I've discovered that when you decide to be self-sufficient, a homesteader or simply (ha!) grow a garden for preserving purposes, you have one giant messy home all summer long.
Messy = chaos. Chaos=headache/stress. I took the day off (one afternoon) from the garden (sort of), and attacked my bedroom with gusto. I still had a sweater on the back of a chair, from cool spring weather (Yikes!).
I told the girls, "I'm finally going to vacuum my room after a month," and the response was "that's gross." Ha ha! Ain't that the truth though? We just can't do it all. Even with the help from the kids. Two work and go to school, and two are about to go back to public school (cry). I'm about the only Mom who doesn't like the start of school. I appreciate all the help, believe me.
I still have to dust (cough, cough), but the spiderwebs are down in there. Soon I'll be able to reclaim the once claimed utility room (again) and the rest of the house.....and garage.
Now, when I enter my bedroom, I feel like singing and dancing. It's such a good feeling.
When I visit the herb garden, that's a whole 'nother feeling. It's a weed fest going on I tell ya'.
This is our very first peach harvest. They are small due to lack of rain, and I lost one to japanese beetles, but these hopefully will ripen and we'll get a little taste. I think I originally counted 9, but I see we got 7. I had to purchase peaches to can jam this year. We were down to our last jar.
Today we water (again). Rain never arrived. Any chance we had went "poof" into la la land again. Now they say nothing until next weekend. It's pretty much like a drought. Fall planting is now even more difficult, but we are thankful to have the well water and the rain barrels.
Hubby and I were exhausted to the hilt last night. We both slept in despite the need to water. We needed it. The heat here has sucked our energy to the lowest of lows and we needed to recharge and get a break. I've been infusing teas here lately too. A few kiddos complained of feeling like they were coming down with something, and so far we are all staying clear of any sickness.
I'm now on the search to find watercress. I have never eaten it. Our grocer stopped selling it, so we are searching elsewhere, or I just may need to grow it myself. You cannot freeze it like a green, but you can dehydrate it or freeze it in soups for winter. Eating it fresh is best, so I hope to locate some to taste.
Messy = chaos. Chaos=headache/stress. I took the day off (one afternoon) from the garden (sort of), and attacked my bedroom with gusto. I still had a sweater on the back of a chair, from cool spring weather (Yikes!).
I told the girls, "I'm finally going to vacuum my room after a month," and the response was "that's gross." Ha ha! Ain't that the truth though? We just can't do it all. Even with the help from the kids. Two work and go to school, and two are about to go back to public school (cry). I'm about the only Mom who doesn't like the start of school. I appreciate all the help, believe me.
I still have to dust (cough, cough), but the spiderwebs are down in there. Soon I'll be able to reclaim the once claimed utility room (again) and the rest of the house.....and garage.
Now, when I enter my bedroom, I feel like singing and dancing. It's such a good feeling.
When I visit the herb garden, that's a whole 'nother feeling. It's a weed fest going on I tell ya'.
Today we water (again). Rain never arrived. Any chance we had went "poof" into la la land again. Now they say nothing until next weekend. It's pretty much like a drought. Fall planting is now even more difficult, but we are thankful to have the well water and the rain barrels.
Hubby and I were exhausted to the hilt last night. We both slept in despite the need to water. We needed it. The heat here has sucked our energy to the lowest of lows and we needed to recharge and get a break. I've been infusing teas here lately too. A few kiddos complained of feeling like they were coming down with something, and so far we are all staying clear of any sickness.
I'm now on the search to find watercress. I have never eaten it. Our grocer stopped selling it, so we are searching elsewhere, or I just may need to grow it myself. You cannot freeze it like a green, but you can dehydrate it or freeze it in soups for winter. Eating it fresh is best, so I hope to locate some to taste.
Comments
We're lacking rain, too. I did manage to get two raised beds planted with experimental "fall" crops, but I'm having to water each day so the little seeds don't die from lack of moisture to sprout. In a couple of days I'll have two more empty beds that I could plant out. An exercise in futility? Gotta keep trying.
Papa Pea and I were in the same shape as you and your hubby last night. Both exhausted to about the nth degree. Slept 'til 7 this morning (yikes!) but feel better for it. This time of year it's important to try to get enough rest 'cause we sure are working hard physically, aren't we? And in this blasted heat . . . arrrrgh!
I have all but given up on self-sufficiency! Where did my gusto and mojo for that life-style go?
We are smoking ribs today and making salad and having our daughter and son in law over... I was outside helping get the smoker going and my thoughts were, DANG! it's hot out here! what were we thinking.
I looked out across my yard... grass has grown in where the box gardens used to be.
We have the littles here everyday (the kids pay us to baby sit, while they work) I think some days ...it would be easier to get a job! But then I think of my sweet little grand babies being in day care and how sick they'd be ALL THE TIME. It's just not worth it. I'm with you-- too busy to clean my house with any decency, I have to literally SCHEDULE a time to clean. Also, like you--- I dread school starting. The school age kids bring home sickness and pass it to the littlest grand kids. Last year-- HAND FOOT AND MOUTH! ICK! did you know that your finger nails turn black and fall off!?
I wonder why my kids don't homeschool... It makes me wonder what I did wrong?
I could have written a post on this...
I could just go on and on.
I'm not certain about the water cress... I've had it, never thought of growing it-- I see in the comments your eating it for health reasons, I'm focusing on getting my bloodsugar back into check w/o meds.
So... I'm with you on eating the right foods for your needs too.
have a relaxing Sunday friend!
I LOVE watercress, but like you, have difficulty finding it. It's a tender green with a slight peppery taste which is GREAT in soups and salads. One of the best soups I've ever eaten was decades ago in Atlanta, cream of watercress soup. I'm sure all it probably was was watercress, vegetable or chicken broth and a bit of cream, but boy, was it ever tasty.
Been a little under the weather here myself - very weary. Felt ok today. Went to work. Twenty minutes later was running to the bathroom and then came right on back home. If anyone knows something natural to help make an old (69-years) lady's plumbing more predictable, I'd appreciate it.
Prayers everyone has a great, safe week.
God bless.
RB
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