Suburban Earth Mama

A (New) Adventure

2011-05-03T08:22:00.001-07:00

A few years back I had the opportunity to go to Ireland and mark off something from my Bucket List. After taking a class for massage therapy, I went on a week long horseback tour of the Wicklow Mountains in southeast Ireland. I rode a cob horse most of the time. Very broad across the back and sensible between the ears. I marvelled at how considerate the Irish drivers were when they came across the line of us on their oh so very narrow country roads. It was not uncommon for them to have to wait 100 yards or so before we could exit and allow them to pass. Not once did I hear a horn blow or cursing because of the delay. Most of them smiled and waved and went on their way. And I can't credit it to a laid back driving style either. I rode in from the airport with a driver from a B & B and held my breath more than once as we barreled around a blind curve.

Well, I have the opportunity to do some trail riding here in Florida now. I've leased a horse in Apopka and have almost direct access to some country trails. I wouldn't dream of testing drivers in the States. I have too much experience on the rode with my bike to imagine that my countrymen would think about horses any differently. But I am so looking forward to some nice relaxing rides in the woods and maybe down the West Orange Trail. I'll post pictures soon!

Nothing Exciting But Life is Good!

2011-04-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

So as the title says, nothing real exciting has been going on the last month or so but life is WONDERFUL. As you would expect to see in my blog, my garden is doing great. I'm picking a couple pounds of vegetables every day now...cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, broccoli, chard, kale and the occasional carrot and onion. I'm learning, finally, to stay on top of problems. When I noticed spider mites on my tomatoes, I sprayed them with horticultural oil immediately. Bt works for the worms. Oh, and I've learned that when I pick the secondary florets off the broccoli plants, I break the stalk off where it meets the main plant. I'm getting a much longer harvest that way.

Our baby chickies aren't so small anymore and their voices are starting the crack. Believe me, it's as funny listening to adolescent chickens as teenage boys! I have a suspicion that one of our hens is going to crow in spite of our daily warnings to the girls that "if you crow, you go!" Time will tell on that one.

I had a single car fender bender yesterday at the Sam's parking lot. Just a moment of distraction and, cha ching, the body shop is $3888 richer. Still, no one was hurt, the insurance is covering my rental car and I thank God I hit a post and not a person! I'll take that lesson and be happy for it!

That's been the last month or so.

Next WEEK, life gets exciting as well as wonderful. My baby girl, Carley, is graduating from COLLEGE. I mean, when did THAT happen??? I'm so proud of the progress she's made in dealing with a "challenging" internship. Her maturity and willingness makes me so happy and hopeful for her future. And to celebrate that little walk across the stage, the whole family will be here. That's 4 children, 1 son in law and 5 grandkids in my little bitty house. But seasoned with a lot of courtesy and sprinkles with tolerance, we are going to have a blast!

I can't ask for better!

No Sleep Again

2011-04-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

When my babies were little, I remembering wishing they would just sleep through the night and looked forward to the time when 2,4 and 6 am feedings were just a (sweet) memory. Then I got old. Now, there are nights I simply do not sleep. No real reason. My eyes just slam open when I lay my head on the pillow. So I get up, read a boring book, look at Craigslist, (write in my blog) or find a movie that I might be able to fall asleep to. The point is, there IS not point in getting upset about it. Will I be tired in the morning? Yes. Will I function at my best? No. But will worrying about it change a thing? Absolutely not. In fact, worrying about insomnia is, get ready for it.....a CAUSE of insomnia!!! So I keep a supply of 5 Hour Energy drinks in the cupboard for the days I have to go to work. I do the best I can to forget I didn't sleep and I look forward to a GREAT night's sleep at that day's end! Oh, by the way, being the only one awake in the house has it's perks. No one fights you for the computer or the TV controller. And, if you get real quiet and just BE, the early morning hours are the best times for feeling and hearing God!

Florida Winters....No Snow but There ARE Some Avantages!

2011-02-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

This is just a small sample of my sugar snap pea crop. It's a shame none of them make it into the house. I figure, if I make the effort to pick, I have the right to EAT!!!!

I spent a few minutes today harvesting my "chicken compost" this morning too. Every spring I fill my chicken run with leaves my neighbors through away. For the next 12 months, my girls scratch, peck, poop and otherwise break down those leaves into a beautiful dark leaf mold that my garden loves. You just can't get better than that!

Recovery: Day Two!

2011-02-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

I've made the decision not to go back to Bootcamp until next Monday. That being said, I did manage to do 2 massages, go grocery shopping and cut weeds for my chickies to munch on without falling over. My house is still out of control....and will just have to stay that way until I address the loudest squeaky wheel, one day at a time. I've pretty much put my food program on the back burner until I "feel better" and I have to acknowledge that that time as arrived. I ate chips and queso for dinner tonight. (Heavy sigh). I must take responsibility tomorrow.

My college girl, Sheri, called me this evening on her way home all atwitter about a super cool tour of the rare books department of her college, Kennesaw State in Atlanta. I love to hear andectotes about where phrases come from (ask her where "warts and all" came from !). More, I love hearing the excitment in her voice about learning. Yes, the grades are important but when someone learns just to learn, you just can't get better than that!

Finally Feeling Human

2011-02-15T11:50:00.001-08:00

It'll be week Thursday that I got home from Virginia. I've spent every day since then on the couch coughing, hacking, wheezing and watching movies. I felt well enough yesterday to work on cross stitch. And today I'm thinking there MIGHT be a life for out there after all! I walked around my garden this morning for about 15 minutes which called for an hour on the couch to recover. Still, I'm feeling much stronger now.

I DID learn a few things and lest I forget the next time this hits....

1. USE EXPECTORANT, NOT A DECONGESTANT!!!! There is nothing worse than a dry cough. I think it helped my ears some but they even seem to be draining better now than before.

2. REST. I hardly ever feel bad enough to be content sitting on the sofa all day. I know I'm sick when I can't even hear the dishes calling....or the ice cream!

3. SLEEP ON THE COUCH. Much better back support for those all-encompassing hack-up-glop coughing fits that make me feel like there's a lung coming up. Also, how can I expect my hubby to take care of me if I keep him up all night?

4. FLUIDS. Drink as much as you can get down. Yes, there will be more bathroom trips but you need to get up a little anyway. Also, more water means the mucus thins and is easier to cough up. See #1

5. DO AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. Now's the time eat Chinese take out, use paper plates and delegate chores to the rest of the family!

So, I'm not the mend. Wash you hands everyone! YOU DO NOT WANT THIS!

Tubing and Skiing At Liberty Mountain

2011-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Mike and I finally got our chance to play in the snow! Because we had to get up super early two days in a row, we decided we'd be better off tubing the first day to give us a chance to rest. The carpet lift took all the work out of tubing and left us all the fun of speeding down the hill! This is a camera video of me and Mike, side by side. I had no control and just spun around the full length of the run.

The next day, we strapped on our skis and hit the slopes.....kind of. First order of business was to take a lesson. Then we rode the ski lift high up into the mountain.....well, the bunny slope anyway. Mike was a natural and was anxious to go on the more difficult hills. Well, that will have to wait for another trip.

Day 5 and Still Truckin'

2011-01-05T03:53:00.000-08:00

So far so good on the change of lifestyle I've made a decision to address (notice I DIDN'T say that word, DIET....sshhhh). I spent most of my day yesterday with a good friend who really likes to eat out. It's been a problem for me because I've allowed her decisions to control MY decisions. I mean, who wants a salad when there's all kinds of fatty, savory deliciousness pictured on the menu.....never mind the smells seducing my taste buds!

But yesterday went ok. I ate out. I made decisions. My smart phone made it easy because I could pull up the nutrition stats on the restaurants. I still wanted the "yummy" stuff but felt good all day because I chose differently. And this morning I feel better physically than I would have felt had I done the same old thing. At this moment I don't miss the lo mein i didn't eat last night.

The important thing though, is to LIVE. I wish I could say my new found willingness has created an immaculate house, the bathtub replaced, my paperwork complete. It hasn't. But it IS creating some interesting possibilities!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I went back on my word last year. I STILL can't remember how to put pictures on this damn machine so I'm just going to BLOG!!!

Like many thousands (millions?) of Americans, the New Year is a time for reflection, for taking stock and for MAKING RESOLUTIONS! I admit, I'm running right there with the herd on this one. New Year's Eve day was spent in reflection, in taking a personal inventory......AND in eating everything I could get my hands on before the clock struck twelve. Because I KNEW that the sound of my ship's clock and the boom of neighborhood fireworks would also herald in the most common of the "New Year's Resolutions." This year I'm really gonna do it. This year I'm going to lose weight.

My trainer has implemented a "50 pounds in 50 weeks" goal for all that are interested in our boot camp. I will be thrilled with 35 pounds thank you very much although the stupid insurance guidelines say I should really lose about 60. Not gonna happen, that. Still, she pointed out that all I have to do is eat 500 fewer calories and/or burn off 500 additional calories with exercise. Actually, it will be a combination of both.

I don't eat out too frequently anymore but an occasional fast food stop in this day and age is almost impossible (for me) so I've started checking out a few common foods. Did you know that a McD's hamburger is 250 calories???? That's a plain burger. The one that's gone in 3 good bites! My favorite breakfast, a bacon egg and cheese biscuit is between 420 and 480 calories! I'm going to be eating the egg McMuffin from now on. But what really bowled me over was the calorie count for the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes.....1090 calories!!!! That's nearly my allotment for the entire day! Thank God for Taco Bell (taco, 150 calories) and Subway (some 6 inch sandwiches right around 300 calories!) I should buy stock in both!

So I've already worked out today which is good because I'm going to be busier than a one armed paper hanger. Breakfast will be an egg sandwich at home and a couple tangerines that are fresh and delicious! I'm feeling healthier already!

Hungover and Feeling Really Rotten

2010-05-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

I had my mid Six Week Challenge measurements taken yesterday and I've lost a total of 8 inches around my tummy, hips and waist! I can feel the difference in how my pants fit but more especially how my shirts don't gap at the breast line anymore! I can't wait until I can fit in a regular size large!

Part of the program I'm using includes a "cheat meal" once a week. The idea is to kick start our metabolism...to make it believe that there is still plenty of food around so our bodies will continue to lose weight. Well, typically, I eat a little heavier for dinner on Sunday night and then finish it up with a BIG bowl of chocolate ice cream. I followed my pattern last night. I ate a nice serving of shrimp lo mein followed by my ice cream.

I woke up this morning sick. First, I didn't really sleep really well. When I did wake up, I had a headache and was nauseous. From what I hear, pretty normal symptoms of a hangover.

I love my family of origin. They were a wacky bunch with a lot of good qualities. And many of them were alcoholics. In my studies, I've learned that food addictions, especially around sugar, are VERY closely related to alcohol addiction. In fact, alcohol sugars metabolize even faster than glucose. So I'm not surprised that I feel like crap. Though I didn't check my blood sugar this morning, I wouldn't be surprised if it was up from my meal last night.

The whole point to this is that I have done the same of thing and expected different results for long enough. Though I need the extra calories occasionally to keep the metabolism revving, it would be wiser to eat an extra egg sandwich or a couple apples. After 52 years, maybe I've learned my lesson!

My Sad Discovery

2010-05-17T01:13:00.001-07:00

I woke up a few days ago and went out to the back yard to do my morning chores. Typically, I feed and water the chickens and let them out of their enclosure for the day. Then I water my bunnies and give them some yummy hay and pellets to eat. They eat mostly at night but with the heat, I'm careful to keep them watered.

This particular morning though, I found my favorite bunny doe had passed on during the night. I wanted to do a necropsy but didn't have time so I don't know what killed her. But it has affected me deeply.

It's one thing to harvest an animal's meat. It's not a pleasant thing to take a life but I do it with gratitude and thank the animal for it's role in nourishing us. This just feels wrong. I'm wondering if the bottom cage I had her in contributed as it doesn't get the cooling breeze and bunnies don't handle heat well.

So I'm rethinking my rabbitry. Perhaps it would be better not to keep a buck right now and just plan on taking my does to a buck when it's time to make babies. It would be a bit of a hassle but all my rabbits would have the benefit of an airy place to live.

Soapbox Time!!!!

2010-05-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

I have a LONG career in food. When my children were small, I subjected them to my "whole foods" regime. We ate vegetables, meat, whole wheat bread, sunflower seeds, yogurt and, horror of horrors, brewer's yeast-infiltrated banana smoothies. If you've ever TASTED brewer's yeast you will understand the trusting nature of my offspring. They ate it because I did, even asking for more! Go figure. It is NASTY stuff.

And because weight has been an issue for me since the tender age of 5, I've run through all the popular fixes for weight loss too. I've been through a popular support group with the initials WW, worked a program in Overeaters' Anonymous, done juice fasting, vegetarian diets, high protein diets, diets high in complex carbs and of course, the "What the Hell" diet. That just consisted of eating whatever I wanted. And it was no better (or worse!) than any of the others.

Now, I will allow that my current conviction may go the way of all the other attempts. I like to think that being a little older and a little more in touch with my diminishing physical prowness will keep me motivated and convinced past the honeymoon stage. I had a little bit of a scare with some blood chemistry that lit a fire under my butt (thank you Ericka!) and I found that I just didn't FEEL as good as I used to.

Enter "Not Your Average Boot Camp" six weeks' challenge!

I had signed up for it in February then promptly found every reason not to follow through. I took an impromtu trip to Utah to see my brother and to do a little skiing ( I do love to ski!). I came home and got a nasty cold and then spent a week with my "new mama daughter". When the next round of the Challenge came up, my trainer called and "invited" me back. I didn't dare say no!

I'm doing interval training 3 times a week and usually play tennis or ride my bike on days that I don't go to the gym. The physical part of it has never been that hard for me though I'm noticing a vast improvement in my balance and strength. The hard part is staying down to 1300 calories a day. To say I'm a food addict would not be overstating things. But something is different this time.....part of the challenge is to stay away from processed sugar. For me that means no cookies, cakes, candy bars, ice cream and, well, you get the picture. (There IS a cheat meal every week where ANYTHING goes. I REALLY look forward to that cheat meal!)

The remarkable thing is that not eating sugar has reduced my cravings by 90%! My energy level has stabilized and my blood pressure has even gone down by a full 20 points on both systolic and dyastolic numbers! Best of all, that blood chem issue is no longer a problem!

CAUTION: ENTERING SOAPBOX TERRITORY!!!!

This little book and a couple others like it has some scary stuff in it. We've all read how type II diabetes is epidemic right now. Our children's lifespan expectation, for the first time in modern history, is actually shorter than our own! I won't pretend I can trace every reason...that's not my place anyway. What I will do is encourage people to read about the impact on refined sugar on our health and the health of our children.

I've always tended to carry extra weight in my belly, the worst possible place healthwise. I have at least a few risk factors for metabolic syndrome also known as insulin resistance. Now I know why. When a person's body is insulin resistant, it takes MORE insulin in the bloodstream to effectively utilize sugar. The more ingested sugar, the more insulin needed to balance it out. The higher the concentrations of dietary refined sugar, the faster blood sugar spikes, the more insulin necessary for our body to use all that fuel.

I've always known that sugar spikes are followed by sugar depression (I'd call them hangovers!). Of course, I would eat more sugar to get that energy back! What I didn't know is that insulin also promotes FAT DEPOSITION! What available sugar that the cells can't use are deposited as fat. The greater the quantity of insulin in our blood, the more fat is deposited! It's a vicious cycle. And one that can be broken by a focusing on whole foods with minimal refinement.

I'm not going to be obsessive. Popsicle makes a great no sugar added fudgesicle and there are chocolate roasted almond that are to die for. I use powdered stevia to sweeten my smoothies. Still, after only 2 weeks, I can't argue with the results.My thinking is clearer ....not as foggy, if that makes any sense. I don't feel as moody either. I can actually FEEL hungry and not panic. Heartburn is gone and enthusiasm for my life is UP!

A New Big Brother Too!!

2010-04-30T23:53:00.000-07:00

With the creation of a new baby comes also the creation of a new Big Brother! Hunter thought Grayson was pretty cool....as far as squirmy, crying, red faced little people can be cool to a three year old! I think the connection was made though.

But let's get real! A game of catch with a magically deflated Mom beats all. Though I didn't get Sheri in this picture, I sure enjoyed watching the two of them tossing the ball to each other. Hunter did a pretty good job of catching too. I hate to admit it but I can just see the quarterback sizing up a passing play in this picture. I'd rather see him play tennis!

It won't be long before Grayson will be his play buddy. Amazing, isn't it?

To Go Back A Bit......Announcing, Grayson!!!

2010-04-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

With my two older daughters expecting children this year, it was a real honor to be invited to attend the birth of both new grandchildren. I figured it would be relatively easy to arrive in time to witness Sheri's new little one. After all, what is an eight hour trip compared to her last labor of 30 hours? As soon as she decided her time had come, I would load up the car and point her north. If I didn't drink too much (to bypass so many potty breaks!) I could be there in, say, 6.5 hours. Piece of cake.

So, my darling mother to be called me Monday evening to tell me she thinks she's in labor but the contractions aren't too close together and they feel at an intensity level of a 2-3. Ok....early labor. I pack my car.

8:00am. As I drive to work, we chat again. Contractions maybe 5-8 minutes apart, intensity up to a 4. Progressing nicely but still early. She carried on a conversation without effort....no real strain. There's time still. I proceed to work and do 2 massages with the intent of driving up right after work.

12:30pm. I'm on the Florida Turnpike and we talk. Hhmm....things are getting serious now. A little more intense, a little closer together. But in the back of my mind I remind myself of her 30 hour labor. No problem. I should get there just about in time to drive with them to the hospital.

2:00pm. I get a call saying they are GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!!! What the heck? She MUST be overreacting.....right? But the strain in her voice is real enough. I drive a little faster....

4:00pm. I call and DANNY answers. Wait a minute....that's not right! "Oh sorry," he says, "Grayson was born at 3:37pm."

I missed it. It took just a few more hours before I met my newest grandson. Perhaps an earlier departure would have been prudent. Still, I'm so glad this birth moved along. The birth story is hers to tell but I would say going from 5 to 10 centimeters dialation in less than 45 minutes is pretty remarkable. I think her body was telling her..."Ain't NO WAY I'm going through THAT again!!!"

I'm BBAACCK

2010-04-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've finally decided to learn to put pictures on my blog....instead of relying on the symphathies of my (wonderful) children! Maybe it will give them one less thing to chuckle about!!!

So much has happened since I last logged on. I'm going to start with the mundane but fun and work my way into the really cool stuff...like another grandson to crow about! It may take some time, so please be patient with me!

Below you will meet "Miss Bunny", my year old New Zealand Red doe who has had 2 beautiful litters so far. She's a funny bunny....only really sweet if she's nursing or pregnant! Her most recent litter numbered NINE babies. Unfortunately, we lost one due to injury. The prococious little thing hurt its neck jumping out of the nest box and paralyzed itself.

These little ones just turned 5 weeks old and are ready to wean! I also have another doe (we call her The B_____) and a buck (male) whom we call.....LOL....Bucky. I never claimed to have a wonderful imagination!

I've also been experimenting with container gardening. I planted carrots in this pot a few months ago. I put my foot in the picture to give some scale. The pot is a 14" that I bought at IKEA.

This is the harvest....3/4 of a pound of fresh, unpoisoned carrots. I know, it seems a lot of work for just a smallish harvest. Still, there's something really fun about pulling a sweet carrot out of the ground. Almost like hunting Easter eggs!

Gettin' Ready!

2009-07-01T05:23:00.001-07:00

July is an exciting month for Central Florida gardeners. The spring garden has burned out, though with the shade in my backyard, I still have tomatoes on the vine and I'm still picking a fresh strawberry or two.

In August, I can put out new seedlings of squash, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I can plant beans and I think I'm going to give corn another go. The last attempt was dismal! And to be ready for fall transplanting, I get to start my seeds this month! I am experimenting some with rooting cuttings from existing tomatoes. I mean, why pay for them when I can get them free? Broccoli starts a little later as do most greens. The grafting I tried on the citrus tree didn't take...I'll try again in the spring.

My worms enjoy the summer bounty of watermelon and cantaloupe rinds. I tried potato skins but discovered that fly larvae liked those. They have since become a gourmet meal for my hens. They do love maggots! LOL

The completed rabbit hutch has only one occupant at the time. "Bucky" is a young male I bought from a bunny breeder friend of mine. I bought a young female at the same time but she just didn't settle and died just a few days after I brought her home. I felt very sad that she died but truth be told, I didn't have a good feeling about her from the get go. I must learn to listen to that kind of guidance and stop second guessing my Higher Power. I dressed the bunny out for the practice though we did not eat the meat because we didn't know what caused her death. I hated to see her suffer and did all I knew to do to make her comfortable. The breeder guarantees her stock and we should be getting a couple females soon. We'll try breeding baby bunnies in the fall as rabbits don't do well in the heat.

Side story....when my kids were younger we went up to see the in-laws who happened to have rabbits. In my arrogance I just knew I could pick out two female rabbits that we could keep as pets. They were quite pretty and they stayed together in the large cage we built for them behind the shed. One day, one of the bunnies was pulling out what seemed to be all her hair! I called a friend and she told me to expect baby bunnies within the day!!!!! Obviously, I hadn't picked 2 females!!! And, as the children were not inclined to eat their pets, we got out of the bunny business.

I'm having the breeder sex my purchases this time!

To Bee or Not to Bee

2009-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

My garden looks real purty this spring. Green beans are doing well as is my eggplant. Good production on both. But for all the general gardening lore talks about how much squash reproduces, I've gotten very little except what I've hand pollinated. With one or two plants, its not too bad, but if I grow a bunch, squash pimping could get a little tedious.

I think the main problem is the lack of bees. I've seen so few that the one I spied this morning surprised me. In the fall, I'll make a point of planting some flowers to attract bees. If that doesn't work, I may end up beekeeping (after we move). Even one good hive should keep the garden rockin' and rollin'.

In the meantime, I'll get my Q-tips out and .....well, you know!

A New Project

2009-06-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

I had my 51st birthday last month but unlike so many other years, when my kids asked me what I wanted for my present, I KNEW!

My New Project....BUNNIES!!!!!!

My kids know me well though and no one actually bought me a bunny. They sent money....BUNNY MONEY!!!! HEHEHEH. I bought 3 cages which finally came in last week. And today I've been building the hutch in which to insert the cages. I've got the framework done and as soon as our afternoon pattern thunder bumpers pass, I'll get to work on the roof framing and the side weather flaps so Flopsy, Mopsy and Topsy don't get wet when it rains.

I think I've ticked my hubby off by working on this alone. Sometimes though, a person just needs to do something alone, just to prove they can. That's what I'm feeling right now. No, my construction isn't perfect but it's sound and I learned a ton working out the design alone.

When I'm finished, I will get my bunnies...2 doe and a buck...and as soon as they get old enough, we'll be in the BUNNY BUSINESS. Mostly I'm looking, as always, to be a little more self sufficient. This is a new venture, something I know about only through books and what little talking I've done with other rabbit folk. So we'll see how the plan works out!

Raining.....again!

2009-05-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

Florida is the Sunshine State, right???? You can't convince the residents of Daytona today. It's true that 2 weeks ago we were in the middle of a drought. Now the news says we have had the wettest May on record. In the last 5 days, Daytona has gotten 27 inches of rain. Here in Winter Springs we've only gotten 13 inches.

I HAD been complaining that my rain barrels were depleted and I had to water my garden with the hose. Within 3 hours of this weather system hitting Central Florida, every rain barrel and bucket overflowed with the precious liquid. That would be nearly 500 gallons! Now I wish I had more rain barrels!!!!!

But even the rain cannot dampen my excitement about the property we hope to buy. What makes it even funner (is that a word?) is that my husband seems to be "on board" with the idea of moving into the country. We talked for quite a while about what we want in the new house and that we would probably build the barn at the same time. And I can hardly believe we're talking about this and that there is a real possibility of this actually happening!

One of the things I would like in the master bath is a free form, walk in shower. We had one in our hotel room in Jamaica and I loved it. Basically, the shower is the width of bathroom. The window in Jamaica had a shutter system so we had privacy but could also have a view. Very lovely. Anyway, no shower curtain or shower door block the entrance so getting in and out of the shower is nothing more than walking in. If by some chance a wheelchair needs access, it is no problem. The toilet would be a couple feet away from the shower head and the vanity at the other end of the bathroom to protect it from splashing. Oh and did I mention the built in bench in the shower section? Very cool.

I want my house to be very functional, very sturdy. Metal roof with a gutter system that would empty into an above ground cistern. A mud room in the back of the house (for obvious reasons!) A walk in pantry off the kitchen and a kitchen with a island cook area, maybe with a grill like you find in Japanese steak houses. My sink will be under a bay window for growing herbs. A garden tub in the second bathroom, a shower in the master bath. The insulation will be the spray on type that we have in this home. I'm looking into solar tubes, an alternative to skylights. The tubes are considerable smaller than a traditional skylight and the light travels down the tube via mirrors. Hence, you get light but not as much heat, a real benefit in our Florida summers.

I thought about a wrap around porch but I think a porch on the front and back of the house would be sufficient. Dad can grill in the back. We can have bouncy chairs and hammocks.

If anyone has any other ideas, let me know!!!

How to Make God Laugh

2009-05-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

It wasn't long ago that I wrote my last blog about how we were going to change our home to better function for us. I had my plans made and really was just waiting for the right time. Well, it looks like that time may never come.

Because my life long dream appears to be coming true!!!

We have found 5 acres of land in Wildwood, FL that is nearly everything I ever wanted. Situated on a low rolling hill, it is covered with Florida pasture grass except where the 40 foot live oaks spread their majestic branches. Smaller trees cover the north border of the plot. It lies minutes from I-75, the nearest Super Walmart is 5 miles away along with every restaurant you could possibly want. We have neighbors....at least 200 yards away!

Best of all, the seller accepted our offer!!!!!

I'm trying not to get too excited yet though. I'm getting the money situation squared away and until we sign those papers, I'll be a little nervous. Pictures to come as soon as the rain quits and Florida sunshine reappears!!!

Let There Be Light!

2009-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

We've lived in our home for nearly 26 years and it has evolved over time as circumstances (and monies) have permitted. Six years ago, we expanded the master bath to include a nice garden tub and a lovely walk in closet. We also added onto our living room, a section which has since become our workout area but which may soon (again monies permitting) become the actual livingroom and the livingroom will become the eating area because we want to redo the kitchen to include a gas stove top and stainless steel grill area (like at Kobes but smaller) which will eliminate any area to eat in in the present kitchen.....whew!!! Did you get all that????

All our grand additions have made an impact on our lives. There is nothing more soothing than a good soak in the tub after giving 5 or 6 massages at work. The epsom salts and hot water just soak away the aches and leave me relaxed and refreshed. I am grateful for the attached walk in closet every time I walk in and can actually find what I'm looking for and can dress without waking my husband when I have to leave early.

But yesterday, Rich and I modified our kitchen in a way that I'm not so pleased with.

Our old flouresent light fixture over the cooking area died leaving the bulbs flickering unpleasantly. For Valentines Day, Rich decided he would take care of it while I was at work and made a good start at it by taking down the old unit and picking up the new one from Home Depot. Still, installation requires two people so we did it together yesterday afternoon.

It went up great and the light.... it's a beautiful bright white that will make it so much easier to see while we cook together. You can see a huge contrast to the old matching fixture which throws a yellowish light that seemed more than adequate before we put up the new one.

So, why am I not pleased?

Well, that same light that makes it easier to read the recipes and measure ingredients and chop the food....also clearly illuminates the nasty kitchen floor.

I do wash the floor (occasionally) and sweep (sometimes). I'm not a total slacker (all the time). But as God as my witness, I just couldn't see how dirty that little piece of landscape got.

Guess it's time to clean my floors (heavy sigh.)

How an Addiction to "Harvest Moon" Can Positively Affect Your Life

2009-02-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

I went to visit my oldest daughter a month ago. We accomplished so much....built a toddler sized bunk bed (from scratch), went skiing, and generally hung out together. Oh yes, the OTHER thing we did was play "Harvest Moon." That was, of course, after I had declared it one of the most boring games in the world to watch. I mean really, how many times can you water your garden, feed your silkworms, graze your stock, brush and milk your goats? YAWN

Then, I succumbed. I assumed an identity, named my ranch, built a house, a barn and a coop. Then upgraded it all. I bought a chicken then hatched the rest of my flock. I bought a goat and that goat had babies. I bought a horse and sheep too.

And I was hooked.

There is something absolutely meserizing about taking care of the daily chores and seeing the results of your labor. I found myself spending entirely too much time playing and not enough time living. As a recovering Tetris addict, I got a little nervous.

Then something clicked.

I've been kind of sad that my dream of doing just this in real life hasn't come true. I would love to get up in the morning and do my chores outside. The dream of self sustainability invades my thoughts often. Circumstances prevent that right now and I thought I'd made peace with it. As unlikely as I would have thought, this game has actually helped.

First, I took an objective look at my resources and they are many. For having a relatively small yard, I have a remarkable amount of land in production. The chickens are low maintainance as are my earthworms. I don't have to be here at the house morning and evening to milk goats (yet). My wonderful husband is in the process of putting spigots on my rain barrels so I don't have to reach over the sharp edges to pull buckets of water out. I do still dump the water in from buckets under the eaves and sometimes shower water but that's not too hard.

I've also decided to keep track of how much my yard produces. Yesterday I harvested 7 ounces of carrots, 11 ounces of broccoli, 4 of spinach and 3 of lettuce. The other day we picked 2 pounds of cherry tomatoes. Last night we actually had a salad entirely harvested from our land, including those wonderful green scallions. Today I picked over half a pound of Swiss Chard which will be my dinner within an hour of harvest. (For those of you who have never eaten this green, it is milder than collards and need only be steamed briefly. The leaves are great but the stems outstrip them in flavor and texture!)

Frankly I'm surprised at the amount. I don't have enough to preserve but I do have enough to eat out of my garden a good bit of the time. I haven't had to buy broccoli in months. So with this reality check, courtesy of Harvest Moon, I'm feeling much more gratitude for what I DO have than yearning for what I DON'T.

Interesting how my Higher Power can teach me lessons through anything and everything that happens in my life! He's a pretty Cool Dude.

Back to Basics

2009-01-12T06:19:00.001-08:00

I think I must have starved to death in a previous life because I have always been interested in all things food. Yes, I'm a bit overweight but that's not the interest I'm talking about. I am fascinated by finding food (not necessarily in the supermarket) and storing it for future use. Even as a 10 year old, I was digging wild onions in the fields around my house and brought them home for my mom to use in stews. When Rich and I went to Jamaica last month, I found a coconut still in the husk floating in the beach water. I found a sharp edged boulder and proceeded to open that coconut right there on the beach. I've always wanted to do that! Picture it...the island woman, living with the elements, cracking the coconut for breakfast and drinking deeply of the valuable water within.

I DID get it open and I DID drink the water and eat some of the meat. But my fantasy had become a reality and I found out it just wasn't all that great. LOL. Oh, and the resort we were staying at bore little resemblance to a survival experience anyway. But that is another story.

My husband is a smart man and knows my passion for this kind of thing so nearly 2 decades ago, he bought for me, a dehydrator. It is, frankly speaking, a miracle machine. One year, it turned a full case of ripe tomatoes into about 3/4 of a cup of powdered tomato!

This year, it turned 18 pounds of bananas into just over 2 pounds of sweet banana chips and 16 pounds of bottom round roast into 4 pounds of beef jerky. My kids love this stuff and it was originally intended for Christmas though they all got it early. The best thing is that the foods are free from preservatives and chemicals and I know exactly what went into it all. And even though my babies are all grown, I still want them to eat good stuff!

Over the years I've dried cucumbers and squash, watermelon (that was a hoot!) more bananas than I can remember and lots of beef jerky. When the kids were little, I made fruit leather because they could eat it easier. And I'm still experimenting. I dried strawberries last year and though I wasn't fond of it, my middle grandson thought they hung the moon. The next batch of bean soup I make, I'm going to dry it and render it to powder and see how it tastes reconstituted, sort of like those instant soups that were popular a few years back. And like the tomatoes, dried stuff takes up considerably less room than frozen or canned and will keep a very long time if stored properly! It always made me smile when I added a teaspoon of tomato powder to thicken a big pot of tomato sauce.

Reduse, Reuse, Recycle

2008-11-18T10:00:00.001-08:00

My yard is a work in progress. No, it will never win the prize for "House Beautiful" largely because I wouldn't have a clue as how to get it there. I love the flowers I have, but they are randomly distributed wherever an empty spot opens up. I guess you could call me an opportunistic gardener.

That goes for my garden structures as well. I've been using rainwater for my gardening needs for about a year and have found that the garbage cans I bought leak. They will be put to other purposes now...maybe I can grow worms in those or store extra compost. My solution to storing watershowed up on Craigslist. The above barrel cost $10 and took about 20 minutes to modify it so as to make it workable for my needs. I felt a little like a blacksmith as I hammered out the top of the barrel to create a fitted lid and felt a good bit more respect for those people as my biceps and wrists started complaining. The top of the barrel gave itself up easily to my reciprocating saw though the steel ate the saw blades at roughly one blade to 3 barrels. Still, it's a cheap, er, a , frugal way to store water.

The potting bench functioned as a bunkbed just 2 days ago. My neighbor left the wood pieces on the curb for the garbage men to pick up and I beat them to it! It went together as if someone had cut the pieces to fit and the only cost was that of the screws I used to secure it.

I 'adopted' the pallets behind the potting bench from the side of the road. Much easier to handle than stock fencing, it also provides a little bit of a screening though I'm not too concerned about that.

I like getting my supplies for nothing. Yes, I can be a little cheap and I won't deny that. I also really like the idea of second and third uses for everything. Newspapers make great ground cover bases for my raised beds. Baling string works well for trellis netting. Manure is out there for the asking and sure beats petrochemicals for conditioning the soil for long term success and nutrient rich crops. And in just a month or so, Central Florida trees will give up their leaves and I'll start collecting them too.

Come to think of it...tomorrow is yard waste pickup day. Maybe I'll just take my little utility trailer out and see what we can come home with !

I Love Autumn!

2008-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

I love the Fall. I love it when the cold fronts slide through Florida and we can pretend we actually have seasons for a few days. These are the nights when I can get out my fire pit and build a fire out of the wood I've gathered out of my yard in the past year. I've been wanting to go camping but after building my fire and roasting a few marshmallows, I'm kind of glad I get to sleep in my own soft bed.

There's something fascinating about fire and the embers it leaves behind. I can understand why early man thought it alive. I watch the embers ebb and flow, glow and fade, with a rhythm all their own. They draw me in with their dance and pull me back to a time before TV and before electric lights. To a time when nighttime conversation was how people passed the time before sleep. Fire meant connection, protection and safety. For me tonight, it means a peaceful night's rest after a very pleasant hour talking with my husband and enjoying the pleasures of times past.

Celtic Thunder

2008-11-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

These are The Celtic Thunder!!! Rich and I went to listen to them at the UCF Arena and the show was great.

The "little guy" below is Damian, the youngest of the group. He has a great sound, a big teenie booper sound that all us old ladies love.

This is Paul, the pure Irish tenor. Wow, what a voice! You can tell he's classically trained and can hit the high notes like nobody's business. Pure and clear and lovely.

This is George, the Scot. He sings the ballads that make you cry and is the oldest of the five. He seems very fatherly, especially to Damian.

This is Keith. Keith sings a more folk flavored music. I believe he's Irish.

And this is Ryan, the Bad Boy!! He can make you believe that he is the darkest lover boy in the world...you should have her the ladies screaming for him!!!

The only bad thing about the whole concert was the temperature in the facility...it had to be over 80 degrees. Still, we had a great time and bought a couple CD's to remember a really wonderful night with.

That Time of Year

2008-10-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

When people find out I live in Florida, one of the first things they say is, "doesn't it get hot down there?" The honest answer to that question is, you dang tootin' it does!!! From July to September, Central Florida can be miserable...hot, humid, sometimes stifling.

Ah, but the rest of the year makes it all worth it. Come October, the temperatures and humidity drop, the sky clears, the sun shines golden instead of hazy. It's gardening time!!!

There are green beans crawling up my shed with broccoli bordering it. A nice little strawberry patch beginning for a spring harvest. The very bottom picture has cucumber, eggplant and squash. And, a sample of a days' harvest.

It always amazes me how these little bitty seeds manage to take in moisture, warmth and sunlight and become these lovely plants that provide sustanance for us puny humans. I planted petunias too (picture to come soon) and the miracle magnifies. Those seeds resemble the period at the end of a sentence! How can such lovely flowers rise out of such a tiny beginning? It's a miracle I never tire of.

Visiting My Past

2008-10-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is, uh, was my house when I was in elementary school. The color is about the same. The maple tree, the kind with the pink helicopter seeds, is gone but there are trees in the backyard that weren't there 40 years ago. My room was the window second from the left. I like that it's been kept up. When we moved here from Charleston, my parents bought this house...BEFORE it was built. We lived with friends for 6 months until it was finished which was fun for me because I was 8 years old. I think it was fun for my mother because Pat was her best friend. Anyway, my father would stop by the building site every night after work before he came home to critique the construction. More than once he had the carpenters redo something that wasn't up to his standards. I daresay we had the best build home on the block!!

This is Plaza Middle School formally known as Plaza Junior High. It was my privilege to attend this then state of the art school, complete with 2 college type lecture halls, 3 gymnasiums and a planetarium. The teachers expected us to live up to our environ and I think we did for the most part. The plaque below says the school opened in 1969. I attended the '71-'72 year.

This is the commons area. It hasn't changed a bit. Very dated I know, but also very comforting!

Rabbit Poo

2008-09-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

I hit the Jackpot!!! No, not the Lottery, though I would love to win that too. No, THIS Jackpot is a little more down to earth. I found....a source....of RABBIT POOP!

Ah, rabbit poop...the ultimate in organic gardening fertilizer. High in nitrogen (part of what makes plants green) but not "hot." You can put those wonderful little pellets right next to your plants and it doesn't burn the plants at all. And PELLETS!!! It's like nature pre-packaged those little buggers just for us dirt bums. They are light weight (no more hauling tons of horse hockey) and the earthworms love them too.

So like I said, I not only found a source of rabbit poo, I found a SOURCE. This woman has 300 of the furry little poopers going at it all day and night. I filled my trailer and maybe cleaned a tenth of the area she had "under bunny." So next time I may even gather enough to cover my lawn with an inch or so...no smell, no clumping so why not? I may have the greenest weeds on the block!

Faye Part 3....the Aftermath

2008-09-17T07:34:00.002-07:00

I told you about the rain that Faye dumped on the Florida pennisula. The 18 inches in my backyard drained fairly fast. The 3 feet of rain in other areas are slowly draining as well. And it's all draining into the St. John's River.

The news reports of flooded roads and homes shocked most of us as we usually don't receive so much precipitation in such a short period of time. My view of the river first hand humbled me more than I can say. Yes, homes were flooded, but I didn't think of the wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. They were also devastated and nothing brought it into such focus as the plight of the marsh bunnies. In a little bitty area of 100 by 10 yards, there must have been 100 bunnies. They didn't run when we approached....they had no place elso to go. It's hard to see the bunnie but the glowing eye gives it away.

I took these pictures the end of August. My husband says the river is still flooded.

Our Beautiful September Days

2008-09-17T07:34:00.001-07:00

Living in Florida can be challenging at times. Brutal summers and relentless hurricanes make some people crazy and they move away, thankfully! Still, September brings a new spring for us. This is the time to plant the big garden, the time when bug populations diminish and temperatures moderate to not only bearable but pleasant. When sunsets become golden instead of steamy, I remember why we stay in Central Florida.

This morning I took my trailer and gathered a load of grass clippings from a nearby neighborhood. I will put them in my compost pile so that I can continue to improve my soil for my little garden plots. I guess in the grand scheme of things this isn't much. Still, I can't help but believe that if everyone did just a little, Mother Earth would be much eased in her distress. I'm not convinced about human induced global warming. I am convinced that we are to be stewards of the land, responsible for her wise and compassionate use.

Goober Peas (Peanuts for the Uninitiated)

2008-09-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

I see from the comments to my last blog that there are some of you out there that are a little out of touch with the natural cycle of life. You guys need to watch "The Lion King"...you know, the Circle of Life! Stuff has to rot and decay for other things to grow. That's just how it is. We will all eventually go the way of the worm and return to the Earth's embrace.

So, for y'all that are a little queasy, today's blog is on peanut butter. Last year I grew my first small crop of peanuts and harvested a couple of pounds of good Virginia peanuts from my southside raised garden bed. I roasted them and today shelled them in preparation for the great smushing. My blender made short work of the legumes but I had to add a bit of peanut oil to get it to smooth out. That's okay. As the peanut butter sits, the oil will rise and I can pour the extra off. A touch of salt brought out the flavor and it tastes just like the freshly ground product you can by at a local health food store. Fresh and organic!

It takes some time to do stuff like this and I don't think I'll try to grow enough for my PB&J needs for the year. Still, it feels good to know I can.

Sustainability

2008-09-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

My word for the year is ....sustainability. I've started shredding my newspaper and adding it to my compost along with the coffee grounds I get from Starbucks, horse manure I gather from nearby barns, grass clippings from my neighbors' yard and any sort of vegetable waste that comes out of my kitchen. The plan is to take the resultant compost and use it to fertilize my garden, the results of which end up in our tummy!!!

Well, I had a new use for my compost reveal itself yesterday! As I stirred the upper layer of newspaper with fresh grass clippings, I noticed some little crawlie things squirming in the compost material. I picked one up and low and behold, I'm growing mealyworms in my compost pile!! Just so happens my chickens LOVE mealyworms. I guess it's a little gross picking mealyworms out of rotting crap but I'm saving on chicken feed now and my girls come running whenever they see me scavanging in the pile. I feel so loved.

Hhmmm. Since I eat their eggs everyday, I guess I'm eating mealyworms too!! And if you think that's bad, just try not to remember what part of the chicken from which the egg comes out.

Hunter, aka Super Destroyer

2008-08-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've just had the pleasure of spending 4 days with my daughter Sheri and her almost 2 year old son, Hunter.

Hunter, in my opinion, is very appropriately named. This little man would be at home with a little loincloth and miniature spear. His energy and curiosity is a delight to watch even though it can drive his mama a little nuts.

On one of our little outings, Sheri needed to do some shopping alone so I followed Hunter around the mall. He never stopped running. I followed him around the atrium, down the upper level to Sears, to the back of Sears and then all the way back to the atrium again. If we didn't cover 1/2 a mile, I'd be surprised. Why he didn't drop from exhaustion only confirms my impression of him. After an organic chocolate milk, he was on his way again!!!

I love to watch my grandchildren grow. Not being the primary cargiver gives me a chance to observe a little more objectively and to see nuances that I missed with my own kids. When there are loads of laundry to wash, dinner to cook and dishes to wash afterwards, there's just not so much time to observe their little minds at work. I didn't think I'd fall for my grandbabies like I have but they are just so darn cute and smart that I just can't help it!!!!

The only problem with this is that they all live so darn far away!

Faye, Faye, Go Away....part 2

2008-08-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know Faye is mostly gone. She's traveled her way north and we are slowing drying out except for our normal afternoon thunder bumpers. Her effects are still here though. The St. John's River (one of the only rivers in North America that flows north) is still cresting. The communites along the river and it's associated lakes are flooding. It's a mess.

But I have some good memories of Faye too. Yes, I did the walking thing and admired the prodigious amounts of moisture that continually bombarded my neighborhood (final score, 18 inches in 4 days!) Even better, I got to do my very favorite and dreamed of storm activities this time.

I washed my hair in rainwater AS IT WAS RAINGING. That's how hard the water came down....I even got all the soap out of my hair and it felt SO soft.

AND, I washed my car in the downpour. That's right folks, I soaped her up, scrubbed her down and let Mother Nature rinse her off. For this Earth Mama, I loved the fact that I didn't have to turn on the hose!!!

Now, our attention is on Gustav and Hanna. I wonder what's in store?

Faye, Faye, Go Away!!!

2008-08-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Okay. I love a good storm. I was raised walking in hurricanes and it's a special connection I have with my Mom. I love the feel of wind through my hair and on my face and the fresh rainwater dripping thick enough to drink. My feet naturally hunt for puddles and my "little girl" has a blast.

But Faye has pushed even MY love for rough weather to the brink.

I mean, hurricanes are supposed to blow through the area in about a day or so. The wind blows, roofs get damaged, rain falls, limbs break off,.... you know, standard stuff. After the storm is gone, you clean up. Simple, right?

Faye didn't read the rules. She has been hanging out in Central Florida for FOUR FRIGGING DAYS!!!!! I mean, enough is enough already. My rain gauge (an empty straight sided bucket) tells me we've gotten 16 inches of rain already with 6 more expected tonight. And we haven't even had the worst of it. Parts of Melbourne (southeast of us) has had 26 inches of rain. People have water up to their waist there.

By the way, my hens have grown webbed feet.

Mama's New Pull Toy!!!

2008-08-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about getting a little trailer for my Sonata for a couple of months. I like to haul things....like manure, hay (for garden mulch), potting soil, the occasional sheet of plywood and yard waste from my neighbors. Yes, I steal people's garbage but only if it's bagged leaves or grass clippings. They combine to make great compost, especially when I combine them with shredded newspaper, coffee grounds from Starbucks and the manure from a nearby horse barn.

Most of the time I call my lovely daughter, Carley, for a car swap. I take the truck, she drives my car. For the most part I don't think she minds and she's never been anything but accomodating. Still, with both of our schedules and lives being as busy as they are, sometimes the swap times are just a pain in the patootie.

So today, I got my trailer, or my Pull Toy as my husband described it. I have a hitch on my Sonata that should discourage anyone from rear ending me. I mean, it extends a good six inches and an extention raises the ball up a bit. Hhhhmmmmm.....anyway, another car will get hurt if it bumps into me. A truck would just laugh and plow through!!

As you can see from the pictures, I hauled plywood today. That wood will be used to create a solid floor on said trailer as well as solid sides and gate. It's just not good manners to track manure over public roads. I will paint it black to match my car and I will love it and pat and feed it and it will have a wonderful life with me.....so much manure, so little time!!!

On Grandma's "Farm"

2008-08-08T13:33:00.001-07:00

It's been almost 2 weeks since I've shared my life with you. But I have a good reason!!! I've had my oldest daughter and her two children (MY grandchildren!) here for 9 days. They flew home yesterday and I sure miss them. Still, I have the memories of a ton of fun!!

Alex and I both love to be outside so this trip, I introduced him to some of my hobbies. If you notice, in his right hand is a claw tool, just his size. He used it to dig up that which is in his left hand...some nice juicy earthworms that had taken up residence next to my compost pile. Notice the chickens? THEY got the benefit of those nice juicy earthworms and had no problem eating out of Alex's hand. It didn't even stop him when they accidentally pecked his fingers a bit.

"Mom" got into the action too and I think between them, they gave my birds a good meal!

High and Dry in Central Florida

2008-08-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

So, I've been looking for a piece of land to buy...2 or 3 acres somewhere near enough to Orlando to get to work within an hour, dry with a road. Yep. That's what I've been looking for.

The first piece lay south of Groveland which lies west of Orlando. The ad said, "park like acreage, wonderfully isolated rural land. Large mature tree canopy." The agent said that half of it was dry. So one morning, Rich and I had "an adventure." We drove out for over an hour, turned left on route 33 and drove another 15 miles, made a right on some little country road, made another right at the group of mailboxes, and drove VERY carefully over the dirt road whoopti-doos til we came to the FOR SALE sign.

Well, she was partly right. It was lovely. Big trees. And it would have been nice and dry if we were willing to bring in about 250 cubit yards of fill dirt for the house area. The creek on the right side of the property was the kind that drained the surrounding area into a larger swamp downstream. A good hurricane would leave us bogged down for weeks.

We explored another plot (in our price range) today. The owner said there was a hunting road that led to the property but that she'd never been there herself. Still, the aerial pictures looked promising. I could see individual trees and then paler green that I assumed were grassland (and we all know what ASS-U-ME means!!)

So, Rich and I had ANOTHER adventure. We found the entrance to the hunters' "road" tucked close to the HWY 50/HWY520 intersection. Rich parked the truck well on the shoulder of the road and we got out to see that the road was blocked by a welded steel gate with a nice lock on it. Didn't really matter. They did us a favor by preventing us from driving back there. I don't think our little Ford Ranger would have made it through the water on that "road." At any rate, we started walking. Figured we would walk about a mile in and find our land and it would be nice and dry with wild Florida grass pasture...Yep.

We did call the phone numbers on the gate to let the hunters know that we would be walking on the road (and please, don't shoot!) I got the answering service for both numbers though one was kind enough to call back. He just wanted us to know that he had killed a couple of wild boars back there and that there were also bear. Oh, and he'd recently killed a couple of pygmy rattlesnakes within the first few turns on the road. Just be careful, he warned. I looked at Rich and he said don't worry, all the animals slept during the heat of the day. Okay.

So armed only with my trusty camera, a half pint of water and my cell phone, we forged onward. After a half mile (and 10-12 "low spots" on the road where the land was about knee depth below the level of the standing water) the trees finally gave way and we saw what I thought was pasture....WRONG. It was sawgrass. Sawgrass grows in water. Water is NOT high and dry. Though we never got to the surveyed plot, we felt it pretty safe to turn around and go back. On the way back, Rich took the time to point out some animal tracks....raccoon, deer and, oh yes, wild boar! He did manage to bag one speciman of the wild while we were there...a mosquito about as big around as a quarter. You know, the kind that splats with YOUR blood when you hit it. They never bothered me at all.

I emailed the property owner and told her I didn't think this would serve our purposes.

Something to Look Forward To!

2008-07-20T20:56:00.001-07:00

If I'm not mistaken, I'm the Old Woman of this little blog group. Having just turned 50 (and grateful for it, I must say) there are experiences that I am privileged to have that for which you youngsters will just have to wait a few more years. For instance, I'm freer to be friendly with young men because they know that this old lady means nothing by a little flirting.

Today I 'jumped the gap' for sure.

As per medical advice, the 50th year of life is also the first year of certain intrusive tests, ie., checking for polyps in the plumbing. For some of you, this may be too much information and for that, I apologize and suggest you stop reading now. But if you can't laugh at a colonoscopy, what's the point of these Golden Years?

The last two days have been filled with white grape juice and laxative tablets. No food, no red or purple anything, no milk. Clear broth, slurpees (woo hoo!!) clear juices, water. The recommendation is that one stays near the "facilities" during the cleansing and I found out that this was indeed, excellent advice.....because you just never know when....well, you know!

Actually, I had it pretty easy. The protocol used to use something call GoLitely, a foul (from what I hear) nasty gallon of "cleanser" that you had to consume on a schedule. The pills my (very handsome) doctor gave me were a piece of cake to get down. Oh, did I mention my very handsome young doctor? Of East Indian descent, his English is impeccable and his features all the best of his ethnic inheritance. It's a pity he has to deal with the back ends of people all day.

So my husband took me to the center this afternoon. I checked in, paid my bill and they took me back. Of course the first thing to do is ....take off the clothes and put on the gown. I felt rather chilly but then this angel of a nurse dropped a heated blanket on me. AAHHH. Looking back, the IV in my hand was the worst. I could feel the blood drain from my face for a minute or two but I recovered quickly. Are you ready for the good stuff?, they asked. Only if I'll wake up again, I replied. She smile and pushed down the plunger . At first, nothing and I got worried. And then the most delicious warmth spread over me and I was gone. Out.

The next thing I know, I am waking up and expelling that which they used to inflate my colon for a better view. I guess some people are a little shy about that because they kept encouraging me to...continue. They don't know me very well. I don't need any encouragement to.....continue. I got dressed and was wheeled out to my waiting car and husband. Lunch at the China Buffet started with won ton soup. I feel much better now!!!

I'm feeling a little foggy still and will take it easy today. The whole experience went well and my apprehensions were foundless. And of course, the drugs were great! So, you young whipper snappers, eat your fiber, lots of whole grain and plenty of vegetables. Remember that broccoli acts like little scrubbers in your pipes. Oatmeal too.

And remember...you, too, have something to look forward to!!!

The Search is On

2008-07-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am a woman of obsessions. Or perhaps I should say that I am true to my astrological sign, Taurus. Once I get my mind set on a course of action, it takes a small miracle to disuade me until I am simply tired of fighting. I'm just a little bull-ish.

So my current dream is that of property. I know that there are a couple acres of land out there that belong to me, I just have to find them. Today Rich and I drove out to Clermont to see a promising piece of Florida. Described as "partially cleared" with 3 of the 5 acres suitable for building, I was prepared to allow Mother Earth her portion of "my" property as 3 acres is really quite enough for me. A little lowland was okay.

Getting to the lot wasn't too difficult. Newly paved Route 33 gave us hope, especially since the engineers included a bike lane through the whole stretch of road. Wow! We could live in the country and still have access to biking! We took the right turn at Oil Well Rd...okay, not too bad. Some cleared land but the land seemed to be getting a little lower. At the group of mailboxes, we took another right (because the dirt "road" wasn't marked!). We carefully drove over the whoop-de-dos, the kind that are a blast to go over on a motorcycle but that could bottom out your car if you pushed too fast. And then, there it was....that lovely partially cleared plot.

We could tell it had recently been bushhogged and explored as far as we could. This plot was definitely slanting a bit toward the creek that ran through one side. Creek? I mean swamp. The high and dry part of the plot ran along the neighbor's fence, about 200 yards back but only 60 feet or so across. As long as the weather stayed relatively dry, we would be okay. But we would be up an 'unsanitary tributary without a visible means of locomotion' if a hurricane dropped 10 inches of rain...not unheard of here in Florida.

So, I just figured it out. In order to raise 2 of these acres 1 foot, we would have to truck in 10 loads of clay at 40 cubic yards each. Having purchased ONE truck load for my yard a few years ago, I know exactly what kind of work we would be looking at. Even with unlimited monies, it would be formidable project. But the fact that I figured out how much dirt we would need testifies that I'm STILL obsessing over this land!!!

Keep me in your prayers. I'm disappointed but I know God's will will be done. And I'm still very keen for the hunt!!!!!

2008-07-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

I am domestically challenged.

Actually, I just hate housework...always have. I tried all kinds of things to keep my house habitable, especially when my children were growing up. When it was time to wash the kitchen floor (which should have been everyday but was actually maybe once a month), I threw a bucket of lightly soapy water on the floor, gave my kids rags to step on and told them to have at it. The floor became acceptably clean and the kids had a little fun. I did have to clean up the dirty water but had a Rainbow vacuum at the time which made it easier.

I even tried this index card system where you have something that gets done every day and they you file it in the back of the pile. So I would do floors on one day, dust on one day, clean the bathrooms...you get the idea. It was a great system too but like anything else, it only works if you work it. I have a neighbor whose house ALWAYS looks good....I mean ALWAYS. She laughed at my system because I guess to her cleaning is just second nature.

NOT!!!

That being said, it's understandable why my husband made such a big deal out of the way the house looked when he came home yesterday. He normally does the vacuuming because he enjoys it and frankly, I'd rather mow the lawn, but his work has picked up and mine has slowed down so it's only right that I should pick up some of the slack at home. The house IS a little cleaner than it used to be, mostly because there are 4 fewer people living in it. I still make more than my share of messes. But yesterday, I just wanted to clean.

Yes, I know, totally out of character. But that kitchen floor finally got to me and I couldn't clean the floor without cleaning the mats and after the kitchen floor looked so pretty, the livingroom carpet just had to be vacuumed which led to my bedroom where I was reminded that the sheets were grungy and wanted a bath too! Wow, that really doesn't sound like much when I write it down, but it sure took most of the day. As I look around I do feel a certain sense of satifaction and the place smells fresher too.

I had fun doing making my home prettier yesterday. It felt good. And I'd STILL rather mow the lawn!

A Good Day....continued

2008-07-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

After waxing poetic about my fun day shoveling dirt, I forgot to put the icing on the cake!

As my previous entry said, I had a wonderful time playing in my yard yesterday. Digging, raking, hammering, wheelbarrow-ing. After I completed my new growing area, I had enough light (and energy) to mow the lawn. I figured, if I had to bathe, I might as well be good and filthy before running the water!

So as finished the last row of grass in the back yard, the first raindrops started falling. I hurried and put the mower away then ducked into the house before the main storm it. Then I stopped. I listened for thunder and watched for lightening and saw none. I could feel a grin build up from the inside out as I went into the house....to take off my shoes, remove my glasses and put my phone out of harms way. Then I went back outside JUST as the rain started pouring. Cooling rainwater poured all over me, softening my hair and skin and bringing a child(ish) giggle to my lips.

It seems fitting that found myself playing in the rain yesterday. Today is my mother's birthday and my love of storms is one of her gifts to me. As most of you who read this already know, my mom would have been 83 today. She passed on 7 years ago. Still, every time I walk in the rain or stomp in the gutter puddles, she is alive for me. Happy Birthday Mom!!!

A Wonderful Day (or Two)

2008-07-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

Some people relish a day in front of the TV. Others save their time to work on models or scrapbook or any number of worthy hobbies. Me? I love dirt!!

My dream is to buy a couple of acres of untouched land, clear it and make it mine. I would slowly clear the underbrush (with the help of my small herd of goats that I would buy as soon as the fencing was up!). Then I would go through the trees and decide which would serve best as fuel and take them down. I would plant fruit trees suitable for Florida (fig, avocado, sand pear, maybe a Florida apple variety), kiwi vines, blueberry bushes and blackberry thickets. My garden would supply us with most of our vegetable needs, the dairy goats would give us milk and keep the underbrush down. Chickens for fresh eggs and IF I got courageous enough, I would try to raise meat rabbits. The courage would be for "harvesting" the meat.

AAHHHH....to dream!

My reality isn't all that bad though. I live on a fifth of an acre, have a great house (big enough AND small enough), good neighbors and as much financial security as anyone these days could expect. Living here for 25 years has its benefits. I've spent 25 years bringing in compost and improving the soil in this largely sandy area. The oak trees in my yard shield the house from the worst of the summer sun and our yearly average electric bill (considering I keep our nighttime AC at 73 degrees) is very reasonable.

So, my job is to create my dream right here! Yesterday I shoveled about a cubic yard of sand and well rotted horse manure. I was in heaven! My body loved the exercise and my mind loved the "zen" of hard labor. The goal? To build a raised bed in my front yard! That's right, the FRONT yard. That little square patch of land has been left largely unscathed by my escapades mostly because I am not a pretty gardener. I am a vegetable gardener. I like FUNCTION. This will be my new challenge.

I've laid out the landscaping timbers and secured them in place. The manure is all snug in its new 'bed' and will have to rest a bit before it receives plants. I don't want to burn their little tootsies! The crescent shaped bed is 16' long and about 3' at its widest. Along the front I'm planting some colorful fall flowers, maybe impatiens because I really love them. Broccoli will stand proud in back (until I cut they little heads off!!! HEHEHEHE) and perhaps bush beans to fill in the middle. I wonder if squash will grow there. I can't seem to grow it anywhere else!!

It comes down to this...if I can't have my place in the country, I'll just have to bring the country to me...and my neighbors and husband will have to deal with the smell of horse once in awhile. And coffee. Starbucks gives away old coffee grounds and they make great fertilizer! Today I got a bonus in my 30 pounds of grounds...two small stainless steel pitchers that they use for milk. So for the next few days anyway, the smell of horse hockey and coffee with mingle in the air...HEHEHEHE!!!!

Solar Oven....the Conclusion

2008-07-09T13:21:00.001-07:00

So I'm sitting down to dinner, eating my solar cooked bbq chicken. The result? Tastes just like I'd cooked it in the house oven except perhaps a touch more moist and tender. After all, it cooked for 5 hours at about 275 degrees. I started it frozen solid and as soon as it was thawed enough in the plastic bag, transfered it to a glass pan.

I'm going to bake cookies on the next sunny day that I have at home. And maybe bread. Yummm.

Solar Powered

2008-07-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

My husband and I spent a couple weeks building a solar oven. It seemed like a perfect fit, after all, we DO live in Sunny Florida. Except, it has rained every day since our project's completion.

But today, there is sun. And the water in my oven is a piping hot 200 degrees. So today I am cooking our dinner in a small black box in my back yard. I put frozen chicken in a rectangular pan and will let that cook until it looks almost done. Then I will add bbq sauce and let it go. No heating up of the house and no trying to air condition a heating oven.

Not that this whole thing is not without problems. The inner sides of the oven are pulling away from the insulation as I type this. We may have to secure it with bolts and washers. Also, if it starts to rain, I have to put my oven away. Still, it's a start and it's fun to boot.

My dream is actually to be energy self sufficient. Solar panels and wind turbines would go a long way in providing energy for my home. The hitch is...the cost. Enough solar panels to provide 50% of the power that I use in my house would cost over $80,000 after rebates and tax credits. The turbines are less expensive and I will be looking into those as I go. If I ever build a house from scratch, I would like to be almost off the grid if possible.

Actually, in my dream of dreams, I see myself in the North Carolina mountains in a cabin off the grid. My water would come from a combination of rain and well supplied. Heat, a wood stove and both passive and active solar power. I would have my flock of chickens, a small herd of rabbits, a couple dairy goats and maybe a steer for beef. Oh yes, a pair of Morgan horses to help with the hauling.

I wonder though....do you think A T & T have cell towers out there????

Bertha Made a Right Hand Turn....Rats!!!

2008-07-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

I know most sane people would rather a hurricane NOT hit their state. In 2004 Central Florida received visits from Charlie, Francis and Jeanne. I hate it that many people lost their homes or had substantial damage to their property. People who live on the west coast of Florida had a bullseye on their butt (it seemed) and for 6 weeks we lived "on alert." Every other weekend had us pulling out the generator and using flashlights for almost a week at a time.

Still, the storms in a diluted form can be a lot of fun. Charlie came through at night and we watched out of the window as the power transformers blew, one at a time. Such a beautiful blue green glow! Francis came through during the day so Mike, Carley and I put on our roller blades, held sheets between us and did some land sailing down the street. We looked like we were having so much fun that my normally rain-avoiding husband joined us!

I guess my love of storms came to me honestly. My fondest memories of my mother involve long walks in Virginia storms, biting wind and pounding rain forging our bond. She loved the occasional snows we got in the south too. One winter night in Charleston SC, she woke me up at 2am so I could watch my very first snow fall. Her friends couldn't understand why she did that....I do. We built a snowman together out of the quarter inch of snow. It took up every bit of snow in our yard but we did it!!

Mom wasn't afraid to slide on the ice either. I feel like I'm pretty young for my age and Mom was too. She was probably around 45 when an ice storm hit Virginia Beach and we spent the morning together taking running starts and sliding down the slick road we lived on. We came in the house after a couple hours, wet from sweat and snow and melting ice, our cheeks red as apples and giggles bubbling out for hours after.

So, this is my trip down memory lane. I love storms and my kids seem to as well so we've passed it down for one more generation...but wait! Alex and I have already gone "crik stomping!" Yes! Mom, your tradition lives on!!!!

My Daughter Made Me Do This

2008-07-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of MY blog. I've so enjoyed reading the blogs of my 2 oldest kids so I thought I'd join the fun! I don't know how to put pictures or anything on this so be patient with me. The learning curve gets rather step after you turn 40 and I'm 10 years past that. Penny has promised to help me one day at a time....and today is not the day. Maybe tomorrow.

My kids like to tease me about my hobbies. I like to ride my bike. I really like to ride my bike with a trailer hitched to it to shop. I like to collect horse manure to put in my garden. I raise worms in a container in my backyard and feed them the manure too. They reward me with worm poop and I put that in my garden too. So if you eat veges from my garden, you are eating recycled POOP! Enjoy! It's better than eating petroleum fertilizers.

So, this is the beginning of my publicly viewed life. My kids roll their eyes at me at times but they still call on a regular basis so I guess I haven't shamed them too badly.