swirling around about me.  It all feels like a "b" movie or a game.  I'm watching people being manipulated and feeling shock at the sheer volume of misleading and inaccurate statements being bandied about.  And honestly, it's from every side, so... the television doesn't need to be turned on. 

Instead, I'm going to stay very, very busy.  I am going to continue my happy slide into the life that Hubs and I are creating for ourselves.  My little house in the burbs is my happy place.  There are battles that are mine to fight, and those I will participate in.  The things swirling right now, are not mine. 

Well, I'm still super tired, but I have so much beautiful produce that is waiting for my attention.  The garden needs an afternoon watering - it's crazy hot today.  I need to focus on what truly impacts Hubs and I.  

love and peace...

every day, normal...

Well, Let's see how this goes. We've been outside enjoying the beautiful coolness of the morning beside our little solo stove.  I guess Hubs and I are making up for the fact that right now we can't get away to go camping. Watching the sun rise, enjoying the early birds coming and having breakfast, laughing at our pups who have discovered they absolutely love cut raw carrots or just enjoying the silence.  Altogether a beautiful start.  

Little Beau bumped the side of the stove and singed his fur, he's perfectly okay, just freaked him out a bit.  Although now he is insisting that he stay right beside momma.  And is currently fully draped across my lap napping.  I'm guessing he needs comfort.  Belle even helped momma check on him, he is definitely my big baby. I hate that just like children they have to learn some hard lessons sometimes. 

I am not so sure he is going to be happy when I dash up to the fruit and veggie stand shortly.  I want some strawberries and peaches to combine with some of those yummy jalapeno's to make jellies.  Not only are they beautiful, but they will taste incredible.  And my girl loves them. I also want to see if they have any cases of tomatoes in yet.  I am out of diced tomatoes in the cantry and want to get that restocked as it is something I use all of the time. 

I've taken this week slowly, I only made up a couple jars of jelly yesterday and called it quits.  I was a bit weary and making mistakes.  So after tidying up I sat down and watched some YouTube videos and did some knitting.  

At least until the gutter repair guy showed up a full week early, unannounced to do the needed warranty work. Interesting fellow. Made me a nervous wreck having him on my roof, people should not dance around on the edge of roofs and make jokes regarding woohoo maybe this will be my ticket to an all expense paid trip to Alaska.  Goodness. I have to appreciate his thought process.  When he arrived and I pointed out that he was a full week early, he replied that he knew that, but was working 5 minutes away and with gas being $5 per gallon, he was trying to make the best use of his driving time.  I can fully respect that. 

The sweet lady that I agreed to quilt for also showed up at the same time.  It was a bit crazy for a little while.  Longing to be outside monitoring the interesting giant elf dancing on my roof and needing to be inside with the meeting I had set up.  I don't people a lot anymore, and honestly, I am way out of practice. By the time I finished with both of them, I felt an overwhelming need for solitude.  Both super nice, it was entirely me.  I needed to recenter and calm. 

my heart...

Hubs was at an event so I had a few hours of me time to unpack how the day had ended up affecting me.  I spend a lot of time on my own.  It's not a bad thing, I've never been someone highly dependent on others to fill my time.  I'm comfortable with the life I lead.  Although yesterday made me question if I am not spending enough time engaged with other people.  I decided it wasn't that at all.  I was still feeling a tad under the weather to start off with and just needed to rest, I wasn't prepared to people. I also don't always answer my phone when I am having those kind of days so it was nothing to worry about. 

I'll be honest, if I wasn't afraid my beautiful jalapeno's would go bad I am fairly certain today would be another pull up the welcome mat and lock the door kind of day.  I'm tired. But I am not ready to risk it, they are simply too beautiful to waste.  So I will head out to the store here shortly. My sweet lap puppy will have to adjust. I need to spend a good deal of the weekend quilting, so I need to do the stuff today. 

Well, Hubs coaxed the lap puppy off my lap.  So it is definitely time to dash.  Stuff to do... life to live. 

love and peace...

my personal paradise...

It's another delightfully cool morning here in the treetop garden.  I'm sitting out here with my coffee, listening to the bird songs and the world waking up. It's a beautiful 65° and the sun has already cleared the horizon, although here in the garden it is simply peaking through the trees.  Perfect way to start the day, absolutely perfect. Funny, it's how we ended the day yesterday as well.  The warmth of the day had faded into a breezy 75°, it was heavenly.  We watched the birds fly over for the evening dinner, the deer wander just outside the gate and the puppies were engaged in serious horseplay right until they wore themselves out and fell asleep. 

Hubs and I simply sat and enjoyed the peaceful evening.  The sounds of the big bands wafting through the air, chatting about our day, hope, plans, dreams.  We also talked about the fear mongering that is rampant. And how we personally were feeling about it. 

Yesterday, moments after I posted my blog, I had a memory pop up on the book.  It was from 12 years ago I believe.  I could have written it yesterday.  I asked how the promised heat of over 100° could possibly match up with the beautiful cool morning.  It really gave me pause.  We have such short memories for the day to day minutia, as we work and stay busy with our lives we really don't take that much notice of the every day stuff.  So when the media starts beating the drum that it is going to be the hottest summer on record, the panic starts to set it.  The fear becomes reality.  I needed that reminder. 

Yes, I was quite concerned by the warnings.  The drum beating about rolling black and brown outs, the excessive heat, etc.  Now, I already know quite a few folks that have had loss of power, but I think that is more of a game being played with us, similar to the random food shortages, rising prices, etc... but that isn't what I am talking about. 

one of the pot-o-peno's

jalapenos to prepare

tomatoes, pickles and peppers

Tom Thumb Tomato

I stopped writing for a bit to spend some time with Hubs on this delightful morning.  I puttered in the garden pulling in today's harvest, while we chatted about different things.  Marveling at all of the tomatoes that I was able to gather from the Tom Thumb plant. A friend gave us a bag of fresh grown romaine lettuce, she has way too much growing in her garden patch and was gracious enough to share the bounty.  That with those tomatoes and the few peppers that were ready will make a wonderful lunch and probably dinner for the two of us today. There is nothing quite like freshly harvested veggies.  

Giant Marconi - not quite ready

I also harvested another couple of pickling cukes and will start them to fermenting today.  It will be a small jar, but it will also be the first jar that I have ever made from starter plant to finish! There were also quite a few jalapeno's that needed to be harvested.  I've found that if I harvest all of the fully grown peppers regularly I am blessed with so many buds within a day.  Both of my jalapeno plants are strong producers.  I think I am going to try doing some seed saving from these. 

ROOTS!!! 
The Roma is going to make it!

So lets' jump back to the weather situation, because it is really all relevant. I'm not a farmer, although I am sure it is a life I would love to live, but as a gardener (even my little treetop garden) it is important to me to have those warm days.  These cool mornings and evenings coupled with the hot days are what is allowing me to harvest these wonderful veggies each day.  Two days ago, my Tom Thumb was covered in green tomatoes, but nothing was even close to ripe.  Now I've harvested enough for at least two meals for two. They needed that kiss from the sun and the heat that filled the days. 

While the media is busy telling us how tragic the heat is, how it is destroying lives, I really do believe that it is simply the natural cycle of nature.  Are we having droughts, you better believe it, but I don't believe they are an act of nature any more than I believe the fires are.  In that case the more you actually research and learn the more power you have.  

We have actually entered a solar cycle that will be cooling our temperatures, so the occasional hot spell is simply nature balancing itself out. 

That being said.  I'm thankful for a bit of the fear-mongering.  It led me to make a few changes around our home that are proving beneficial.  Because of the heat and the extreme rising costs of everything I put up the extra curtains and closed the blinds.  We are now able to raise the temperature of our air conditioner by a full 4 degrees so far and it is just a cool as it always has been.  Neither Hubs or I enjoy being toasty, we are cool weather folks, and the house is so mild it is not a problem at all. 

I am going to be installing a thermal "door" on the patio, because puppies need lots of outside time. Although they have gotten good at using the little opening I leave, I am going to see if this will help even more. Who knows. 

I truly am thankful for that memory popping up.  It broke a spell that I was allowing to be woven around me.  Convincing me that this was the worst, hottest summer ever.  Nope, this is the Midwest, it is always HOT and HUMID between the months of May - October it is always a possibility.  Just the same as snow is always possible from October - May. None of it is unusual, none of it is apocalyptic.

I'm not prepared to dig into why the powers that be want us to believe it is.  I don't have the time or energy for it.  I am more than a little bit sure that there is a reason, I am also more than a little bit sure that it is about control. But that is a decision that each person needs to come to on there own.  Some folks may think I am bat shit crazy, who knows they might be right.  Each of us is here to live our own lives, to walk our own journey and to figure out the things that we all need to now on our own. 

I was deeply sadden when I heard about a country requiring digital passports to allow their citizens access to reasonably priced bread, don't get the passport (which they can shut off if you aren't obeying their rules and regulations) then you can pay the super over priced amount they are currently charging.  

I have my own issues with things in the bible, I feel man has "interpreted it" just a few too many times to suit their own needs.  But it definitely feels a lot like accepting the mark of the beast to me.  I mean, who knows, maybe it is how they will control their masses, who knows if it will ever come here.  But these are some wild and crazy times we are living through.  And honestly... Hank Jr might have seriously been on to something with his song "A Country Boy Can Survive"... not familiar... worth a listen. 

Well, the sun is starting to climb to the top of the trees and shine down on me, meaning soon I will be warmer than I am happy with.  I harvested a lot of yummy goodness from my garden that needs to be worked with.  A friend donated a LARGE amount of canning jars to me that need to find their way into my dishwasher so that I can fill them. The cantry has been neglected while I have gotten over the crud, and I still want to put a few more stitches into the second dish cloth that I started yesterday. 

Pepper and Onion Pickles 
my only project yesterday - these are
heavenly!

time to wash the jars

today's dish cloth

yesterday's dish cloth

Enjoy the mornings like this, that are a gift to make up for the heat of the day.  Spend the cool hours doing the outside stuff.  Save the heated ones for inside work.  And look out for those around you that might still be under the spell of fear and trying to survive the stupidity being forced on us. Drink a couple extra glasses of water and enjoy the day.

love and peace...