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

A Funny Bunny

There's nothing better than eating a healthy snack...

... then taking a snooze...

... in the arms of someone who loves you.

Enjoy your Sunday's snooze.

Love from Whippoorwill Road,

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

Zip Lining for Fathers Day

For Fathers' Day weekend, I took the family on a zip lining adventure.

We went to Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg, Georgia with the extended family.

Some of the family camped.  We rented a cabin.

We arrived Friday afternoon.  Here's a few shots of our nice rustic lodgings.

It was comfortable.  This was the downstairs bedroom.

The loft had three beds.  

From the loft looking into the living and dining area.  Loved the fireplace.

The kids went kayaking and paddle boating in the lake.

Very quickly they found a rope swing.

Family came from South Florida and from around Georgia.  It was nice for the adults and children to catch up on life sitting around a campfire and making s'mores.

Saturday morning, we gathered for the zip lining adventure.
This is my Aunt Barbara (the purple arrow is pointing at her).  She's the hero of the group.  In a little while, I'll tell you why.

We received instructions from our guides, put on gear and, if someone needed help, we checked each other.

When this picture was taken, we had no idea what we were in for.

That's me probably on the first zip line in Level One.  Oh yes, there are five levels!

Some endured the first level, aka the instructional level.  That was it for them.  After that, they dropped their gear.  They were done...for the rest of their lives!


I was done after Level Two.  I had my fill.  I enjoyed crossing the life threatening bridges and zipping through the trees.  It was just that first step off the platform that became increasingly terrifying for me.  I had to encourage my daughter to push me off the platform because I would freeze.  

Remember my Aunt Barbara?  She's 76 years 'young'.  She went on to Level Four!!!  You reach speeds of 60-70 miles per hour and the last zip line is half a mile long!
This is her sailing by while we're screaming her name.
My children are so impressed and amazed by her.

Later we gathered to unwind, grill and laugh.

Then on Sunday, my daughter and I took a hike on the trail.

Very interesting ruins.  I imagine all the heavy labor it took to construct.

We hiked by the river, climbed rocks, explored, huffed and puffed all the way back to the cabin.  Then it was packing up, more visiting and time to say goodbye.  

And when I arrived home, the first thing I did was check the garden.  This is what was waiting.  My first Roma tomatoes!  Delicious.

I hope you had a great weekend.  Bye for now.  

Owww... my stomach muscles are sore today... 

From Whippoorwill Road, 

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