Life is rich! Be brave enough to seek the richness, the reflection of God in His creation, to step off the merry-go-round more often. Keep your eyes open.
While jumping through the hoops may be necessary sometimes, it is not The Main Thing.
Too many miss this.
To this I add a recommendation that you visit our son-in-law's blog for a glimpse of that which I am speaking.
Javamom
05 June, 2011
02 June, 2011
what a difference three days makes!
First, I'm going to post the herbs that I didn't post a few days ago, then you can see some veggies that I only mentioned in passing in my last post. :-)
Spearmint
Cilantro
Sage
Thyme
oregano
Dill
first zucchini
Snow Peas!
and last but not least, ripe grape tomatoes
More that are almost ready!
pear shaped tomatoes. These will ripen a rich, yellow shade
Not sure what this will end up being. It came from the compost soil, and wasn't seeded by me. I call it my zuchamelon!
Keep your garden photos and stories coming! Most of you post on Facebook comments, but feel free to click the link to see this on my blog and comment there :-).
Spearmint
Cilantro
Sage
Thyme
oregano
Dill
first zucchini
Snow Peas!
and last but not least, ripe grape tomatoes
More that are almost ready!
pear shaped tomatoes. These will ripen a rich, yellow shade
Not sure what this will end up being. It came from the compost soil, and wasn't seeded by me. I call it my zuchamelon!Tonights dinner consisted of sauteed swiss chard, onions, and a yellow squash that I picked this evening. These were served up alongside veggie-twirled pasta with just a touch of vidalia onion pasta sauce. No cheese necessary.
Keep your garden photos and stories coming! Most of you post on Facebook comments, but feel free to click the link to see this on my blog and comment there :-).
I am simply thankful for God's provision.
Javamom
Yum!!
01 June, 2011
Garden progress ~ May 30
We are transitioning this year from just organic gardening to also buying heirloom seeds. We started many of these plants ourselves. Hopefully we will locate and purchase all heirloom seeds for our next garden. This shot was taken before our son mowed and ran the weedeater around the edge of the garden. It looks much neater as of yesterday!
Notice all the greens on this side. We planted red and green swiss chard, collard greens, and kale. We planted spinach, as well, but it did not come up.
heirloom tomato
red swiss chard
green swiss chard
bell pepper (one of a few)
yellow squash (one of several!)
I'm pretty pleased overall with this year's garden. The snow peas are coming up well and attaching themselves to the fencing. There are a few pods out there, too!
Notice all the greens on this side. We planted red and green swiss chard, collard greens, and kale. We planted spinach, as well, but it did not come up.
heirloom tomato
red swiss chard
green swiss chard
bell pepper (one of a few)
yellow squash (one of several!)I'm pretty pleased overall with this year's garden. The snow peas are coming up well and attaching themselves to the fencing. There are a few pods out there, too!
The green beans are growing, but not very full just yet.
How does your garden grow? Show me some of your photos!
Javamom
22 May, 2011
Ready to begin some plans for Next Schoolyear
Spring fever
Senioritis
This is what we have had going on around here for a couple of months, now. If you had asked me two weeks ago what I was planning to do next year, I would have rolled my eyes at you. Literally. I was so ready just to be done with the year and move on to graduation celebration for our next senior (our third, now).
It has been a traumatic season in the family, with my Mom's cancer diagnosis, surgery, and continued chemo treatments. Then there is my husband's father's cancer numbers going up, after his first diagnosis almost 18 years ago. There are silver linings during the clouds of this chapter. Mom's numbers are going down steadily, and she is 2/3 of the way through chemo. Father-in-law has already outlived what his doctors had predicted by at least a decade, and he's feeling pretty well, all-in-all.
This week, I finally turned a corner in my mind and am getting excited about next year. I had almost given up on inspiration for the next year or two. Those of you who know me, know that I am a huge proponent of life long learning. Home schooling has allowed us the freedom to pursue and encourage that with not only our own kids, but many, many families and children along the way since the very early 90's.
What helped me out of my end-of-year funk? A new-to-me book about education that I purchased for summer reading and teacher continuing education. But first, I had to wrap up some pretty important details regarding this year. I needed to prepare for Spanish class reviews, make copies of Spanish tests, wrap up readings of short sketches and poetry in American Lit. with the writing of Garrison Keillor and Billy Collins, but not capping that class off with a final of any sort. I did not want to beat the literature with an analytical bat, so-to-speak, but let it stand in the kids' minds on its own merit; to marinate.
When we wrapped up today, it was exciting to hear my students' passion and/or narrations of their favorite or most surprising book, poem, or author from this school year. My own senior surprised me the most. He had made connections with Buckskin and Blanket Days, which is the story of a major part of the life of the newspaper journalist who reported on The Battle of Wonded Knee. He also happens to be one of my ancestors.
Several weeks ago, I had ordered a copy of The Student Whisperer by Oliver DeMille and Tiffany Earl, but had not been able to pick it up, for the aforementioned reasons. I could finally pick it up after this past week was nearing its end. Most of my class preps were behind me, so I spent a couple of nights reading into the wee hours. This book is hard to put down!
I am motivated once again to plan afresh, with the old purpose put in me years ago. It's great to have certain things reaffirmed, and to be challenged anew. Some of the background stories are so new to me, but it all reaffirms what I have always felt in my gut and even experienced in my own life of travel and living, working with others from various cultures and countries.
I'll close for now, but plan to blog more on the book as I proceed and as ideas simmer for a couple of days.
Are YOU ready for summer, or for continued learning?? :-)
Anyone want to read along with me and comment? Please do, and let me know!
Ciao for now,
Javamom
Senioritis
This is what we have had going on around here for a couple of months, now. If you had asked me two weeks ago what I was planning to do next year, I would have rolled my eyes at you. Literally. I was so ready just to be done with the year and move on to graduation celebration for our next senior (our third, now).
It has been a traumatic season in the family, with my Mom's cancer diagnosis, surgery, and continued chemo treatments. Then there is my husband's father's cancer numbers going up, after his first diagnosis almost 18 years ago. There are silver linings during the clouds of this chapter. Mom's numbers are going down steadily, and she is 2/3 of the way through chemo. Father-in-law has already outlived what his doctors had predicted by at least a decade, and he's feeling pretty well, all-in-all.
This week, I finally turned a corner in my mind and am getting excited about next year. I had almost given up on inspiration for the next year or two. Those of you who know me, know that I am a huge proponent of life long learning. Home schooling has allowed us the freedom to pursue and encourage that with not only our own kids, but many, many families and children along the way since the very early 90's.
What helped me out of my end-of-year funk? A new-to-me book about education that I purchased for summer reading and teacher continuing education. But first, I had to wrap up some pretty important details regarding this year. I needed to prepare for Spanish class reviews, make copies of Spanish tests, wrap up readings of short sketches and poetry in American Lit. with the writing of Garrison Keillor and Billy Collins, but not capping that class off with a final of any sort. I did not want to beat the literature with an analytical bat, so-to-speak, but let it stand in the kids' minds on its own merit; to marinate.
When we wrapped up today, it was exciting to hear my students' passion and/or narrations of their favorite or most surprising book, poem, or author from this school year. My own senior surprised me the most. He had made connections with Buckskin and Blanket Days, which is the story of a major part of the life of the newspaper journalist who reported on The Battle of Wonded Knee. He also happens to be one of my ancestors.
Several weeks ago, I had ordered a copy of The Student Whisperer by Oliver DeMille and Tiffany Earl, but had not been able to pick it up, for the aforementioned reasons. I could finally pick it up after this past week was nearing its end. Most of my class preps were behind me, so I spent a couple of nights reading into the wee hours. This book is hard to put down!
I am motivated once again to plan afresh, with the old purpose put in me years ago. It's great to have certain things reaffirmed, and to be challenged anew. Some of the background stories are so new to me, but it all reaffirms what I have always felt in my gut and even experienced in my own life of travel and living, working with others from various cultures and countries.
I'll close for now, but plan to blog more on the book as I proceed and as ideas simmer for a couple of days.
Are YOU ready for summer, or for continued learning?? :-)
Anyone want to read along with me and comment? Please do, and let me know!
Ciao for now,
Javamom
22 April, 2011
How Does Your Garden Grow?
It is taking off after some rain and now some heat!
Hubby removed the grass from half of the garden edges, but we still need to finish the left side and put the rocks back in place. (photo above)
swiss chard - we also have red chard, but it is still very small.
zucchini
yellow squash
yellow squash
above is a rogue set of plants that grew from our compost. I thought it might be cantaloupe, but it could also be cucumber!
Kale!
Green bean seedlings that need to be placed in the garden very soon!
snow peas just coming up (by the fence, far left) herbs (sage, thyme, oregano, even dill) left corner of the photo. Zuchini on the right, tomatoes in the middle, peppers (bell and jalapeno) upper left corner.
We also need more mulch, maybe we'll get it this weekend. I already need to get after some weeds and nutgrass.
What are you growing?
Javamom
Hubby removed the grass from half of the garden edges, but we still need to finish the left side and put the rocks back in place. (photo above)
swiss chard - we also have red chard, but it is still very small.
zucchini
yellow squash
yellow squash
above is a rogue set of plants that grew from our compost. I thought it might be cantaloupe, but it could also be cucumber!
Kale!
Green bean seedlings that need to be placed in the garden very soon!snow peas just coming up (by the fence, far left) herbs (sage, thyme, oregano, even dill) left corner of the photo. Zuchini on the right, tomatoes in the middle, peppers (bell and jalapeno) upper left corner.We also need more mulch, maybe we'll get it this weekend. I already need to get after some weeds and nutgrass.
What are you growing?
Javamom
21 April, 2011
To a Child Born in April
Two of our four children were born in April, our married daughter and our youngest son, who is turning 16.
My husband, my mother, and sister, brother and my late Granny, and several nieces and nephews, also have April birthdays. We love April! This poem is for them (replace maid and lassie with 'Lad' for the boys ;-)
To a Child Born in April
by K.E.W.
Parents' Review magazine, 1893-94
vol. 4 pg. 361
Happy little April maid
Who in early childhood played,
In the father-tended glade,
All among the flowers!
Happy that thy mother's heart
Knows so well it's mother's part,
To be glad, for glad thou art
Babe of April joys.
Never mind the April showers
The will bring us lovely flowers;
God sends beauty, it is ours.
Wreathe thy happy brows!
Every little leaf and bud
Cowslip field and primrose wood
All for thee, to do thee good,
Skip then with the lambs!
Sing sweet April lassie sing
Thou art part of a joyous spring
Earth is thine, and Christ thy king
Praise him with the birds.
My husband, my mother, and sister, brother and my late Granny, and several nieces and nephews, also have April birthdays. We love April! This poem is for them (replace maid and lassie with 'Lad' for the boys ;-)
To a Child Born in April
by K.E.W.
Parents' Review magazine, 1893-94
vol. 4 pg. 361
Happy little April maid
Who in early childhood played,
In the father-tended glade,
All among the flowers!
Happy that thy mother's heart
Knows so well it's mother's part,
To be glad, for glad thou art
Babe of April joys.
Never mind the April showers
The will bring us lovely flowers;
God sends beauty, it is ours.
Wreathe thy happy brows!
Every little leaf and bud
Cowslip field and primrose wood
All for thee, to do thee good,
Skip then with the lambs!
Sing sweet April lassie sing
Thou art part of a joyous spring
Earth is thine, and Christ thy king
Praise him with the birds.
13 April, 2011
02 April, 2011
Veggie Garden Prep 2011
Heirloom tomatoes and peppers 
Herbs and squash 
Our organic kale seedlings 
The kale is looking good! We started these about two months ago.
spinach, chard, kale, others
All these seedlings are just about ready to go in here. Today, hubs is working in the last bit of enriching organic matter. We had a lot of good compost from our bin this year, but with our clay soil, we still needed more good soil and manure.
Thankful that spring is here, and thankful for a gorgeous weekend!
Javamom
14 March, 2011
Red-Bellied Woodpecker Couple
It's pretty uncommon to see our woodpecker couple near the bird feeders at the same time. In fact, this is only the second time I've ever observed them on the same branches at the same time. Their normal habit is to take turns throughout the day leaving the trees near our fence line to come up to the feeders.
I was very happy to get the opportunity to capture them together! The female (with the patch of grey on her head) is on the right.
What are the signs of spring in your neighborhood?
Happy Spring, Friends!
Javamom
02 March, 2011
New Book on my Wish List
Book 12 in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes out tomorrow, and I am pretty happy about that. I just purchased book 11 online about two weeks ago, because it is the only one that I have not been able to find used at Half Price Bookstore. It was hard to finish the final pages of book 10 and say goodbye to the ladies for who-knew-how-long at the time.
I began reading book 11, The Double Comfort Safari Club, just as soon as it came in. This series has been my choice of story before I fall asleep most nights these past few years. So knowing book 12 is coming out tomorrow helps me to "proceed" with book 11 at whatever pace each night allows, without feeling the need to make it last as long as possible, if you know what I mean.
I've recently gotten back on a kick of reading an author I hadn't read since the mid-nineties, the Anna Pigeon National Park ranger mysteries. Her novels are exciting, though sometimes pretty graphic murder-mysteries than are the stories Mma Ramotswe encounters in the mostly-calm pleasantries found in The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
I'll write more about the Anna Pigeon novels another time (author Nevada Barr). For now, I don't want to spoil the simple joys and love for Africa and humankind that flows around and to the brim in the McCall Smith stories.
Time to go read!
Javamom
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