(This picture makes it all look so small!! It's not. 5 beds 5' x 24' )
Pretty much rained all morning. Good because we could use the water in the gardens. Bad, because we didn't need monsoon torrents of rain beating the bejeezus out of everything. Can't win...lol But you can see how green everything is. And how unkempt it is as well.
I feel almost as if a switch has flipped inside me...ever since we started talking about moving. Distancing myself...thinking, how do we move all these canned foods and not break everything and why should I bother if they're all going to be destroyed. (Ridiculous, I know). We still have to eat this winter, and we don't even have a concrete plan in place about the move. Almost like the idea has stalled, and so have I . And I think I am subconsciously distancing myself from people too. Interesting, all this.
The garden is in limbo. The temps the past week or so have been early fall temps. It's supposed to be heading back up starting tomorrow, we'll see. The past few days have been 70 and below. Lows at night in the high 50's. Crazy. There are tons of green tomatoes out there and none of them are even attempting to ripen. We dug potatoes on Sunday, got 15-20 pounds of the most beautiful red potatoes we've ever grown. Dug up a few Kennebecs--same deal. Perfection in a potato. Not a blemish on them. Not a sign of bug or critter or blight. The Kennebecs are not quite ready to come out of the ground...but we were curious. So, there's still a whole bed of Kennebecs plus 2 boxes of fingerlings. The sweet potatoes (Beauregards) are magnificent. Hoping they look as good below ground as they do above. The butternut squash are treading water. I didn't go look at them today...they are in the bed in the side yard, and it was entirely too wet to go there. We'll see what happens, I guess.
On Sunday I start the Earth Literacy retreat...cooking supper for the retreatents. May attend a session or two, but may wait until next year and just do the whole thing. I'd hoped to have more of my garden done than I do before this started, because it's going to eat up a lot of my time. Oh well...no timetables for Mother Nature...lol
The food program is going well. I'm not losing real fast, but I am feeling vastly different in regard to my energy levels and general body stuff. I joined an online forum for support and that has helped a lot. I was venting my frustration --doing everything by the book and not losing as much weight as my husband who is not really doing it all...except at suppertime when he eats what I eat. AND--I got him off the sugar and wheat too. Several women told me that metabolic repair is a slow process sometimes and that I need to hang in and not give up. And I know they're right...I didn't get this way overnight and I'm not going to get rid of it overnight. But still...lol.. They also said--Do not ever compare your weight loss to a man's. I knew that too, from Weight Watchers years ago. But I forgot and it was good to be reminded. SO, bottom line is, I'm sticking with it and not giving up and am going to quit looking at the scale for while. This is week 3 for me. One thing is that because of my physical disabilities, I can't exercise as much as I need to. Can I count running to the chicken coop 8 times a day, walking around in the garden and vacuuming? lol
Tonight's supper was a yummy turkey chili. The weather was perfect for it, and it was really good too. The next 2 days are more of a high protein/low carb days...some people think they're the hard days, some people feel more comfortable there. All the foods and meals are pretty balanced, and there's plenty of food. I have one more glass of water to drink tonight before bed. Lucky for me I'm a big water drinker anyway. It's the eating 5-6 times a day that feels like it's killing me. lol BUT--the past few days I am feeling hungry. Like my body really WANTS to eat. And having little bouts of hot flashes that feel different from the regular hot flashes. Is it my metabolism revving up ? I hope so...
I did a little furniture rearranging and removal the other day...got rid of one of the loveseats and pulled a wing back chair out that is so much more comfortable for me to sit in. That opened up the living room like crazy. I went into town to the little antique mall/ thrift shop and found a small cabinet that would fit on the wall between the entertainment center and the aquarium for only 22 dollars. It has sliding doors on the bottom of it. SO, since we were packing up the satellite tv receiver, I cleaned all that mess--(good lord, the dust on those shelves inside there !) ~ The top shelf of the entertainment center (over the tv) had videos and dvds double packed in it. So I went looking for the smaller cabinet to help make that stuff more easily accessible. And found the perfect one. It has 3 shelves and the sliding doors at the bottom. And the price was right. Since we got rid of the phone/satellite package, we're watching more movies. Today I watched a video of 3 Sopranos episodes, part of a boxed set I picked up somewhere. Perfect way to spend a rainy day...and thought about how much I will miss seeing James Gandolfini's face. He died exactly one week after my anniversary...such a great actor...
So glad to hear that Miss Beth is at home. Keep those prayers coming for her, please. She's a wonderful woman facing a tough deal. She's been brightening my days for over a year now...
I'm currently reading a book by Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi...called Virgil and Beatrice. So far it's keeping me interested. I'll let you know. (We just got Life of Pi from Netflix and watched that too, lol). I have finished Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver, and reading it does what it always does to me when I read anything by her or re-read something---I want to go back and read everything she has written because I love her. lol (Another plus to not having tv...I read more. I always read some, but I really read when there's no tv...like I did when I was a girl. Voraciously. lol
Well, it's getting late and I should be going to bed. Not too much happening around these parts, though I do have to make a run and get some more canned cat food, as we are doing round 2 of antibiotics on one of the cats for a respiratory infection. It's pill form and the only way to get it down him is crushed and in canned food. So be it. He thinks he's suddenly the favorite son because he's getting canned food. lol He's eating up the attention.
The rain stopped and it's supposed to be mostly sunny the next few days, so maybe I will get some garden work done. Maybe. (Hey~~it could happen !! )
Sweet dreams, all...
Namaste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3mFTwlK9TA
It's been a very powerful few days this past week. Lots of people from my past showing up, in person, by mail, or phone calls. There have been lots of moments where I am seeing things I haven't ever seen before (I grew up around these parts) or revisiting old places. Lots of AHA! moments. Some very sad moments. Things that just leave me shaking my head in astonishment. Just an all around interesting week.
Someone said "Enlightenment isn't always a pleasant process." It surely isn't all Rainbows and Unicorns. lol
Early recovery was a lot like this for me. Like someone twirled me around and took the blinders off. Trudging along, waking up to some harsh realities about myself and my behavior. I had to say to a family member yesterday, Look--I don't know. I don't remember a LOT about that time. I was drunk. Or high. And my brain cells have not retained a lot of information from those days. This person looked at me incredulously. "How can you not remember this ???" Well, the truth is, I don't know. Maybe it's my brain protecting me from myself. Maybe those particular brain cells were obliterated. Maybe God is doing for me what I cannot do for myself. I just don't know. I haven't had a drink for a long time. And some memories have begun to show themselves...usually the ones you don't want to remember because they were so very painful. (Which is probably why they are buried so deep). And this has been happening for the whole 23 years I've been sober. Little by little, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
This is probably the reason I feel so detached from my family..like I don't fit. Like I never did. Because they have a whole life of memories that I don't have. Lots of their memories don't include me because I wasn't here. And when I was...I wasn't. And they don't get this. They don't get me. And I don't have any way to make them understand. Because I don't always understand. sigh... But it always makes me feel like I'm on the outside looking in.
Oh well. Everything in it's time, I guess. Do you sometimes feel like you've lived several lifetimes already? lol That's kinda how I feel, and I can't always keep them straight.
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And then there's the whole country that has gone completely insane. These power tripping governors like Scott Walker and Rick Perry, State governments passing insane laws trying to control women. People shooting each other. The Republicans defunding the EPA, doing absolutely nothing productive at their jobs, instead fighting every single thing that is not their idea. Taking us back to the dark ages, to hell in a handbasket. Wasting money on a daily basis.
It's all ridiculous. I want to move to a mountaintop in the Himalayas so I don't have to watch any more of it. I don't want to care about it anymore, it's too much.
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I've had a sinus headache all day. The barometer is all whacked out, and this is how my body responds. It never got above 75 degrees here today. SEVENTY FIVE DEGREES !!!!!! Hello! It's late July. It should be a hundred degrees in the shade. It's been hovering between 75 and 80 the last few days. Weird weird weird.
The gardens are at a bit of a standstill right now. I haven't canned or harvested anything but lettuce in a week. There are tomatoes on the vines, some the size of baseballs. But they're green as a frog. Weird. I'm a little worried because a week from Sunday is when I start the Earth Literacy Retreat. That will be the 4th through the 11th. That's 7 days of not being here to do much in the gardens. Usually this would be okay, but this year it may be a little dicey. Oh well. I'll figure it out.
Went to the Podiatrist this morning for a recheck. He said that since the heel is improving, we'll just keep doing what we're doing. If it gets worse, the next step will be having to wear a boot. If that doesn't work, we'll be down to surgery. He doesn't want to do that (and neither do I !!) unless it's the only option we have. He says the heel is such a fragile area to operate on, we won't do it unless we have to. I like him. He asked me about my gardens today...2 points for the doc !
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My little cat went out and got caught in the rainstorm. Now she's back in and curled up on the desk here in front of me. (My keyboard is on one of those slide out shelves). She acted like I got her wet on purpose. lol
The diet is going well. It was a little easier this week. I am down 7 pounds. Tomorrow I am going to attempt to make a batch of turkey jerky for a snack item. I can't find it around here anywhere without nitrates. So---I make it myself. I have dehydrators sitting around here doing nothing...lol Some days I can have nuts or fruits for snacks, but on Tuesday and Wednesday, I cannot. I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks for me with no wheat, corn, sugar, soy or dairy! It hasn't been easy...and I'm being very vigilant about it. Yay me. I feel better, and I noticed today that my skin and nails are looking a LOT healthier. Makes it easier to stick with it when you see these results. But this whole process is about repairing your metabolism, not necessarily losing eight. Although she says you will loose up to 20 pounds in 28 days if you follow it religiously. I haven't been able to wear both my wedding rings for some time now...the diamond and sapphire one has been sitting on a shelf and I've only been wearing the gold band.. Today it slipped right on my finger. Between losing a tiny bit of weight and getting the gunk out of my diet, my joints seem to be much less swollen. And dropping this weight can only help my poor knees. Win/Win.
Alright--I need to get in bed. This has been a jabberwocky of a post, I know...but sometime that's how life and love are. A jumbled mess of goo, with alternating moments of joy. I'm ready for sleep now, so...goodnight!
Namaste.
...and all because I asked for a little rain.
Whew. It was a thunder and lightning extravaganza in the wee hours of the morning. Hey--isn't that a song ?? "In the wee small hours...of the morning...when the whole wide world is fast asleep...." Johnny Hartman...I tried to find a You tube of this incredible man's silky voice, but they've all been removed due to copyright infringement. A shame...I love him, ever since I was introduced to him by Chris at Abruzzi, back in my misspent youth.
Anyway...
It rocked and rolled around here baby--waking us up. Sounded like the lightning was right on top of us, and I expected the giant tulip poplar in the front yard to come crashing down on the house at any minute. It didn't and eventually we went back to sleep. But the rain really revitalized the gardens. I swear the okra plants are at least 4 inches taller than they were yesterday.
The Irishman is home from work today, sick with a sore throat. Poor baby. I made him a lovely watermelon smoothie for breakfast and brewed him a nice cup of throat coat tea. Now he needs to leave me alone and let me get to my work. lol I went out and let the chickens out around 6:30...he slept until after 8. Ever since he got up he's kinda been following me around. I cleaned up the kitchen and he hovered around sounding all pitiful. I went out and cleaned the chicken coop, and he found his way out there. I sat in the shade in a lawn chair and he came and sat with me.
I'm going to have to arrange for his death before he can retire, aren't I ??
(Kidding)
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Cooked a nice pork roast in the oven last night. It will make some lunchtime lettuce wraps as well as tonight's supper. Last night we had a brown rice pasta and turkey sausage skillet dinner that was really good. The leftovers from that will be today's lunch. Supper will be the pork with broccoli and pineapple. All part of the food plan. With snacks in between. (For an idea of what I'm talking about, see : /www.dragonwomansmysticalmeals.blogspot.com/
So far, so good. The only problem with cooking a roast in the slow cooker overnight is that you wake up hungry from the smells that have permeated your house. lol So, I fixed (for the first time) an oatmeal and fruit smoothie for our breakfasts. His was better (made later) because I blended it longer. I was trying to keep the noise at a minimum when I made mine, because himself was sleeping. But it was surprisingly good. You pulverize the dry raw oats in the blender, add fruit, some Stevia, a little cinnamon and a few ice cubes. Voila !
Training myself to eat 5 times a day is hard. I'm really bad about skipping meals. But I'm doing it. This is week 2. I've lost a grand total of 6 pounds so far. And feeling better (I think). At least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself. lol It's about time for my midmorning snack...1 cup of cantaloupe cubes. And I bought 2 yesterday that are absolutely fabulous. Really sweet. I might go back and get 3 more...
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So...it's Tuesday and I have a few chores to do. Nothing big on the agenda today. Yesterday I went out and went to town, picked up some groceries, hit a thrift store. And then came back home. But the important thing is that I went out. Sometimes I hang out here for stretches at a time...
Strolled through the garden this morning./ Lots of green tomatoes and looking good. Some baby okra showing up and lots of flowers. Saw the first bell pepper and those plants are amazingly tall this year. Have had a couple of jalapenos already, but no bell peppers. Until today. woohoo
Made a pitcher of flavored water a bit ago. Trying to wean the hubster off the sugary koolaid type stuff he likes to drink. He got pretty cranky for a few days, but seems to be levelling out. The first pitcher or 2 that I made was simply 3 tea bags of Mint Medley tea (a blend of spearmint and peppermint) with some Stevia and sprigs of spearmint from my herb pot. Today's pitcher is watermelon and rosemary and a tiny bit of Stevia. It's in the fridge now, infusing. It will be ready in a few hours. Next time I'm going to try blackberry and sage, as I grow both of those. For right now though, I made us both tall glasses of water with a wedge of lemon squeezed in it. I'm thinking lemon and basil might be good...or lemon balm and lemon. ooo...the possibilities are endless. I need to pick up some Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea too...we've always liked that iced.
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Okay, enough jibber-jabber for one day. I have a few things to do, but nothing big. Looking at real estate again last night and found a 15 acre place for under 70K...but it's 52 miles from the hub of industry in those parts. sigh...it's always something...lol Taking it slow and when the right place shows itself, we'll know.
Everyone have a happy Tuesday, and say a prayer for Beth (of Day by Day with Beth Marie) as she goes into surgery today for the cancer. All my love and prayers are with her, for a good and positive outcome.
Namaste.
It still hasn't rained. It's dry as a bone out there...and I'm lazy as a slug. Not nearly as hot as it has been, thankfully, but the humidity is high, so that makes it a sweaty ordeal to pick green beans. But pick them I did this morning, another full peck. I'll be snapping tonight as we watch the next Netflix movie, one called Being Flynn.
I had hoped that the sweaty steaming this morning would burn out this cold, but it doesn't seem to have worked. I am not really sick, just coughing and snotty. I hate that. And I am not understanding why I keep getting these dang things. I eat healthy, I don't smoke or drink...I don't know if it's maybe the stress of inflammation that has undermined my immune system ? I never used to get sick. I have had this cold since Tuesday or something.
Cooked a whole chicken in the rotisserie and that will be supper, with some green beans cooked with garlic and onions and some leftover quinoa mixed with a little wild rice that I cooked for last night's supper. The beans have been especially good this year. I'll be canning again tomorrow...have probably 2 canners full if I do all quarts, more if I decide to can some pints. Pints are really perfect for us for a meal, but I like having some quarts too. And because it was so hot, I didn't get out there to pick beans yesterday (or the day before), so some of the beans were pretty big. Bigger than I like, anyway. Those I put aside and fill jars that I mark "Beans for Soup". They're a little tougher, but not woody...I cut them into smaller pieces and they're perfect to use in vegetable soup. Or stews.
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A few hours later...
Stopped to go out and water the gardens, as the rain is still non-existent. It got really dark after I started watering, but nothing happened. Sigh... oh well. Then came back in and finished the supper that the chicken is to go with. It was awesome. Except for the big mess the rotisserie made. From somewhere (and I have looked and looked) it spilled nasty chicken fat/juices all over the counter. I had to move the oven and clean that whole counter down. YUCK. But the chicken was cooked perfectly, and really really moist and tender. It was an all natural chicken that I bought. We ate like kings.
Did not get the beans snapped or the movie watched. Guess I'll get it done tomorrow. We wound up sitting around on the couch reading the rest of the evening. It's almost 11 now, and himself has gone to bed.
I am re-reading a Barbara Kingsolver book of essays called Small Wonder. I love everything she writes, but I especially loved this book. It is a real glimpse of her life: her family, her homes, her passions. Highly recommend. The very first thing of hers I read was a book called Pigs in Heaven...a lovely piece of fiction that a friend was reading and called me up to ask if I had read it. I had never heard of Barbara Kingsolver then...must have been over 20 years ago. After falling in love with Pigs, I have read almost everything she has written ever since. And her works are diverse and magnificent. This particular one I'm reading now was written in 2002. It's an environmental love song. Listen to this :
"Oh, how can I say this ? People need wild places. Whether or not we think we do, we do . We need to be able to taste grace and know once again that we desire it. We need to experience a landscape that is timeless, whose agenda moves at the pace of speciation and glaciers. To be surrounded by a singing, mating, howling commotion of other species, all of which love their lives as much as we do ours, and none of which could possibly care less about our economic status or our running day calendar."
Ah yes. I am in love with this woman's writings and the deliberate life she leads.
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Alright. I guess it's time for me to go to bed soon as I'm trying to get on a schedule with that stuff. Only because it makes eating 5 times a day easier. LOL
Sweet dreams and bountiful harvests to you all.
Namaste.
I'm waiting for the canner to decompress. It's full of green beans, with the next batch waiting in the wings. I was out there earlier, in the garden, and saw that they probably need picking again tonight. I am astonished at the abundance. The plants are starting to show some wear and tear...I think last year we started our second planting about 2 weeks from now. Every thing else is coming along...there are green tomatoes and cucumbers, some jalapenos, okra flowers (on very short plants for some reason) and even some tiny little okras. There are pods on the edamame and the potatoes are dying back too.
My chickens are starting to lay again. (Knock wood) I got 5 eggs yesterday, but so far only 2 today. They aren't breaking them like they were, thank goodness. I cleaned the coop this morning and cleaned and filled all the water dishes.
It's hot again. About 90 out there. I'm pretty much staying out of it...I needed to make a grocery run today and still haven't made it. The local market has turkey breasts at a really good price and so I thought I'd go get a couple. I can't easily find nitrate free turkey around here, so I guess I'll cook it myself. Cheaper anyway to do it like this.
I've started the Fast Metabolism Diet. This timing may not be the best...but I guess there's always an excuse to not do it, not get started. But honestly, the prednisione is wrreaking havoc with me. I only have 2 more days of it after today, thank goodness. 2 pills only tomorrow and then 1 pill only on Thursday. I'm having headaches form the cafeine and sugar withdrawal, after only 2 days. Yesterday I was so exhausted that after I had my lunch I had to go to bed. Slept for 2+ hours, and felt a little better after I woke up. I was back in bed again last night by 11 though...I feel wonky from the prednisone, all irritable and moody. SO not like me. I'll be glad when it is over.
The reason I am trying this diet is that my friend swears by it and it's one of the only diets I've found that insists on eating whole foods, natural healthy foods. It's turning out to be hard to eat as much as she wants you to. I'm struggling to make myself do it. But between Monday and Tuesday mornings, I have lost 1.4 pounds. There's a lot of water to drink...I'm a serious drinker too, and it's ...well, I have to drink 100 ounces of water daily. Last night all I did was pee. lol I am kind of missing my morning coffee, but other than that there's no issues. There's enough fresh fruit that I'm not missing sweets much. There's enough protein and fiber that I don't feel hungry at all. (AT.ALL.) In fact, I feel overfull from eating 5 timnes a day when my body isn't used to it.
My microwave died the other day. I carried it's remains out to the recycling area and am seriously considering NOT replacing it. The only thing I use it for is thawing out stuff because I never remember to get things out of the freezer in a timely manner. Oh, and to heat up the neck pad. That reminds me, I'd better get some pork tenderloins out of the freezer before I forget again...The hardest part of this first phase of the diet is no fats or nuts. And learning how to live wheat,sugar,corn,and caffeine free. I have suspected for a while that I am gluten sensitive. Probably not enough for a diagnosis, but enough that I feel icky after eating it. We'll see how it goes, if I stay on that part from now on or go back to eating it once in a while. My metabolism definitely needs to be jump started. Hopefully this plan will work. I'll keep you posted. lol
Okay, the canner is ready and I need to get the mail. See ya on the flip-flop.
Namaste.
...and I'm dancing as fast as I can. And trying not to stumble.
I can't even tell you what's been happening that made things go whizzing by. oh, wait. Yes--it's garden season. Even more to the point it's green bean season. I've been picking and canning and picking some more. And mulching. And staking. And washing jars and buying lids and sitting with my neighbor and oh my...the list just goes on and on.
And Friday I went to the DPM/foot surgeon. He told me I have a bad case of Haglunds deformity and that there is a bone spur which has grown into the Achilles tendon. I liked him a lot. Well, except the part where he was telling me I was deformed. Seems that this issue has been developing for a long time and the stress of the knees finally pushed it to the point it is at now. And it is horrifically inflamed and so he put me on a z-pak like dosage of a prednisone that I take for 5 days. I still have to take 2 more of them before bed tonight. They are making me sick at my stomach, naturally. I am taking them with food every time. The day after I finish this stuff, I start in on an anti-inflammatory that I take for a month. He is hoping to get rid of the pain. He says that the big lump on the back of my heel will not go away without surgery, and he is really hoping to resolve this problem (the pain) without having to do any surgery. So, I guess my days as a foot model are over. I must say, it seems to have relieved the pain a little already. Not gone by any means, but...maybe a little less excruciating.
I just heard the results of the murder trial in Florida. I am heartsick. George Zimmerman is walking away scott free. The family of Trayvon Martin must be beside themselves. Is there no justice in that state at all ? Of course I am thinking of Caylee Anthony and numerous other travesties that have made the headlines in their judicial system. My first thought is that innocent children have no rights in Florida. And I know that probably isn't fair...but it's just how I feel right now. I am flummoxed by the whole thing.
So...the rain keeps missing us, the dirt is still damp though, if you stick your finger down an inch or so. There are green tomatoes everywhere, green beans that appear magically EVERY SINGLE DAY, no matter how well they were picked the day before. Flowers on the edamame. Red potatoes, white potatoes, fingerling potatoes and sweet potatoes EVERYWHERE. The squash is putting on a magnificent display of flowers and making small butternuts. A few small yellow squash too. Radishes, lettuces, spinach and chard and kale...crazy! Cucumbers climbing up a tomato trellis, loaded with flowers. We've been eating snow peas for a week and there are tons. Blueberries to eat almost every day...way more than I expected from such new plants. I even picked a few ripe blackberries the past couple of days and ate them immediately. Mostly the blackberries are nowhere near ripe--still too early. Peach tree is loaded. Apple tree--not so much this year. Big storm knocked all the flowers off. It does have a few apples...
I have canned a couple of batches of green beans and have another 10 pounds in there ready to go. I picked another half peck this evening. The Irishman made a fire tonight in the little portable fire pit and we sat in the dark and watched the flames, and roasted marshmallows and talked. It was really pleasant and relaxing and a nice cool night. We did finally have a serious cool-down--the nights have been in the high 60's and the days only in the mid to high eighties. It has been heavenly, even though it's weird weather for us at this time of year. We'll take it. lol
I am tired. I did the every other day dog hair removal, and had to take the furnace filter off and vacuum it too. I did a few other things so that I wouldn't have so much to do tomorrow. I washed and replaced the loveseat slipcovers. I made dinner for my son and husband and myself...we finally had the birthday dinner. lol Porterhouse steaks, baked sweet potatoes and corn on the cob. The steaks were huge and oh-so-good. Before I started cooking, himself and I sat on the couch with the big giant bag of green beans and snapped and trimmed them while watching The Truth About Cats and Dogs, with Janeane Garofalo. He spent the early part of the morning mowing and the yard looks terrific (and I didn't have to try to do it). All's well in my world.
Okay. I need to get something to eat and take those last 2 pills for today. Yuck. You know how I hate taking pills and medicine of most any kind. This is a deal for me...but I am trying to be disciplined and grown up and stuff about it. lol
So...here goes nothing. Keep dancing, y'all...
Namaste.
Thank God the fourth of July is over. Now if only these crazy people would run out of firecrackers. My animals are finally starting to settle down and not be so needy and clingy. They were terrified of all the gunshots and explosions. I don't blame them. It must have seemed like the Apocalypse.
And there is another explosion going on here: green beans. There are now about 5 gallons of beans in my fridge waiting for me to can them. I threw a couple of big handfuls of them into the skillet of baby squash, onions, carrots, garlic, snowpeas and kale that I sauteed for last nights supper. I'm giving at least a quart of them to my neighbor. That's still a lot of beans, baby. and there's more where those came from. Hopefully I will get them canned before I have to pick again. Looks like it's going to be a good harvest this year. I did spot a couple of Japanese beetles...the race is on.
All the greens are doing well. The snow peas are blooming like crazy. Some of the potato plants are starting to yellow and die back. The tomatoes are blooming and the peppers are getting sturdier every day. So far, so good.
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And I am feeling like a complete fool. I spent some time last night reading my xray report of the foot/heel. The doc that got the report (ordered the xray) just kinda blew it off and casually mentioned I might want to see a podiatrist. Said there was no compression fracture. Last night I got that report out and read it (why did I not read it before now ?????) It says (among other things)..."bone fragmentation" "possible chip fracture" "possible occult undisplaced fracture". Needless to say, I have called and now have an appointment with a DPM/surgeon for Friday. I am in so much pain I can barely walk. Arrgghh....
AND, I just got off the phone with the phone company that I have my internet/tv/phone bundle with. The bundle that was 89.99. That is now 185.00 WTH ? After about half an hour on the phone with customer service I learned some interesting things. I can have the internet alone for about 50.00 a month. I don't have to have the phone line even. And though they discourage it, I can even have that on a month to month basis--no contract. Hah. I'll bet they discourage it. The price of the satellite tv went from 29.99 to 94.72 a month. WHAT ??? After a heart to heart with the Irishman tonight, I think we are getting rid of the satellite again. This is ridiculous. Big changes in store. My 2 year contract with he phone service is up, so I can disconnect it without penalty. Hallelujah.
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Yesterday my son and I headed into the city (ha) to meet up with my niece and sister and the new baby. The boy hadn't met his new second cousin yet. It was adorable, and the little guy was just mesmerized with him.
The baby is growing like a weed. He'll be 3 weeks old tomorrow.
I have lots to do, so I'd better get doing. First on the list is to eat something. Think I'll just have some granola with fresh blueberries on top. yum... I did a lot of vacuuming and stuff yesterday while the Irishman was off on his fishing/hiking adventure with his buddy. All I need to do today is take the canister vac and pick up the big chunks of hair that follow Caylee around like a trail of breadcrumbs. Sigh....it just never stops... (well, it does, actually...eventually) lol
I've been ridiculously emotional the past few days...and now I know why.
In 2013, Mercury retrogrades three
times, all in the water signs of Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. Issues
relating to the emotional aspects of feelings, beliefs and inner
essence becomes the key aspects for this time. Mercury brings
forward important information that relates to our beliefs, passion
and the power of our feelings moving our life and expressions
forward. With 2013 being a SIX year, there will be many changes
within the home environments, relationships, families and
locations. These areas will become reflection of the transitions
that are happening within. Go to Mercury Retrograde OnLine News to
read about the details of the current Mercury
retrograde
Mercury turns retrograde June 26th
at 23 Cancer
Mercury turns direct on July 20th at 13 Cancer
There you have it. And that's all for now....
Namaste.
While technically yesterday was the grand old holiday, nearly everyone has a 4 day weekend. The fun just keeps on coming. lol
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So much so, that it's now Saturday, and I'm only on the second sentence in this post. LOL
We picked these green beans Friday, and have at least as many ready again today. I thought I was going to cook them yesterday, but we wound up not cooking, and going to our favorite little Japanese place and then to see Johnny Depp in The Lone Ranger. Food was great, as always, and JD was freaking awesome as Tonto. It was a good movie. Lots of old west shoot 'em up, railroad men, and bad guys. and a damsel in distress, of course.
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My right heel is so bad today I can barely walk. It hurts no matter what I do...elevated it, iced it, got a foot massage from the Irishman...nothing helps. Monday I'm calling a specialist. I can't take this. Of course, because it hurts, I'm walking funny and that's causing pain in my left knee and hip. I may have to get the crutches back out. The Irishman is going to fix supper. He left for the store a bit ago...said he wants hotdogs, corn on the cob and potato chips. I said--whatever. I don't even care. I'll eat whatever he puts in front of me, just, please God--let him buy a decent hotdog (if there is any such thing). lol
It wasn't hurting so bad this morning. In fact I put on my tie up shoes and socks and we went to the Farmers Market in Edwardsville. Bought some squash, some blueberries and 2 more basil plants. Stopped at the little mom and pop place in town and bought a couple of huge onions and a cantaloupe. Spreading the wealth around a little. We came home right after that, and it wasn't long before the heel pain started. So tired of being in pain...
Anyway, most of the weekend has been good. Tomorrow the Irishman is going off for a day of hiking and fishing with his friend Jerry. I don't know what my plans are...depends on if this mess clears up. I might wind up canning my first batch of beans, depending on what's out there. I really want some fresh beans sauteed in EVOO with fresh garlic. My mouth is watering for those babies. lol
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Enough for today. I'm heading back to the couch. Maybe I'll try a heating pad and see if that makes any difference. I took a couple of aspirin a bit ago, hoping that would take the edge off it. I have about a half a pain pill that I can take tonight if it doesn't get any better.
Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays !!!!
Namaste.
One of my favorite pictures of my son, with his ex... today is his 42nd birthday. Happy Birthday, boy.
It's raining again. And tomorrow too. Sigh...So, no garden work today (it's okay, I did a little yesterday). It's not the rain that bothers me, but the lack of sun. It's 61 degrees right now, at almost 10 o'clock in the morning. That's not even a night time LOW for this time of year here. The chickens are all befuddled and not laying well. Not enough daylight or something. I am grouchy, all this dampness is a mess and makes my bones hurt. Blah. Rain, rain, go away...come again another day...
Yesterday I cleaned the big master bathroom and finally finished that damned walk in closet. I've been sort of chipping away at it...and we all know that gets you nowhere. Finally I just cranked up the tunes, got a big glass of iced water, and headed in there. Glad it's finally done. Thinking I will tackle laundry today...cool enough to run the dryer.
I also did quite a bit of harvesting yesterday...blueberries, raspberries, cherries, kale, spinach, chard, lettuce, sage, and parsley. Not a lot of anything, and just enough of the greens to make a nice grilled lemon pepper chicken breast salad for supper. I'm thinking about putting on a pot of beans for supper...hmmm..it's not supposed to hit 70 today. I have some buttermilk in the fridge that needs using (cornbread). That's a good idea...wonder what kind of dried beans I have on hand...I could use some good smells coming out of that kitchen today. I know I have great northerns (not one of my favorite, but still good) and I think I have some adzuki beans too. I could serve them over rice or quinoa with cornbread. The husband also needs some dessert. maybe I'll bake a cake...I think I have all the stuff on hand to make one of those pineapple coconut cakes...
I'm just full of big ideas today...lol
We were going to have a big steak cookout for supper for the boys birthday, but he is working tonight after his regular job and probably staying down in southern Illinois depending on where they are sending him to work tomorrow. Either way, he wouldn't be home til late. I promised him a Porterhouse--his favorite cut. Doesn't matter when we do it...I am grateful to be able to spend it with him...he works so much it's ridiculous. lol (He says that's the pot calling the kettle black).
We may have some company this weekend for a bbq if the weather cooperates. A young family --mom is a friend of mine-- and it will be fun. If it happens. Can't tell about the weather from one day to the next it seems like.
Okay. I just put on a pot of red (adzuki) beans. I'll cook some brown rice later. The beans are seasoned with bay leaves, black pepper and garlic. A handful or two of dried onions from the pantry. I'll probably throw some dried okra in there later...and some ribboned Kale. And maybe some dried carrots. Not a lot, just enough to give it little dashes of color. I've got them on low...they'll cook all afternoon...I also found in the pantry all the ingredients I'll need to bake that cake. It'll be a Birth Day cake for me. LOL
I'm sure there are chores I could be doing, but maybe I'll just spend a lazy day laying around, reading, and listening to some good piano and guitar music. We'll see...who knows what could happen ?
Namaste.
