The Good News

 

It is tough to be surrounded by bad news. Families trying to survive a hurricane by heading to their attics, soldiers coming home in coffins draped in American flags, wildfires continuing to burn up more of our precious land.  As I pray in earnest for sick friends, for a woman who just lost her mother, and for people close to me dealing with personal issues I search for something positive. Then I remembered this poem and it reminded me of its message. 

There is always good news. Find a special edition. Do it today.

The Good News

They don’t publish
the good news.
The good news is published
by us. We have a special edition every moment,
and we need you to read it.
The good news is that you are alive,
and the linden tree is still there,
standing firm in the harsh Winter.
The good news is that you have wonderful eyes
to touch the blue sky.
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available:
hugging is possible.
They only print what is wrong.
Look at each of our special editions.
We always offer the things that are not wrong.
We want you to benefit from them
and help protect them.
The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,
smiling its wondrous smile,
singing the song of eternity.
Listen! You have ears that can hear it.
Bow your head.
Listen to it.
Leave behind the world of sorrow
and preoccupation
and get free.
The latest good news
is that you can do it.

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Women Who Inspire Me: Erin Benzakein

 

This is my third installment of my series Women Who Inspire Me. In 2017 I was in a gardening section of a bookstore and her book "Cut Flower Garden" jumped out at me. Imagine that! Erin Benzakein is the founder of Floret Flower Farm and is one of the nation's leading "farmer florists". I was also excited to see that her farm was in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. 

Her path to becoming a nationally recognized flower farmer didn't come easy. She started out growing flowers in her garden and made bouquets with her extra flowers and gave them to neighbors and friends. She always heard heartfelt stories about how gardening and flowers held special memories for these people. It struck a chord with her.

A farm florist is a farmer that grows flowers and fillers that are in season and creates bouquets using the bounty from the garden all four seasons. Her newest book "A Year in Flowers" guides readers how to do just that. I am reading it now and already making plans for my garden plots for next year.

When I started seeing ads for the new Discovery+ streaming service I saw her advertising a launch for Magnolia Network.  I got a free subscription through Verizon. As soon as I checked out the new Magnolia Network, there was Erin. I just watched season one of "Growing Floret". It is a series that starts at the beginning of what she wanted to do when she grew up to how she has made a huge business that includes workshops, a blog, an Instagram account, three books, and a seed company. She has thousands and thousands of fellow gardeners that follow her on social media.

She inspires me because she never gave up. She kept researching, learning, leaning on others for help, and persisted. I want to be Erin when I grow up. Even if you are not a flower farmer or don't like to garden, her story is worth watching and reading about.

I am just sad about one thing. Her gardens are not open to the public for tours. Since it is her own home she doesn't feel comfortable having people walking around the property, plus her team of employees are always busy. 

You can find out more about Erin on social media:

Her website: https://www.floretflowers.com/

Her blog:https://www.floretflowers.com/blog/

Her Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/floretflower/

Her series on Magnolia Network, Discovery+ Growing Floret has four episodes.

This is her third book:

During the winter months when you are dreaming of spring and gardening, visit these sites or check out her books. She could convince anybody to raise flowers!  Now I am ready to purchase her seeds for next year. 

Signs That Autumn is In The Air

People either can't wait for autumn to come or they love summer so much they aren't ready for autumn. There doesn't seem to be a group in the middle. I love it when signs of autumn are in the air.

First sign is that the nights are cooler and I don't have to spend hours watering every day. I love that.

Another sign is leaves are turning. Part of this is the dry conditions, but there are some 

pretty fall leaves already.

The cats are coming in more in the evening instead of doing whatever it is they do outside all night.

I feel like turning on my oven and baking again.

The sunrise is later and the sunset is earlier.

Apples are getting ready to pick.

It is craft time with friends. We always find so many fun crafts to do in autumn.

I need a blanket when going outside to drink my coffee.

Pumpkin flavors are everywhere. People are ready for pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkins for autumn decor, pumpkin cream cold brew, pumpkin beer, and pumpkin pie.

For those of us that are retired teachers the signs of autumn in the air are no first day of school nightmares, no busting the budget on school supplies for the classroom, but a quieter, slower season to sit in the garden, sip a hot beverages, and watch the leaves turn.

Random Facts About Me

Here are some random facts about me. I don't think I am a mysterious person,but there may be random facts others may not know.

When I feel stressed, I organize my calendar. I don't have that many events on my calendar these days, but it makes me feel grounded to have everything in the little squares on my paper calendar and phone calendar.

I love polka dot everything. I love polka dot socks, blouses, bags, and decor for the garden. It always cheers me up.

I can't kill slugs. I just move them to safety if they are causing damage in the garden.

When I get ready to paint rooms in the house I have a terrible time making a decision on color. Everett always knew he wouldn't be painting for at least three weeks, because it always took me about that long to decide.

I love to shop for greeting cards and I love to mail them to friends and family.

I have never mastered the perfect way to get ice cubes out of a tray without spraining my wrist, cracking the tray, or spilling half of them on the floor.

When fall comes and the nights get cooler I love to buy warm socks. I don't need them, but I find comfort in having a drawer full of warm socks.

I never take time to delete pictures off of Google Photos. I might have five copies of the same picture and I just leave it . I have blurry pictures and just plain bad pictures. They are all still there. I think I see a big project in the future.

I always forget to drink water. Always. I think I need to set a goal for my healthier self!

 

The Best Time of Summer

 After all the hot, hot temperatures, the smoky skies, and the dry air I never thought we would arrive at what I call the best time of summer. For me the best time of summer is when the nights cool a bit, the air has more moisture, and the days below eighty degrees.are. It is the best time of summer because the flowers love it. They can recover during the night and then show their beautiful blooms in the sunshine during the day. The weed growth has slowed down. Everything in the garden doesn't need as much water. You can sit outside during the day and enjoy it!

The birds have come back to help themselves to food at the feeders. The butterflies are back out. I haven't seen as many flies or yellow jackets. Even Riley will stay outside while I putter in the garden. A few weeks ago it was even too hot for him. Now my wish is that frost stays away until October. Let us have at least five weeks of the best time of summer. 

8760 Days

The driveway from my house to the road where we would first meet.

 

Today is my wedding anniversary. We would have celebrated 24 years of marriage. We met September 1996, we were married  August 1997, and I kissed Everett good-bye for the last time November 30, 2020.  Our 8760 days knowing each other began on the road between our houses when I was out walking the dogs and he came out of his house to say hello.

Enjoying a fire in the gazebo sitting in his favorite chair.

Those days were filled with happiness and sadness, We had good times and bad times. We celebrated new life and mourned death too many times. Fortunately for us the good times far outweighed the bad times. We enjoyed one day road trips, and we planted flowers and vegetables. We raised cats and dogs, rabbits, and chickens. We loved to sit by the fire in the gazebo and enjoy our gardens. We held each close and cried when we lost loved ones and friends. One of  Everett's favorite sayings was, " If Christy is happy, I am tickled pink." He was tickled pink most of the time because he made me very happy.

a bouquet from the garden

Our anniversaries were special for the two of us.We didn't plan elaborate trips far away, or buy each other expensive gifts.  I may have gotten a pretty bouquet right from our own garden. Sometimes I got him his favorite kind of wine. A few years we even got the day mixed up. Often we had a quiet dinner together, or camped at our favorite camp site. 

Those 8760 days are filled with memories I will have the rest of my life. For that I am grateful. I miss him, but I am trying to continue to live a full life because that is what he wanted me to do. He would be happy to know I have learned how to use a drill and prepare for an evacuation. I may even get that garage organized so I can use it for the car. That was next on our list when he fell ill.

Our 8760 days ended with me holding his hand and praying with him. Rest in peace sweet Everett.

A Special Friend Tweety

Her BFF Diane surprising her on her birthday.

On the first day of school in sixth grade at Sunnyside School I met Tweety. That was a nickname she had. From that day on we have been friends. Our paths went separate ways, we lived in different places, but when we both retired at the same time we both ended up back in Kellogg. 

Tweety is away from home recovering from surgery. I look forward to the day we can laugh until we can't stop again. I spent some time remembering many fun memories this evening. I can't wait for her to read this post. I love ya girl.

Chris hosted a special birthday party with a special guest Diane.

                                                We hope to celebrate her birthday again soon.

We will miss her at our book club this week.

I am ready to recreate this photo on my front porch. We both love decorating for fall.

This was a really fun craft day at Tweety's house.

;

Teresa and I are ready for another Craft Hag day.

My dog Riley can't wait for her to visit again.

It's Raining, It's Pouring!

 After all the hot, dry weather and smoky skies it was such a treat to have rain this evening. I loved the sound and smell of the rain. I even enjoyed getting soaked as I ran to my car. What I didn't like was the sound of thunder and the sight of lightning

When I got home I dried off, grabbed a blanket, and sat and listened to the rain. It has been a long time since I enjoyed a good rainstorm. I started remembering what I love to do during a rainstorm.

Like a child I love to jump through puddles with rain boots while holding a polka dot umbrella.

In a rainstorm I love a hot cup of strong coffee, soft music, a good book, Riley, me, and a soft blanket in a chair in the She Shed.

I always love to walk on an ocean beach in a rainstorm.

I loved to take my first selfie with my sweetie while getting soaked with those grocery store rain ponchos.

While camping I loved sitting inside the RV, listening to the rain on the roof while playing Phase 10 and drinking red beers.

What do you like to do during a rainstorm?

 

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The Food Combinations That Still Satisfy

 In every household families have always had unique combinations of food that are always eaten together. Those food combos often carry on into the next generation. Some of our food combinations were passed down from the generation before. Many were discovered by the menus for hot lunch at school.  I can explain some combinations, but others have just been eaten together for over fifty years.

The standard for many lunch tables is tomato soup with a toasted cheese sandwich. Why? I think it is because they taste good together. In doing a bit of  research I learned it was started after WWII with hot lunch programs at schools.

When I make a BLT, I love a little pile of potato chips on the side. 

When I eat chicken noodle soup, it is always with crackers.

Another combination that originated with the hot lunch program was chili with cinnamon rolls. The savory and sweet combination can't be beat. I always love making this in the fall when the weather cools. Sunnyside School chili and cinnamon rolls were a very popular lunch when I was in grade school. We could smell the rolls baking all the way in the stairs in our classrooms.

When I was a child if we had pork chops, we had applesauce on the side. I still serve pork chops with some type of apple dish. Pork roast always tastes better with applesauce also.

Yes, when we had weiners we often had hot dogs. The more popular combination was weiners and sauerkraut. My husband wasn't crazy about the vinegar in sauerkraut so steamed cabbage worked well also.

One of my all time favorite comfort foods is meatloaf. The best combination with meatloaf is a baked potato and green beans. Now that is a complete, delicious meal.

Whether at Grandma Woolum's or our house at 516 when fried chicken was served there was always mashed potatoes and gravy and a vegetable, usually corn or green beans. Sometimes if there was extra gravy Dad took a slice of bread and poured the extra gravy over it and ate it, He called it Missouri Pudding.

Oh and chocolate makes everything better!

What are your favorite food combinations?

I Am Afraid Of ....

 I was taking to someone the other day about things we are afraid of.  Some of the things I am afraid of may seem a bit silly to others.

I am afraid of not finding my car. I know, I should remember where I parked my car. I should be able to hit the emergency button on my fob, but I sometimes just stand in the crowded parking lot and think every white car is mine. 

I am afraid of dropping something in a place I can't get it back. I think about manholes, grates, an outhouse, or a crack in the sidewalk. I don't know why I am afraid of this. It has never happened to me, but I just always think my wallet, keys, money, something is going to fall in a place and  I will never get it back.

I am also afraid of my car not starting when I am at some remote place at night. I think I heard too many of those scary stories in my youth of the the guy with the hook on his arm that was left dangling on the car door handle.

I am always afraid I will come up to a small group of people I have known my whole life and won't remember any of their names.

Things that many people are afraid of like spiders and snakes don't bother me as much as a doll sitting on a shelf looking like she is watching me. Especially if her name is "Talking Tina".

When I am up to the checker at the grocery store with a cart full of groceries and five people are behind me in line I am sometimes afraid I will discover I forgot my wallet.

 I am afraid of getting lost while driving in the woods. Even in the daylight, even when someone else is driving I am always afraid when I am lost. There are people who say, "Oh, this will be a fun adventure. Who knows where we will end up. " while  I am breaking out in a cold sweat. 

What are you afraid of?

Summer Cocktails: Keepers From the Recipe Box

Have you ever had a day that a cocktail sounds pretty good at Happy Hour time. Me too. Today I am sharing some of my refreshing summer cocktails. Cheers!

If you have fresh mint growing like crazy in your garden, this drink is the one for you. It is so tasty and refreshing. You can find the recipe here:

https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/how-to-make-a-whiskey-smash/

Are you serving cocktails for a crowd? Here is a perfect Sangria that is perfect for a hot day, especially if you have a big crop of cucumbers from the garden. You can find the recipe here:

https://www.bhg.com/recipe/cucumber-sangria/?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-recipe&utm_content=20210708&utm_term=RU202715

Who doesn't love a fresh lemonade on a hot summer day in August? This drink combines fruits and mint for another summer drink to enjoy on the deck during Happy Hour. Here is the recipe:

https://www.honeyandlime.co/vodka-mint-lemonade-cocktail-summer-party-drink/

Of course, all these drinks can be just as delicious without liquor. Cheers!

August: The Summer's Last Stand

 

Our August has been hot, smoky, and dry. What is amazing is there is still beauty every day amid our extreme weather and the fires surrounding us. Here are some images I have captured  

that illustrate the beauty of August.

first sunflower

Riley running in the grass

lily in the evening

garden bouquet

 

garden flowers

a clear day along the river

sunset and smoke

lighting up the yard