Gratitude

~ for trusting the path we are on

~ for time in nature with my little man, walking slowly, and soaking up the beauty of Mother Nature

~ for the lessons I learn every day

~ for the summer goodness slowly filling up the pantry shelves and freezer

~ for the stillness of our home in the early morning when it is just me and my cup of tea

~ for slow days filled with the things we love doing

~ for laundry on the line, and the sun that dries it

~ for the two men...one big, one little, that I am on this journey with

What are you grateful for today?

A New Tree House

Three years ago Justin and I got to work creating a fun outdoor play space for Reece. It has been a wonderful space for Reece and his friends to play in, and a great spot for us to gather as a family for outdoor fun right in the backyard.

This spring, I suggested that we take the teepee down. I am not sure why, but I just felt like it was time for a change. I threw a few ideas out to Justin about what we could do, and a "tree house" was the one we agreed on. The biggest obstacle, the cost. New wood is expensive and we didn't have enough reclaimed wood laying around to build what we envisioned. We kept talking about, trying to figure out how to do it as cheaply as possible, when Justin's dad called letting us know a friend was taking down a wooden fence and did we want the wood. Hmmm...we didn't have to think long about that one, we said yes. We really had no idea what the wood would be like, and if it would even be possible to use it for the tree house, but once it was dropped off in our driveaway it became very clear the tree house was going to get built, very soon.

My dad stopped by one morning, soon after, to help Justin build the platform, and get it standing. Then over the next few weeks Justin slowly built the structure, added the railing, and finally we decorated. We all love it! Reece and his friends have enjoyed snacks and lunch up there, there has been lots of creative play, and I have even been invited up for a cup of tea.

And did you notice the raised bed? I found yet another spot to grow more food. Reece has decided he would like blackberries to grow there, and I think that is a wonderful idea.

We are really happy to have completed another project around here with reclaimed materials. The only purchases we made were the paint and some screws. Everything else...the wood, the table and chairs, the curtains, and even the slide have been rescued from around the house.

Here's to another successful, reclaimed, handmade project.

Around the Garden

For seventeen years we have grown food on this land. There have been years of small, less work to do gardens, years of growing as much as we can, and years of growing what we know does well and what we will eat.

The wonderful thing about growing your own food is that each year the garden offers different lessons. There has not been one year in which something hasn't been added to our growing list of garden lessons. This year our lesson has come swift, a lesson in letting go.

On Friday last week, in the early evening, a very strong, quick storm blew through our area, bringing with it thunder, lightning, heavy rain and hail. The hail fell from the sky for ten minutes. While Justin worried about damage to the car, I worried about damage to the garden.

When it was over, and safe to go outside, we ventured out to take in the damage. The car has a few little dents, but nothing to be concerned about. The gardens, well, you can see from the photos above, they were hit pretty hard.

I am pretty sure the potatoes have been wiped out. I keep checking them to see if the plants will bounce back, but each day they look a little worse. The pumpkin, squash and zucchini are still producing at the moment, and all their flowers survived, I think in part due to the huge leaves protecting them. The Swiss chard was pretty beat up, and got a good haircut, and already their is new growth peeking out. The cucumbers took a significant hit, but it seems the leaves protected the precious flowers, so I am hoping they will still keep producing. The snow peas and bush beans were also hit hard, but they were for the most part done anyway. I will harvest the last of both today, and then clean out that bed.

I have no control over Mother Nature, she will do as she pleases, and all I can do is work alongside her the best I can, with the conditions she throws at me. Over the last few days I have done what I can to save what is left, and now I have to let go and see what happens. Fingers are crossed.

A big lesson on letting go this week, but a good one for this type A, control freak.

Now it hasn't been all doom and gloom around the garden this week, we have been enjoying the first tomatoes, zucchini is a regular in our meals and the strawberries and raspberries keep on coming. The first cucumbers have been eaten, the snow peas are delicious and green beans have been eaten, frozen and canned. I took some time on Sunday to braid our garlic for storage, and I got the cold frame in the ground, insulated with some straw and ready for soil. The winter garden is taking shape, and I for one, am pretty excited about it.

Even with the storm, there are still a lot of good things happening in the garden. And there it is, another lesson from the garden this week...take time to notice the good things, even when life throws a little bump along the path.

So much learned this week in the garden.

How are things around your garden?

Morning, Noon and Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday.

 Morning, 6:45am

Noon, 11:45am

Night, 6:15pm

***If you would like to play along leave your link in the comments section so I can stop by and visit.***

On a Sunday Afternoon

Sitting on the grass,

on a Sunday afternoon,

hands working, 

cutting the "hairs" off the garlic

and then peeling off the dirty layer. 

One head at a time, 

slowly, 

with intention. 

Feeling connected,

to my food,

to this earth,

to people who came before me.

Putting food by 

is a simple pleasure

for me.

In times past,

while I am sure 

it was a pleasure,

it was also necessary,

to make it though 

the long, cold and dark

winter.

This is not lost on me

as I can, freeze,

and preserve

summer's bounty.

The world has changed,

putting food by 

isn't necessary,

and my life doesn't 

depend on it,

but my soul does.

As I work in the garden,

harvest the food we grow,

chop it, cook it, can it

and freeze it,

I feel deeply connected 

to women of the past.

I can almost hear them conversing

as they worked, 

talking with children 

who played at their feet, 

or neighbours who stopped

into help.

It was different,

back then,

and at this time of year

it is something I am so happy

to connect to.

It is soul warming,

and fills me with gratitude.

Gratitude to all those who came 

before me, and passed down

the pleasure and joy

of putting food by.

31/52

"A photo of my little man, once a week, every week, in 2014"

 

Reece, collecting rocks again, and washing them in the creek. On this morning you found five special rocks to bring home to your growing collection. You carefully washed them, and packed them safely in your pocket, then reached for my hand, ready to head home.

Joining Jodi for the 52 Project

Blog Swap Goodies

The wonderful Amanda is holding another blog swap, and there was no way I could resist taking part, I had so much fun last time. I have been busy making a few things to send my secret friend. There is a knitted jar cozy with a mason jar filled with dehydrated nettle leaves from my garden, so my swap friend can have a few cups of nourishing nettle tea. I made up some self care products...hand salve, lip balm and body butter that I hope she will enjoy. And last but not least, I asked Justin to create a little wooden owl for me to send, just a little something made from some fallen down trees around our property. I do hope she enjoys it all.

I will package it up this weekend, and send it on its way early next week. There is a happy mail day coming to someone soon.

And now, I sit back and wait patiently for my package to arrive.