Productive Saturday

It's been another beautiful summer day spent outside in the yard and garden. I'm not sure we could EVER have everything done at once around here.  The above pot sits in the greenhouse filled with all the essentials for a quick weeding trip to the garden. 

We have a pepper!

I weeded all 10 garden beds and a row of potatoes. The chickens love to see me heading towards them with the brown planter. These are all the weeds from today...I used to do 2 beds a day and get a huge RUBBERMAID tote. I may be gaining on the weeds. 

Speaking of weeds - I sprayed the garden walkways, the parking spaces and the driveway again. Yes, that's the 3rd day in a row. I've used 6 gallons of vinegar this week...and it's time to buy more vinegar. I'm seeing some success. 

Chickweed is dying....

You can see it isn't totally killing everything in the garden...but it's turning it a color that matches the wood chips. I plan to get a handle on the weeds and then keep a bottle of vinegar and salt ready to spray on walkways. I saw some aphids in the greenhouse and read to try dish soap and water in a spray bottle? 

Allie spent the day working on her summer class. Stacia spent the day at a nanny gig. I took a break here and headed to our local Fred Myers to meet up with a gal who had pumpkin starts. She threw in some garlic...I'm game to try.  Michael took the afternoon to make another garden bed. We had 5 more garage door panels from BreZaak's remodel and some lumber from CyRi's yard...so he made a bed. I got boxes from Freddies and threw them over the spot Cory had previously leveled out. I have been spraying the spot with vinegar and salt. 

I lugged the 5 bags of soil I had to the bed. I usually try to fill a bed with compost and branches etc about 1/2 way and then add dirt...but I need this space and don't have time to wait for compost to build up.  We have some 3 panels left - maybe Michael will make another one and I'll use THAT one for compost first....In any event, I need more dirt for this bed. Next year, we need to order a truck load of garden soil. 

I also planted some radishes. I went through the seeds to see what I may have that could still grow in the next two months. I have one or two kinds of squash and lots of greens...which I already HAVE lots of greens...I may or may not plant more.  I actually have space in the greenhouse as I'm not planting melons in there and I didn't start a bunch of seeds this year.LOL  I'm not sure what else to put in the greenhouse. 

It was a productive day. 

Garden Thoughts

 Gardening is hard work!  I dream of a gazebo for tea parties and craft projects with grands in the garden, and I'd love CORN and melons and tall arches covered with green.  I don't have all of that this year, but living PRESENT with what I have - a chair in the garden - has been a game changer.

Not only does it bring a measure of joy to the work, but it also allows me to really grasp the progress and to celebrate little changes. 

Our ONE zucchini plant

In year's past I'd spend hours each day and see little progress. Having a garden felt unattainable. Admitting I would only use 1/2 the space, and putting down wood chips in that space has made a huge difference.  I also applied a trick I learned homeschooling and managing a home. Setting a routine, or a schedule, brings me peace.  I have 10 raised beds and 4 rows of potatoes. If I weed 2 beds and a row of potatoes a day everything will get done once a week. I can be at peace with stupid grass invading a bed as I know within a week it will be dealt with. 

That sitting in the garden thing - now that the weeds are controlled - I often am able to weed the whole garden in about an hour....so it's all getting touched more than once a week. 

In the process, I've learned something about myself. I like planting and tending, I'm not a great harvester. I like planning beds and envisioning what could be (thus the gazebo dream). I love finding a bed like this....

And seeing THIS after a bit of work. 

In the past, I've let everything grow all season in part to get the absolute most harvest and also because I'm not sure how or when to harvest a lot of things. In the end I really don't care too much about picking and preserving.   I have grown asparagus for 5 years and never harvested it - always letting it go to seed. The process fascinates me. 

THIS year I am making an intentional effort to HARVEST. I've cut the asparagus 4x now. I've harvested leaf lettuce, spinach leaves and kale...and the amazing thing is - it grows back. 

I'm learning it's wisest to plant what we want to eat - not just what grows well. I will never have 12 zucchini plants again! The tomatoes may produce this year....there are flowers. 

I'm trying news things...like STEVIA. It says to dry and powder the leaves and it will be 300x sweeter than sugar. I have 3 plants. I keep eating the leaves....and they ARE sweet without the aftertaste of store purchased stevia. 

Through it all I've realized it's ok to have a favorite part of gardening. Mine is the planning and tending. Of course, it will be best for the garden, and more productive if I also do the parts I don't love...BUT others love harvesting and hate the planning and tending. It seems the apostle Paul talked about this....each of us with our own task in the mission. 

LIGHTBULB moment... this planting and tending seems to transfer over to my spiritual giftings as well. This may be why I've been used in ministry to BEGIN things, to set systems in place...start Bible studies and life groups, start women's ministries, start mom groups, recruit and train teams, establish and participate in mentor groups, stand up a new region of women's ministries for PWOC (military women's ministry)...and I've been thrilled and happy to do each thing. I have NEVER burned out when teaching studies or mentoring groups of women. 

 I've had others ask me HOW I stay motivated when I haven't been able to remain and see the fruit of the labor.  THIS has to be part of it. I truly take joy in casting vision, living life with women and seeing the growth, starting new things.... I've seen harvest.  I do enjoy watching growth and spiritual maturity develop, strongholds broken. Yet, in every area of ministry we've moved on while things were still thriving. We're familiar with a "short growing season" in our ministry.  I've not seen the completion...and that's o.k. I've been faithful with the time I had in each location, and I have LOVED my part in people's stories...and I know things carry on just fine when I'm called to leave. 

I was discussing this with Michael, and he thought it funny I'd not made the connection before. He pointed out this is probably why when others have invited me back to see what is ongoing from my time of ministry in a place, I find myself thinking, "You are STILL doing the same thing 20 years later?"  where others are taking so much pleasure in the fact that what they planted is still doing the same thing. 

And so...I will joy in the planning, planting and tending AND I will be intentional to harvest as well. Even now when it's mostly greens. 

There you have it - deep thoughts from a shallow mind; or deep thoughts from the garden! ::snort:: 

Weeds, Bread and a Debate

 And what was OUR Friday like?  Cory showed up bright and early and cleared a 10 ft radius around our well pump. He also spread weed and feed on the entire yard! 

I was outside before GG woke up pulling weeds in the garden and spraying MORE Vinegar and salt. 

I took a quick look around to see if anything looked like it was dying...and yes...it seemed good to me to douse it all again. I focused on the back area of the yard and the garden walkways... It seems to be shriveling up the dandelions and chick weed. It's not great with grass so probably won't work well to kill the grass under the electric fence (it grows quickly and interrupts the working of the fence). 

Starting to shrivel - another dose sprayed today. 

I continued to play with the fresh flour/bread flour ratio in the artisan sourdough loaves.  

Oh, I came in after a few hours of yard work and watched the presidential debate clips with GG. It turns out it was good Stacia, Michael and Allie were gone. They probably would have gone stark raving crazy. I was happy to sit. I also blogged that "Garden Thoughts" post. 

Allie went out with a friend after work and didn't get home until late. Stacia and I watched several episodes of Scorpion. 

It was, all things considered, a good day. 

A Hard Good Fishing Trip

Michael and Stacia did a hard good today. They went fishing. Fishing was something both of them have most often, and last done, with Josiah. I was sad to stay home with GG and Allie had to work. BUT in the end, I think it was a good thing for these two to make this trip alone.  I didn't get to go with them, but my Bahaman cruise hat did. LOL  

 

Michael hasn't gone fishing, except for dip netting, the last two summers. Hiking much more than a mile can be excruciating for him. The fact that he and I cannot go together due to GG's needs, and the boys' trips involved longer hikes, limited his fishing partners. Stacia bought herself a fishing license and told Michael she would like to go. I suspect both felt the trip was "for the other," but in the end both were blessed. 

The day began with the tradition of packing a lunch which will not be looked at all day. I seem to be the only one who needs sustenance when out fishing. 

A favorite place for Josiah, Jamin and Dayton (youth leader when we were at Elmendorf) was Red Shirt. Michael made several trips up with the boys as well. When we moved back Michael, and the boys went on several overnight trips to Red Shirt - staying in a US Forest cabin.  This involves driving to the Nancy Lake area, hiking in 3 miles and then back out. Mike can do the hike in - he cannot do the hike out the same day.  This limited his fishing trips with the boys the past few summers. An overnight trip was being planned with Josiah, Michael and Krista buying in....it was not to be. 

The plan today was to drive up to South Rolly campground and put the rowboat in. They would see if there were pike at this spot. 

They also rowed up the water trail a bit of the way to see if they COULD get to Red Shirt via water. The conclusion is a paddle board would be a better bet. LOL 

They saw a couple of trout jump - maybe the same one. Both were unimpressed with it's size. They didn't see any pike. 

Stacia put it best - my goal was to spend time with Dad so it was a success.  I was told it was a great day - but it was a hard day. One couldn't help thinking of past fishing trips with Josiah and missing him in this favorite area. 

Summer Routines

It's tricky baking bread in the summer when the temps are in the 70s. I open all the windows and start preheating the oven FIRST thing. I'm still playing with fresh ground wheat ratio to bread flour...this was a bit better...but I can do better. LOL  Making two loaves at a time keeps the oven at 450* twice as long. I think I'll just focus on the  whole wheat for a bit of time. LOL

left=bread flour; right=fresh ground whole wheat 

My summer routine is to get outside for a couple of hours in the morning, either around 0700 or after I get GG's morning routine accomplished and him settled with the paper.  I shower AFTER the yard work so I can wash away the devil's club and stinging nettle leftovers.  I am making great use of my new weed eater. 

In addition to weed eating, I sprayed 2 gallons of vinegar/salt/dish liquid in the upper part of the driveway and in the walkways in the garden.  I sure hope this works! I gave up with both the vinegar and the weed eater when I encountered dense devils' club taller than I. These things are ridiculous - why couldn't the corn grow this well? LOL 

Allie had an early morning counseling session followed by a full day at work. Stacia attended Japanese class and taught a Japanese class today.  Michael had his weekly visit to the chiropractor and stopped off to buy refills for our mosquito magnet and vinegar for more yard work. 

I spent an hour working on paperwork for Dad. I think I'm about 1/4 of the way through. Maybe. LOL 

Thursdays are dinner with Jenni. We kept it simple this week - chicken and potato salad from the deli and green salad, sour dough dinner rolls and pasta salad.  Jenni and Stacia played a game of Cribbage while we waited for Allie and Michael to arrive home. We are nearing the end of season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small. 

Stacia used to give Millie used peanut butter jars when she was a puppy. Millie hit the motherlode when she got this "jar" today. She is very protective of her bucket. In fact she gets so little peanut butter for all the drama...I think she likes the smell as much as the bits of butter left in the bucket. 

Millie is in dire need of a bath. This is the result of all her playing sessions at the river. If we give her a bath dealing with her coat of tight, corkscrew hair is a nightmare. I think she's got another 2 weeks before she sees the groomer. 

Nolan reports his hand is uncomfortable, doesn't seem much better or worse today. 

I tend to be one of those "up with the sun/down with the sun" people...this makes for VERY long Alaskan summer days. I'm enjoying every minute of sun...honestly, I enjoy the 4 a.m.  and mid-night sun a bit less than the middle of the day sun. 😀

More Damage Than a Moose

 I raced out to the garden for a bit of therapy. I'm not going to lie, I had a hard wake up this morning...I woke up hearing Josiah's laugh. I decided I wasn't ready to leave the garden even though I was watering. I began to weed and just run and dodge the sprinkler. It worked well until the last bed. Maybe I was tired? I looked up and the sprinkler got me full in the face. I jumped and tripped in the space between the beds. My foot hit one of the beds, I went down. I landed on the edge of the bed and fell into the kale and lettuce.  And this is how I KNOW I can do more damage than a moose in the garden. 

I harvested the broken leaves and patted the plants back into place. I think they'll grow more leaves. 

I have a new tool - a battery powered weed eater. Michael got this for me as I simply can't use the big gas powered one, he has.  This morning, I got to work with the weed eater...under the electric garden fence, the weeds behind the hoop house, I unleashed the trailer...I went through two batteries. Note all the weeds behind the baptistry and the blue rocking chair. They are gone in the photo above. We'll need to get more cardboard and beds or something but for now I can at least keep them mowed down. 

Allie worked today and did a bit of work early this morning on her Art Appreciation class. She is working at an animal boarding/day care center and loves her job.  Stacia had counseling today as well as her Japanese class.  Both were out of the house. GG and Michael both slept a lot of the day. It was a quiet day.

Nolan called to see if he could drop by. Always. After everyone else got home we built a fire. It seemed fitting to finish the homemade ice-cream by the fire with Nolan. 

Nolan, Michael, Stacia, Allie

We haven't had homemade ice-cream (or any ice cream really) around the fire since we were full-time RVing in 2015. 

I joked that I was going to tell Rob (urgent care doc) I got blisters on the bottom of my feet when we had a contest to see who could keep their feet in the fire the longest. 

They responded by asking if Michael had any wax broccoli boxes nearby.  It's been a long day and is actually a new day now. I just can't seem to close down by brain until it gets dark...and at 12:26 a.m. I can STILL SEE. 

What Could Go Wrong - Ice Cream Bucket Challenge - How Do You get FROST BITE in JUNE?

 Here is the rest of the story from Sunday's Father's Day ice cream shenanigans!  Grands had gone home...we were standing around talking in the kitchen. The ice cream bucket had been sitting in the sink. Michael looked around at everyone and said, "Time for the ice-cream bucket challenge." This could have been simple. It could have been laughed off, if not for the competitiveness of this gang. 

Michael stuck his hand in, and it was extremely cold. He pulled it out - about 7 seconds. 

Jenni went next and lasted 20 seconds. 

Jamin went next. I don't remember his time - I think a bit longer. 

Nolan went next! He just kept his hand in that water....60 seconds. 

I was chirping it was time to pull it out. He pulled his hand out and it was WHITE and COLD, and I wasn't happy with the way it looked. BUT I'm just a worrisome mom these days. 

 

Proving the Gherkins are not the only competitive members around here - Jenni went AGAIN! She lasted 63 seconds this time. This made Jenni the winner. 

This was Sunday night. Monday Nolan's hand was swollen. We were unaware of this. He googled what to do with swelling and it said "ice." He worked with the ice...and began taking Tylenol. He took quite a bit of friendly ribbing from the kids at work. 

"Did you burn your hand?" 

"No, the opposite." 

"You froze it? How?"

He explained the ice cream bucket challenge. 

"Why?" 

"Because the whole family was doing it?"

"Nolan! If your whole family jumped off a cliff, would you join them?" 

This is evidently one of the pieces of wisdom Nolan shares with the youngsters at work. 

Tuesday night at dinner we saw Nolan. He had his hand encased in ice. We looked at it. It was SWOLLEN and I was worried. He explained he was icing as that helps swelling. I asked if it was getting better or worse. He thought maybe better - but he WAS taking Tylenol, and his hand was numb. 

I bought Ibuprofen and dropped by his house. I suggested he stop icing his hand as it had been 2 days (I'd checked with nurse Jenni and she agreed). I also explained the dosing he could do and told him if it wasn't getting better or if it started getting worse it would be time to go to the urgent care. 

This morning, he sent me a picture and asked me if I thought he should go to the urgent care. 

Um YES. It's turning colors now and still swollen. His hand is stiff and he doesn't have great range of motion. He made an appointment. When it asks WHY you need to be seen he wrote down, "Suspected Frostbite." 

This started a humorous chain of events in the office.  They were perplexed! HOW do you get frostbite in JUNE when it's been in the mid 70's. 

Nolan came in and the nurses had questions. They thought the story was hilarious. 

The doctor came in and said, "I know your family." 

Nolan, thought, "Of course, you do!" LOL 

We knew Rob and Dollie at Goodfellow AFB and they moved up here about the time we retired.  They loaned us a trailer for BreZaak or CoRielle to stay in during the great migration to Alaska. Rob has since retired and is now a doc at our local urgent care. He is the doc who caught Allie's appendicitis too. 

Nolan shared the story again.  I said we need to tell Rob to expect a Gherkin every 3rd Saturday....or the Monday following every 3rd Saturday. 

His hand IS frost-bit. Really and truly. This is why his finger felt like a literal ICE CUBE after the "challenge," it's why the pain was so bad he was dizzy and nauseated (facts hidden from us).   They began him on antibiotics to ward off infection. The way to tell if there is permanent damage is to wait and see if it gets better...but if his fingers change to black, he's to go back in. 

As he was leaving another nurse ran out and asked him, "Did you win?" 

"No, Jenni won by 3 seconds." 

And THAT is how you get frost bite in JUNE!