It's Been a Long Time...

... since my last post.  There's been a lot going on and I'm slow to recover, I suppose.  Here's a recap of all my justifications for putting off my blog:

March

Planning for the first wedding in our family was a big project.  There was the ordeal of finding something to wear.  It's a challenge to find a nice outfit for the mother of the groom.  I looked for something that would be appropriate for a garden wedding.  Classic, breezy slacks with a matching, slightly tailored jacket.  Not in white but definitely not in black, either.  That's all I wanted.   How hard could it be?  

What I found was mostly career outfits that would have looked like I was going to a power lunch.    Nothing.  This drove me to look at dresses.  Words can't describe.  I don't do dresses or skirts.  I don't like short sleeves.  I don't do strapless or sleeveless.   I don't do ruffles or flimsy.   It was during this time I considered becoming a fashion designer for all the middle aged women out there who are not into that toned muscled look. 

I also considered wearing an Indian tunic.  You know, the long sleeve, long shirts that cover ones rump and have long graceful slacks.  They are lovely.  Might as well flex multicultural muscles if you don't have them on your arms, right?  I didn't go that route, but was so tempted.

Ever since Colson got his first manicure and pedicure before his chemo, he's been wanting to return to the nail salon.  Since I was going, how could I refuse him?  So, before we left for the wedding in Savannah, we both got a nail makeover.  

The wedding was spectacular.  My daughter in law was gorgeous and my son never took his eyes off her.  It's great having a front row seat at these events.

As you can see, I found something...  don't know why this photo is so blurry... really...  I didn't do it...

St.Patty's Day, March 17th

Some people really get into this fun holiday.  Take my sister and her husband, Tim.  They love it.  They hosted the family get together.  

We also celebrated my mom and Tim's birthday that day.

I think this is the first time we've ever celebrated Tim's birthday, as a clan.   There's a lot of men in the family who love to cook: my husband, my sons, my brother's in law...  

My husband, He-Man, was thrilled to give Tim a pressure cooker.  Tim was thrilled to receive it.  I think for the next thirty minutes they discussed how to cook meat quickly in one of these things.  

And I just love these two.  What a blessing to have them in such good health.  And I firmly believe this is the biggest reason we have such a great extended family: a reverence for our Almighty Creator.

 

April

Spring birthdays.  My daughter, Smarty-Girl turned 21!  One of my other sisters has a birthday, too.  This is my other sister with her two spring chicks.  

Once again, the clan gathers to celebrate.  This is also our annual fish fry at my parent's home.  My dad fries the fish he caught from his pond and we just party.

Then it's time to head outside for the "Beat the Piñata While Trying Not to Clobber Someone in the Head" event.  Just a little side note here: look at the two newlyweds in the background.  She's in the orange shirt.  Then there's He-Man and my dad in the rockers on the front porch.  Meanwhile, Tim is doing a little dance, still excited about his pressure cooker gift last month.

When that Piñata breaks open, my sister (the one who we visit for Christmas, the one who celebrates her birthday in April also) comes charging in to scoop up her share of the candy.  

We also found a shed from Craigslist.  We had been searching for something we could turn into a chicken coop.  It's been two years that I've wanted chickens.  Fortunately, this shed was right around the corner from where we live and my husband loved the fact that it had a tin roof.

The owner had little girls and I could not understand why he wanted to sell.  It was charming.  

We got it onto our property and within minutes, He-Man states it's too nice to convert to a chicken coop.  He's going to add onto the shed and nails this up to give me a visual of what it could look like with the sides extended. 

And sure enough, the building begins.  

I look forward to showing you the progress.  

Take care and thanks for stopping by 

Whippoorwill Road.

Love, 

Bernadine

Oh Great...

A few nights ago, a storm blew in.  While we were comforting Big 'Ol Nasty Dog (see previous post), Mother Nature was having a heyday.

Whether it was from lightening or just a weak spot, we lost half of the biggest oak tree.  

We were awed... and sad.

It didn't fall on the fountain.  And the wood might be good for something other than burning in the fire pit.

But when I look at this picture, I think, "Man, what a mess with all those weeds."  And then I look at the tree and I wonder if I'm ever going to make progress with this property.

Here's the bright spot.  My kids were out in the garden today, working.  Isn't this the way life should be: growing your food, enjoying the great outdoors, being at peace with one another?

On a side note, this was New Man's first day of college.  And he's out here, weeding the beds with his siblings.  

I loved this moment.  Seeing them outside, preparing for a future harvest.

Look what we found!  We do have deer in the garden!  

And when I look at this picture, I think, "Man, I wish I could have seen them."  And then I think to myself, it's a good thing we don't depend on this garden for survival.  Otherwise I may not love seeing this as much.

I do love Mother Nature with all her ups and downs 

on Whippoorwill Road.

Love,

Bernadine

Garden Glory has Faded

All my beautiful vegetables plants are gone.

We ate, and picked and froze as much as we could.  

The heat, drought and overcrowding got the rest. 

It was a great first experience.  We pulled up all the fading leaves and cleaned out the beds.

This was my Mother's Day gift.
Isn't she a beauty?

We used my new gift to till up a new area for a fall crop.  

This is all that's left of the tomatoes.  Only one remains.  I took out two that weren't really producing.  The basil keeps going and we've made a lot of pesto.  Which has translated into homemade Pesto Pizza.  
The beans in the lower left of the photo will be pulled up this week.

These two little patches of earth gave us so much.  I was always amazed how much food we received daily. 
Now, I'll enrich the soil with some organic compost and grow again.

Love,

Farmer Jane

aka: Bernadine

An Update of... Life

My youngest son, that's him in the gray shirt, has been wondering what has happened to my blog.  I tried to explain how much I've had going on but he insisted I get back in the saddle.

So, to settle his nerves and let him know all is right in the world, here's an update:

• We've been having an intense heat wave here- up to 109 degrees.
• It finally broke last night and temps were in the 80's.
• To celebrate we had a glass of wine outside at my sister's (brown shirt) house.
• This is the same sister who promised God that if she could make it through Level One on the Zip Lining Adventure, she would never attempt it again.  
• My two youngest, gray shirt and red hair seated, went to pick up their older brother from North Carolina a few days ago.

• This is him.
• He's here for the Fourth of July family celebration.
• Which I may not be able to attend due to work obligations.
• Speaking of, I'm an in the process of transferring to a new hospital, in a new town which is in a new county, for a different shift and totally different unit.

• I've realized I can only handle a limited amount of 'new' things at a time.  
• Then I get overwhelmed and you can find me quivering in the corner.

• Remember when the garden was producing?
• All that is gone now.
• The heat shriveled up a lot of plants.  
• Even after regular waterings, this is what the temps did to my baby hydrangea.

• My garden is in a pitiful state.  Just when my sister from Missouri and her family are visiting.
• Looks like we won't be taking a tour of the veggie garden.
• Because it is no more.
• And our lawn mower is broken so the weeds are knee high.

• Remember I thought my cucumbers were a bust.  Well, not a complete bust.  I've had three so far.
• They are the ugliest cucumbers.  This hasn't been chewed on... it's just malformed.
• I'll try again next year.

• In spite of being cooked in the high temps, here's this morning's mini harvest.
• The very last onion and there's one more zucchini after this.
• This week, all the squash plants will be transported to the compost bin.
• That's an even bigger malformed cucumber.  
• I still cut it up and tasted it once it was back in the kitchen.  
• It's good.  It will be eaten.

• I've been under the weather, just like my garden.
• I'm waiting for the doctor's office to call back with an appointment.
• The basil needs trimming, plucking, picking... 
• It needs to be made into Pesto!
• The Roma tomatoes, that were doing so well, have taken a beaten.

• I don't know what will be salvageable after temps return to regular hot instead of diabolical hot.
• This just looks painful and a mess.

• The only plants that look alright, are the peppers.

• So now that I know my doctor's appointment isn't until tomorrow, I will...
•  rip out the lettuce, 
• remove all but one of the squash plants,
• water the garden, 
• buy some garlic to make Pesto, 
• do laundry, 
• fill out Transfer requests for work, 
• visit my sister from Missouri at my mom and dad's home...  

Oh my!  Did I just start a 'Things to Do' list on my blog?

Please excuse.  The plants and I have been under  the weather here on Whippoorwill Road.

Love,

Bernadine

First Pepper and Tomatoes

I almost waited too late to pick this pepper.

Here's some of the first crop of Roma tomatoes. 

I continue to be amazed and grateful.

It's a hot and steamy day.  The kind where sweat pours down your back, chest, head, upper lip...
Yet, here's the bright spot.  A great harvest in about 2 minutes!  And a second pepper.  It's perfect.   
My first 'other' tomato.  I think it's a Beefsteak but it's too hot to go into the garage to look at the package.  I can't bear to leave the air conditioned house right now. 
Two types of beans.
I'm picking the squash and zucchini smaller.   
The whole process has been wonderful.   

It's an Ice Tea, Lemonade kind of day

on Whippoorwill Road.

Love,

Farmer Jane

aka: Bernadine

Miracles Never Cease to Amaze...

We were out in the garden at 6:45 this morning.  Three hours of weeding.  

I love this girl.  She labored right along side me.

She is losing her fear of bugs, dirt, sun...

Hail to the squash!

On to the beans.

This mornings harvest.

This looks so much better.  We are still strategizing how to rid the garden  of the new invasive insect: the Kudzu bug.

Washed and ready to eat.

And this little guy is making his home somewhere at the front of the house.  I guess since Big 'Ole Nasty Dog spends all his time indoors, the rabbits aren't afraid to come almost to the front door.

It was a beautiful day on 

Whippoorwill Road,

Farmer Jane

aka: Bernadine