April 2015

I Hear You, Universe, And I Am Not Doing Anything Else Today For Fear of Something Totally, Irreversibly, Bad Happening

Whoa, you know those weeks when nothing can go right and everything goes wrong? The ones where you keep going and keep pushing, and finally, so many crazy things happen, you finally just sit down and basically quit? Please tell me you know of this phenomenon so I don’t feel like the only one.

So far this week, I have dealt with too many bodily fluids. Sorry, if you’re eating, please come back and read later. First, there was doggy diarrhea. Then, there was blood from my other dog who got in a fight (she did not win.) Next, I had a stained glass window decoration (old and large and heavy) fall on my head while I was moving it. Yes, it did break, thanks for asking. Number 1 son is sick, as of today. And… I lost my credit card. It’s been a bang-up week. So I decided this afternoon to forego all plans and just sit. I paid my daughter $10 to skip her gymnastics class (I know, I know, #MOTY) but I was desperate and a bit foggy from the bump on my head, and couldn’t deal with her sad face. She’s saving up for a new iPod so she was totally fine with the deal. Mom- I’m fine but just needed to sit. down. Everyone else- thanks for listening.

The Americans

Why is no one else watching this show?! OMG, not a single friend of mind or FB friend has talked about watching this show. We have all Bravo shows down, but FX? No. Somebody, please talk to me about this show. It’s amazing and smart and tension-filled and set in the 80s and it has Keri Russell in it! And, trying to avoid spoilers in case someone is watching, but Paige! Pastor Tim, I think you’re done-zo. I worry about Henry and why he plays that football game with the FBI guy, what’s his name? The season finale left so many questions in my head, so please, hit me up if you’re watching. Also, on the FX note, I started watching Louie on Netflix. It’s good but depressing and funny. Kinda have to be in the mood for it. Anyone else watching?

Bruce Jenner

I need to publicly announce that I can not wait for this interview. I am not proud of that fact. I have read classic literature, I have written papers on important novels and social issues. I have a Master’s degree. I just need to be forthright and let everyone know in this public forum that Friday night, I will have a full glass of wine and will not answer my phone between 9 pm – 11 pm. It’s a very special 2-hr episode.

Something Non-TV Related

Earth Day was Wednesday! I love Earth Day. It’s an issue I believe we should all get behind, politics aside, and party it up for the Earth. I was not able to do anything substantial on Wednesday, but was going to plant my summer veggies on Saturday. Alas, the rain will return on Saturday, so looks like Sunday is planting day. I was disappointed that my kids’ schools did nothing, but our end-of-year testing is this week, so I guess they’re busy. Sad face. Testing sucks. Add that to my crappy week.

My 8th Grade Kid Is Reading The Outsiders

That’s it. But how cool? He gets to watch the movie, too. Sooooo excited for him. I loved it. Good memories there.

Dr. Oz

I don’t watch him but he has such a following. I guess he’s taking flack over his recommendations. My Kroger friend told me that they have to majorly stock up on any product he recommends. He’s huge. I hope he’s not a quack, not for myself so much as for others who follow him religiously. Did he start on Oprah?

First African-American Woman Confirmed as US Attorney General

Super cool. I love this stat. I honestly haven’t kept up with the politics and know there was some controversy, but I’m all for women killing it. So go, Ms. Loretta Lynch. Peace be with you. May you do your job honorably and nobly and honestly, and may little girls look up to you.

Girl on a Train

What my Book Club is reading. Unofficially. I love my Book Club babes. We had the BEST meeting the other night, and discussed the hell out of Me Before You. It was a great book for discussion, all family dynamics, and people with disabilities and the right (or not) to die, and women and…again, no spoilers, how they can get stuck in a thing until someone comes along and helps them get unstuck. I know that makes no sense if you haven’t read it, but I don’t want to ruin it if you want to read it. Which you should. It was a good story and a great discussion. And- are you a reader? Join or form a book club. It’s the greatest thing for a reader. Ever.

Southern Gravity

Have you checked out Kristian Bush’s new album Southern Gravity yet? It’s a lovely, countryfied album with a nice throwback to Sugarland. I feel like the Sugarland sound must have come from Bush; although I don’t want to diss JNet, because she is everything, too. They made a fabulous combo, but have now gone on to solo projects. That’s cool to me. They are evolving musically and that doesn’t always happen together, I would imagine. JNet’s solo project was good in a very different way from Sugarland. KB’s solo project evokes those old Sugarland emotions, which for me is a wonderful thing. If you are a country fan, you will love this album. Apparently, he wrote the album as a journey from song 1 to song 12; the album is a narrative about his life and his divorce and Sugarland’s “break.” It’s really a great album to listen to in the car, straight through. Hope you enjoy!

Breakfast: It’s What’s For Dinner

I think it’s time now to go cook some breakfast for dinner. We’re not going anywhere, lest an asteroid come from afar and obliterate my car, and it’s all I have in the fridge. Looking forward to some Oatmeal Pancakes a la #CookingLightDiet, some bacon, some eggs, some fresh pineapple. I hope you’ve all had better weeks and your relationship with the Universe is functional, and that you’ve had less bodily fluids to deal with than I have. Next week will be better. I just know it. The beach is in my next week, so it’s bound to be better.

Take care of yourselves and the Universe and the Earth and each other,

YDC

Lately, I’ve been posting mostly about my diet escapades. Food is my hobby, so it’s not surprising that my posts are all about food. This post, however, is about food in a different capacity: growing it!

My family and I have recently started volunteering at New Leaf Community Garden. I drove by it downtown and thought, “that’s cool, I’ve got to find out about it.” Then I read in the paper that they received a grant to expand and I immediately emailed the director something along the lines of, “I must help with this in any way possible, whether it be manual labor or getting people coffee.” As it turns out, they were also leasing beds. I jumped on it, leased a bed, and became a volunteer.

This garden has been such a good way for our family to give back to the community, to learn more about gardening, and to meet some new folks. I joined the Greenhouse Committee, and boy, have I learned a lot! I’ve been home gardening for a few years, but not really knowing what I was doing, grabbing bits and pieces of information from here and there. I have learned so much, starting with the director Nicole’s recommendation of Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholemew. It’s an easy, concise way to garden in a raised bed. It follows organic practices, which appeals to me, and which the community garden also follows. If you’re interested in gardening, I highly recommend it.

We’ve just gotten started with this garden. We’ve planted seedlings, which need so much TLC. We’ve planted potatoes in tubs (Google it. Amazing!) that will be ready soon. They have planted peas, onions, radishes, garlic, and greens in the ground, and the seedlings will go in the ground in a few weeks. The greenhouse shelters the baby plants and need watering twice a day, sometimes three times a day if it’s sunny and warm. So far, they are going nuts! Tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers, okra, marigolds, herbs…that’s all I remember, but there are so many lil’ plants in there.

Some of the harvest will go for sale at Market Day on the Square in order to maintain garden costs. Some of the harvest is devoted to our community food bank, to provide those in need with fresh fruits and vegetables. The rest of the garden is leased beds by individuals or businesses who also commit to volunteering in the community part of the garden. It’s a good deal, especially for folks like us who don’t have a good sunny spot for a garden. We have a good yard, but our only sunny spot is in the front and side yard. By leasing a bed in the community garden, we will have our own veggies, as well as helping provide for others in the community. Also- this location used to be an abandoned parking lot. Nicole unpaved a parking lot to put up paradise. Isn’t that how the song goes?

or if you prefer:

This will be a huge learning experiment for us, but what an ideal place to learn. I have enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers. They are all committed to this garden’s success, and are always ready to help. Of course, this will be the busy season and planting will begin soon. I’m in the midst of planning our little bed, and super excited to see how it will do. Stay tuned for updates; hopefully we will have some nice pictures to share of our bounty.

Do you have a community garden? How does it work and do you volunteer? Would love to hear other stories from other communities. These gardens help us stay in touch with each other, as well as where our food comes from and allow us to enjoy the unique, fresh homegrown taste that you just can’t get from the grocery produce shipped from afar.

Hope you are making the most of your spring!

Take care of yourselves and each other,

YDC