Lemons

I don't want to make lemonade.

Sometimes I need (we need) to soak in and appreciate the beauty of a lemon rather than trying to morph it into something else.

Two people have died that I have close personal connections with in the last two days.  Yesterday an older gentleman in his 80s, and today a baby boy less than two hours old.  Again, I don't want to make lemonade, I just want to sit with these lemons and cry.  And I have cried for both of these two.

Death is something that I have a hard time with.  Not my personal inevitable passing from this earth.  I am living the best life I can, saying a strong "YES" to what brings joy into my life, and keeping tabs on the other things in an attempt to not let it clutter up the amazing life I have.  It is those for whom I love and care deeply about that death brings a *smack* of sadness and deep loss just at the idea of losing people close to me.

These two that have died in the last two days bring an interesting perspective to death.  On many levels it is easier for us to comprehend an older mans passing than that of a tiny babe.  "He's had a full and wonderful life.  He was able to do so many things, travel, and have a place on the river and ...  He and his wife had such a beautiful house looking out on the woods."  What is there to say about the little one?  There is no all encompassing statement that fits.  Nor should there be.  He was born into this world crying  and left the world wrapped in the arms of his parents who were able to kiss and embrace and love on the little one just the way he should be loved on.

I get that it is easier to deal with an older person dying.  However, BOTH families feel loss, sorrow, and an emptiness that these two beautiful beings are leaving in their hearts.  And at the same time, BOTH families feel joy from having hugged and spent time with each of these two.

My heart is heavy for these families.

Sometimes we absolutely must see the lemons.  Take a deep, strong look at the lemons and not try to find the good in the situation.  The situation is what it is.  It doesn't need a cliche to tie it in a bow, it doesn't need life lesson attached to it, the situation is.  It just is.  It is.

Yellow

Autumn is a time of year that I love.  I would apologize (why do I want to always add two "p"s in apologize?) for not writing here in a LONG ass time, but you know, sometimes life is better spent outside living than inside on the computer.  I plan to get better, so there you go.

So Autumn, it's kickin' it in full full force right now.   And here in the Midwest we've been granted the most fabulous week of 80 degree temperatures without much humidity, and loads of sunshine.  It's like Mother Nature is giving us a full dose of Vitamin D before the sun goes into some version of hibernation for Winter.  It has been perfect.  And yet we know that soon leg warmers, long underwear, hats, scarves and big cozy sweaters will be our constant companions.

The garden isn't asleep yet.  Marigolds, asters, dahlias, and cosmos are still brilliant in our front and back yards.  Flower bulbs and garlic will be planted soon.  Yet, the season is transitioning into more internal times, as parts of our yarden have started to die, as trees lose their leaves, so the Universe has been transitioning too, in many ways close to me, and also in bigger more obvious spaces.  

Inspirational genius left this world this week too early, but ever so gracefully.  And beyond the technology that we each use with such ease and without even noticing any more I hope that his words and his attitude can kick our excuse ridden lives into gear.  I mean really, what is our problem, why in the world do we think we are not brilliant, beautiful, capable human beings able to do ANYTHING we set our hearts and heads to do?!

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.” – Steve Jobs (Fortune)

Please find what gives your heart meaning and go after it.  There is no reason in the world to be unhappy.  I know we are each on our own journey facing fears and doubts and being much more critical of ourselves than anyone else could ever be.  Let up.  Find your joy and inspiration and pursue it with your whole being.  And I will do my best to do the same.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address

Happy

Zinnia

For a Midwesterner there's nothing like a drop in humidity to boost your mood.

Zulu Prince Daisy

It's like a collective sigh of relief has been issued by everyone living under this "Sweat Ceiling" (think debt ceiling pun - thanks NPR).  Windows are WIDE open and attitudes have been shifted.

Our yarden is doing well.  I've planted a late crop of beets and carrots, just before the rain yesterday, and this weekend I hope to get in another go of beans and peas.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are producing like mad, and remember those lovely green orbs (tomatoes) in my last post?  Well, thankfully a friend and I planted the same varieties, because, roofers don't seems to give a sh*t about protecting tomatoes.  Our 20 plants were smashed, and have since been ripped out.  We have transplanted a few from previously mentioned friend's yard- though I'm not sure that that is what tomatoes want this late in the season.

toes in the soil

Now onto the rest of  eye candy.

Blacktail Mountian Watermelon

Zinnia

Never too many Zinnias

Marigold

Another beautiful watermelon

Drying Garlic

Lots of Green Orbs

Our Yarden is changing so much every day.  I keep checking our tomatoes and watering as they need.  We've had a dry spell here and they've been getting water from the rain barrel, and now the hose every two to three days.  We planted 20 plants in a small south facing bed and they are loving it there.  They have so much solar gain with our house that is brick just behind them.  There's nothing edible yet, but in the next week I'm betting on some deeelish treats!

Sun Gold

Ity bity Sun Gold and blossoms.

Tiny Tomato

Little Yellow Pear 

Also, my Meyer Lemon Tree is starting to make cute little buddies.  There are 4 small, green lemons on a branch.  It has begun living out on the front porch as well.  Our hot humid weather is just what it loves and as long as the wind stays down, it is going to continue to stay out there.  

No they're not limes, silly!

Paris Market and German Red

Paris Market Carrots

German Red Garlic

German Red Garlic minced on grilled pizza, mozzarella cheese, onions, yellow summer squash, and orange pepper with sourdough crust.

Garlic. Radishes. Yup.

We picked scapes nearly a month ago.  It's really getting close to harvesting. Garlic is a Fall plant, Summer harvest guy.  You need to get it in the ground before the ground is so frozen solid you can't dig into it.  I'll do more on garlic planting as the time comes.  In mid June-ish garlic will shoot up scapes.  This is what would produce seeds, and yeah, you could grow garlic from the seeds, but it would take you a LONG time before you got a decent head of garlic (Garlic is planted by dividing the head into cloves and planting the cloves.  Each clove will produce it's own head.  Magic!)  So we take the scapes off when they've got about 2 curls in them.  ROAST em up and eat away.  

Radishes are just so pretty!

Other things besides gardening...

While our garden has been growing and growing, there have been a few other things on our plate this Spring.

Like for instance...
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Getting Married!

Cutting Rhubarb for Pies

And to prep for that we made PIES!  (we had 21 wedding pies all hand made with love, and at the end we had only 4 left over!)

Turning that rhubarb into strawberry rhubarb pie!

Pie Crusting the Pie

The Pie Table!

Pre-Wedding Research for the Perfect Wedding Beer!

Some Relaxing Had to be Thrown in too!

Garen pics will show up soon!