May28
Apathy For A Day
Category Archives: need
Mar2
Housebound or Reclused
These late winter snows create survival tactics to say the least. For me with my cold allergy, severe side effects could take my life. So I take precautions, carrying extra gloves, hat, sweatshirts, boots, blanket, and epie pin if we ever have a vehicle breakdown. Of course good snow tires and vehicle maintenance is a must. We have the kitchen fireplace and fire wood in case the furnace would go out.
My mother lives an hour north of of us in Pike County. Pike County is always 10 degrees cooler than St. Charles County, and produces more severe winter storms. We received about a foot of snow the past 10 days, where Mom’s neck of the woods received two foot of snow. Her neighborhood is just outside of the town of Bowling Green. All her neighbors are older like herself, though Mother has a heart condition which keeps her indoors during extreme heat or cold. Normally she has senior assistance come to her house twice a week, but this past two weeks it posed a problem for the agency to get to their clients. I called Mother every day or two, checking on her. She kept saying I am fine, I have food, drinking water, medicines, and a warm house. But she failed to see what her mental and soul health needed. Survival tactics also mean taking care of the inside person as well. Since father’s death in October, Mother is lonely and still mourning. A computer, TV, or novels go only so far. The human voice and human presence heals.
Thursday evening, I decided Dean and I would go up to see my mother on Friday morning after we got the van packed and our banking done for our trip to Kansas City. A funeral wake Friday evening, and a graduation party on Saturday afternoon were the plans with Dean’s family. I asked my mother to come with us, though she declined. I am so glad we went to my mother’s home. She was snowed in, housebound. Two-foot snow piled high on the gravel driveway, mailbox, garage, and sidewalk to the front door. When Mother opened the door, she looked old and reclused to me, almost did not recognize her, and she me. It scared me and made me sad. After helping Dean clean the sidewalk off, while he finished the rest, Mother and I talked. Mother said she must have made a mistake, and should have come down to St. Charles County with us last week. After digging our way out Friday morning, we went into town for a couple of errands and ate lunch at one of her favorite local cafes. Mother just bought a villa a mile away from our home, plans to move there in June. But June is three long months away still, maybe three or four more snow storms away.
Make a visit to your neighbors and family, no matter what age or condition they are in. Their soul depends on it. “Words mean more than what is set down on paper – it takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning”. ~ Maya Angelou
Feb26
Are You A Locavore?
Are you a locavore? Congratulations, if you! Others may be asking, “what is a locavore?” Here is the paraphrased dictionary definition to this 3-year old word: One who eats local foods whenever possible, typically foods grown, raised, and produced within the consumer’s 100-mile radius. I am a locavore. And whenever possible I shop local for most of my other consumer needs. So what are the top 5 reasons to buy local foods and goods? #1 You boost the local economy. #2 You know the integrity of the product you are buying, if you know the farmer or producer. #3 With most foods, you will have a longer shelf life. #4 With herbs, vegetables, and fruits, you know the produce was harvested within a day or two for better nutritional value, not weeks or months ago. #5 You have encouraged “green practices” with less fuel usage with less travel of the product.
For me, it is all about the food! One of my many passwords is “arugula4me”. Each time I enter this password, it reminds of the fresh arugula that will come from Deanna Greens And Garden Art 1/4 acre plot at Boone Hollow Farm in a few short days. I am salivating just writing about it! Dean loves the way the word “arruugulaa” rolls off my tongue, the only time I sound like I am from Italy. Do you have a farmers’ market in your neighborhood? What do you buy from your local farmer(s)?
Nov9
Blessing Jar
Blessings come in different forms. Counting my blessings is a mindset when I buried my father less than 3 weeks ago after his 9-month battle with brain cancer. Still grieving. But I came across this website blog about a blessing jar: http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/11/the-blessing-jar.html. Cute craft idea! The photo below comes from this blog. Reading the blog, it reminds me to recall all the wonderful things that took place this year. It’s been a very difficult year, so I think a bit of a challenge with this blessing search … I will start with my family, my big, big family! To begin my husband, Dean is just want I need. He is multi-talented, jack of all trades. And he is so patient with me, my ideas, my projects, my moods, etc. And on top of that Dean is affectionate and thoughtful. My hubby rubs my stinking feet after a long day working in the greenhouse. And then there is my children … my oldest daughter, Rachel has a smile, kind word, and humor that will turn any sour day into a sweet one! And then my Elisabeth, her beautiful acceptance of this diverse life is such an example to me. She grows more saintly with her patience! Both of my daughters suffer with degenerative disc disease, but continue to bring joy to the people around them despite their pain. My son, Ben has the most tender heart that permeates through this tough world we live in. He held his arm around me during my father’s memorial service. Probably an uncool thing to do in most 19-year old young men’s eyes, but he does not care what others think. My grandchildren, well read about all five in my earlier blog: https://deannagreensandgardenart.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/they-are-mine-alright/. And then there is the extended family. My family grew closer through my father’s terminal illness. My sister traveled 3 trips from the west coast to be at my mother’s and father’s beckon call for months. My two brothers took over the needs of my 97-year old grandfather as my father could no longer take this role. My mother did not give up on my father’s wish to die at home. So she had many endless hours as his nurse, you know, 24/7. My employer was so patient, allowing me time away to run errands for my mother and visit my father. Co-workers and vendors I work closely with, asked how Dad was and I am doing even today. And the solace the greenhouse plants and soil gave me from this tiresome world we live in. So how I can summarize this year is “God is good”. He takes care of us! We are truly blessed! What will you put into your blessing jar? Funny thing about this photo, my Dad’s nickname is Marty. I wonder what musings he is having in heaven today?
Sep12
Sharing Life
Sharing life with those who surround me has helped me grow. Like the 12-foot fig tree we pulled from the greenhouse in May. It needed to be pulled out of the ground, taproot and all in order to move to our yard while the greenhouse is being rebuilt. Apparently, it loves the companionship of our biggest,oldest maple tree as it has shot more fresh leaves in these 4 months than it had in past 4 years. This maple tree has been struck by lightening and storm winds over the years. It is bare in some places, missing branches and foliage. Kind of “bald”, and showing its age. But it provided shelter to another plant this record high-temp summer. Sharing life. So back to me. I suppose there are days I ask “why do I care?” when a reward is not in sight such as a pay raise or guaranteed friendship. Yet, I share my lfe, talents, and hard work for the betterment of my fellow man and woman. As incomplete as I am, through Jesus I am complete. The grace of God. I want to see others grow, flourish, and bloom. I want to encourage my employees to take care of themselves, and I find joy providing the tools to do so. I want my children to love unconditionally; each other, their significant others, children, and those they are surrounded with. I want my husband to know without a doubt he is loved just the way he is. I want my grandfather, parents, and siblings to know I love them, and still need them in my life no matter how old I am. Sharing life, no matter what your circumstances, condition, or age you are in, is worth it. Watch how others grow … and yourself.
Jun5
The Ambiance and Menu
The ambiance and local menu tonight was colorful. My huge kitchen is decorated with vases of our cut flowers and the fireplace mantle is overcome by beautiful blue hydrangeas from my parents’ yard. Dean & I’s dinner plates were filled with roasted spring root veggies and beef farm fresh by friends who allow their cattle to graze in their farm’s natural pastureland. I sit on my patio listening to the evening chatter of the birds and crickets until the summer night sky is dotted with fire flies. I needed some beauty in my life today.
My feline companions bat at the moth and June bug on the patio screen hoping to get a hold of them. Celine and Lily will need to stay inside as the neighborhood Great Horned owl visits our tall backyard maple tree some evenings. This may be one of those evenings. We protect our animals from harm with barriers like screen doors. Maybe similar to how our God sets up boundaries for us. I take in the beauty of our green friends, the plants we care for everyday. Tonight I will not water or trim or plant. I will sit and enjoy the greenery. They endured the sudden hail storm yesterday. Our elephant ear , banana trees, and birds of paradise have ripped leaves now. These plants will come through after some shedding. Is not life like that? We get hammered by hard blows, unwarrantly and needlessly. Yet, we rise again to be ourselves, probably better people for it if we allow. Thank you God for the beauty my eyes behold tonight, and the reminder that the heart heals.
Jun1
Today & Every Morning
I work in the county seat of Clayton, Missouri, the hub for many financial institutions, businesses, and the government offices for St. Louis County. Every morning when I arrive next to the Police Headquarters building, a peregrine falcon calls from the Commerce Bank building, which is at least 20 stories high. It is a destinct call, and it echos between the other tall skyscrapers. Today was no exception. Although I appreciate the photo of the week challenge, to take a photo of this peregrine falcon would show up as a speck in the photo as I do not have a zoom lens. I cannot enter the rooftop of the bank building. I am sharing an online photo of a peregrine falcon found on the city hall and courthouse in Minneapolis. I have yet to see this falcon and his companion up close other than through binoculars. I see remnants of where they have been, torn feathered wings of pigeons along the sidewalks and on top of my 5-story building. Someday I may witness an attack in flight. Until then, I enjoy the echos of their calls to each other. They seem to need each other. 
Deanna Greens and Garden Art 