Morning Freshness

I woke up surprisingly early this morning and my first thought was to get outside! Yesterday we had a cool front come through AND RAIN! We all praise God for rain and ask Him to please send more soon!

This morning I enjoyed the cooler temperatures and the morning dew! Click on any photo to being up the enlargements page.

Sunflowers at full height 6-8 feet tall. 

The dark blob in front of one of the middle heads it is a humming bird.

I did not plant this watermelon.

It showed up as a volunteer a few weeks after I planted my garden.

The original "seed leaves" were unidentifiable. 

But when I recognized the watermelon leaves I decided not to "weed it out," but to let it grow.

I took this picture to show the dew on the grass!!! Dew, friends, we had a dew!!! 

 

Before sunrise.

 

Baby cantaloupe. 

Already the size of a softball.

 

Bean Trellis. I put cardboard underneath to prevent weed growth. 

My happy little garden.

The bare spots were lettuce and potatoes that have been harvested.

We will manure those areas just as soon as I can wield a shovel again.

We will replant for a fall garden very soon!!!

It's too hot to write...

I am SO glad that we have an air conditioner!!! Our temperatures have been soaring for well over a week now, and I am melting....melting...melting.

We have had some back aches in the house this week, but no sickness. Paul and I are both hobbling around and neither one of us can comfortably get baby out of his crib or into it.

Anyway, it has been a hard week. Not much of anything has gotten done. It never ceases to amaze me that kids will set up a play restaurant in the basement and play all day... while the real-life kitchen and dining room are a wreck. Can someone explain this phenomenon to me?

Garden update:
- squash bugs are destroying my zucchini plants again this year! My arch nemeses! We are trying as many organic repellents as we can. But, we are careful because I LOVE honeybees. And, so many organic repellents/killers will hurt bees.
- even though we started seeds indoors and had tomato plants out early, we have not yet gotten one silly tomato!!! I thought that the deer were eating them while they were still green. I got on my hands and knees and investigated all my plants. NO caterpillars, nothing. Someone was just eating the tomatoes. And, then I realized that the plants were close together and that a deer could not navigate that without damaging the rows of tomatoes. So, then I decided it was raccoons. I ruled out rabbits, because no leaves were touched at all.
Well, last Saturday I was watering the garden and our dog, Daisy, went and grabbed a green Roma. I was so mad that I sprayed her with the hose. And, as soon as we could we put a fence up around my tomatoes! It is not pretty, but it keeps the dog out.

We did not start our new school year yet. Back pains put a stop to everything! A friend sent us Latina Christiana I, so I am going to try that with Rebecca and see how she does.

Other than that... I am just trying to stay cool! We midwesterners are not used to 100degree temperatures for weeks at a time. I think I might be acclimating, but it is a slow process. And, I have NO intention of turning off the AC anytime soon.

I will put up some pictures when I find the camera...

Baby's HALF Birthday!

Today baby Jeremiah is 6 months old!!!
Trying to photograph a moving target...
Click any picture to enlarge it.

 

Back to "the old diet"

I think it has been 10 weeks since I radically changed my diet by cutting out: caffeine, sodas, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and then grains and dairy.

In that time I lost 20 pounds from sheer self-control and determination. Then I got sick and lost another 8 or so pounds. I am down 28 pounds!

So - now what? Well, I have reintroduced grains and dairy... and sugar in moderation.

The Primary reason that I reintroduced grains and dairy was/is because I cannot afford the diet of 50-75% fruits/veggies that I was on before!!! We tried it. I worked hard to try to make it work. But, in the end - wheat, oats, and corn MUST be a cheap staple in my home!!! So, we have gone back to our meatless diet of rice, beans, potatoes, lentils, breads, etc. And, I am okay with that! in fact, since the grocery bill dropped so much I am elated with this  change!

I enjoyed my organic juices. I just cannot afford organic fruit on a regular basis. I can't really afford to do the juicing either. When we started this diet we kept saying "this is just for mommy," or "mommy needs her juice." But, what mommy in her right mind can deny healthy food when her kids ask for it?! So, I just don't do the juicing anymore. (And, my brand new juicer broke. Hence my removal of the affiliate link. I withdraw my endorsement until I know that the company will stand by their product and fix it or return our money.)

I like rice and beans... maybe not so much as my "morning juice." But, I like it. And, I like lentils. They are good. And, my garden will be producing soon... we have gotten a few zucchinis. And, the tomatoes should turn eventually. So, I am not complaining. This post is about informing, not complaining.

This is the right course of action. The General of the House let me try the new diet for as long as he could without going bankrupt to buy organic veggies. 

This is not a big deal... just a little information for anyone who might care.

And, because NYLass asked, here is a recent picture of me - after 28 pounds lost!

I have lost 14% of my total body weight! That sounds more impressive than "28 pounds," doesn't it?

Blackberry Bonanza

Paul saw a deer at the edge of our yard browsing. By the time I was in place with the camera the deer was gone. Then, I saw what she (the deer) was eating! Blackberries!

Hooray, what a lovely surprise! I thought those three-leaved vines were just more poison ivy.

There are still  many berries to be picked in the coming days!

I plan to make a cobbler tonight. What is your favorite way to prepare blackberries? Jam? Raw? Pancakes?

Hit the Trail

 MO's MKT Trail (A.K.A. "Katy Trail")

I think I am well

Thank you for all of your prayers!

I think I am finally well!

I am eating real foods again!