Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I Did Not Fly Away Today…

Although there were tornados all around the area where I’m living, we were all fine.  We had some pretty heavy rain for a bit which means I didn’t have to water either of the gardens. 

Speaking of gardens, would you like a tour?

5.10.2010. gardens and cows and calves 001 What first caught my attention after I got back from going to the “doc in the box” was the mommas and babies wandering up by the fence in the back yard.  I had to go get the camera and see if I could get some pictures to share.

5.10.2010. gardens and cows and calves 006 Calf 2911 was the most curious about what that white-legged one eyed tall thing was… I liked her hair do. 5.10.2010. gardens and cows and calves 005 I really like that the mommas and babies are so close to the house.  When the little ones start playing it is very entertaining.

suppertimeIt was getting on toward supper time and several babies were nursing…

good milk, momThose mamas are very patient I think.  If I had one attached to me that butted my poor little girls as hard as these bump their mamas I would probably be biting the little grubber in the bohiney.

looking for mama This little shy girl was looking for mama.  All of the cattle are Limousin.   They are low fat producers, a very lean breed, but are also known for being very protective so unless absolutely necessary we keep a fence or a vehicle between us and them…

Meanwhile, to the gardens we go.

backyard garden This is the backyard garden.  So far there is broccoli, cabbage, spinach, 3 squash plants that were given to me already growing in their pots, some onion and at the far end, red potatoes.

     Almost ready broccoliThis is our first almost ready broccoli… about the size of a soft ball.

cabbage plant and my foot You all know me… I have to have something for size comparison.  That bare foot wears an 8 1/2  shoe…. when I put shoes on.  This is cabbage (in the center).  Crooked neck squash to the right and spinach to the left of the cabbage.

front yard garden The beginnings of the front yard garden.  There is about 4 times the space of the back yard garden.  We have planted 12 tomato plants you see here.

f.y. garden 2 To the left of the tomato cages are the second batch of new potatoes that I planted about a month after the new potatoes in the back garden.  We all love new potatoes and I thought perhaps I could extend the growing season…  Far left along the fence are iris. next are onions, next is more cabbage (these are red) and broccoli then garlic and finally more of the new potatoes. Coming towards us from the cabbage are three rows of onion that were planted about 3 weeks after the row on the left.

red cabbage and my foot You know that besides my foot for size I have to show the red dirt.  This was after the storms blew through and the wind picked up the dust and the rain settled it on these huge leaves.

red dirt on red cabbage Another red dirt on cabbage photo.

5.10.2010. gardens and cows and calves 043 This is the bloom stem of an onion that has been out there for a year or two.  I would have taken more of this but it was starting to sprinkle again.  Gotta think of the camera, you know, because we all know I don’t melt.

yes, Cuz and I do use this. Yes, my cousin Carol and I both used this thing.  Her son, Scott, my wonderful second cousin tilled both gardens up real well for us and we use this between rows to turn up weeds and grass… and,in my case, to try to trim up some. I like cookies too much.

These are part of the things that have kept me away from blogging… well, no not really… I have to keep this part of my life real.  I have been having to deal with bad depression… Several things hitting at once.  Moving out of the relationship and home that I had with Carol for over 22 years this last stretch, the anniversary of the OKC bombing that hit me so close to home that I haven’t yet gone to see the Memorial, the anniversary of my mother’s death 16 years ago that still cuts like a knife, my sister’s husband of 48 years is dying of cancer and just went on hospice last Thursday so we are expecting a call any day now.  Sis is dealing with it a whole lot better than I am for worrying about her and realizing that at age 65 I have no control over any facet  of   my life. Hallie and John losing their oldest son to suicide and Connor, his younger brother losing his sib that he looked up to so much and that brought up my memories from when my oldest sister  died very suddenly of a brain hemorrhage when I was almost 13…

And to add  the kicker, I have managed to stress myself  flat into a case of shingles. Around from my mid-section to my back and that sucks big time. I’ve never had them before but knew folks who did and wondered how grown folks could piss and moan about how painful they were.  There’s even the folk or old wives tale, whichever you prefer that if shingles go all the way around your body they kill you.  Missy, who has had shingles, and I decided today that it wasn’t really the shingles that killed you… you just would hurt so much that you wanted to die…

Got to have good news to wipe out the bad… I received my summer squash crookneck seeds from Tipper over at The Blind Pig and The Acorn and we are going to do the good planting day vs. the bad planting day.  Yep, another experiment about planting with the signs.  Aren’t you excited!  I know I am.  My conscience won’t let me get by without reporting about how the squash is doing so that gets me off games on Face Crack Book as Kim calls it and back to where I belong…  With all of you.  And I am going to make it back.  Depression bores the crap out of me.  About 2 or 3 weeks is about all I can stand of being morose and studying what I can find of my belly button so I’ll grab the bootstraps, get them on and get outside to the garden where the sunshine and growing things bring me back to the reality of how much I have missed by just laying around and studying my navel…

For those of you that have stuck around, you have my deepest appreciation.  I love you all and I apologize for dropping of the blogging world for as long as I have. I promise to try not to ever let it happen again.

12 comments:

Lonicera said...

Hurry up folks!
No time to pack
There's feet in the picture
So Helen's back!!!!

Phew, call of the search. Welcome back Helen. Your pix have a very high Aaaaah Factor. Love the mookies.

Caroline

Tina said...

wayyhayy..welcome back Helen---that is one ginormous broccoli. When did you put it in the ground? Can we plant broccoli like peas while it is still frosting outside? Mine are PUNY!!! I have broccoli envy big time. Oh and by the way your legs don't look that white...

Tina

Robynn's Ravings said...

Oh Sass, I'm so sorry. What a huge load. You've had incredible life changes, any ONE of which would be enough. No wonder you're naval gazing. But, just like you, I see you've gotten lots done even WITH the depression.

SHINGLES are HORRID and it sounds like you got a doozy of a case. TAKE YOUR MEDS. It can help keep you from getting post-herpetic neuralgia - the pain that can linger long after they're gone. I get a much smaller outbreak but am one of the lucky souls who gets them repeatedly. Just had an outbreak two months ago. Sucks to be us! But we have so much in the good looks and talent department, you KNOW we'd have to have a leveler, Helen! LOL

Your garden LOOKS AND IS AWESOME!!!!

The Wildwood said...

Your garden looks so pretty! Glad we all missed the storm...lucky us!

Tatersmama said...

Oh girl, it sounds like you've been having a hell of a time lately, and to tell you the truth, I had wondered where you had wandered off to... I'm glad you're still around and keeping up with the garden and the attitude... even if you have been doing a tetch too much navel gazing lately. Without sounding all airy-fairy, you're not dealing with any of this alone... because you have US, so just holler out and we'll be there!
Ahhh...shingles suck. I now have a doctor who tells me that you can only get one bout in your life, so it must be my imagination creeping over my butt and up my waist again - so how stoopid is HE??
*hugs, my friend*

Reddirt Woman said...

Caroline when I have stuff like that to look at out my back door how could I stay comatose?

Tina we actually bought the plants from the farm store in Chandler about 5 weeks ago. We did fertilize with that Miracle Grow in the shaker... looks like bbs. I scattered it all around where I was going to plant and worked it in an inch or two like it said on the directions and waalah!! That plant must have gotten a double dose, though. There are heads forming on the rest but none like that one. Oh, and by the way my baby brother once told me he'd seen darker legs than mine in the chicken section at the Wynn Dixie Grocery store.

Hey SASS! I thought I was pretty laid back and could handle most anything but I feel like a giant cow played drop everything on my head at once. I guess I just wore myself out trying to slog out of all the crap. And I should have a lot more done but no inspiration. I am taking my meds and I'm with you... I've heard that once you have them you can't have them again but I know from friends that that old wive's tale is a crock a doo doo, too. I'd like to think that there could be some other way to help us remember to be humble.

Thanks Karen. I was glued to the tube to watch where the storms were headed. I was sure thankful that they didn't turn up your way.

Oh Katie... it's bad enough around my mid section... I can't imagine what it would be like on my butt... then again it might have gotten me off mine and more work done in the garden. And I, too, have known some "stoopid" doctors... but not for long. lol

Sara said...

Welcome back - it's good to "hear your voice" again. You are carrying a heavy load, but you are right about the beautiful garden helping you out.

And shingles - ouch! Two of my book club friends have had that in the past year. No fun at all.

And I'm glad to hear you came through all the bad Oklahoma weather. I was thinking about you.

hetty said...

Glad you're back, Helen. We missed you! Sorry to hear about all the trials and tribulations of your life. It's hard to handle so many things coming so close together. Hope that case of shingles goes away soon. That's got to be horrible. I can understand the naval gazing, but perhaps it is time to put some salt in there and enjoy some celery! Or maybe just put some clothes on.
I love your garden! I have planted a few lettuce plants, but nothing else so far. We still had frost on the weekend.
The photos of the cows are great too. I love cows! And your legs!

Tina said...

Hi again! I took a bunch of pics of my garden if you want to come have a look. Go back a couple of posts and you will find a glimps of my puny broccoli . http://walkingthewobblyline.blogspot.com/

oh and those shingles..Didn't your brother get you immunized against them? Isn't he a doctor?? They won't give me a shot yet but my dad had the shingles and my mom got the shot and she has been shingle free. I don't know if you can get the shot after the fact but it might be worth looking into so you don't get them back again.

Feel better on the depression front. I've struggled with it a time or two and the meds helped me tremendously (I do hear they are not a magic cure for all people though)...you just navel gaze as long as you want and then give us a shout every now and again. :)

Tina

Tina

Tipper said...

You couldn't run me off with a stick : ) So sorry things have been bad for you-you've been on my mind and in my heart too!

(thanks for the shout out)

Twisted Fencepost said...

Oh yeah, I know all about being chased by a cow. I definitely keep something between me and them. And sometimes that don't stop them.
The gardens look great. I would love to have gardens that big, but I just don't have time to tend to them. I have a hard time keeping up with the one I have.
And I know all about depression, too. March and April are the months I lost my Mother, Father and brother. I try not to dwell on it, but sometimes it dwells on me.
I have missed you!

AMIT said...

Nice pictures shared.

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