Grass Should NOT Say "Clink" and Other Stories From The Garden

We are expanding the veggie patch here at Barefoot Manor. Mr. Barefoot isn't liking the way the world is going, or my cooking with homegrown is getting better, or something completely unrelated has lit a fire under his backside regarding the need for cheap, sustainable food. Anyway, this means I have been spending my days off out in the yard, pulling up turf and setting up new raised beds.

Today I was doing just this, when the strangest thing happened. All morning, I had been cutting turf, grabbing the chunks with grubby hands, and shaking the sh*t out of it in hopes of leaving as much soil as possible where the garden will be while getting out as many weeds and roots as possible. I had a nice rhythm going. Grab, shake, toss, thunk in the bucket. Repeat for several minutes, then groan my way to my feet, empty the buckets, and use the Garden Claw to rip up more grass and ground ivy. It was a mindless task in the best way. I found myself mesmerized by the worms (some as big around as my little finger!) and bugs crawling around in the soil. It was pretty mellow.

And then......

And then I grabbed a chunk of turf, gave it a shake, and heard clink-clink.

What?! I shook it again. Clink-clink. This time something fell out. It looked like an unusually straight twig, but when I picked it up, I discovered it was a nail. Then I found another. And another. And another! In the end, I found enough nails (two differents sizes, no less) to fill the bottom of a Cool Whip container.

Little Sprout kept asking me why I planted nails and what was going to grow from them. She didn't seem to believe me that it was just a (not so) happy accident that they were there.

In other news, I found a dead bunny while I was working in the garden. I couldn't tell what had killed it. I guess that is my proof that the litter WAS bigger than just the two kits we've seen so far. Either that, or I am only going to see one baby from now on. I am just counting my blessings that Little Sprout was inside when I found it. That gave me a chance to deal with "the body" without her being traumatized.

And last, but not least, I can add Goldfinches to my "yard bird" list. I saw a couple at the feeder the other day, and Little Sprout even got to see them. It may not seem like much of an accomplishment to get such common birds at the feeder, but between the squirrels being a nuisance and this being my first year with a bird feeder I am pleased with ANYTHING that graces me with a visit. Besides, Goldfinches are pretty.

~...and that's all I have to say about that....~

Prince with a Thousand Enemies

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed."


- Richard Adams, Watership Down

As I mentioned before, we have rabbits in our yard. Last week, while Mr. Barefoot was working on my new garden beds, we discovered that Momma Rabbit had burrowed into my compost pile and had herself a litter of kits. We have only seen 2 kits so far. Perhaps there are only the 2. Little Sprout is in love. Cute little bunnies, hopping around the yard, too small to go far from home and so easy for Little Sprout to get close and watch... watch... watch....

Evening was coming on quickly when we first saw these sweet little fluff-balls, and Little Sprout was getting scared. I began telling her the "The Story of the Blessing of El-ahrairah", from Watership Down. All children love a good story, and that is a really good story. When I was done telling the story, I promised Little Sprout that I would look and see if I could find the movie version on YouTube.com so she could see it with pictures.

I did. She loved it. I haven't been able to be on my 'puter since.

Little Sprout so loves the story that she has been watching "el-hair-ra-ra" non stop for days. I had some concerns about Little Sprout watching this animated film right at first. Big Sprout still will not watch it, having been scarred at an early age by the violence in the story. Too many images of bleeding bunnies, I guess.

But Little Sprout loves it. Every moment of it. Every day she goes out to check on "her" bunnies, to see if they have survived another night dodging the "Thousand".

It's kinda cute.

Yard Work and Gardening

Mr. Barefoot finally got out and mowed the lawn! Between work/activity schedules and rain, the lawn had gotten terribly long. Little Sprout helped as I was raking up the clippings. They were just too long and heavy to be leaving in the yard! She worked for a while with her little toy rake, but when I took a break she decided that the little rake hurt her hands, and that she needed to use mine. Cute.

Little Sprout also conned me into getting her her very own dandelion weeder. She used one at Grandma and Grandpa's over the weekend, and just loved it. So, while at the store the other day picking up various garden items, I bribed her with her very own. I will do anything to get her to behave in a store. Shame on me!

 Little Sprout really loved cutting out the dandelions in the yard. Maybe one of these days I will get her to understand that she is supposed to take them out by the root, instead of just cutting the blooms off...

I have spent the last few days out in the gardens. I put up two potato "towers" in my veggie beds. This is a new thing for me. I am looking forward to growing potatoes this way. It looks so neat and tidy, with the little chicken wire towers standing there in the veg beds. I still had plenty of room in this bed for onions, too. The best part? If the potatoes don't do well in towers, I still will have many planted over at the folks' garden!

I am expanding the garden here at Barefoot Manor this year. Mr. Barefoot has decided that it would be good to have more gardening space here, so he went and bought me lumber to build 4 more beds. I have also secured free sources for raspberry canes and strawberry plants. My plan is to dig up the grass on the 2 "yard-sides" of my garden, and plant the perennial stuff along the fence I will be putting around the garden. Yeah, I am going to fence in a garden inside a fenced in yard. Wanna know why? Rabbits. Nasty, greedy, muching rabbits that like to eat my food. Buggers. I hope to have room for strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and (eventually) asparagus. In my head it looks gorgeous. We'll see what the finished project really looks like, huh?

~....and that's all I have to say about that...~

Belated Weekend Post

My Mom and Dad took the Sprouts to Fawn-Doe-Rosa this past weekend. It was great, because I got stuck at work for an extra 2 hours, and Mr. Barefoot had band rehearsal. Instead of Big Sprout being stuck babysitting her little sister (which ALWAYS ends in fights and screaming), both girls got to spend a fun day with their beloved Grandparents, petting animals and running off their Sprout-energy.

After the deer park, the Sprouts went home with my folks and helped with the garden. Well, kinda helped. It seems Big Sprout spent most of her time practicing back-flips, and Little Sprout's idea of helping is finding worms and playing with them. 

Still, it seems everyone had a great time... Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!

It Came! It Came! -or- Wendy's Wonderful Book -or- My Very First Blog Giveaway Win!

“That book you’ve been waiting for came.” Mr. Barefoot woke me with these simple words, waving a simple brown envelope at me from the doorway. “You wanna come out and help me unload the pork?”

That’s Mr. Barefoot all the way. The object of many hours breathless anticipation arrives on my doorstep and, instead of joining me in the frantic joy of ripping open the plain packaging, he reminds me that real life is waiting for me. Spoilsport. I did indulge myself long enough to rip open the envelope and take one long look at my new book… Wendy’s book… the first book written by someone I knew before they were published.

I looked at it, all glossy and pretty sitting there amid the tangled covers of the bed – hey, I had been sleeping, ya know – and sighed a little bit before putting it into my work bag. I had ten hours of uninterrupted reading time heading my way at work, and right now 186lb of pork needed to find a home in my freezer.

****later****

 

Once at work, I had no shame. I cheerfully rushed everyone out the door, impatient for my time alone. The minute everyone was gone, I settled into my favorite chair with my soda and Cheetos (cuz that's the way I roll). I took out my new book _Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs: The Thrivalists Guide to Life Without Oil_ and opened the cover, eager to start reading.
 
Four hours later, I read the last word and (regretfully) closed the book. Yeah, I'm a fast reader. Especially when I like what I am reading. And I have to say I am impressed. Very, very impressed.
 
It's a simple idea, at the heart of it: 21 Days till TEOTWAWKI (the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it, without the I-feel-fine tacked on the end, for those of you who don't know), and what are ya gonna do? Like so many ideas that are - on the most basic level - simple, prepping for TEOTWAWKI has a lot of aspects that aren't so simple once you start figuring out what you wanna do about it. Shelter... lights... heat... water... food... health care... oh, my!
 
Now, logically, to go from absolutely NO preparedness to fully prepared for TEOTWAWKI in 21 days is pretty near impossible. Well, unless you have lots more $$ than I do. Still, it's surprising how many of Wendy's ideas can at least be started in 21 days. Even if you only take the 21 days to think about each subject and research your options fully for that day, coming up with a plan for what you would do, I figure you'd still be ahead of the curve.
 
Wendy doesn't waste time making statements that one "absolutely must" do this or that. She offers options, and brings up subjects that maybe we haven't thought about, or thought seriously about. She offers what works for her, what she thinks would work for different situations, and isn't afraid to tell her readers to use the net, library, and any other source they can get their hands on to research what is the best option for them. There were topics she brought up that made me say "Yes! I'm already doing that, or have plans for that, or that would work for me perfectly!" She brought up other things that made me feel a little ashamed that I wasn't doing so well in that area. Things that I take the easy road on, even though I know better. Mostly, she inspired me to do a little more, to plan a little better. She reminded me that, End Of The World or not, there is pride and security in knowing that you can take care of yourself and your family in any situation.
 
While I was wondering how I was going to go about blogging about this book, I realised that my favorite part of it isn't really anything Wendy wrote. It's where she is coming from. Wendy lives in the Frozen North, just like me. A different part of the Frozen North, for sure, but still the Frozen North.  She also lives in a neighborhood similar to mine, and faces similar challenges in planning her little "garden of eatin". She has to deal with neighbors, and she willingly acknowledges the challenges of working within or around HOA restrictions/ town ordinances. She has a family... children... a job. While reading _Surviving the Apocalypse..._, I felt like I was reading something that was written for me. About what I can do. And I tell ya, that makes all the difference. I felt like I was having a discussion with a respected friend over the kitchen table, bouncing ideas off each other and trying to figure out how to deal (logically) with a world gone crazy.
 
Most importantly, it wasn't a book filled with doom and gloom. It was a book of hope. Wendy is saying "You can do this, and TEOTWAWKI isn't the end of everything good". And I couldn't agree more...
 
~...and that's all I have to say about that...~
 

First, Last, and First Again...

Wednesday was Little Sprout's first AWANA award ceremony. She sang, she danced, she recited bible verses. It was fun to watch her doing something she enjoys so much. She is very proud of her certificate and little bear pin indicating she worked her way through the first book. I am glad she had so much fun this year, and hope that she doesn't have too much of a fit on Wed when she realizes there will be no more AWANA till fall.

It was also Big Sprout's last AWANA award ceremony. She is now old enough to be a part of the church youth group. She seems glad to be moving up and on, but I can't help feel a little twinge over my "baby" growing up. AWANA has been a great experience for her over the years. She has made some great friends and been introduced to some fun activities she otherwise would have missed out on.

And today I baked my first ever loaf of homemade bread. I used a bread machine (thanks, mom!), and the bread was ready when I got home from the Traditional Friday Lunch with my father. The smell of fresh baked bread when I walked in the door was WONDERFUL. The bread itself is a little dense, so next time I will be fiddling with the recipe a bit, but overall I think it was pretty good for a first timer! I am so excited to overcome my fear of the bread machine (silly, I know). Now that I know that I CAN make bread without poisoning anyone, I am very much looking forward to trying all sorts of breads....

~...and that's all I have to say about that...~

Better Late Than Never!

Spring has come!!

It's not just my blooming tulips and daffys that tell me spring is here. Last night I had to dodge frogs on their Yearly Spring Mating Migration. The frogs hop from one little pothole to another, crossing roads with reckless abandon. Driving on the roads near my work will actually become hazardous in a week or so. That's when the Migration will be at it's peak. There will be so many little hoppers crossing the road that there is no way to miss them, and the roads will become slick with smushed froggys. Yuck.

I weeded some of the raspberry canes over at Mom 'n' Dad's place today. It was too wet to really do much else, but it felt good to have my hands dirty again. Dad is hoping to have things ready for planting by the weekend. I am hoping to get out and work in the yard for a while yet today, since the sun is out and it is WARM.

Gosh, I love spring!!!

~... and that's all I have to say about that....~

The New Toy

Mr. Barefoot found an InStep Pathfinder for $40 at a garage sale this morning! Since he has lost so much weight, Mr. Barefoot has rediscovered a lost passion for biking. This has been problematic, as Little Sprout wants to join the "Grown-Ups" (including Big Sprout and Uncle Wolfie) on their bike trips. Her little legs and tiny bike just can't keep up, meaning she was always heartbroken to be left behind, and someone always had to stay home with her.

Well, that is the case no more! This handy-dandy bike just attaches to Daddy's bike, and she gets to come with us wherever we go. Tonight was the trial run, and I have to admit it was a little difficult. Little Sprout isn't used to travelling that fast, and the tag-a-long bike is just a tiny bit big for her yet. She panicked a couple times, screaming she wanted to stop and get off. Luckily, I was right behind them the whole way and was able to soothe her fears by reminding her that Daddy was her training wheels, and as long as she held on she would be safe.

By the time we got back to the house, Little Sprout was getting the hang of it, and demanded another turn around the block! She was so proud that she could keep up with us, and happy to be a part of the "big kid ride". She is busy making plans for us to ride our bikes to CA (not gonna happen) and the park (probably will happen) and just about anywhere else she can think of. She is insanely proud of her new helmet, and even banged her head on the driveway a few times to make sure it would protect her!

We are all looking forward to many fun rides as a family, now that Little Sprout can join us...

~....and that's all I have to say about that...~

Growing

My tomato seedlings are doing well. I am sooo happy about that! I don't, as a rule, really have good luck starting my own seeds.  I start them early, or late, or don't have enough light. I overwater, or underwater, or the cat decides to eat them... y'know how it goes with gardening. Something always doesn't quite work out the way you planned. My pepper seeds are up, but they have stalled in their growth a bit. I am guessing because the house has been a bit chilly the last week or so (damn cold rain and snow) and I don't have a heat mat for my seedlings yet.

I did finally start the seeds for the summer squash and cukes. Theoretically I am late on that, but with the weather the way it has been, I figure it just might take a week or so longer this year for it to be warm enough outside to keep them happy, so I should be fine. Gardening is forgiving that way.

I keep watching the tulips outside my living room window. The buds are swollen, almost ready to burst. It is a slow process, though, and I find myself cheering them on silently. "C'mon, kids! You can do it! Open those pretty little buds and show me your spring colors!" I think. I know the tulips are working hard. They are in part shade, in a part of the yard that is always a little cooler. I had actually wondered if they would really come back this spring, with as little sun as they get. I love that plants are willing to really try to grow wherever you stick them. They will give survival their all, no matter how unfortunate their circumstances. It's a beautiful thing.

I have been watching my hosta push little spikes up through the soil, and the irises have begun stretching their fans of leaves towards the sun, as well. I love the way you can watch the plants make progress day by day in the spring. Every day, I can go on a treasure hunt through the yard. It's exciting and fun to see the progress of each plant.

~...and that's all I have to say about that...~

Potential

~...and that's all I have to say about that....~

Hope and Respite

Yesterday morning it snowed.

Today, the sun is shining and the sky is so blue I find myself confused, wondering if I have somehow wandered into an old Technicolor movie.

Little Sprout pestered me and fought me, screaming and demanding, until I took her outside. I don't know why it was so hard for her to convince me. All I can say is that I have been sinking deeper and deeper into the mudhole of depression with this spring that doesn't want to come. Oh, there are other reasons for me to feel that the world is falling down around me, there always are. But I am blaming Spring and her teasing nature, the way she comes for a day, flirting and tempting me with her warmth and her scent only to leave me in the cold embrace of Old Man Winter the next day.

So I went outside with Little Sprout, full of resentment that she would make such demands of me. The headache I have had for the last week had kept me up much of the night, fighting down nausea. The other general body aches that always accompany a full on depression made me move stiffly, like an old woman bent over her cane and unsure of every step. I was cold, I was miserable, I wanted nothing more than to curl up in my chair and pretend I didn't exist.

I settled myself in the grass, and it was as if gravity took a stronger hold on me than ever before. I lay there, body pressed to the ground, sun beating down on me, and just.... went away. There was nothing more complicated in the world than the Sun, the Earth, and Me. Every ugly thought in my mind melted under the sun's warmth. Every ache in my body dissolved right down into the earth. I could almost feel my body flattening out, like pancake batter on a hot griddle, seeking to get as  much of me touching the earth (and, on the flip side, as much of me exposed to the sun) as possible. My cheek was pressed to the grass, and it didn't bother me to know that I would probably wear it's wrinkly imprint for a long time after lifting my face. I could smell the ground, the sweetness of the grass. I could hear chickadees and jays in the trees, chattering and bickering in the way of their own natures.

It was good. It was amazing. For those few moments, I rested.

And then reality returned. Little Sprout stuck her finger inside an old pop can, getting the finger stuck and cutting her knuckle. I saved her from the clutches of the nasty old pop can, cleaned and bandaged her finger, and soothed her panic with hugs, kisses, and the standard Mom lecture of "well, you learned not to do that again, didn't you?"

*sigh* Nothing lasts forever, right?

~...and that's all I have to say about that...~