7.09.2014

goodness


there are a lot of things that have been making me smile lately.  among them are the zinnias, and the dinosaurs I found battling it out on the deck railing.  the raspberry jam being made and the garlic curing in the woodshed.  and there are other, bigger things.  like that my mom has been home since July 4th, and is doing well.  getting around with the help of a walker for balance, still using just a bit of supplemental oxygen, but overall she is kicking butt, really.  the strongest person I know, for sure.  and to think that earlier this year the world came close to losing her, that the doctors were talking about trying 'any heroic measures to save her life' and such.  that I almost cut off all her hair so I'd have a piece of her, and had midnight conversations with physicians about things like chest tubes and paralytics and defibrillation.  and here we are~ in this promising and vastly happier place where we speak of things to come and allow hope in for a good long visit, treating it like a dear friend instead of sending it packing whenever it comes around.


and thank goodness for the garden.  it's been here all along, providing me with free therapy when needed and giving me tasks to complete that would send my thoughts elsewhere and turn my focus onto this soil, these seeds, this little patch of land, right here and right now.  sure I garden for the food and all, but maybe mostly it's for the therapy that comes freely in so many different forms.



it's a shame these carrots tasted so terribly, because they sure looked good!



we wait for the tomatoes to ripen, harvest the first honey of the year...


I watch the volunteer squashes growing here and there and wonder about them- some of these are quite large... could they be those gourds people use to make birdhouses and whatnot?  I threw one of those in the compost last year after forgetting about it and it rotted before I could try my hand at drying it out and making something of it.



deciding I need more color in my grey/brown/black wardrobe, I brought a pile of bright and happy home from the thrift store yesterday.  among these things there is a bright pink mexican embroidered cotton dress.  uh huh.  we'll see.  if it was a 4T I'd put it on Claire in a heartbeat, and I'm always saying I wished some of her sweet clothes came in my size......


also, fort building.  Cory~ we love the quilt!


as far as the swap goes, I'm just waiting for one more person to sign up to get us back to an even number, and I'm calling it done.  are you that person?  or I suppose three people would work.....

cheers from NC~

12 comments:

  1. A beautiful post, great to hear your Mum is so much better, it must be a great weight of your shoulders. The garden is looking a delight and free therapy when ever you need it. Good luck with the swap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you~ indeed it feels good to not have the immense worry and fear that I did this spring.

      Delete
  2. When you posted your mama was home I cried Amanda, the best news for all her loved ones. I've been praying for your family for months and will continue to keep you all there.
    I'm so excited about the swap, I've already begun working on one of my gifts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh Tracey, you are such a sweetheart~ and know that your kind and encouraging words throughout her illness and hospitalization were so appreciated- thank you.

      I'm excited too! now what to swap??.......

      Delete
  3. Such wonderful news about your mom! I love all your finds… vegetable stories… flowers! You should publish your work, Amanda! Love you, ca

    ReplyDelete
  4. so so happy that your mom is home and continues to improve, such a stark contrast to the winter days you had. I love adding pops of color to the landscape a little bit every year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you, Karen~ I am immensely relieved, to say the least.

      Delete
  5. super sweet, lady. I am so loving your garden pics. you have inspired me A LOT with your blog this Summer. And always.
    So glad your mom is doing well. That was a long scary haul and yet I had a feeling...things would work out.
    Thanks again for your love, support and sharing photos of my makings on your blog. I am now excited for the care package I can put together for the swap. I hope you have found that last person. I can mention it on my blog next post if you have not by then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aw, thanks Cory~ you are a sweet one, indeed.
      I am of course overjoyed that your knowing feeling about my mom turned out to be right!

      I did get the space filled~ thanks!

      Delete
  6. I'm sorry your mum had such a scare. Glad to read she is a fighter and recovering in her own time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you~ yes she is finally on the road to real recovery and healing, thank goodness!

      Delete

thanks for taking the time to read and comment~