I Love Saturday

Saturday is a day I sleep later that the other days.
I don't set an alarm clock for anything, not ever....

Today, I got up early for a Saturday.
I think it was about 8:00 am.
I had an appointment at 9:30 am.  People were coming to see me.  They came and they left.
They were a few bucks lighter and I was a washer and dryer lighter.  That works for me!

Then, my day really began.
My darling daughter and I jumped in the car and headed to ...................................
"THE FARMER'S MARKET"

Yeah!  I love Saturday.

We have two markets.  One is pretty close to my house and one is about 3 miles away..."downtown" as the locals say.  (and I crack up to think 3 miles is far.... I crack up every time!!!)

So, my Darling Husband, I know you are reading this, so this one is for you babe!
I am going to make some chili sauce this next week and fill all those pint jars we moved here.
Does it make you mouth water?

And, then I know you love Banana Squash. 
This will be waiting for you.  I am keeping it in the garage now, but will move it to the basement soon.
It is a big one.  We will eat for days and nights on this baby!

The light green squash below is a new one for me.  It is a ______ sweet.  I'll be darned if I can remember the name of it.  It is supposed to be better than pumpkin for pumpkin pies.  Sweet and delicious.  The man guaranteed it to me.  I trust him.  He looked like a farmer. 

Now, let me explain this next picture. The onions were previously viewed by this viewing audience...they are from Connie and Norman's garden. But the squash in front of them, well that is new. And so is that dark Hubbard squash behind the onions. 

They are safely guarded in the garage by the back door.  I am making sure they are cool enough, and in a place where they will be loved, until I can talk my darling daughter to carry them downstairs for me.  She is great!  She does this errand for me all the time.  She has strong legs.

I know your mouth is watering.  I know you are aching to eat these babies.
I will try (like, try hard) to save them for you.

On my counter is another Spaghetti Squash.  I am cooking that for dinner tonight.  Sorry, but I love these!  I just plop them on the counter, cut them the long way, hollow out the seeds, and place it in a shallow pan and in some water and into the microwave for about 15 minutes.

To serve it gets a little butter and salt and pepper.  YYuummmmmm!  I adore Spaghetti Squash!

Now, these light green items are, *drum roll* another variety of Zucchini Squash.  Yep, that's right.  I don't know how long they will last.  They could end up shredded and frozen for Zucchini Bread this winter.  They could be sliced and fried with fresh tomatoes and served over noodles (that is a recipe from my childhood) or they might go into a salad.  I just never know about Zucchini.

I have a little Chef that is anxiously waiting for me to wash them and put them away. 
Isn't that little Chef just the cutest?
I love him.
I appreciate that he is a little crowded on the counter, so later I will try and give him back his "pad".

Now, about the chili sauce.
These veggies are right out of someones garden, dirt and all.
They are fresh!
They are crisp!
I am in heaven just looking at them.

Please ignore the dirt still on the container.  It is directly from THE FARMERS MARKET.

But, I couldn't let the veggies have all the fun.
I had to get some fruit so I would have a good balanced diet.
Plums, freshly picked off a tree.
Apples, Idaho apples I may add.
And some nectarines. 
Oh, yes.
Vitamins are just jumping off the counter at me!

The apples were sold "by the peck".
Isn't that the best!

They had 1/4 peck, 1/2 peck and a whole peck.
I bought a 1/4 peck.  Of Idaho apples!  *smiling*

I love you, a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck
And a hug around the neck.
A bushel and a peck

And a hug around the neck.

Does any one know this song?  I do.  My mom and I sang it when I was little.  While we did the dishes.

Today, kids miss out on memories like that.  They don't get to learn the songs from the 40's. 

Today kids sing The Beatles and think that is old.  It isn't.

Mom's out there...... do the dishes by hand with your kids, and sing!!!!  Sing loudly!!!

Oh, and I bought some fresh eggs!  They are brown.  But I didn't take their picture.  I am lazy.  I forgot.

Just imagine my refrigerator with brown eggs in there.  Yep.  I knew you could do it.  You can see them can't you?  I know.  They are beautiful.  Thanks.

So, to my Lover and my Friend..... I am waiting for you.  I have gone before you prepare a place for you.  I am preparing a home for you.  With a food storage room full of yummy stuff.

I love you.  N+2

Hard Working Neighbors

The neighbors I have are very hard working.  They have set the bar really really really high for the new kids on the block.

I have told you about Norman already.  He is a great guy.  He is always puttering at stuff.

Now you have to meet Kenny.
He is another neighbor who works continually.

Norman is in the faded red shirt.  I don't dare say "dark pink", he might read this.
Kenny is in the white shirt.  With the ball cap on.

First I have to ask a question.... why do men wear white shirts to do yard work?  They all do it.  I don't know why. 

Norman likes his big shovel.  He likes to lean on it. 
Kenny likes his hoe.  A hoe is a gardening tool used to dig up weeds, or make trenches in the dirt. ( I know you were thinking that so I just wanted to be sure ......)

In the beginning we had  a small pond in the asphalt where we have a low spot.  When Norman added all this compost (manure) on the garden spot, it prevented the water from draining into the park grass.  So the pond grew and grew as we got more rain.

The neighbors have told me they had ducks in the low spot last spring.  That tells me it was really low at one time.

The grass is growing in the park and it is looking very nice.  I can hardly wait until next summer when we can have parties on the lawn.  We are building a fire pit, and will eventually get some play equipment for our grandchildren to play on.

But for now the trees are really little, the grass is really new, and the garden is in it's early stages of being a garden.  And the asphalt collects the rain water.  So.... Kenny and Norman shoveled the water onto the garden and the park and dug trenches so the water could drain into the park better. 

They have too much time on their hands to worry about this stuff.
When men retire this is the kind of thing they do.
My man will be here next month and he will be standing out there with them.
Except there will be snow then.
My man will shovel snow.  Yikes!

I say, let the water evaporate.  But, this isn't the hot Arizona desert anymore, and it is raining everyday, and so my mind has lots to learn.

So, I sat on my rump in my living room today and watched Norman and Kenny work. 
Norman wore his irrigation boots, and Kenny wore his gloves.
Aren't they the smartest guys to know how to wear the working attire?
Except for the white shirt.

They worked hard enough they had to take a break.
A long break.
They had to admire the results of their efforts and discuss it.  And discuss it.  And discuss it.

And I had to sit on my rump and admire them admiring themselves.

Oh, I think Norman heard what I was thinking.  He turned just then and looked almost at me.
I sat very still in my chair.  I hardly moved.  I hoped he didn't see me.
He wasn't listening to what Kenny was saying. 
I know Kenny was talking, look at his hands.  He talks with his hands, too.

Sorry Norman and Kenny.  I love you!
I love your hard work!
Thanks for shoveling the water so ducks won't come and get a drink or poop on our asphalt.

Now, quit looking at me.
Get back to work!

We Have Worms

It poured rain last night!  Poured I tell you!  Poured!
We had thunder and lightening to go with it.
It was a great storm.
The kind of storm I love.

I layed in my bed and listened to the rain pound on my house.
I let my two girls, Zoey and Ivy sleep with me, so they wouldn't be afraid.
We cuddled. We talked. We finally slept.

Then I woke up to blue skies and sunshine.  Of course there was sunshine, it was nearly 8:00 am. The sun is up by then.

I hurried and got dressed. I could hardly wait to go outside and smell the fresh air. When I opened the door, I was not disappointed.  It smelled spectacular. So clean and fresh.

I walked around to the side of the house to see if my new trees were still standing.
Before I got to the trees my attention had gone south, as in down to my feet.

I saw worms....lots of worms....night crawler type worms....

They were every where.  I don't know where they came from, and I don't know where they were going.  But I was going to make sure they went where I wanted them to go.

I called my sweet daughter, who does lots of things for me, to come and see.  She was as surprised as I was to see so many on the asphalt.  Why weren't they hanging out in the lawn?

We had to gather them.  I picked up dozens, and she picked up dozens.

It made me think of that song:
No body likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I'll go eat worms.
Big ones, little ones, skinny ones, fat ones,
Any old kind that squirms........

These made me think of Dr. Shelley.  He likes that song.  We both know the words to that song.  We have sung it together.  On insane days at work one tends to find new things to intertain ourselves.  He and I were great at entertaining each other......  I miss him.

But I have a compost, and it is getting pretty full with our trash that goes into a compost.  You know the trash I mean?  I have lettuce, egg shells, carrot tops, potato skins, cucumber skins, rotten zucchini, ... yeah, stuff like that.. It makes the best compost trash.  Even shredded paper can be added.  Did you know that?

You never put meat products or dairy products (like milk, sour cream, etc) into a compost.  Just stuff that will compose to good ole' everyday healthy soil. 

Yes, thanks for asking, yes, just like in Twilight.  When the kids went on the bus with their Science teacher and he took them to see plants, and he introduced them to compost tea....Yes.  Just like that.

My Compost came from Sam's Club.  It was pretty cheap.  We have it to the side of our house, but where the sun can get on it when the temperatures drop, and it will stay warm.  When it is warm the contents will decompose quickly.  Besides, it is handy there to take our "treasures" to be added.

A compost will make its own heat, as well.  Things stay warm and rot just wonderfully. And the worms just lay in all that food and eat.  That is their entire reason for living.  Just to eat.  I can identify with a worm.

So, today, our freshly picked worms got lifted from the grimmy asphalt and placed carefully into the compost.  They will eat like kings and queens there.  They will eat all the rubbish I have been collecting for them.  They will eat and eat and get very full.  Then they will poop.  It is the poop I am wanting.  That is what makes such good dirt.  Yep,.... I am making dirt!

So, today, I harvested worms.  I found a new home for them.  They will love me forever.  They will never know  hunger again.  They will never be eaten by a bird, or run over by a car, or drown in a puddle.  They are safe in  their new home.  They love their new home.  I heard them planning on decorating.  I think the lacy edges of the lettuce will be window treatments.  The carrots will be made into sofas.  They are creative little things, my new worms.

So, in a few years, when I am growing a garden, and entering food in the Eastern Idaho State Fair, and I win blue ribbons, I will remember to give thanks and show gratitude to my little worms.

PS.  Today, the mail man delivered 1,000 red worms for my compost.  I ordered them on line about a week ago.  Before it rained here, before I knew I could pick worms from my driveway.  Yeah, I had 1,000 delivered today.  Why do you ask?  It is necessary for my compost.  Somebody has to eat all that rotten gross food!

We Have Rain

I love rain.  You already know that.  I taught everyone of my 4 children to love rain.  We have been known to  "frolic" outside when it rains. 

I have been tempted manymanymany times to call into work and pretend to be sick if it would rain.
I leave my work responsibilities and go out side and stand in the rain.
The Doctor I worked for knew where to find me when it rained.
I was always outside, or standing at an open door, every time it rained.

Today we are having rain.  I just have to  jump for joy when it rains.
But the rain cells are varied where they water the earth.

Earlier this week my old home town, Glendale, Arizona got more than they bargained for.  They got rain, which turned to hail.

I saw pictures of golf ball sized hail.
I saw pictures of quarter sized hail.

I heard my friends tell about the experiences they had during the storm.

One friend was driving home from piano lessons with her children.  Her car is now dented from the hail.  When she arrived home she saw the garage lights ripped from her home.  The sun screens were in shreds.  She has windows broken.

My dear friends have had a storm in October that has never happened before.
There were 4 tornadoes reported in Northern Arizona.

This,,,,,,......,,,,,....  in October?

It is still hot in the Phoenix area in October.

My storm just picked a place or two to dump some rain...

But the thing you have to remember about Idaho and October ~ well, it is potato harvest! 
That is a huge thing.
Schools are  not open during Potato Harvest.
The kids get jobs to operate the combines, drive trucks, unload trucks, pick weeds from conveyor belts, and a thousand other jobs.  (OK, maybe not a thousand different job descriptions, but lots and lots)

When the ground is wet from rain the combines can't dig.  The dirt just makes lots of dirt clods if it is somewhat wet, and it is pure mud if it rains a lot, and the potatoes aren't good and clean like they are in dry soil.

So if the rain comes, the ground is wet, no combines dig, the tractors get stuck in the mud.  The trucks get stuck in the mud.  No school kids get work.

The economy of this state depends on the school children to work and help get the potatoes harvested.  But if the rain delays the work, it doesn't delay school being back in session in another week.

Thousands of acres of potatoes need to be harvested.
The good weather is a gamble for farmers here.
The cold weather is just around the corner.
The frozen ground, the chill in the air, the snow on the ground.
It snows in October sometimes.

So, although I love the rain, and the thunder and the lightening, and the wind, and the rain, and the thunder and the lightening and the wind, I don't love potatoes rotting in the ground.  Wet or frozen potatoes in the ground is a very bad thing.

If the potatoes aren't harvested, the farmers don't make money.
Last year the potato crops were harvested and there was too many potatoes on the market.
So some of the farmers didn't even dig and harvest their crops. 
Some farmers opened the potato cellars and told people "just come and take what you want".
It would cost the farmers more money to get the potatoes to a warehouse and sell them.
So they gave the potatoes away for FREE.

This year the farmers need a good crop of potatoes!
If they make money, they spend money, and everyone wins.
If the potatoes aren't harvested, we all lose.

So, as the sun is getting ready to set, I am torn about this rain today.

I want to enjoy it, and I am.

I love the thunder and the lightening.

But, gosh, the clouds are building, and even though the sun is setting, the storm seems to be growning.
The news is reporting that we are in for a lot of rain tonight.

That isn't good news in Idaho in October for the potato farmers.

As the sun is setting I can still see some big clouds that are building.
I can see the line where the sun is below the horizon, but the clouds that are high are illuminated by the sun.

Tonight will be a wet one.
The clouds are just gathering and it will dump buckets after dark.
The thunder will get louder.
The roads will be flooded.
The lightening will light up the sky.

And as I go to bed I will try and not be glad for the rain. ~ I will try to stop my heart from Frolicking.~ I will try to remember the farmers, and imagine them pacing the floors in their homes tonight.~I will remember what it was like for me 30 years ago, when I worked during harvest time.~

Rain, rain, go away.  Come again another day.

Reading others.....

Let's face it.  We all have something in common.  It is contagious.  It is nationwide, and world wide.

We like to "read" other people. 

We watch the actions of others while we sit at the airport.
We stare at others as they stand in the grocery line.
While eating at restaurants we watch others.

As we watch them we try and figure them out.  We watch the hand movements, the eye movements, the way they throw their head from side to side.

By watching others we are entertained.

We "read" people.  And we think we have all the answers of who they are, or we realize, that person is not from this planet.  

I am a people reader.  I get great entertainment from sitting in Barnes and Noble with a magazine in front of my face, to hide my face, so I can watch other people.  The entire time I am doing this I wonder if someone is watching me watch someone else.  Am I the only person in the world who "reads" people?

Where do you like to "read" people?

Are you wondering where I am going with this?  Well, I am going to tell you.

This past weekend I spent a few hours in front of my TV.  I have not watched TV much since our move.  But this weekend was a special weekend.  The first weekend of October I have the same behavior, I sit in front of the TV and watch the LDS Conference.  Nothing is more important to me on this weekend than that.

I love hearing the words of our prophet and apostles.  As they share their message with all of us, I realize how much our Heavenly Father loves us.  He has given us prophets and apostles, just like days of Noah and Abraham, we have a prophet today.  And through listening to the words of those chosen men we hear the word of God. 

This time I  had a thought...."God is reading us".  He watches us when we think no one else is watching.  When we are sitting in Barnes and Noble, or in the grocery store line, or in our cars, or whenever, He is watching us.  He knows our righteous desires, our hope and dreams, and He wants to help us succeed. 

God also knows our short comings and He wants to help us with those problems as well.  He knows our struggles, our temptations.   He can "read" us better than anyone else.  And we are never alone, He is always with us.

So, for today, I am going to try and remember someone is "reading" me.  I am going to try and be a better person.  I am going to be more aware of what I am doing with my time and my talents.  I am going to more engaged doing things that matter.  Today, I going to try and be a better person.

That is my thought for today.

Sorry, no pictures....just my open and honest heart.

For My Love

My Darling Husband,

Sorry to make this love letter public, but there just doesn't seem a better way to be efficient and effective and get it done.  You and I both know we have to share everything with our children eventually anyway, so I thought this might save us both some time.

First:  Gosh, I miss you.

Ty and I watched Conference today and the entire time I was thinking about what you were doing.  I know it was being DVRed for you, but it is magical when we watch it together, or at the very least, at the same time.  I like to discuss the messages with you, and I really missed that today.

Second:  Fall is in the air.

Last night I went outside just as the sun was setting.  The colors from the sun were orange and yellow and it looked like everything was on fire.  I took my camera with me as I walked around the yard.  I want to show you the dragon fly that was on Diane's apple tree.

There were two of the dragon flies but one left before he was in focus.  I never tire of the amazing things I am seeing.  Right in our yard, everyday things, they just amaze me.

Although the temps are still in the 80's it feels like fall.  The whole angle of the sun thing.  You remember that.  And the shade is really much cooler than when I stand in the sun.  Tomorrow is supposed to be our last warm day for about a week.  Rain and cooler temps are in the forecast for the week day.  I am planning on one day of baking.  I think I will grind wheat and make bread, and a homemade soup.  I wish you could be here with me to share it.

Third:  Halloween is coming.

I used the large post you made to decorate the porch. And the welcome sign you carved. And the wooden vase. I had picked some wheat when we picked corn with Ashley, and that is there, too. The pumpkins are the Michael's special that I have had for years, but today I bought a real one at the Farmers Market. I only paid $2.50 for it. Oh, I think it is still in the back of my car. I have to get that out and add it to the "artistically placed plastic" ones.

 I decorated the straw bales you got me.  Thank you again for that fun surprise.  You truly are a gem in my life.  It is fun to be reassured you are listening to  me when I ramble off the list of things I want.  It seems never ending these days.

 I actually carried them by myself and put them next to the garage.  Our poor scarecrow wouldn't scare a crow anymore.  The hat is gone.  I have looked, but it is gone.  So he has a farmer in a base ball cap.  The dogs keep barking at it.  I like to confuse poor Zoey...so I kept moving the straw bales with the scarecrow, and it drove her crazy.  But her barking drove me more crazy so I put it where she can't see it.  Now I hope to get some piece and quiet again.

I got this picture after the sun had set.

Sometimes I think you are with me.... if not you, it is someone..... You know how much I love Halloween.  I hope I can get inside the house and decorate around some of the cardboard boxes I still have sitting around... Joke!!  I really am getting a few things done.  You would be proud of the pile of boxes at the bottom of the stairs that I need to break down.  They used to hold food, but the food is now on the shelves in the storage room.  It looks great in there.  We have a few meals to carry us through the long hard winter we will have (or so I have been told).

Forth:  Norman won't quit working.

I took this photo a couple of days ago.  The grass in the park is coming up.  In the foreground is the garden.  It doesn't look like that now.  Now Norman has been there.

Today, while I watched conference, Connie and Norman went and got some (compost) manure.  The place smells great tonight.  But he spread it all out on the community garden, then rototilled it, and then watered it.  He had plenty, so wouldn't you know it, he filled the wheel barrow 5 times and put some on our garden for us.  I told him I would spread it out and he said he will till it for me.  That guy just never lets dust settle on him.  He is constantly working.  I am thinking about telling him he is old now, he had a birthday last week, so he should slow down and let us younger ones do the hard work.  How do you think he will handle that?  May be I shouldn't say anything, and just reap the rewards of all his work.

Fifth:  Connie and I went to the garden.

Connie and I went after conference.  We dug red potatoes, carrots, onions, picked beans, cucumbers, and spaghetti squash.  They are so good to share the produce with us.  So for dinner I made a salad that was the best I have eaten in years.  You can't buy produce from a store, not organic, or any produce that tastes like fresh picked.  Tyia made Turkey enchiladas so we ate like royalty.  We invited Dad over for dinner but we were late calling him, as he had gone out to eat earlier.  So, we invited him to join us tomorrow.  We invited Reggie to come, too.  I hope he brings her.

Sixth:

I mailed the FedEx package today.  I hope Monday is the end of all the paper work.

Seventh:

I still haven't heard anything from the City regarding the meeting Norman and I had with the City Council President and the Engineer.  We expressed our willingness to attend the City Council Meeting next Thursday, but they seemed to think the issues would be resolved before then.  I sure hope so.

Eighth:  I miss you.

I need to make some decisions, just little ones, like,..... where should I put some Halloween decorations in the house.  I need to bounce it off you and you aren't here.  Where do you think you would want some?  On the fireplace mantel, and the dining room table?  Any in the main bathroom, or is that tacky?  How would you feel about spiders (I mean "stickem's") going down the stairs?  It's our downstairs, so the resident down there shouldn't have a vote, right?  I think you should be here and help me make these pressing decisions.

Ninth:  Where do I get the car washed?

The car really looks bad.  I thought I would get it done this past week, but it never made it to the top of the list.  It is supposed to rain next week, so I think I won't put it in the garage and just let mother nature wash it for free.  How does that sound to you?

Tenth:  I really really miss you.

Our bed is getting bigger every night you aren't with me.  It is big and lonely.  So I am letting the dogs take turns to keep me company.  Last night I had Ivy and Oz.  Oz wouldn't go downstairs.  It was weird.  I think he wanted to be sure Ivy was okay.  Which, she is.  She is putting weight on her foot today and seems fine.  We dodged a bullet on that one, I think.  The bad thing about letting the dogs up on the bed is.....sand.  Remember the sand we got for the lawn..well.....yeah.....the bed is a little gritty.  Maybe it is not smart to tell you about this stuff...but I just want to share my life with ya.  I don't want you to miss a thing... Isn't that the name of a song?  Who sings it?  I thought you would know that....hummmm.  "I don't want to miss a thing"  hummming...humming....

OK, enough....

It is getting late, the TV is chattering in the back ground and no one is watching it.  The sun has set and my eyes are getting heavy. 

Just know how much I miss you.  Life just isn't worth living without you....or Oppsie!

With all my love,

Yours.....all yours!

Bumble Bee & Ivy

My little 3 year old Ivy met with a naughty bumble bee today.

We call this sweet canine "Ivy Ballerina".  That is her registered name.  She is a dancer/prancer.

Today she stepped on a dandelion that was previously habitated by a naught bumble bee.

The bee won the wrestling match.

Ivy has a very sore right front paw.

My wallet is $75.00 lighter.

We have a new vet named Dr. Shoemaker.  A woman.  I am so impressed with her.  She even cut Ivy's long toe nails. 

But Ivy is fine.  After a cortisone shot, and some 12.5 children's Benadryl she is resting quietly.  Although, I have to say, she is resting with her head hidden between her two front paws.  She is embarrassed. 

Ivy was traumatized by the bee, but letting her bladder go in the vets office was just too much for her.  She is ashamed of herself, she is horrified that it happened, and the sweet new Dr. had to "pat the puddle". 

I assured her it wasn't the first time that had ever happened in the office.  I assured her it won't be the last.

As for me.  I am taking 3 Tylenol and going to bed with Ivy!