🍅 Bounty 🍆

 Oh Friends~

You have to see this!

I know we, each of us, live in different areas,

but if you look, look closely, it's there.

There is bounty all around us.

Summer can sure be long and hot.

The longer days can become wearisome

and our bodies can certainly tire.

Or is that just me?

(Cayenne)

As many of you know, I grow a garden each year.

It seems by February,

I am raring to get it going and wanting to plant seeds

despite the icy temperatures out of doors.

This year was different.

We had the summer kitchen flood in January,

then the mess to clean up when the roof was repaired in March.

I didn't get much of a break

so by spring I wasn't as ambitious as usual.

My seed starts struggled.

I was lack luster in getting things in the ground,

and I questioned if we would have much at all

by the time harvest rolled around.

The lesson~

There is always a lesson, isn't there?

We are taught, errr well, back in my day anyways - haha!

not to be pompous or proud.

Pride comes before a fall as the saying goes.

It does seem when we are struggling,

we find ourselves most humble.

(Saskatoon berry juice.)

And here is where I must digress for a moment

so you can see the whole picture.

I am aware of the circumstances of our food supply as a nation.

In the eye of world events,

I realize our nation has become dependent upon other

countries for much of our sustenance.  

The area around us is a heavy agriculture area,

and there are a lot of wheat fields in addition to

hay, peas, potatoes and fruits.

Knowing many of the plains states were experiencing

challenging weather and failing crops,

as I was pushing through trying to get my homely little starts

in the ground and wondering if they would even survive,

I looked over the fields and said a prayer not really for myself

but for our collective efforts.

I realize not everyone here is the praying sort.

Stick with me for a minute if you will please.

That was what seems like ages ago,

but in reality was only a few short months ago.

(We lost our canopy, but the bean wall is outrageous this year.)

And here's where the ends meet

with the lesson and the harvest.

They've been pulling great loads of wheat from the surrounding fields.

They harvested peas from the field in front of our house.

The farmer told me to help myself if I wanted any.

I did but didn't abuse the privilege.  

They've began harvesting onions behind our house.

We are able to glean what's left in the field which is substantial.

I am ever grateful.

And those tender little starts that looked like they were

lost of hope,

well they are producing like crazy.

We picked 23 cucumbers from my one plant in 4 days.

Our tomatoes are packed and just coming on.

I have never seen so many tomatoes grow on 

individual plants.

Nearly every plant is loaded.

The "regular" tomatoes are the size of baseballs to softballs.

The Romas are the size of tennis balls.

Hubby said they will probably all turn ripe

about the time he leaves for hunting.

He's probably right!

The grass hay in the field to the side of us looks amazing.

Critters need food too.

The point of all of this is to put a little nudge of inspiration

in your heart.

When you are feeling like you are wilting and might not make it,

remember also, you might just pull through and have 

an abundance, a great bounty.

And just one more little testimony to how bad it was,

in case you don't believe me,

and/or if you just need a laugh~

We had to leave for a couple days shortly after I got things planted.

My folks came to take care of things while we were gone.

My mom, who I joke can plant a pencil and watch it grow,

said, "Your tomatoes are dead.  I watered them because you said to,

but I don't think they'll make it."

Thanks Mom (heehee).

For some reason, I couldn't give up on them.

That little bit of faith is now paying off.

Keep you well,

and until next time,

Many Blessings.

 

Do You Know Your Net Worth? (and Blog Update)

 Good Morning All ~

I just wanted to share the next video

which details how to calculate your net worth.

Also, a regular blog post is in the works,

so never fear.

This won't just be a site for video links.

I will probably discontinue after a few videos,

but the blog will remain a blog.

Hope you are all enjoying the later part of summer.

A Leap of Faith

 Hello Friends.

I know I've not been present very often around here,

but there is a reason.

I've been struggling.

We are both fine as far as appearances go.

It's been the internal "stuff."

You know "stuff!"

With everything going on in the world around us,

some thinking the world is coming to an end

and others choosing to live in ignorant bliss.

I am neither of those options so have struggled.

After 10+ years of chatting about canning green beans,

chickens in the house, and the annual cycles of the home,

I guess I've not felt the urge to repeat myself.

You can see the canning of corn if you'd like

or what we've done for certain holidays.

I've not discontinued doing any of that.

Well, I don't currently have chickens :-(

I still do my regular life activities,

and continue to recognize the many blessings

all around.

We're currently in blackberry season

so Hubby has been enjoying them on his ice cream,

in cobblers, and next up is hand pies.

But I digress. . . 

So the struggle, yes I that's where I was.

I've been searching internally.

Over the past several months,

I've really tried to figure out what it is I feel led to do.

I've always enjoyed helping people.

I realize at times some folks don't want help,

but the Mama Bear in me just instinctively takes care of people.

As many of you who have been around here know,

things haven't always been easy.

Over the past couple months,

we've encountered a few different folks

who we know and care about 

who are stuck in their situations due to debt

and financial hardships.

These are good people who work for a living

and are still struggling.

Some of you also know, 

I have a degree in teaching.

Even when I was in the schools,

there were things I thought those young people needed,

but the information wasn't offered.

There were so many things offered:

cake decorating, yoga, even basketball class!

but there weren't any classes on how to manage finances

after high school.

Now please don't think I'm blaming young people.

It's my generation that's failed to teach them.

And sadly, even many among my generation are struggling.

I've lived through a few trials to say the least:

single parenthood (with no support for about a year)

while going to school full time and living in a garage

was the toughest.

I managed.

I didn't take any government assistance.

I worked.

Even after Hubby and I were married,

we got it worked out so that we were living on my 

meager income which allowed us to save enough 

to open our business which is where I now work.

I'm not saying any of this in order to "brag."

I'm saying it as encouragement.

I'm just me.

If I can do it so can others.

And here's where I'm going with all this.

In order to help others,

which is what I feel led to do,

I started a YouTube channel.

It's a pretty big deal for me to be on screen

since I really prefer to remain unseen.

(How's that for a paradox?)

If anyone here is interested in tracking 

household finances and taking control of your money,

I would appreciate it beyond belief

if you would watch, like, leave a comment, and even subscribe.

I'm so new at it, I know there are rough patches,

but I'm hoping to improve and smooth things out as I go.

And with that,

here it is

PS: It is not letting me test to verify the video is working as a direct link here so there might be a quick hiccup as I post this.

Thank you all for your kindness.

A Porch Swing

 Perhaps old age is creeping up on me.

Though I typically have enough energy

and am plenty healthy,

I've found that I'm okay with not rushing.

I've never been the Tigger of the group,

and as some of you know

have a preference of Eeyore~

so much more my speed even as a youngster.

We have been on the go a lot lately.

We've had multiple family events,

both joyous and grievous.

All serve as a reminder that life is circular,

and we should revel in each day we are given.

Time at home therefore, has been precious.

Last night as I was looking at the few things left

to be put in the ground,

Hubby asked where the broccoli was.

When I replied that I hadn't planted any,

I was met with that sorrowful expression,

"But I like broccoli."

This morning as I was running errands,

I picked up a six-pack of broccoli plants.

I'm not sure where I will put them,

but I will find a place.

My garden outlook is a little different this year.

I am usually rearing to go by garden season,

but not having a real winter break,

I've been a little slow starting.

As I dig and weed and plant, I also think.

We aren't meant to rush through just to finish,

for a garden is never really finished.

My little apple tree that is maybe 4' tall

has 9 apples on it so I've been watering it well.

The weeds I pulled last week seem to replace themselves

before I make it back through.

Just as we think we are to maintenance mode,

harvest will begin and canning season will ensue.

And this is where that porch swing comes in.

We can produce a masterpiece of a garden~

I said "We" like mine is part of that.

I'm a funny one, am I not?

Regardless of what we've created,

we need to take a moment here and there

to sit and absorb all that we've done.

There is health both in the creation of a garden

and in being emersed in it.

My mock oranges are blooming and smell so sweetly.

The honeysuckle is waning but the hummingbirds

have been enjoying it's blossoms.

I fed the first ripe strawberries to Hubby last night.

They too share their sweet aroma with us,

but we must make that brief pause to appreciate it.

It doesn't take long~

but the benefit gained is remarkable.

I headed into this Monday much more at peace

having spent 2 days mostly barefoot digging in the dirt.

If you are unaware, 

being barefoot in the dirt has its own health benefits.

I will leave you to research that and

won't mention making mud in the bathtub in the evenings.

Whatever you have for a garden,

pour a cup of tea,

take your seat on that porch swing,

and enjoy the beauty of the day.

PS~

I don't have a porch or a swing,

but we have a couple chairs we drag around to the shade.

They serve quite well.