What a difference a day can make!

I was so excited to have transplanted all the seedlings to their respective raised beds.  I was trying to work in the moment.  The sun on my face, the cool breeze, the soil falling between my fingers.   

Excitement can quickly turn into trepidation.  Did I break any stems..... are they going to live.... did I water them enough..... are they getting too much sun?

The kitchen herbs have been the only casualties so far.  Quinn and Shiner didn't like the way they were planted and upended them.  Replanted the basil, thyme, oregano and fennel.

An hour after I finished working in the back yard, there was a crash that shook the whole house.  It sounded like a car wreck on the street but the dogs ran to the back.  Looking out over the pasture below, there was nothing out of place yet something was missing.  The oak tree was gone and so were our parts of our fence.  We are blessed that the 100 ft. tall 6 ft around tree didn't hit the house, the chicken coop, the dogs or the neighbor's house although their deck didn't survive.

What a difference a day makes?  The tree is gone and nice piles of firewood remain.  Just two holes in the fence and a broken deck.  All fixable.

Plus all the plants perked back up after being transplanted.

I was just thinking.......

I'm reading this book called The Clear Light of Day that seems to speak to my soul.  The following is the author's synopsis of how to live a peaceful life:

"Simplify; small is beautiful; cherish the living earth; bless the community where you live; think globally, act locally; watch your boundaries; choose what is handmade with love; don't eat food you don't like; don't be deprived of firelight; don't take anything seriously; and don't let people get you down."

I think it is quite well said and alludes to my sudden, as some would say, interest in urban homesteading/farming.  Being a wife, mother, daughter and employee, I am continually pulled in opposing directions.  Some - not fair to me.  While God calls us to be there for others, he also understands that we need to be there for ourselves.  This is not a selfish attitude because if you take care of yourself, you will be more to give others.  We work all the time so we can have "things" but when we get home, we are too tired to enjoy them.  I, personally, am trying to incorporate the small things, homegrown, handmade and cherished so my soul is recharged and my counternance will shine brighter.

I was just thinking........ now off to contemplate the transplanting of all my seedlings to the garden.  Yippee. 

Let's just hope they all live.

Really!?!

Okay, grammar usage note for the day.  "Really" is an adverb.  It's not supposed to be used as a one word comeback.  I didn't notice that I used this as my go to comment when somebody cuts me off while driving until it was pointed out that it's not meant to be a one word statement.  See http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57532010/faith-salie-is-really-worked-up-over-really/ for the full commentary on the use of "Really".  Funny how when brought to your attention, your subconscious brings it out more.

Just throwing that out there.  Enough philosophizing for now. 

People who know me know that I'm basically a couch potato.  Okay, my hands are usually really busy, but I'm a couch potato just the same.  This gardening thing (which is what we're really doing at the moment, urban farming will come later) is a lot of hard work.  No wonder our grandparents were usually pretty thin.  I get home and spend time checking on all the seedlings and transplants, then go turn the compost pile and check on the onions and potatoes.  (This photo of me as couch potato is payback for putting Jonathan's picture in a previous post.  He was not amused.)

 There are also times when you get to say "THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!"   After a not so quick trip (with a stop at Whataburger and Roach's Feed & Seed) to Northhaven to find out why my peas were wilting.  Who knew they would get overheated when it is just 53 degrees outside?  I do now.  Got home and started "hardening them off" by transplanting them in their new home.  BTW, hardening off is when you get them used to outside by putting them out for a little bit every day and then finally leaving them outside all the time.  Just so you know, fact finding missions to any store will normally cost you money.  This little trip with all its stops cost us $100!

This is where the "freaking awesome" comes in.  It looks like I'm finally doing something right.  See all those beautiful roots.  Every single one I turned out looked great.  

Its kind of entertaining to watch peas (or any other climber, for that matter) when you put a tomato cage near them.  They have these little feelers (kind of like curly antenna on bugs) that weave around in the air (albeit very slowly) until they find something to grab on to.  They then curl around the wire like a little baby grabbing a finger and handling on for dear life. 

Remember a post or so again I mentioned that I thought I'd killed my potatoes.  While, I checked and the Yukon Golds, Yukon Gems and German Butters all have some good sprouts on them.  I covered them back up and hopefully, as it starts to warm up, they will actually get some leaves on them. 

I love my roasted potatoes and I can't wait to try roasting my own.

Last but not least, DOG STORIES.  After spending 5 minutes in puppy time out for chasing chickens, Shiner decides it his time to help in the garden.  He is trying to dig up my newly transplanted peas.  Gotta love'm.