this moment

 

~this moment~

 

A single photo...

no words...

a simple, extraordinary moment

provided by James...

Andy Warhol

style.

 

more farmgirls

 

The new school year

is upon us...

here I am

at page 1006 of 1392

(no, I am not kidding!)

of Rainbow Resource's

Homeschool Catalogue...

still making our final

choices.

 

Focusing on the OUR

as I encourage reluctant boys

to take an active part

 in the process.

 

...1007...1008...

 

Take a break.

 

Not that one is needed

as much as

one is thrust upon us in the

form of two little...

adorable girls

who don't want to sit

inside on such

a sun-shiny day!

 

I know...

let's go to the

Orchard.

 

Erie Apple Orchard.

 

On the cusp of their busy season...

before the mad slew of

apple pickers and

tour buses.

 

Mid-week.

 

 

When the goats are bored

and happy to see

two little girls

and their companions.

 

Patient goats

who are understanding

of little fingers

getting

poked their way.

 

Eager to get

a treat...

gently from your

hand.

 

Goats that call out

to you with a bleating plea...

please come back...

we want to play

some more!

 

The chickens beckon

us to come

with their clucking

song.

 

We counted...

there were 3 eggs

waiting to be found!

 

Okay...

one more pet for

big mama.

 

They share a look of

contentment...

don't you think?

 

But there is work to be done.

A farm never

rests.

 

Farmgirl Kaylee

to the

rescue.

 

Farmgirl Kierstin

takes her role very seriously...

here she is saying,

"Drive! Drive...drive!"

 

Another satisfied smile.

 

On to the hay loft

where

grandma challenges those

little legs to make

there way to the

other side.

 

Ready...

Set...

Go!

 

We did it!

Now for the big climb to

Uncle James-ie...

as Kierstin calls him.

 

The big girl

gets there

first...

followed by

 

sister Kay-kay.

 

Look at that face...she's saying to

herself...

yeah, but we all know who made

it here first!

 

Looking...

pondering...

that climb

back

down.

 

 

Our final stop

the big barn

with the general store

for candy... apple cider...

donuts...

and peaches!

 

Down on the farm fun break.

 

Now back to the books.

 

 

farmgirl

 

The recipe

for receiving a sweet

unexpected

compliment.

 

Orchard fresh peaches...

 ripe and juicy

almost going bad.

 

Can't let that happen.

 

Peeled and sliced

and mixed with fresh blueberries

along with some natural sugar...

basically following

your favorite Apple Crisp

recipe...

but substituting the apples for...

peaches and, well...

blueberries...

as I said.

 

Make the crumble topping.

Kept mine very simple mixing

oats, whole wheat, honey,

walnuts, coconut oil.

 

Press on top of the filling

mixture

and bake at 350 for 33 minutes.

 

Serve warm with Vanilla Bean

Ice cream...

my choice 

Almond Dreams...

yumminess.

 

Throwing peaches away...

averted.

 

Having your husband

call you a

farmgirl

for your frugality...

priceless.

 

Go farmgirls!

 

 

harvest church

 

Oh...

how the garden has grown.

 

These were taken

mid season...

 

 

The herb tires

matured

nicely.

 

I would stop by to

water...

weed...

snip some

basil

as needed.

 

 

On this day...

more was needed.

 

On this day...

the bounty of our

summer toils

stood waiting to

be plucked...

 

the peppers

in every color...

 

 

tomatoes

in vast varieties

of sweetness.

 

Washed and packed

for our short

journey

into the

city.

 

Where vegetable

gardens are

in short

supply.

 

My mind speeds

ahead in time as

I see the trees...

seek out green space...

dream of a day

when the

Community Garden

will be right

here...

where it is supposed

to be...

with this here

community.

 

A place that they/we

can call our own.

A place to take part

and share in

real

community.

 

Until that day...

 

in the near future

I pray...

 

We will transport

our garden harvest to those

who are filled

with

joy

at the sight of those

sweet cherry tomatoes.

 

Now...

this is

what I call...

 

church.

 

 

 

 

this moment

 

Joining soulemama

and friends.

A single photo.

No words.

A simple, extraordinary

moment
just outside

my car window.

 



wacky wednesday

"It all began with a shoe on the wall.

 A shoe on the wall

shouldn't be there at all.

Then I looked up

and I said

"Oh, man!"

And that's how

wacky Wednesday began..."

for Theo. LeSieg

mine began in the garden...

 

 

Grandma Jenny...

picking tomatoes with her two

favorite little girls.

 

Who composed a song

that contained the line...

"We pick the reds...

not the greens."

 

All sang along.

 

"Always, always,

wash before we eat."

 

We went inside and I said

by cracky...

two more things are

very wacky!

 

An enameled pot

that contained

receipts was discovered!

( back in our Dave Ramsey days...ahem...)

 

A treasure.

 

Let's get the crayons out

and color each

one-hundred of them.

 

Why not?

 

Tatted up...

clip board ready...

let the coloring commence.

 

I went to the kitchen and

I said, "Hey!"

 

Three more things were wacky today.

 

Peanut butter and homemade

jelly sandwiches...

salty chips that Kierstin

found were yummy to lick...

 

Kaylee smiling

while saying

"Chee-ee-se!"

 

I know...

let's light the candle!

 

Pretty please...

 

Again, why not?

 

Let's sing

happy birthday to me...

and I will blow it out.

 

That was soooo fun...

let's do it again...

one

more

time.

 

Yikes!

Not so close.

 

Naptime?

No.

 

Park time?

Go.

 

Grandma...

follow me...

look at this...

higher...

 

drink please.

 

Then a real wacky thing...

 

camera shy Kierstin

telling grandma to...

 

take a picture

of

me on the tire swing!

 

Then

wacky Wednesday was done...

Grandma made dinner,

met with women at church,

and went to bed...

with dreams of

Kierstin and Kaylee

dancing in her head...

 

oh, yeah...

that's another story.

 

 

Footnote: Wacky Wednesday

by ,

Theo. LeSieg

is our book of choice right now...

highly recommended!

 

 

90 / 10

 

A 90/10 Vegan.

 

After being a full on vegan

for a month

something miraculous happened...

I no longer needed to

take Allegra D every day

of my life.

 

A savings of fifteen dollars

every ten days.

 

My suspicions

told me dairy was the culprit.

Now I love my dairy...

ice cream, colby-jack cheese,

milk.

 

But I noticed each time

I consumed them I would

get phlegmy and

start coughing to

clear it all away...

yummy.

 

So after my 30-day journey

I began introducing things

slowly...

my first meal back (LOL)

was a Burger King meal...

no joke.

I won't lie...

it tasted

AMAZING.

 

Next day...

back to the vegan way.

The reason...

I feel fantastic, energetic, and

lighter

on this whole grain...

 vegetable, legume... 

sweet fruit

course.

 

Then why 90/10?

 

Meaning 90% of the time I practice

vegan eating and 10% of the time

I eat meat...fish...an egg...

and thank you, Lord...

feta and parmesan-reggiano.

 

I read about this concept

and to me it just

makes sense.

 

If my body requires certain

vitamins and minerals

I would much rather get them through

the foods I eat than in

another pill to replace my

Allegra D.

 

I know there are die hards out there

who may disagree

but when I heard that your

body will stop producing the

enzymes needed to digest

any meat in food...

even broths...

the world felt small and confining.

 

You can no longer have a bowl

of soup at a restaurant

without quizzing the chef...

or you will have to pay the price

back home...

with cramps and...I will skip the

gory details...

you get the picture...

 

sorry to put it there!

 

Beans.

(nice segue :)

At $1.50 a bag...

enough for three meals...

so $15 - $1.50 =

$13.50 worth of savings!

 

$13.50 to invest in a good quality steak...

or two tickets to a movie...

or better yet...

to bank!

 

I think I will continue

to invest in

beans...

it just makes

 cents.

 

 

how we show it...

In a recent conversation with

mom...

she relayed another conversation

she had with a good friend.

When said friend...

we will call her Donna...

saw an on-going letter

to mom

written by her "kids"

while she was out of town...

"kids"

who were watching the house and

feeding the cat...

 left little notes with each visit 

like...

fed cat at noon...

love, Tim...

or

Welcome Home, Mom...

we missed you!

Donna was surprised and said

something like...

that is so sweet...your kids

write you notes?!

Mom told her how

it was our way...

going back to when we were little kids...

something we always did.

Okay... a long clumsy story...but

the writing

continues.

When I saw this letter I recognized

James' script and asked him

about it.

Turns out that he wanted to

take a shower the night before

and felt

funny leaving Dad

who was asleep in the recliner...

he didn't want dad to think he left him

all alone...

in the event he woke up.

Notes...

sticky ones...

to let those who are still asleep

(again)

know what you are up to...

where you went.

the extra xx's and oo's

are a bonus.

The back of an envelope

when paper is in

short supply.

reduce~reuse~recycle

Notes.

In prime...

not to be missed

 locations.

After Mom's story...

it warmed my heart as I started

paying attention...

noticing...

appreciating...

one more way

we show it.