One step at a time…
Posted On May 6, 2011
I feel as if time keeps getting stolen from me. I’m working at having faith that I will build the skills and endurance I need to be able to gracefully handle this whole life thing… I mean, we all start just moving around as babies, getting to know our bodies, building our muscles and coordination. Then we have some calculated movements- crawling, then pulling to standing, then walking, then running. Soon we’re fully functioning moving creatures, handling a great many things fluently. It amazes me that we can do so much, while it all still, at it’s core, is just small movements and thoughts in various combinations.
—
I’m so grateful that I can look down at what my son is doing (he just started cruising last night!) and see it’s true and simple message in my own life. Last night, it felt as if the world was crashing in around me, I just had a really overwhelming day where I couldn’t get my racing thoughts in check. Anyway, I watched him move one tiny hand and one tiny foot, one after another, slowly towards his goal. It was so simple and sweet, and being his knowing and loving mother, I don’t wish him to hurry. I want him to take his time, build confidence, learn his own body and how to trust himself… It got me remembering that I am just like him, we all are in some ways. I am knowing in the ways that I am knowing, I am capable in the ways that I am capable, but I’m stumbling and unfamiliar when it comes to many new things. I don’t know. It helped to relax me.
I’m so grateful that I can look down at what my son is doing (he just started cruising last night!) and see it’s true and simple message in my own life. Last night, it felt as if the world was crashing in around me, I just had a really overwhelming day where I couldn’t get my racing thoughts in check. Anyway, I watched him move one tiny hand and one tiny foot, one after another, slowly towards his goal. It was so simple and sweet, and being his knowing and loving mother, I don’t wish him to hurry. I want him to take his time, build confidence, learn his own body and how to trust himself… It got me remembering that I am just like him, we all are in some ways. I am knowing in the ways that I am knowing, I am capable in the ways that I am capable, but I’m stumbling and unfamiliar when it comes to many new things. I don’t know. It helped to relax me.
My kids provide me with so much insight, I just love being a parent. Watching them take shape is so awesome. Asa is getting so huge, and he’s so funny, and he is starting to understand my signing, which is just fun. He loves food. He loves eating everything on the floor…
And Miss Vera… oh my. What a character. She’s saying the greatest things lately. Like… the other day we were driving home and she thoughtfully said "Mama, how do trees drink?" And so we had a whole conversation about soil and roots and rain. She thought the roots must have little slurping mouths down there. It was awesome.
Then yesterday I was overwhelmed with just… everything. And Vera said "Mama, I love you more than ice cream."
<3
Also yesterday, she wanted to shut the dishwasher door, but I wasn’t done loading dishes in yet. She asked "Are you DONE YET?!" and when I told her no, she said "I don’t like waiting. It makes my nose itch."
Vera and Tuula presented this to me on Monday. When I asked what it was, they said "It’s a dead cow and a pie apple!!!" Gotta give them points for presentation.
Hardening off our onions, leeks, brassicas, and various herbs. They’ll be ready to plant tonight, but I think the only time we’ll have for it is tomorrow morning. So excited to get some stuff in the ground finally. I’ll also plant hardier seeds (kale, lettuce, etc.), and oh… this will be so good for me.
The other thing I was able to take on was this perennial bed that I’ve been wanting.
I lined it with pavers from the old perennial bed (the on that’s all shaded and taken over by the wisteria now).
Then thick layer of newspaper.
Then I emptied out our old cold composting bin that was there before, which was like 1/2 ready compost and 1/2 eggshells and corn husks and things…
Layer of straw.
Layer of compost.
I watered it all well and let it sit for a week. Tomorrow I’ll be transplanting a bunch of my herbs in. Then later next week we’ll get mulch and it’ll all look so nice. 🙂
I got a case of mastitis earlier this week. I think it was a combination of lack of sleep/over-exertion/skipped nursings… it sucked. I was laid up for a couple of days with flu-like symptoms, but I managed to beat it with hot baths, raw garlic, lots of water, and nursing nursing nursing. But, thankfully, Jeff didn’t let that slow things down around here, and he and a friend prepped all the vegetable beds in one evening. So nice to have that done.
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got today. I hope you all have a lovely weekend and Mother’s day. 🙂
Latest posts by Gracie (see all)
- Let the world be fed - October 21, 2024
- The Encounter - April 19, 2024
- On Practice - February 23, 2024
17 Comments
Oh, how I covet that beautifully rich top layer of compost! We just have a compost heap and don’t really do anything to it, so while it’s useful in reducing our waste, I don’t know that the compost is actually usable. :/ I should dig around to the bottom of the pile and see what’s going on, lol. I’m hoping to get some seeds in this weekend. I’m trying to keep realistic goals this year and stick to tackling weeding, mulching, thinning, transplanting, etc. rather than doing anything “new” with the yard/garden. Definitely need to make use of our wee little veggie bed though. 🙂
Sorry to hear about the mastitis, glad you were able to take the time to rest and nurse and clear it up!
I think a compost heap you never do anything with is great! It’s so much better than locking it all in a plastic trash bag to putrefy… It’s amazing to me how resistant many people are to even that easy hands-off way of composting.
As for the realistic goals- you are a wise woman! I always take on far more than I can handle, I just am good at not being stressed or disappointed when I don’t accomplish everything. But I totally admire restraint when I see it! Haha. Hopefully Delilah can help in the garden this year!
Glad you’re over the mastitis, I’ve never had it, but it sounds awful.
Lovely pictures, as always…your kids are so sweet, and your garden progress makes me want to go get my hands dirty;P
Thank you. And yes! Go get your hands dirty! I’m so glad to see you back here, by the way. You had me wondering after a few days!
It was a rough time, that’s for sure…really relieved that things are going ok now, mostly.
Look at all those beautiful eggshells in your perennial bed! 🙂
Mastitis sucks, I hope you recover quickly!!
Thanks! I’m feeling much better. I know you had it before, didn’t you?
Yeah, mine was caused by a MRSA virus, so didn’t clear up easily. Going back and forth to the breast surgeon was no fun! Thankfully no lasting harm.
What is your soil like underneath where you put the new perennial bed?
I’m thinking of digging up a quarter of my front lawn for a perennial bed. I was thinking I’d have to dig it all put, turn it upside down, add lots of new stuff to it and work on it it quite a bit. Your system looks easier, but (and here’s my big but) we have clay basically, and not soil. I’m worried if I just threw soft stuff on top that the plants wouldn’t root properly and would stick to the soft top layer. Any ideas?
Our soil is good. Although, I’m doing the same method at the farm directly over a really heavily compacted area- like, they’ve been driving tractors over it for 30 years… The theory is that it will enrich the soil over the course of a couple of years. I’m not too worried about root space, the compost should inspire earthworms to come up and loosen everything. If you’re really worried that it could take some time for that process to happen, you can just do a thicker layer of stuff. Some people do this (layering with compost, straw, grass clippings, leaves, etc.) until they have a bed that’s a good 12-18 inches thick- and then they plant directly into that. It’s pretty cool. So yeah, I wouldn’t let the clay deter you from doing a no-till garden. So much easier, and ultimately better for the soil than all the tilling. 🙂
Happy (almost) mothers day to one badass mama! <3
Thanks! 🙂
What sweetness.
The irony of wanting Asa to take his time, while wondering where the time is going, and Vera seems to speak with such urgency and conviction!
… I see your dog in the background of one of the photos. There is something that has gone without mention for a while! (since the plans for the privacy fence anyway) I hope the dog is doing well! Still looks curious and protective as ever.
The garden bed is going to look lovely! The compost looks so ready to provide. I love it!
How amazing… your garden area photo for this year. It is so different from last year before it was all fenced off and everything. A lot of work in such a short time. What a proud thing!
Great call on the garlic! Got spare potatoes for a potato poultice? Feel better and have a happy mother’s day! ♥
Oh Maya. She’s a great dog. She’s doing well, although I wish we had more time for her. With the weather warming we’ll be taking her out much more often, so that will be good.
What’s a potato poultice!?
Have a happy Mother’s Day too! 🙂
Hi Grace,
Poultice = It’s similar to how those eye pillows with lavender in them except a poultice is in paste form, not dry herb form. It is more of an organic mash normally used for making into a compress to treat inflammations.
Potato is miraculous! It is used to treat boils and abscesses and to unlock problems in glands and pores. Something in the potato is astringent and draws the yuck right out of the skin for many things. I had a friend with chemical burns on her fingertips and she was able to get all the yuck out by massaging her fingers in potato for while. It was crazy awesome!!!
For mastitis you can go two ways:
Grate a raw potato and apply the pulp to the skin, covering it with a cloth. OR
Cube a raw potato or two and stir into some boiling water for about 10 minutes. Remove and then mash into a paste. You can apply it directly to the skin in a thin spread as soon as the heat is cool enough to allow for it and then cover it with a cloth.
For either raw or heated, you can place the paste into some gauze or cheesecloth and apply it to the skin that way, too. (I like the first way better.) You would leave it for a few hours if you can or until the mash is dried.
If you might be tempted… don’t eat or taste the potato after it has been sitting on your skin, it will have toxins in it. Hope that helps. Feel better!
Your children are so adorable and happy! I always feel warm inside when I read these posts (sorry,I have been missing them lately, which I really miss). I have to remember that line of Vera’s “I don’t like waiting. It makes my nose itch.” Awesome!
The dead cow and pie apple are presented quite beautifully. 🙂 Enjoying catching up on your blog after an extended time away from the internets….hurrah for spring and time outdoors!