Labor Before Weekend

Yesterday as day is beginning and still not totally day light
yoga, computer time and then
a few new seeds planted
before the heat sets in.
Kale and Spinach
and will see if they do as well as the Turnip Greens.

Then a little clean up

A few clothes on deck to dry

Some yogurt, fruit and green tea,
change of clothes
and a quick trip to town
and a truck loaded with torn bags of mulch and gravel
good buy at 1/2 price and will spread a bag at a time.
Strange the streets and the big store
were almost empty.

Just received call that bush hog man is coming tomorrow after work.
So pleased as it will tidy up many areas and help with mosquito's.
Going to ask him to nail my Woodhaven sign back up which is hanging
by one nail and I cannot lift.    Have got kind of use to seeing it lopsided
so now when the way it should be will refresh the letters.

Beth, called and said  " mama go to Destin with me for a long weekend."  I told her thank you but I just
do not want to leave home and especially in this heat.  I am the happiest person on the planet
in this cottage surrounded by my simple gardens, woods and
especially since some health issues seem to be better....

Soon it was time for lunch
and meals the same as the day before...

Corn And A Thought

The corn arrived
some in refrigerator
and the rest in freezer
that will be shucked as used.
Never did it this way in the past
but best for me at this time.

Is there anything better
then corn dropped in boiling water
for a few minutes and then covered with butter?

Corn that was picked just hours before
and I think this is the best I have ever tasted
and I have eaten a lot of corn over the years.

A thought
why is it at this time of my life
that everything that is pleasurable to me brings such happiness,
 peace and contentment.
Then anything that causes me deep pain
is many times  magnified and is sometimes difficult
for me to handle?

So with the last 5 small squash from my garden,
a handful of bok choy and my tomato and cottage cheese
dinner was pleasing.

Keep having thoughts
of driving 45 minutes to an hour
north of my home
and buying more of this corn.
Becky went out of her way to bring this to me
and do not want to ask her to do the same
next time she drives to the country.

But then
what I have on hand
 is enough for one.

Also
do not like being on the road
when temperature is now in the 90's.

Lunch And I'M Not Saving

Hot weather has returned
and quick trip to town this morning with the thoughts the traffic will be bad the next 5 days.
It was really bad already and I thought where are all the people coming from and going.

On the road scenes of tobacco loaded on wagons, hanging in barns,  smoke from the barns and
rolls of hay in surrounding fields.  I enjoy the the country view but so warm
for those working in tobacco at this time.

Could not hardly wait to return home and it was past normal lunch time.
Quickly assembled
Rye bread, fresh mozzarella cheese, avocado, crisp bacon,  my tomato (which will soon be gone)
a little black pepper,  drizzle of olive oil and lettuce - it looked so good and I took a picture :)

Past memories of my grandmother and mother saving special gifts.
I am guilty of this also as I have several beautiful items I rarely wear and need
to wear them daily and not save.   My beautiful apron, a gift and I had thoughts
of saving.    I am not going to as I love wearing it and the big pockets are a plus.
I may be wearing it daily :)

So the day continues with my dental hygienist bringing me 3 dozen ears of corn.
Can remember in the past always putting 12 dozen or more in freezer.
Can no longer handle this amount and cutting off cob, blanching and freezing.
This amount will be plenty for me and if family arrive soon...

Mid Morning Thoughts

and I remember

Special Words and Thoughts

In part from a special young friend  "Aisling."
whose words I read this morning.

Life is a maze, full of twists and turns,
false starts and dead ends,
spiraling out away from the center of things
and I always want to be flowing in towards the heart....

Words go over and over in my mind this early morning.

A night that is usually not as comfortable as the day
and I sometimes have thoughts
of much.

But then this early morning with doors wide open,
dawn breaking, the view of mist,
the sound of geese overhead,
 the wonderful scent of the woods
and something blooming
I stand on the deck looking out into the woods
and in my heart
I know
I can never leave this place.

It is a dream come true
and the peace within is so deep
there are no words to share.

It is going to be a good day
and that is wished to all
who visit
my simple words....

Morning Happenings

A quick morning trip to local town to replenish some items, bank,  post office stop and even though
I made a list.
I forgot to stop at hardware store for filters for a/h unit and also to buy kale and turnip green seeds.

The drive down the winding country roads is so peaceful.
Viewing workers in the fields of tobacco and open barn door with it hanging
makes me think of Fall.

At store purchased 2 items I have not tried before
my daughter, Laurie in Tampa mentioned these to me
Rice Milk and Kefir.
Bought blueberry Kefir and it taste like a liquid yogurt, I like it.
Will see if these make any difference to this immune system as I continue to
eat healthy and with my thoughts that diet does help.

Simple lunch of my tomato, basil, olive oil with some fresh mozzarella cheese on wheat bread.
A helping of beets brought back memories of a time I planted beets years ago
at the old farmhouse and made something similar to this store bought item.

Also for times I have not baked in a while this is something that is so good
I try to keep one in the freezer - Key Lime Pie.

Evening meal will have a small piece of fresh salmon, bok choy, brown rice and a serving
of my yellow squash.
Garden has turned into a mass of yellow decaying leaves and there may not be anything else
to harvest
except a few tomato's hanging on too wet limbs and hopefully they ripen.

In a couple of days I will be finished with the anti-biotic I have been on for days.
It has given me a horrible case of thrush and tried two home remedies of rinsing mouth
with warm salty water and alternating with diluted apple cider vinegar.  Also was prescribed something but if household item will help that is the way I want to go. 

Very low dose of Prednisone continues and hopefully soon
I want to stop taking.
It has been mentioned before I truly hate taking medication but it has helped me through
the last months.

So much research has been done, questions being asked and I think so much is not known
and I do not want to be experimented with.
I like an answer when I ask a question. 
Still have not been told what is causing the balance problem that goes and comes.
I have slowed down, like my good son has told me.
 Doing all I know and much
 at this time will just have to be accepted and as we age a lot we never experienced
may begin to happen.
But sure do not like it.
May just never go to a doctor again and only leave my woods for groceries.

Enough shared on health issues.

Hot weather has once again arrived.
In the 90's today and suppose to continue.

I keep wondering
what has happened to this summer
and this year?
It seems it sure has gone by fast
and now Fall around the corner....

Rain

Yesterday was another day of repeated showers
and according to early morning forecast
showers due daily for the next 3 days.

The soil surrounding my cottage and in the woods
is almost beyond damp.
In places mud....
Everything is growing,
some leaves are yellow
and mosquito's are buzzing.

Grass was cut by school boy on Friday
and it is Tuesday and so high.
Cannot or will not pay someone again to do this chore.

So I back lawn tractor out of garage.
Because I have developed a weak right arm I
 have learned I can turn the blade on by raising my
leg and pushing lever with my foot
part of the way and then grabbing with my hand to continue to put blade on.
This can be accomplished because of years of exercise, yoga and I am
not a big person.
I know this  is not a good idea
but I can accomplish it
although do not need to make a practice of it.

Grass is still damp or wet,
even though I waited until 5:00
and the delightful little mushrooms
look like little soldiers in the surrounding lawn
and woods.  Some I cut down and others I leave
because I like the way they look.

Mosquito's are horrible and for the first time ever
I put a scarf on my head to cover my neck
around long sleeve shirt.

I am going to cut for 30 minutes
that is the most I can do.
I notice a few August plants that are blooming
A vine that use to be on screen porch and threatened to cover it
so I moved by the woods.
Also one I do not plant but volunteers everywhere I move.
Years ago my elderly friend Miss Robbye gave it to me.
I had never seen it before
she called it a Summer Poinsettia.

Repeating
what I have shared a lot this Spring and Summer
"I am not gardening in an ideal location at the edge of
these shady and damp woods."

But surprisingly
there are times
that everything looks beautiful.
But
that is not at this time....