Sometimes

Sometimes I wonder about having a garden
at the edge of the woods in damp soil.
Really not the ideal location, but all that is available.

Sometimes everything grows and blooms so beautifully
and other times I find it overwhelming with problems.

A number of days of rain
nice
like showers
but just enough that I do not view the beauty of recent weeks

Late afternoon I head out in the humidity
just to work a short time.
Do not feel up to it
but maybe it will help me working with nature.
Some iris and day lilies are cut back.

A few spots of poison ivy are still being attended to
and could not take steroid for it like in the past
because I am still on low dose of prednisone.
Might have shared this not long ago.

Oh my, is that you dreaded plant in a clump of iris

I carefully pour poison on you and do not like using it but know nothing else to do.

Quite a lot in a little over 45 minutes is cut back

Sweating, dirty clothes, need to bathe and fix something light for evening meal.  Really not hungry
and reminded that when I come off months of medication it truly bothers me in many ways including
emotions and hopefully I sleep tonight.

So many thoughts surface and as I glance to the side before going inside, I smile as I still
see beauty in these simple surroundings and I know in my heart "I am home."

Happy Birthday Week

Arriving in a few days is the Birthday of my youngest daughter.

So many memories
that bring me nothing but joy.
Memories of when it was just the two of us, her at a young age,
we were starting a new life in the old farm house and she began attending
the near country school.  

This was a total change from our previous lifestyle in the big city.

Life has been so good to both of us,
and I am very thankful.....

This same happiness always surrounds me
when I spend time with her family.
The little girls are a joy to me when all they are
involved in is shared with me.

Just wished they lived closer :)

Happy Birthday
my special daughter
and may all the good that
this life has to offer
be showered upon you.

~~~~Just received an email from your older sister saying that  another older
sister came running with the news of your birth and at about the same time
the pool was losing water and horses had got out - all of us living at a family farm at that time.
Guess everyone was celebrating your arrival ~~~~  I smile at this memory...

Fogs Continue And Last Night So Simple

Early morning fog continues
and looking at the now neat Soybean field brings pleasure.
Pleasant day predicted

Wanted something different to eat
a lot meals from my garden lately.

At grocery bought a pound of lean ground beef
could freeze or
just in case I wanted to make spaghetti sauce it was on hand.

Sometimes I make the sauce with 1/2 ground pork or 1/2 ground turkey
they were not on hand and just used the ground beef before putting freezer.

Simple

simmer meat slowly
add
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 chopped green pepper from my garden
how I wished I had fresh tomatoes from my garden - did not
so - small can of tomato sauce
after meat was done
an addition of a little water
as it was cooking

then an addition of a mixture
of parsley, basil and thyme from my garden
plus 2 cloves of garlic

simmered slow for about an hour
and ladled on whole wheat spaghetti
and covered with the best Parmesan cheese
that I grated on it.

It was good.....

Tasted better to me then what the local Italian restaurant serves.

Have enough for today and maybe freeze a container.....

Foggy Mornings

Foggy mornings the last few days and wonder
what does it mean?
Makes me think of Fall and Winter.

I forgot that I planted you
and think it was 2 years ago.
Stopping at a yard sale
the lady of the house shared you with me.
You surprised me this morning
and you sure are beautiful

Many seeds scattered
and looks like only one made it
but Zinnia you are pretty

Finally in August
the Cypress Vine is starting to bloom

and I counted 13 blooms and more to open
on my Sunflower

A stop at the small town drug store for poison ivy medicine ;(
Of all places on my face.
I am very careful but so aware the woods
and sometimes garden has this dreaded plant.
Also it could be Callie
as she is outside most of the time and I pet her a lot.
Bathed her and washed all of her rugs
so hopefully some danger has been removed
of me getting it again.

While in this special drug store
decided to get in ice cream cone,
standing at the counter
in a few minutes I felt hands on both my shoulders
and a whisper in my ear "don't fall".
My cane was in my hand for balance
 and I quickly turned and smiled at
one I have known many years.
It was nice to be met
so warmly.

As I sit at my computer
and look out the window
it looks like rain.

A slow and peaceful weekend
is welcome...

Old, New And Easy For Me To Use

These are my favorite garden tools
 sprayed the handles red, handles have been
taped over and over again.
Shovel, hoe and 3 tin hand cultivator on a long handle
and no one is to use them
but me - because they were my first
and over 50 years old.  Recently sharpened
and extra careful using them.
Small rake, very old that was my mother's.

A basket filled with newer similar tools
for anyone helping me to use and also a new weed eater
which I can no longer use.  2 pair of loppers to cut
branches

Battery always charged and ready for my small blower.
This is easier then using a broom and also use in garden.
My old shop vacuum is wonderful for garage and porch floors
and car and pickup cleanup.

A couple of old wheel barrows and my one gallon sprayer which
is easy to carry.

Could not work outside or inside without my ever sharp "Joyce Chen scissors"
mine are over 20 years old, always sharp and after losing another pair I have
red reflection tape on the handle. Always in my pocket when outside.
No one gets to use these but me...
 They are always sharp and can cut
anything, small branches, wire and sometimes use in the kitchen if cutting
up a whole chicken.  Will cut through bone in an instant.
I have a small kitchen knife (Joyce Chen) but for some reason the
scissors are easier and safer for me to handle.  Can order from Amazon.


   Also a special small pair of clippers - always extra sharp, great in garden
and also cutting small branches
 were my mother's.  Her small heavy hand held sledge hammer
 is a prize as I could not  - no way- swing a full handle size.
I can handle this hammer and recently used it putting stakes around
garden to hold boards upright.

Something new I do is save empty gallon bottles.   Fill with water
and pull into garden in my old little red wagon to water plants in pots.  Do this many times instead
of using hose.

Do other's have special old tools they love to use and will not share?
Probably so.....

Something Is Wrong

Yesterday....
I thought something is wrong with my clocks
the clocks I hear ticking away and the electric clocks
that move without my assistance
they are all moving to fast.

It is not even daylight
prayer time is finished
let Callie out
make up bed
dawn is breaking and there is a light fog - I love the view
eat a dozen cherries (they are so good this year) and a peach
do some stretches
check computer
oh, an idea, think I will write, will only take a few minutes
then barefoot out the door to check garden
nothing worth picking but one small cucumber (for lunch)
Oh, the sound of geese flying over head makes me smile,
feet are covered with wet grass
glad I keep a gallon milk jug filled with water and towel on porch to clean feet
and why did I do this in my nightgown
oh, wet grass felt so good.
Now will have to clean floor with little broom and might as well run swifter also
Inside and let Callie back on screen porch and feed her.
Almost 7:00 and on the dot
the call will come from across the ocean.
There it is :) "Hi, Mama how are you....
45 minute conversation and I hang up
I cry like a baby - I tell myself "that's alright crying is good for you"
all is well, he is happy, I just miss him, he is so far away....
Quick call to friend to give her phone number she wanted
she has tried my doctor, dentist, vacuum, and special bread I use and now wants to go to the one I visit every 6 weeks for hair appt  to remedy my hair cutting over the weeks.
On the mat for 15 minutes of yoga
put old garden clothes on
Oh my breakfast is getting later and later
hope phone does not ring
but want to hear about my little girl's first day of school.
piece of bacon, 1 scrambled egg, 1/2 slice toast and yogurt with blueberries, banana and walnuts with small piece of my zucchini bread
plus 2 cups of green tea, 1 glass milk and 2 glasses of water for b/p and now down to 1 1/2 mg prednisone." I think a lot of food for one that weighs 108 lbs.
Wash dishes, let drain, wipe counter tops, stove and load of wash on.
Need to weed, vacuum garage, freeze zucchini and make some bread for freezer - will do that maybe late today or another day.
Need to do some typing updating phone numbers and addresses
wrote several checks and addressed Birthday card to my youngest.
After lunch, Callie sleeps under a chair on the porch and does not move for many hours
I think I need to have her schedule.
Must take off trash to local dumpster - no pick up with country living.   Do not like this chore and where does all the trash come from.
Next trip to local town need to buy bird seed, suet cakes, check on shade for window where sun streams in, check on tile for above counter in kitchen - trying to save did not do this and with all of cooking this needs to be done. Post office stop.

So pleased 14 year old helped a couple of hours 3 times, 2 phone calls and help answers and says
"he is resting in his room" guess he is not coming back :)
oh well, he was good but tiring for me because I worked with him

Then I remember it is summer
a time of busyness
Winter will arrive with many days inside
I can curl up with an old warm sweater on
and read all day.

It also comes to mind
yes, you did all of this for years with a house full of children, mate and working
Time is going by quicker then you realize,
 you are not young anymore
accept that even though your mind
urges you on.

Will continue to downsize gardens, rest more, some help and
hopefully these woods continue to be my life....

Today And Clutter Or Memories

Special prayers and thoughts go out to my youngest granddaughter's this early morning.
It is the first day of school.
A day of excitement and a little nervous.
On their mind
new teachers
and new faces and hopefully some familar old friends.

Grandma is thinking of you with much love.....

Now on to my original post for today :)

Many items at this time of life
are just something to clean, shine, look at
and in the past you were used almost daily...

Downscaling a number of times but still cabinets, drawers and closets filled with items that are only used occasionally.

So you clean and put back on shelves, you wash, starch and fold old linens, air old quilts, go through your vast collection of books repeatedly,  thankful that only a few Christmas decorations remain.

Guess it is just a part of years of accumulating and my lifestyle is so totally different at this time.   My son tells me I have done good that there is really not that much left.   

I agree until I start doing special cleaning in Spring and Fall.

 

I smile that my granddaughter in New York on her last visit said "grandma you have something I would like to have"   I asked "what is it?"    It was a fur jacket that was purchased 50 years ago.  Since it was a small size I asked "does it fit"  her reply "oh yes perfectly"  She sent me pictures last winter of her wearing it in very cold New York.   When complimented she shares it was her grandmother's and it also has my initials embroidered in the lining..... E.L.

 

Better she enjoys it then little granddaughter's wearing it outside on their visits when there

are frigid winter days

 cold winter days.....