my garden

When I got back from my travels, I did not know what I would return to in my garden.

I think abundance is the right word.  There is spinach and amaranth that can be picked.  There are so many flowers.

The flowers definitely make me smile!  I have not picked many because everyday I have been weeding and enjoy them while I am in the garden.  I did bring one inside today because it had come off in the weeding but that is about it.

I keep transplanting vegetable plants so they will have more room.  Every time, I hope the plant will make it.  So far, so good.  But there has been rain everyday which has helped.  

There is a lot of peace in the weeding.  Any time I get anxious, having my hands in the dirt lowers the anxiety a lot.  It has been six months of risks and strange curves on the road.  I am still on that path and sometimes it just causes me to be anxious.  The weeding helps.  It is food I can see that will be coming to the table.  It is flowers that just bring joy.

More dirt time is needed.  Especially in my new overalls!  I get so dirty and I track mud so well.  The overalls have been protecting me better from insects as well so life is pretty good.

back from travels

I am back from my travels.  End of March, I always try to take a trip.  It is time for some camping when it may not be so cold as well as to celebrate another year.  This year, it also meant taking Koda Bear back to the Tall Short Person.  So we adventured and did not move as fast as normal. 

We saw a lot of desert.

I told stories about dancing Saguaro cactus.  I pointed out a roadrunner and then got asked if every bird was a roadrunner.  We listened to coyotes sing.

We set up our tent and pulled out sleeping bags for the nights.  

Koda Bear met other kids and played.  I watched them, watched the sky, read a book.  I think he has a favorite park now.

We even drove through the snow falling.  The trees covered with snow is a photograph from Koda Bear.  

The two of us travel well together.  We both like to travel.  We both are game for another night in a tent.  I was told we needed to go to Alaska and to go to see totem poles.  I was game but that was definitely not part of the plan.  Maybe next year?  

The funny thing, is when we stop and unpack, we both nest very well.  It is hard to get us to move off our small plot of land.  But get us packed and moving?  We will not stop until we have too.  The question always comes up, where will we put up the tent tonight?  

The drive back by myself was not as fun.  But pretty.  I just did not have the help of taking pictures.  And I have seen that road many times.  There was still snow on the mountains but none falling from the sky.  I got back to lands where I did not need a sweater or a coat anymore.  How strange.  I am getting settled again.

Soon, it will be hard to pry me out of my house or from my garden for errands around town.  But if there is a tent or an adventure involved. . .  I am game!

sorting

I have been looking at my workspaces and realized I needed to do some sorting.  It is not very creative but it helps me find what I need to find.  Like squares for quilts.  Or patches for bear's knees.  Or the backing for a quilt.  Or the makings of a market bag.  Or . . .  Just makings.

I filled an old wooden box I had.  My Dad gave it to me.  It was his when I was small.  I do not remember what he used it for but I took markers to it and made it into a dollhouse for my doll Sarah.  I wanted a dollhouse but knew it was not going to happen.  This was my solution.  

I obviously still have the box.  I was making due even when I was small which just makes me smile.  Now, my dollhouse is fabric storage.  Not my only but my ultimate goal is to fit all my fabric into four plastic bins and this box.  I know that is a huge undertaking but that is the goal.  I wonder how many quilts and market bags will be made between now and then.  Let alone shirts, vests, dresses, and nightgowns.  It will be interesting.

just getting through

I have a quilt ready for quilting now.  I also worked on cleaning up my work table which consisted of cutting many quilt squares.  I went through plastic boxes and found fabrics which I had forgotten I had.  It was good work.  And it was good work for how poorly I have been moving.  

There has been much pain lately which means I move slowly.  At times yesterday, there was no movement.  Most of my coping mechanisms have fallen by the wayside.  The ones that usually work have not.  Now, someone might say, why do you not go to a doctor?  Because their solutions usually do not work any better and are much more harmful in the long run.  

I will add more turmeric and ginger tea.  I will take walks.  I will try to be good about my yoga.  Sleep.  Good food that is mostly vegetables.  I will try very hard not to over do.  Which is the hardest bit actually. 

Tomorrow will be a better day.  That is my hope.

simple life

Life keeps throwing me curves.  So I am trying to focus on simple things.  Like a dropped egg.  A walk tonight.  The breeze.  Time to work on a quilt.  Having enough leftovers in the refrigerator to make fried rice and not have to go out or get take out.  Hands in dough.  Hands in dirt.  Time to read to the bear.

I was supposed to be in California camping and going to a trade fair this weekend.  The curves in the road made the decision not to go.  I do wish I had gone.  But there is next year.  Or later in the year.  Maybe a camping trip for my birthday.

Hopefully the road is straighter tomorrow and next week.  But I will keep moving forward.