Serotonin For Breakfast

One of my granddaughters has started a blog.
This is the granddaughter that is totally vegan.
I have to be careful to have something for her to eat
on her visits.
So impressed with her new blog.
I always learn something from her.
I think I eat healthy
but then
when I read her recommendations
it is not the way this Southern born
and eating grandma is accustom to.
My diet will never be to the extent
that my Sarah's is
but
I am still learning
and very proud of her....

http://serotoninforbreakfast.com/

Sad Garden

I am heartsick over my little garden
started out perfect
looked like a picture with the lush plants
Between the weeks of rain and
borers, 100 degree afternoons
 nothing looks good.
Squash plants look sick
Picked 25 green tomatoes with a bite out of each one
compost you are lucky
Picked 25 green tomatoes before something bit
them and will see if the ripen
Nothing bothers the green beans or the one
package of watermelon seeds planted for my little girls.
Nine have been counted
I had to smile as the helped me pick green beans
a first for them
then they helped me snap them
I kept hearing "grandma you have a wonderful garden" :)
They are taking home a 10 inch zucchini to mom.
I still have the dreaded beetles
drop them in a jar of soapy water
some plants they do not bother
but they sure like my roses...

At least 4 cartons of zucchini in freezer
for bread...

Vagabond's House

A friend recently wrote me and said that "The Vagabond House" by Don Blanding  was her mother's favorite poem.  This poem is about someone who wanted a home and knew just what elements would make it important  --  yet was really a wanderer at heart...
Shared that I reminded her of her mother.  "mother never strayed far from home, physically, but intellectually and emotionally, her world was very large."   I remember saying "is this really me" and her reply - "yes, this is you"  you and mother are really  "homebodies", yet because of your interests, reading and openness to what the world has to offer - you could be a vagabond in the true sense.....   Thank you, you touched my heart with  this special compliment

A good description of One Woman in these last years.   But years ago I remember images like my youngest daughter just forwarded to me.... I am happy for these memories.
I asked "where are my little girls when this wonderful picture was taken"  reply -" your granddaughter took this picture."
Smiling I think  - a budding photographer.....

Why Get Upset

She smiles as she views her progress
Everything in order
Neat and tidy
gardens groomed almost daily
A surprise storm
 torrential rains and
the wind blew mightily
rain needed - but
screens blown off porch
limbs everywhere
screen door hanging by hinges
Lucky no tree fell
on cottage
Just everything looked so nice
for family visits
soon
Then the thought
- and she feels ashamed -
in light of what is occurring
in the world and in some lives
this is nothing.

"Why get upset if you can do something about it?
And, if you can't do anything abut it, then why get upset
~~Robert Thurman~~ Tricycle Daily Dharma

One Woman's Path

My path has continued to grow in length and width.  It is now about 4 foot wide and instead of one path there are three that begin at the back of my cottage and all connect like 3 circles.
3 or 4 times a week I ride my lawn tractor on these paths.  Deck is high and blade is whirling.  This keeps them clean.   Once a week I walk the paths and  clear any small branches or sticks that may have
fallen on them.  My son has shared that in Thailand - the monks sweep the paths in the woods where they live.

Two years ago when I started clearing - my plan was one path.  Little by little the path grew as I would ride my mower over a section many times until I now have some nice clear walkng paths.   I enjoy being in the woods surrounded by nature and family usually walk on the paths.   Little granddaughter's and Callie run on them.   As I deadhead my plants and thin some I plan on just putting them in the woods.  I will give them no care and see if some survive..

My daughter from Florida just sent an email and told me my path looks like a small road :)

~~I go to nature to be soothed, heal and to have my senses put in order ~~    John Burroughs..

Live Lightly

.We have to cultivate contentment with what we have.  We really do not need much.  When you know this, the mind settles down.   Cultivate generosity.  Delight in giving.  Learn to live lightly.  In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into positive.  This how we start to grow up.    ~Jetsunma Palmo~        

Time Goes By Quickly

Just realized that 4 days have gone by and have not had a thought of something to post.
So busy and the simpler lifestyle I had in mind has not arrived as of yet.
Rain finally stopped and oh my the grass and everything growing at a rapid pace.
Sad that I pulled up part of my garden yesterday.   The continual rain or maybe borers
totally flattened my zucchini plants, yellow squash looks sad.    Everything in the garden looks like it is recovering from
a flood.   Small row of green beans and tomatoes are doing well.  Those specialty Egyptian onions
were fun to look at but onions smaller then a marble and no taste.  When I placed the order I wanted
the old fashion multiplying onions that come up every year.   They were not available and the Egyptian were recommended.
A neighbor bush hogged my path and it now goes deeper into the woods.   The wild ferns deep in the woods look unreal.   Enjoy working on the growing path. I ride my small tractor on the paths almost daily.
Camera, phone, water, clippers on board and Callie following me...
My son who is returning home very soon will enjoy walking on them.  Maybe tossing some limbs on the ongoing brush piles.
Does anyone know what this strange plant is.   I spotted this about an hour ago as I was cleaning my
path.  Rushed in to retrieve my camera.  I poked at it and the little black things that look like eyes are
some kind of insect.   Also saw this same "thing" a month ago and kept waiting for it to grow so I
could see what developed.   Callie must have dug it up....
Warm dry weather has returned.