Lessons learned

Oh the lessons we learn in life. May I always be ready to improve and become better.

When there's a black lining on every cloud!

Sometimes life is just hard. Right now I am seeking for the strength to be strong and yet I just feel like crawling in a hole to hide. Yes, I am discouraged. It seems that I keep hitting bumps when trying to pursue the interests that I have. I actually thought that life got easier as we get older. Not more difficult. So until I figure out how to become victorious over these new heartaches I just hope that I can endure them well.

What is this crazy thing called summer?

So, I didn't get summer sheets on one of my daughter's beds. I asked her if she still wanted me to put them on. She answered "No, it is too cold". I haven't left the greenhouse open for a few days because it is too cool. We are watching the plants in the garden not do much because it has been too cool. The peas and beans have been in bloom for a long time. Still nothing is ready to snitch. The children chose to play indoors most of today because they didn't like how it was outside.

We grow export timothy. It has been cut and waiting to dry way too long for our liking. We need less humidity and more heat. Even a bit more wind will help if you can believe that I actually said that.

The flowers in my flower beds are quite happy and full of blooms. I love looking at them and caring for them. I feel close to my mom when I garden and care for my flowers.

I am really worn out this summer and am not getting done near the things that I hoped. With me being sick for a while, the weather, Ashley's accident and other surprises I think that I am doing quite well. We have had a lot of visitors to our farm, Old West Ranch and I have really enjoyed the time I have gotten to spend with friends and family.

Will I ever catch up?

This summer I was looking forward to a break where I could rest and get caught up with things. A week and a half ago I tried to conquer the weeds in the garden. I pulled weeds for a lengthy time. I actually enjoyed it and was pleased with the results. The next day I woke up to discover that I could not use my hands. I couldn't brush my hair or eat my cereal with my right hand. I thought that my hands were sore because I had overdone it the day before. As the week progressed I discovered more aches and pains and was having severe joint and muscle pain in the evenings. After 5 days of not knowing what was going on I started to improve.

Not sure what it was but now James is complaining of similar symptoms. We are thinking that it must have been something viral. It is a bit of a relief as I thought that it might have been a chronic condition.

I wasn't really allowed to slow down. I still had to take care of the family. I am rather worn out but life marches on. I did more weeding and things are still good. I need to get up early, but I also have to wait until my teenage daughter gets home. James is making cheese right now so I can't rely on him for any assistance with parenting. I didn't realize how exhausting a teenager can make life. The thing is I have a great teenage daughter.

The children and I are off early to appointments in the morning and James should be making cheese deliveries tomorrow. Just another busy week at Old West Ranch.

Could it really Be summer?

Today I finally started putting summer sheets on the beds and brought in the fans and washed them. The fans are now strategically placed around the house in hopes of cooling it down. This is quite a momentous occasion as some of us thought that summer was not going to really arrive. I think that the water buffalo were some of those wondering and were extra happy today. The muskox on the other hand were probably pleased when it started to cool down tonight.

James has been making Water Buffalo Mozzarella and tomato salads a lot lately. He slices the cheese and then the tomatoes. Artistically he places them on a plate, the cheese on top of the tomato. He then drizzles them with oil and vinegar. The final touch is the sprinkling of the Basil. Watching James,I have no doubt of the pleasure he feels when preparing the salad. He is then swept away into another existence while he savors each bite. When he has finished the last morsel he will express his amazement at how good it is.

I am the cautious type of person. James, well, he doesn't need things so well planned and figured out as I do. James has the attitude that if it can be done why can't he do it? He isn't stopped by the fact that he doesn't know a thing about the item or that nobody else is doing it. He gains an interest in something, learns all he can about it and then tries to do it. Some people might think that he is foolish. Sometimes he really stresses me out, but I admire this quality in him so much. He is a clever man with endless interests and abilities. Because of this James is taking us all on an exciting new adventure.

So here's to the WATER BUFFALO ADVENTURE that we have begun. The water buffalo are great animals and the mozzarella that James makes is very enjoyable. We are still amazed at the overwhelmingly positive response to this cheese.

Great day for the outdoors!

I love living out in the country and spending time outside. Today I planted some pepper plants in my newly repaired green house. Hopefully they will become part of our delicious salsa that James makes.
Later on in the day when I was trying to figure out what James was doing I discovered that my neglected strawberry patch is full of healthy strawberry plants overgrown by weeds. Since I love strawberries I couldn't resist pulling the tall grass and dandelions out from around them. Joshua counted 27 strawberry plants that we liberated. I wonder how many more plants have survived the neglect.
Today my garden didn't have horses, water buffalo, cows or the creek in it. More and more little plants that aren't weeds are appearing in designated rows. I am exited about that. I was afraid that not much would grow because of all the moisture and cool weather.
The younger children in the family can't resist the puddles and come in wet and muddy. It really isn't very difficult to find the water and mud. The sunshine and warmth of the day really helped me have a great day. I better go. I just remembered that I haven't closed the green house door yet.