Sweet summer time blackberries!

 For the last several years here at our farm, I have reserved the month of July to pick and peddle blackberries.  These are a tame variety which the University of Arkansas developed several years ago.  They are acclimated to our climate and growing conditions.  We originally planted 150 plants across the road from where we built our house in 2012.  After about 3 years of they plants not getting any bigger than about 2 feet tall, we decided we needed to do something different.  The deer were keeping them munched down and they would never bloom.  I set to work digging as many as I could and replanted in our yard.  The deer don't bother them any more as we have dogs that stay in the yard.  To my knowledge, we've never had anything bothered by the deer.  It's well worth the bag of dog food every couple of weeks!  Since moving, they have done very well.  Some years better than others.  Last year, I picked and sold 100 quarts.  That's not counting what we used and what I gave away to neighbors and family.  This year, not quite 80 quarts.  They're not finished yet, but not enough for me to take and fill orders.  They're beginning to dry up as they normally do.  The vines have done their job and the berries will begin to dry on the vine.

The berries seemed to be a little smaller than in past years.  There were so many, I think that is perhaps why a bit smaller.  

Sooo....with so many berries...you sell and give as many as you can.  But, there are still more!  I've made wine, jelly, syrup and numerous desserts as well as eating as many as we can fresh and feeding them to Pearl and Ace, the horses, they love them too!

Seed starting!

 Wahoo!!  The seed catalogs have started rolling in and it's time to start thinking about the garden and growing delicious things and beautiful flowers!  They couldn't have come at a better time either.  We were having artic temps and it was miserable!  Zero degrees for us is very difficult and unpleasant.  I understand though that that is normal for some folks, but for us in Zone 6a, it is a difficulty.  Our blue ball waterers even froze which is a first for us.  Fortunately, we still had some water troughs and hoses that weren't frozen.  Twice a day, we would drag hoses out and fill the troughs.  Then, we would have to drag the hoses back into the shop to keep them from freezing.  We had to do that for about 4 days.  It took several days for the blue ball waterers to thaw as they are well insulated and it kept the frozen water frozen for a few extra days.  

     Now, we have been having glorious weather.  Warm and the sun has been shining!  I even started some pepper and tomato seeds in the sun room in a tote.  After a week, I've got peppers and some tomatos that have sprouted.  Let the growing begin!!

Don't hesitate to use what you have available.  I'm always recycling things and starting seedlings is a good time to do it!  I use a tote with individual seed containers in it.  I use a heating pad under it to give it the warmth it needs to get those seeds started.  Warmth is the key!

Seedsnow.com has sent a link https://www.seedsnow.com/?rfsn=468467.f02d8&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=468467.f02d8

This link is good for 15% off of your order.  I have ordered from them before and was pleased with their seeds.  Go get you some!

Staying warm!

 Recently, I purchased something that has been a wonderful addition to the household.  We use down

 filled duvets on our beds after experiencing them in Finland.  They are marvelous on the bed in the

 winter time and make for marvelous sleeping.  However, they do not warm the bed before someone

 gets into it.  I discovered heated mattress pads and they are wonderful!  I searched and found one I

 thought would work and my oh my!  What a difference a little electric heat makes!  I sometimes suffer

 from lower back pain and it's like having a body length heating pad under my body!  

https://amzn.to/4aYHzVk

Warm Storm Heated Mattress Pad Queen, Electric Bed Warmer 10 Heat Settings 12 Hours Timed Off, Electric Mattress Pad Dual Control with 15" Deep Pocket...

Size:60 x 80 in

This is a wonderful heated mattress pad!  With this cold winter we're experienceing, you'll stay toast warm and be able to lower your thermostat and save money!

 RETIREMENT!!  I am living the dream!   Back in August, I'd been hired at the local medical clinic to be a medical assistant.  I would room patients, get their weight and vitals before the Dr. saw them.  Then if they needed blood drawn or injections, I'd do that too.  This was a very small (2 Doctor) clinic in a very rural area.  When COVID hit, we were not prepared.  We had no masks and were not in a position to take patients who were possibly infected.  We just didn't have the knowledge to deal with it.  So, since I was so close to retirement, I furloughed myself.  My husband and I thought it the safest thing to do.  I did not qualify for unemployment so we had to be very careful with the finances.  I knew we could do it.  Summer came and the garden, blackberries and strawberries produced very well.  In August, I had my 62nd birthday and come October, I received my first Social Security check......Wahoo!!   All those years of working did end up with a good result.  Since March, when I furloughed my self, I guess you could say I was practicing for retirement!  I've since perfected it!  No more alarm clocks or thinking about whether I need to do laundry the night before for something to wear the next day.  My internal clock wakes me about 6:00 unless we need to be up earlier for something such as an early morning appointment in town which is an hour away.  But what I really want to share with y'all is that I'm taking more time to enjoy the moment.  I hope you do too.  If you don't take a moment occasionally, you'll miss things.  On my walk yesterday, I happened to stop and look up.  Oh....my....goodness....just look at that sky!

If I hadn't of stopped for a moment and looked up, I'd have missed it.  Just another reason to stop and look up!  How are you handling the COVID and quarantines?  We're so rural and isolated it really hasn't affected us much.  Now when we go to town, we've gotta put the darned masks on.  A lot of times I'll get out of the car and get to the door of the store and realize I messed up!  Head back to the car to retrieve the mask!  

Stay safe!

Beginning the Garden

I've taken a chance and I planted corn and beans yesterday.  I took my thermometer and checked the soil temperature.  It was "warm" or about 70 degrees.  This was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon so the sun had warmed it all day.  I've also planted 6 tomato and 6 pepper plants that I recently picked up at a local green house.  The extended forecasts all look pretty favorable for them to survive.  I do want them to do more than just survive though.  I'm so ready for fresh vegetables out of the garden.  I've been picking spinach that I sowed last fall.  We've had several gallon sized bags.  If the weather will stay on the cool side it will keep producing.
How is your garden planting going?

Morning dew drops on Yellow Rocket

New leaves on an oak tree in the yard. 

Delicious Dinner

Do you ever have a taste for something?  Do you go to All Recipes and put in the ingredients that you think you want to use and do a search?  I did yesterday and came up with a GREAT recipe that just hit the spot last night.  What I found was Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini.  I didn't find it though on All Recipes.  I found it here.....https://ifoodreal.com/chicken-and-zucchini/

We are always watching our carbs as we've found that helps us keep our weight down.  This recipe had all of the flavors I was searching for.  It went together fairly quickly with things that I had on hand.  Many of you might not have all the ingredients in your freezer/pantry, but they are easily accessible from your local grocery.

This dish was delicious! Cooked with diced tomatoes, cumin, taco seasoning, topped with cheese and fresh herbs. I added just a cup of shredded organic Colby Jack cheese and a few handfuls of cilantro and green onions. Fresh herbs are a great way to add flavor to any dish without extra calories.

Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini

★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

Low carb chicken and zucchini recipe cooked in one skillet with black beans, corn, fresh herbs, taco seasoning and melted cheese on top.

• Author: ifoodreal.com
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp avocado or coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium bell peppers, chopped
• 1 lb boneless & skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1 cup corn, frozen or fresh
• 2 large zucchini, diced
• 14 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp taco seasoning
• 1 tbsp cumin, divided
• 1 tsp salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup Tex Mex or Colby Jack cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat large deep skillet on low – medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper; saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Move vegetables to the side of the skillet and add chicken. Sprinkle with 1 tsp cumin, salt and black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, zucchini, taco seasoning and remaining cumin. Stir, cover and cook on low-medium for 10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle with cheese, cover and cook for a few minutes or until cheese has melted. Top with green onion and cilantro. Serve hot, on its own or with brown rice or quinoa.

Store: Refrigerate covered for up to 3 – 4 days.

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.

Recipes and images are a copyright of ifoodreal.com

An Elite CafeMedia Food Publisher

Hmmm...there is still a blog!

Hmmm...I do still have a blog.  It's kind of interesting as I was reflecting on what happened 4 1/2 years ago on July 18th (which is my husband's birthday).  4 1/2 years ago on that date, the nurse from the Oncology Clinic in our community called to tell me that the biopsy was positive for cancer.  I had Breast Cancer!!!!
In reflection I had always thought that a diagnosis such as that would be devastating.  It was.  Life has a way of carrying on though.  I still had a job that I wanted to keep. Laundry still needed to be done.  I had a garden that still needed tending to.  Life was moving along and I had to too.

As the magical 5 year anniversary is approaching, I had a thought last night.  One of my coworkers is about 8 years younger than I am.  I was thinking about going back in time about 8 years and what I would do.  I definitely would not want to go back, but if I did, would I do anything differently?  Probably not except to not have missed that one year when I didn't have a mammogram.  If I had of had that mammogram the year before I was diagnosed, would it have been seen?  I'll never know.  Ladies....do not skip a year!!

The breast biopsy

So, now we're up to the point where I go in to have a breast biopsy.  This was done on July 16th in Springfield at the Breast Center.  This is a wonderful facility with very caring people.  The hubby went with me for moral support.  He just had wait behind in the waiting room.  When I first arrived, there was a lot of paperwork to be filled out as I had never been a patient there before.  And of course, I forgot my insurance card.  Let's just say that my mind was a little boggled.  The receptionist was very forgiving and told me that I could email it to her.  After doing all the paper work and getting registered, I was directed to the main waiting room where a few other women waited, but mostly men.  A short while later, I was summoned along with another woman and told to follow them.  We crossed the hall and went through a door that was marked, "Authorized Personell Only".  Guess I was authorized.  The nurse took us to dressing rooms and I was told to dis-robe from the waist up and don one of their form fitting gowns.  I then locked up my clothes and purse in a locker and headed toward the next waiting room.   In this room were about 20 women of varying ages.  Some were there just for their mammograms but other were there for more serious things.  Women came and went.  When some left, they later returned.  As I would later find out why.   Then came my turn and I was called.  I was taken for another mammogram.  Geesh....hadn't I had several of those already?  Then I was taken back to the waiting room.   A little later I was summoned once again, only this time it was for an ultra sound.  The technician was very pleasant, but all during the time they're looking at your breast with their device, you want to ask them what they see.  Not only did she examin the breast but she also slid the  transducer  up to my arm pit.  I'm just praying then that nothing had spread to my lymph nodes if there even was anything.  At this point I'm still thinking that I'll have a negative or benign biopsy.  Remember,  I read that 80% of biopsies come back negative.  After the ultra sound, I was once again returned to the waiting room.  Now there were fewer women in the room than before.  Maybe they were getting caught up and cycling the gals through.  Next a nurse comes through, calls my name and goes to a glass enclosed conference room.  She takes my vitals and proceeds to want to make an appointment for me on Friday to come back in to get my biopsy results and schedule an MRI at that time.  My head began to spin as she was insinuating that the biopsy was going to come back positive for a malignancy!  I just wasn't ready for that!  I'm still thinking positive!  The nurse was very understanding and told me that she could call me with the results instead.  Much better.   When we were finished she took me back to a room with an exam/procedure table.  There was also an ultra sound machine and several other technical devices in the room.  I was helped onto the table and the technician began prepping and draping my right breast.  A wedge was placed beneath my right shoulder blade to project my breast more.  After the betadine and drapes, a sandwich baggie full of crushed ice was placed on my breast and I was told not to touch it, no matter what.  This was done, I was told, to reduce the blood flow during the procedure.  It also would help when the Dr. numbed it up.  A short while later the Dr. came in and introduced herself and told me what would be happening.  I will have to say that they answered any questions that I came up with.  I wanted to see the device that they would be using to take samples of the lump in my breast.  When it was time to begin, they removed the ice and the Dr. used a short needle to numb my breast in several places.  Then she asked for the next injection and I shouldn't have looked, but I saw that needle and I got a little anxious, but it didn't hurt as the other anesthetic had already taken effect.  The Dr. then made a small incision on the side of my breast to be able to insert the device to take samples.  She then used the transducer and ultrasound to find the suspicious lump and take 3 samples to send to pathology.  Each time there was a snapping sound as the device extended and bit a small sample.  Each time her assistant put the specimen on a slide.  She asked me once if I wanted to see that, but I declined.  Shortly after, we were done.  I was cleaned by the tech and laid there a short while before a nurse came in.  She helped me to sit up and get to the chair where she bandaged my incision and bound my chest with a large ace bandage.  Next came my bra to hold an ice pack on the injured breast.  I then donned my shirt (wished I'd worn a larger one) and buttoned it back up.  I was then counseled on what to expect over the next 24 hours and how to care for myself.   Once again, a great nurse who was very caring.  I was escorted back out to my waiting husband and we left the facility.  We had a little shopping to do while in town.  I felt fine, but looked a little lopsided as the right breast was packed with the ice bag.  I had to keep it iced for the next several hours and had to keep the binding on for 12 hours to keep the swelling down.  The next day I was pretty good and could shower later that day.  Little did I know that injury to the breast was just the beginnning.

Let me first begin by asking if you do your self checks of your breasts?  If you don't......start immediately.  I have encountered so many women who are too young to begin their mammograms that have BREAST CANCER!!!   You have got to be pro-active.  Know your body.  If you have any susupicion of an abnormal lump or bump...SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!!  I can't emphasize this enough!!

As for my own journey.....I had been fairly regular with the mammograms.  Recently I had heard that we can begin skipping a year if we've had normal readings.  I did not get one last year.  Now I wish I hadn't skipped.  I had noticed a lump on the outer right quandrant of my right breast.  Our local (1.5 hrs away) mobile mammography unit was scheduled to be in our are on June 9th and I promptly made an appointment.  I kept the appointment and had the usual x-ray.  Nothing different.  Just a little concerned and anxious to hear the results like....all clear just fibrosis.  Usually a letter is sent, but nothing.  During this time we had left and took a little vacation out to Ogalala, Nebraska.  I received a phone call from my regular physician telling me that I needed to go back and get a diagnostic mammogram and possibly and ultra-sound.  I scheduled that to happen as soon as we got home.  So we're talking about 2 weeks of time here.  At the next appointment, after the mammogram had been read, a tech came and told me that he'd be doing an ultra sound.  We did that and he took it to the Dr. to be read.  He came back and I asked him what they thought.  He said they thought it should come right out.  He never said the word cancer, but that's what immediately popped into my head.  Ok...time to jump into overdrive and get things taken care of.  By the time I got home a couple of hours later, my Dr. had called to tell me that she was referring me to a breast surgeon.  Doom and gloom.  Ok....so now what?  How do we get those films from one location to the other.  We're talking a distance of about 3 hours.  Mountain Home, AR to Springfield, MO.   They were going to MAIL them....yikes!   Do they know how long it takes to get things mailed??   I called them and told them I'd be picking them up the next day and hand delivering them to the breast surgeon.  We went and picked them up.  On the ride up, being the curious little thing that I am, in the disk envelope was a folded up piece of paper.  I pulled it out and it was the radialogists reading of my mammogram and ultra sound.  The words "highly suspect malignancy" jumped out at me.  They should have just as well be in bold.  It's a good thing the hubby was driving because I would have crashed.  Tears flooded from my eyes as I realized I was dealing with something I had never delt with before and had no idea what to do!!!   I've always been pretty much in control of everything in my life and been able to take care of things.   I just didn't know what to do!

So now we wait.  The breast surgeon has the films.  I call his office to see if they have looked at them yet and made any detemination.  The films have to be uploaded into their system and a radialogist has to look at them.   Too much time.  Bless all those nurses hearts for answering my questions and phone calls!  Finally a nurse from the Breast Care Center calls and tells me I'm scheduled the next Wednesday for a breast biopsy.  Well....we're finally getting some things done!  I'm feeling a little better.  So now what do we do...we research.   We all have the world wide web (www) at our fingertips and we research when we want to know something.  Well, 80% of the breast biopsies done are benign......yippee!   I want to be in that group.  So, for now, I'll stop here.  I need to take a break and so do you to go check your breasts!!!

Where have I been?  Well of course, life on a farm and trying to work at school keeps a gal busy.   Then you throw grandbabies visiting and trying to take care of the garden into the mix and you get BUSY!  Then add a Breast Cancer Diagnosis in on top of that and that's when things just don't get done.

So now, our saga takes a turn.  We were just a retired couple enjoying ourselves and the farm, fishing a little now and then and socializing with the neighbors.  On July 18th, 2014 (my husband's birthday) I received the diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  Our world flipped upside down. Our emotions were on a roller coaster.  It was difficult to grasp the diagnosis.  It is such a slow process to move through.....you feel as though your feet are being sucked in mud.  Denver and I determined that Breast Cancer isn't a medical emergency, but a mental emergency.  You just can't get anything done quickly!  It's always hurry up and wait.   You make an appointment with a Dr. but it's not for another 2 weeks.  Or you have a procedure scheduled and it's a week and a half away.  All the time you're waiting you go to the world wide web and begin searching for anything related to your diagnosis.  You literally flood your mind with information and it soon becomes an overload.   You have to walk away and take some healthy time for yourself.  Go do something that you enjoy and don't think about the dreaded cancer. 

Things are better now...we're progressing.  In another post I'll give you more information and perhaps it will help someone else.  God has been with us all the way and it's evident in the minimal treatments I've needed compared to some in our community.  It's just difficult for me as I've always been in control of everything in my life and with this.....I'm not!   I just don't like it!!!  In face, I HATE CANCER!!!

IT IS COLD HERE AND WON"T WARM UP!!  Here it is the 3rd of April and I still have a fire in the wood stove and am wearing long sleeves and a vest.  Where is the warm weather???

Oh yea....we had it a couple of weeks ago when I planted the potatoes and onions.  It has been warm on intermittent and sporadic days....just enough to tease us and give us a taste of the luscious warmth!

I'm ready to put other things in the garden and plant annuals in the flower beds!   I want to look at the growing things in anticipation of picking ripe things!  I want warm breezes instead of the cold howling winds that we have here on top of this hill!

Patience....patience....I know these things will come....it's just patience that I need!!

Yesterday was one of those gray, drizzly cold days.  Today though, is better in that there is no rain, but the wind is howling.  The sun is trying to shine through high clouds but there isn't enough to warm things up.   Although the thermometer says 50....it sure doesn't feel like it!

The clutter has been cleared from the moving boxes!

It's time for some pictures to be posted of our beautiful new home!  We are now living comfortably in

our new space.  When you search, look and plan for designs, you imagine yourself living in that

space.  I think we did a great job as we feel pretty comfortable in this new home.  I've spent the last 2

months toting things from the shop building next door that we lived in during the building process. 

I'm still moving some small things but for the most part everything is put away.  I'm sure though that

I'll be shuffling some of these things as I find how I use them in the new space.  And, we didn't have

a linen closet built any where so that is still something to be added by our cabinet man when he

finishes our banister.   But, if that's the only thing that we over looked.....then I think we did a pretty

good job!   Since this would be such a long post to describe each picture and room.....I'll take a few of

them at a time.  I'll try to describe what we've done and add in some pictures...there's still work to be

done.

So....getting right along with it......

When you come in the back door, you come into the utility room or some people call them mud

rooms.   Regardless....we need a place to come in...take off shoes.....hang up coats .....do laundry.

This is where we hang our coats and jackets.  It was originallly framed for a door, but in thinking about it....we didn't put a door on it.  Make it as easy as possible and the coats will get hung up. We did add beadboard to make it a little more visually appealing and then hung hooks that we already had.  We also gave it a coat of paint....a warm green...different color than the walls.    I like it!! Works pretty good!

After living with this for a few weeks.....I think I might have to add a couple more hooks down low for more hanging space

Building the House

 

This was the beginning.....pouring the stem walls for the foundation!!