a few weeks ago, i was able to spend an afternoon at home working in the yard. as i puttered around in the garden, cezar spent his time catching bees in the raspberry patch. mitch asked me during the evening what happened to cezar's muzzle. apparently it was swollen and tender to the touch. i couldn't help but laugh. a benadryl and a good night's sleep later, cezar was back to catching bees again.
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Sunday, October 20, 2013
snap shots: my garden in october
i realized earlier this week that i had hardly any photos of my yard this season. even with some neglect on my part.... my yard continued to thrive and needed to be remembered. each season comes with new challenges, more knowledge and grand plans. this year i petered out mid summer..... i still have a handful of plants waiting to be placed into their new spots. weeds have over taken some areas and have made sure their presence will be there next season. the grasshoppers were overly abundant this year. {i'm still trying to convince mitchel that the solution for them is to have back yard chickens}. the slugs and snails... well if we had a french restaurant near by i'm confident that i could supply them with endless escargot. i have been fighting an internal war with myself about using chemical sprays or continuing on the natural route. perhaps learning little by little and implementing new practices is the way to go. at the end of this season.... i'm just grateful for a wonderful harvest, beauty and learning something new.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
balabusta
balabusta - yiddish for "a good housekeeper"
my dream of who i want to be when i grow up is finally materializing.
this morning as i was reading my garden magazine i came across this beautiful word. okay so it's a little foreign... but it encompassed everything that has been running through my mind for the past year or so. remember a month or so ago when i recapped my 25th year?? it was the year that i began to 'become' myself. i'm only two months into my 26th year now... but all the puzzle pieces are fitting together and i'm beginning to see the whole picture.
growing up i never took to the homemaking skills. i probably even fought my mother on such tasks. she stills remembers and likes to recall to my memory when i was newly married and asked her why she never taught me how to cook {??}. my mom, not only taught me, but was an excellent example. somewhere through the years i had 'conveniently' forgotten.
there was the time i asked her why she hadn't included me in the canning of the fall harvest. {mind you, i remember watching her many nights growing up in the kitchen preserving the summer bounty until late in the night.}
and if i'm honest with myself... i even remember learning how to sew. plus i'm fairly certain i remember the basics, even if i occasionally ask my sisters to mend something for me.
never in my entire life would i have imagined the importance of learning such skills. gratefully we don't live in a society that needs such knowledge {not yet at least}. but now, i can't acquire enough of these skills.... this spring i was determined to learn how to butcher a chicken and cook it for dinner. a few years ago i was able to participate with my sister's hunting and harvesting of a deer, but taking things into my own hands and not just watching was important to me. somewhere deep inside i was craving the chance to learn these vital skills. with verbal instructions i made it through my first butchery by myself. i don't think i have been more proud.
during christmas break last year i watched many documentaries about food and meat. learning the ugly truth of where our food is grown and harvested.... it never urged me to become vegetarian. but it did urge me to learn where my food came from. ultimately my goal is to have my own livestock and so forth.
naturally, with my incredible husband, who could be described as a city boy, hasn't come around to my dreams 100%.....{yet}. asking him where the meat of the grocery store comes from, he answers 'the store'. for some people it is challenging to associate the face of an animal with their meal. i remember the deer that i took part in the killing, harvesting and cooking. there was a small battle going on internally, but i can't deny that was some of the most tasty meat i have tasted.
once upon a time people used to travel from farmer to farmer to purchase their grocery needs. death was a part of life. now we are able to drive to the store and pick out what ever cut of meat or vegetable or fruit that we need for our meals. no longer do we associate our foods with nature and farming....
my dream for the future. i want, need, desire to have my own land. to have a self sufficient farm. growing and raising fruits, vegetables and livestock for our table. re-acquainting friends and family and community with their food. teaching and introducing people with the joys of gardening and preserving the abundance of the summer harvest. knowing exactly what is in their food.
i find such immense joy in the 'pings' of my jars sealing as they sit on my counter after filling them with the garden harvest. i believe everyone should know that sound and joy.
our world is troubled, and i don't know where the future will take us. however! i finally hear what my soul is calling to me, i know what i dream of. today i will focus on my small corner lot homestead and dream of the future. until then, perhaps i may spark someone else's fire and teach them a little of what i am learning and aspiring to become.
someday i will become a "well rounded' balabusta.
until then i'll process one jar at a time,
share the joys of gardening one plant at a time,
and someday i will be the proud owner of my own self sufficient homestead.
my dream of who i want to be when i grow up is finally materializing.
this morning as i was reading my garden magazine i came across this beautiful word. okay so it's a little foreign... but it encompassed everything that has been running through my mind for the past year or so. remember a month or so ago when i recapped my 25th year?? it was the year that i began to 'become' myself. i'm only two months into my 26th year now... but all the puzzle pieces are fitting together and i'm beginning to see the whole picture.
growing up i never took to the homemaking skills. i probably even fought my mother on such tasks. she stills remembers and likes to recall to my memory when i was newly married and asked her why she never taught me how to cook {??}. my mom, not only taught me, but was an excellent example. somewhere through the years i had 'conveniently' forgotten.
there was the time i asked her why she hadn't included me in the canning of the fall harvest. {mind you, i remember watching her many nights growing up in the kitchen preserving the summer bounty until late in the night.}
and if i'm honest with myself... i even remember learning how to sew. plus i'm fairly certain i remember the basics, even if i occasionally ask my sisters to mend something for me.
never in my entire life would i have imagined the importance of learning such skills. gratefully we don't live in a society that needs such knowledge {not yet at least}. but now, i can't acquire enough of these skills.... this spring i was determined to learn how to butcher a chicken and cook it for dinner. a few years ago i was able to participate with my sister's hunting and harvesting of a deer, but taking things into my own hands and not just watching was important to me. somewhere deep inside i was craving the chance to learn these vital skills. with verbal instructions i made it through my first butchery by myself. i don't think i have been more proud.
during christmas break last year i watched many documentaries about food and meat. learning the ugly truth of where our food is grown and harvested.... it never urged me to become vegetarian. but it did urge me to learn where my food came from. ultimately my goal is to have my own livestock and so forth.
naturally, with my incredible husband, who could be described as a city boy, hasn't come around to my dreams 100%.....{yet}. asking him where the meat of the grocery store comes from, he answers 'the store'. for some people it is challenging to associate the face of an animal with their meal. i remember the deer that i took part in the killing, harvesting and cooking. there was a small battle going on internally, but i can't deny that was some of the most tasty meat i have tasted.
once upon a time people used to travel from farmer to farmer to purchase their grocery needs. death was a part of life. now we are able to drive to the store and pick out what ever cut of meat or vegetable or fruit that we need for our meals. no longer do we associate our foods with nature and farming....
my dream for the future. i want, need, desire to have my own land. to have a self sufficient farm. growing and raising fruits, vegetables and livestock for our table. re-acquainting friends and family and community with their food. teaching and introducing people with the joys of gardening and preserving the abundance of the summer harvest. knowing exactly what is in their food.
i find such immense joy in the 'pings' of my jars sealing as they sit on my counter after filling them with the garden harvest. i believe everyone should know that sound and joy.
our world is troubled, and i don't know where the future will take us. however! i finally hear what my soul is calling to me, i know what i dream of. today i will focus on my small corner lot homestead and dream of the future. until then, perhaps i may spark someone else's fire and teach them a little of what i am learning and aspiring to become.
someday i will become a "well rounded' balabusta.
until then i'll process one jar at a time,
share the joys of gardening one plant at a time,
and someday i will be the proud owner of my own self sufficient homestead.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
the beginning of the harvest season
july was full of adventures
august will be filled with harvest
hello canning season
i started the season off with 2 pints of raspberry syrup
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
green
my garden is the only one who seems to be thriving with the current triple digit temps.
especially the peppers... they have double in size over the last week.
i pulled my first garlic yesterday seeing how the size was.
i think i'll leave the others awhile longer, hoping they double in size.
hopefully i can brave the heat this week and make progress getting more plants in the ground,
laying down fabric where we will be graveling around our fire pit
crossing our fingers that the neighbors will be responsible with fireworks this week
we have areas that are in the process of new landscaping and hope no fire will be sparked...
Thursday, April 18, 2013
day dreaming
i think it's natural to day dream whenever you are traveling. imagining living in the place you are visiting and exploring. as mitch and i drove through ventura we passed this gorgeous home and wondered what it would be like to live a few blocks from the beach. living in such a beautiful coastal town. taking the boys to play in the ocean everyday.... the pace of the town was calling to us. we even pulled up mitch's property app and looked at home prices.
we loved walking the pier/boat harbor. listening to the sea lions, the tourists, and watching everyone and their dog enjoying the evening. it was magical if you asked me.
but when it really comes down to it... i'm in love with my home. born and raised here in utah i don't know if i could ever find another place that speaks to my heart the same. not to mention there is no yards to speak of in california. i think that my quarter acre corner lot may be small for my grand goals of gardening... but coming home to my yard it seemed ginormous. yes i may be envious of california's growing conditions... however i'm 100% in love with my home, my yard, and being near family.
when i really dream of our future, i dream of property. never in a million years did i anticipate my heritage, my upbringing, my roots to surface in such a manor. i want to have a homestead. mitch wants enough property to have a 'go cart track', i want plenty of space to garden, raise chickens and some livestock {mitch hasn't fallen in love with my ideas yet....}. the more we watch the news and hear of the unfortunate events world wide, the more we want our little place of heaven. a place that we can develop and grow and tend.
so as appealing as california can be. how amazing the coast line is. our dreams keep us here. growing together and building our future in our home state.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
gardening and a set of new skills
mother nature was really rude on saturday. we woke up to snow.
some day i will have my own farm.....
Monday, March 4, 2013
seedlings and sandwiches
our primary children are turning eight this year and will be getting baptized. they truly are my most favorite children and teaching them is my favorite calling yet. as an example for teaching we planting a tomato seed with them and will show them the progress of growth as time passes. we are trying to help them grasp the concept of 'planting a seed of faith and watching it grow'. it has been very exciting for them to see the growth of the seedling so far. they even asked to help plant it once it's ready to transplant outside. i'm thinking their plant will make it's home in the front yard, that way they can walk by and see the progress during the summer.
my seedlings are growing. i absolutely love checking in on them throughout the day and seeing their progress. i can't wait til every one makes their presence seen. saturday my second batch of seeds arrived from baker creek heirloom seeds. hopefully i'll get them planted in the next day or two. i'm trying two new plants - ground husk tomatoes and litchi tomatoes.
one of the best parts of bed time is the snowball sandwich. without fail jake and cezar will curl up on either side of me for snuggles before bed.
on another exciting note.... we bought me a darling bike this weekend!! i picked out a cruiser with a big comfy seat, a basket on the front and i can't wait to take it out for a ride! alyson {joe's finance} has one too and we are eager for the spring weather so we can go on bike riding adventures. the guys will most likely spend their time playing video games... {lame}. i really am super excited to finally have a bike.
Friday, March 1, 2013
welcoming March with open arms
i never thought it'd come.... but today is finally March!
my day wouldn't have been complete without a happy dance and sunshine.
no worries though i got both
this morning for work i attended a seminar at thanksgiving point.
i miss the learning atmosphere....
afterwards i managed to get a few things taken care of on the internet for work,
a box from amazon full of office supplies arrived!
{i don't know why.... but i love office supplies. yay for colorful sharpies and post it notes...}
i made it into work by 2 and was greeted with two plant shipments
the sun was still shining and everything seemed to be working out.
thank you March 1st for being fabulous.
on another exciting note... my tomato seeds i planted tuesday morning and are growing at home decided to poke their heads up this morning. it's incredibly rewarding plant and seed and watch it grow. this year all of the vegetables i'm growing in my garden will be heirloom. and with success i'll harvest and save the seeds for my seed collection.
Friday, January 18, 2013
green passion
one of my wishes for this year is to minimize caffeine.... i haven't made any progress {yet}
and it's even more challenging since i have lots of lemons ready to pick and they are screaming to be squeezed into a ice cold pepsi. it was the perfect treat yesterday! {and will be today and tomorrow and... you get the idea} i have never had a better lemon too. they are on the small size but the amount of juice that erupts from one when i cut it open.... amazing!!!
for the past two years i've always had the 'pleasure' of listening to mitch talk stock market with both fathers.... it goes straight over my head. my eyes even glaze over on occasion. gratefully i don't have to worry about finances since mitch is my financial guru. but i do come alive whenever i get the opportunity to talk plants. yesterday one of my favorite customers came in and i spent a good 30 mins plus chatting gardening and homesteading with her. {perhaps mitch feels similar to gardening as i do to financial chat...} i'm quickly realizing though that i could spend hours talking about plants. there is something magical that happens when you are passionate about something and my passion for everything green is growing in leaps and bounds it seems.
towards the end of december i started some ghost peppers and it seemed to trigger some interest in mitch. over the last few weeks he has been browsing seeds online and getting excited to try growing hot peppers along side me. he wanted to compete growing... or least seed starting with me. so we started a couple hot peppers last week together. last night i went in to check on them and his first sprout made an appearance. i love seeing him get excited about plants! hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg for him. i'd love to include him in all things gardening. he also wants to have a cook off with salsa making this summer.... this will be a fabulous growing season... i can feel it!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
waking up to blues skies
i'm a little surprised that it's thursday already. this week seems to be flying by. gratefully there is a gorgeous bright blue sky waiting to see me on my way to work here shortly.
along with the blue sky that today brought... mitch started training at his new job. he left the investment firm last week. he received a job offer at wells fargo as an investment banker that he couldn't turn down. this is the best move for him and our little family right now. the best part of this will be working face to face with clients. mitch excels in that area. handling customers via phone only wasn't the best match for his personality. plus he'll be working along side his best friend who is a branch manager. i'm very excited for him as well as a very proud wife.
i've been enjoying work and the endless shelves that need to be dusted... the nature of the game. more like the nature of january -- a slow month. new product will be arriving in the next few weeks. yesterday i was tickled happy by the surprise of one of our seed racks being delivered early. i can't say it enough... i really enjoy my job and plus i keep falling more and more in love with it. i feel as i'm growing into my place more as well.
another benefit of the chilly month.... i get to enjoy the sunset as i leave for the day and make my way home. there really isn't anything more beautiful than the sky being painted gorgeous warm hues.
Monday, December 31, 2012
thanks for the memories 2012
2012 was quite the year for us. i had high expectations and gratefully the year did not disappoint. it really was my year.
january started out a bit rough.... mitch and i stayed home and rung in the new year playing games and spending time together. cezar injured his leg somehow new years eve and wouldn't use it. actually he could barely walk. a trip to the vet on monday showed no serious injury and seems to have sprained it somehow. the jetta died on us at the car show mid january and we got lucky with an incredible deal on the Z. i also found out that i had mono on top of being hypothyroid.
february things started to swing upwards for me. i was still feeling the effects of mono and was learning how to deal with my health limits. we celebrated valentines and i managed to surprise mitch with a car full of ballons and a few gift cards to the car wash and his favorite smoothie place. work was showing all the signs of spring. which is undoubtedly my favorite time of year there. grandma holdaway was struggling with her health and we thought we were going to lose her. i was able to extend myself and help out at the house with her and grow to love her in a whole new capacity. i also started practicing yoga and it brought a new balance and happiness to my life.
march. all my spring shipments started arriving. i was feeling a bit better health wise. i located some darling baby silkie chicks which started my desire to have chickens. mitch and i finally conquered our main wall and painted over the not so lovely nutmeg color.
april i tackled more than i could handle. i was busy in the greenhouse trying to keep on top of everything. amy texted me to see if i'd be interested in helping her out again with the boys. i absolutely wanted to do so and figured out a way to squeeze her into my schedule. mitch was hesitant and i felt like i could be superwoman...... i quickly realized that 50+ hour weeks weren't going to be in my favor and that the garden center needed my full attention. not to mention i felt like i was taking way too many steps backwards in my health.
may. the busiest month of the year for me. april showers bring may flowers... and mother's day brings out all our customers. i managed to get my garden started and spent as much time with the boys as i could.
june. we celebrated mitch's birthday. spent time with friends and family. i was finally feeling on top of the world health wise {as much a possible} i was started to enjoy the first of my garden harvest. we squeezed a few hikes in with the boys. abby had my take her and russell's engagement photos too.
july was a busy month for us. we started out celebrating my birthday and having an adventure down in zion's subway. nanna joined us on our vacation along with mom and dad dayley and ashley and brendon. abby and russell got married on the 14th. plus we survived all the smoke in the air from the many many wildfires.
august i was thrilled with being able to harvest lots of goodies from my garden. we added a few new toys to the household - mitch got his fourwheeler and i in turn got a camera upgrade :) we attended the salt lake city farmers market. i got to being the 'photographer' for my cousins wedding. plus we managed to fit in a boating trip with joe and his girlfriend. on top of everything... i seemed to be the only employee that was able to work that month. everyone one had vacations and previous engagements.
september we celebrated cezar's 2nd birthday. made a day trip to idaho to surprise grandpa hatch for his 80th birthday and visit my grandpa taylor. harvest season was in full swing and i finally got to taste the joy of digging in the garden for the potato harvest. it's like a treasure hunt. finally manged to get back into the swing of yard work. the summer heat had taken it's toll on me and the yard. plus we had a overnight camp trip to the dunes with joe and alyson. it was quite the adventure sleeping under the stars, joe burning his hand on the camp ring and a fox sneaking into camp. it was the perfect little getaway.
october came and so did pumpkinland. the 2nd busiest season for me. {a double dose of birth control} our theme was alice in pumpkinland which was by far the most favorite from all the years. we also made an unexpected trip to idaho to be with family with grandma dayleys passing. we were grateful we made it in time to say goodbye. mitch was also studying for his 66 license exam. gratefully he passed even with all the current challenges. we also celebrated our 3rd anniversary. worked on conquering my fears of snakes and scary movies and haunted houses.... i'm better than i was. and we also traded in the Z for a hybrid. the Z was allergic to snow and we are old people now and enjoy the comfort of a full sized car ;)
and last but not least december. we had beautiful weather for most of the month. i managed to plant garlic around the 7th. i also got to take abby and russell's christmas photos/we are having a baby pictures. after 3 years of marriage we finally made it to temple square with the dayley family. enjoyed a wonderful dinner and mom dayley said we should offically adopt nanna into the family since she is always joining in on our fun. plus i am tickled to say that we had the best poinsettias sells in the past many many years. at least in the 10 years i've been working. it feels good to see so few at the end of the holiday. we also enjoyed a very wonderful and blessed christmas with each other and our families. and i've finished the year out with the week off and enjoying time with the boys!
2012 had some ups and downs and some health challenges. but i'm so blessed and have truly felt like i have come into my own self. i have to declare that it is the best year yet!! i am sure that 2013 will be filled with it's own challenges and good moments but 2012 has been very good to me. i may just be a tiny bit sad to say good bye to it. thanks for all the memories this year... and here's to the next. may you be just as wonderful and fulfilling!
january started out a bit rough.... mitch and i stayed home and rung in the new year playing games and spending time together. cezar injured his leg somehow new years eve and wouldn't use it. actually he could barely walk. a trip to the vet on monday showed no serious injury and seems to have sprained it somehow. the jetta died on us at the car show mid january and we got lucky with an incredible deal on the Z. i also found out that i had mono on top of being hypothyroid.
february things started to swing upwards for me. i was still feeling the effects of mono and was learning how to deal with my health limits. we celebrated valentines and i managed to surprise mitch with a car full of ballons and a few gift cards to the car wash and his favorite smoothie place. work was showing all the signs of spring. which is undoubtedly my favorite time of year there. grandma holdaway was struggling with her health and we thought we were going to lose her. i was able to extend myself and help out at the house with her and grow to love her in a whole new capacity. i also started practicing yoga and it brought a new balance and happiness to my life.
march. all my spring shipments started arriving. i was feeling a bit better health wise. i located some darling baby silkie chicks which started my desire to have chickens. mitch and i finally conquered our main wall and painted over the not so lovely nutmeg color.
april i tackled more than i could handle. i was busy in the greenhouse trying to keep on top of everything. amy texted me to see if i'd be interested in helping her out again with the boys. i absolutely wanted to do so and figured out a way to squeeze her into my schedule. mitch was hesitant and i felt like i could be superwoman...... i quickly realized that 50+ hour weeks weren't going to be in my favor and that the garden center needed my full attention. not to mention i felt like i was taking way too many steps backwards in my health.
may. the busiest month of the year for me. april showers bring may flowers... and mother's day brings out all our customers. i managed to get my garden started and spent as much time with the boys as i could.
june. we celebrated mitch's birthday. spent time with friends and family. i was finally feeling on top of the world health wise {as much a possible} i was started to enjoy the first of my garden harvest. we squeezed a few hikes in with the boys. abby had my take her and russell's engagement photos too.
august i was thrilled with being able to harvest lots of goodies from my garden. we added a few new toys to the household - mitch got his fourwheeler and i in turn got a camera upgrade :) we attended the salt lake city farmers market. i got to being the 'photographer' for my cousins wedding. plus we managed to fit in a boating trip with joe and his girlfriend. on top of everything... i seemed to be the only employee that was able to work that month. everyone one had vacations and previous engagements.
september we celebrated cezar's 2nd birthday. made a day trip to idaho to surprise grandpa hatch for his 80th birthday and visit my grandpa taylor. harvest season was in full swing and i finally got to taste the joy of digging in the garden for the potato harvest. it's like a treasure hunt. finally manged to get back into the swing of yard work. the summer heat had taken it's toll on me and the yard. plus we had a overnight camp trip to the dunes with joe and alyson. it was quite the adventure sleeping under the stars, joe burning his hand on the camp ring and a fox sneaking into camp. it was the perfect little getaway.
november brought new changes to work. sanna left and i became the manager. there was a lot of clean up from pumpkinland to be done and getting ready for the holiday season. yay poinsettias. we went shooting with abby, russell and nanna. i got to try out my new gun. and it was a perfect way to dispose of some excess pumpkins. and of course we celebrated thanksgiving with the people we love the most.
and last but not least december. we had beautiful weather for most of the month. i managed to plant garlic around the 7th. i also got to take abby and russell's christmas photos/we are having a baby pictures. after 3 years of marriage we finally made it to temple square with the dayley family. enjoyed a wonderful dinner and mom dayley said we should offically adopt nanna into the family since she is always joining in on our fun. plus i am tickled to say that we had the best poinsettias sells in the past many many years. at least in the 10 years i've been working. it feels good to see so few at the end of the holiday. we also enjoyed a very wonderful and blessed christmas with each other and our families. and i've finished the year out with the week off and enjoying time with the boys!
2012 had some ups and downs and some health challenges. but i'm so blessed and have truly felt like i have come into my own self. i have to declare that it is the best year yet!! i am sure that 2013 will be filled with it's own challenges and good moments but 2012 has been very good to me. i may just be a tiny bit sad to say good bye to it. thanks for all the memories this year... and here's to the next. may you be just as wonderful and fulfilling!
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