This garden I have started is infectious. I'm excited about it, I love seeing the plants as they grow, I delight in pulling the mature vegetable from the vine, or out of the soil, or off the stalk. I feel like I'm making a difference, however small.
And it's just fun. I get to grow more more things than I could ever use personally, and I get to give the results to someone who wants....no, needs... it.
I heard about Will Allen from three different places lately. He built an organization in Milwaukee called Growing Power that feeds thousands of people with local and urban agriculture. It includes animal production (tilapia, bees, chickens) and vegetable production. The organization has an arm that provides training and conferences to empower others to do something similar.
Could I do something this big? Do I want to?
Right now, I don't have a vision for a large farm that I can't ultimately run by myself. But it would be so awesome to do. What could I envision, if I really thought about it?
Opportunities are presenting themselves, without my even trying....I just wanted some people to help me with the garden plot, and my church ended up funding the whole project. Now, they've found some grant money maybe we could get. The amount we would need to fund the project is way less than the minimum grant. Maybe we could use the extra money for training?
The recurrence of the name Will Allen seems to be a sign. A nudge.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Lord let my heart...
open to the seed of your word.
Lord let my heart be good soil,
where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart....Lord, let my heart....
Lord, let my heart be good soil.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
My first Mother's Day without Mom
Christmas didn't do it, birthdays didn't do it, but Mother's Day did. It has not been easy the last few weeks. It's bothering me that Mom is gone and the world is going on as if everything is just fine.
Everyone at work has forgotten, and they all compare notes about what they're doing for Mother's day. Sure, they don't mean harm. I just wish they wouldn't go on so much.
Mother's day is fine. It's a good thing, overall, and why not have an occasion to show appreciation for someone whose role in everyone's life is generally overlooked. I don't know what the right response is, though. It seems like it is one of our society's ways of glorifying and denigrating a subset of people. We fabricate a "special" day or month for them because they're so important in our lives. Think: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Black History Month, Nurse's Day, Labor Day, etc. Why not make white man day? or banking executive week? It's obvious - they don't need any gesture of appreciation or power. Our society rewards them well enough every day.
But, I digress.
Lately, I have enjoyed working on Mom's unfinished cross stitch projects. The work has been comforting. I have assumed possession of many of her sewing and craft items. I have more embroidery/cross stitch floss than I could use in a lifetime. But just having this stuff is also comforting - I don't want some stranger working on these things. It seems really sad to me to have it end up in a landfill.
I have made some progress trying to build my own tribe. I went to a second happy hour of KC's No Kidding group and enjoyed it again. This group might be a good thing for me.
Everyone at work has forgotten, and they all compare notes about what they're doing for Mother's day. Sure, they don't mean harm. I just wish they wouldn't go on so much.
Mother's day is fine. It's a good thing, overall, and why not have an occasion to show appreciation for someone whose role in everyone's life is generally overlooked. I don't know what the right response is, though. It seems like it is one of our society's ways of glorifying and denigrating a subset of people. We fabricate a "special" day or month for them because they're so important in our lives. Think: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Black History Month, Nurse's Day, Labor Day, etc. Why not make white man day? or banking executive week? It's obvious - they don't need any gesture of appreciation or power. Our society rewards them well enough every day.
But, I digress.
Lately, I have enjoyed working on Mom's unfinished cross stitch projects. The work has been comforting. I have assumed possession of many of her sewing and craft items. I have more embroidery/cross stitch floss than I could use in a lifetime. But just having this stuff is also comforting - I don't want some stranger working on these things. It seems really sad to me to have it end up in a landfill.
I have made some progress trying to build my own tribe. I went to a second happy hour of KC's No Kidding group and enjoyed it again. This group might be a good thing for me.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
A Cross Post: Life Taking an Expected Turn
This was also posted on my other blog, Rikrax.blogspot.com. I think I'll keep the topic here. Rikrax is much more lighthearted. Here, I can be as manic as I care to be.
My father, a widower less than a year, has deteriorating health. He has some neurological dysfunction and I am steeling myself for a disappointing diagnosis. The fact is we don't have a clear diagnosis, and this is common for neurological problems ("Parkinsonian symptoms and possibly early dementia"). There is another test to be done and this tests may show that a (relatively) simple surgery can help his situation, maybe even reverse some of the symptoms! On the other hand, the test may show that surgery would not help; or, it would only help some with certain symptoms but not all. In those cases, we will have to get through one day at a time.
My Dad lives in Virginia. There is no family nearby. His neurological dysfunction is physical and mental - he is increasingly forgetful and I question his judgment at times. He is stiff, slow, arthritic. The neurologist said he shouldn't drive, but of course, he lives alone in a house at the end of a long semi-country street. Not being able to drive would almost completely isolate him, and as an introvert with neurological dysfunction, he is not gregarious. That means, few friends (yes, a few good ones), and he wouldn't dream of asking anyone to help. In his mind, there is no need to ask for help, anyway.
So....what to do?
I am here in Virginia for the weekend. Two days ago, I went to the neurologist with Dad - to hear the results from some recent testing was the motivation for coming here. I am also working on the house and yard. It's in decent shape but there are signs of neglect here and there. Dad does not like to do yard work, so the yard is rather sloppy. Thankfully, he has a yard service to mow the lawn, trim, and edge. The house is fairly clean, and thankfully, he has a maid service to come in and clean up. There is (mostly) fresh food in the house and Dad's eating well.
It is not a crisis yet. Now is the time to set a direction and some goals, including selling the house, moving Dad to a retirement community, and reducing the driving. Hence, I'm here to clean out part of the house, clean up the yard and look for home maintenance things that will prep the house for sale.
Getting Dad to understand and agree will be the harder challenge.
My father, a widower less than a year, has deteriorating health. He has some neurological dysfunction and I am steeling myself for a disappointing diagnosis. The fact is we don't have a clear diagnosis, and this is common for neurological problems ("Parkinsonian symptoms and possibly early dementia"). There is another test to be done and this tests may show that a (relatively) simple surgery can help his situation, maybe even reverse some of the symptoms! On the other hand, the test may show that surgery would not help; or, it would only help some with certain symptoms but not all. In those cases, we will have to get through one day at a time.
My Dad lives in Virginia. There is no family nearby. His neurological dysfunction is physical and mental - he is increasingly forgetful and I question his judgment at times. He is stiff, slow, arthritic. The neurologist said he shouldn't drive, but of course, he lives alone in a house at the end of a long semi-country street. Not being able to drive would almost completely isolate him, and as an introvert with neurological dysfunction, he is not gregarious. That means, few friends (yes, a few good ones), and he wouldn't dream of asking anyone to help. In his mind, there is no need to ask for help, anyway.
So....what to do?
I am here in Virginia for the weekend. Two days ago, I went to the neurologist with Dad - to hear the results from some recent testing was the motivation for coming here. I am also working on the house and yard. It's in decent shape but there are signs of neglect here and there. Dad does not like to do yard work, so the yard is rather sloppy. Thankfully, he has a yard service to mow the lawn, trim, and edge. The house is fairly clean, and thankfully, he has a maid service to come in and clean up. There is (mostly) fresh food in the house and Dad's eating well.
It is not a crisis yet. Now is the time to set a direction and some goals, including selling the house, moving Dad to a retirement community, and reducing the driving. Hence, I'm here to clean out part of the house, clean up the yard and look for home maintenance things that will prep the house for sale.
Getting Dad to understand and agree will be the harder challenge.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Grace Garden: first work day
The first workday was yesterday, Saturday.
Here I am with the group, turning the soil. The success of everything depends on the soil - always important to do this crucial prep work.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sister In Law's Progress
My sister in law is doing alright. A few months ago, I reported she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since then, she has had surgery, had a port a cath implanted and is taking chemo. I'm not sure about the radiation - I think she's doing that too.
I only learned this because I finally joined Facebook. I joined for two reasons: to join a social group that only has a presence on Facebook, and to find out about my sister in law. No one calls any more, no one emails, or writes. You're supposed to go find out how people are doing on your own.
What a friggin' narcissistic society we live in.
I have stepped over to the dark side. I'm not all that impressed with it - suffice to say, it's serving the purpose I intended. I don't think it's going to replace my presence here or on my other blog.
Back to sister in law's progress - she recovered from the surgery well, and it sounds like her particular type of cancer does not have as bad a prognosis as other pancreatic cancers. That's good. Her Facebook posts are very up beat and she seems to be keeping on a normal schedule fairly well. She posts a lot of Bible verses on her site - if that were to stop, I'd know something is wrong.
I only learned this because I finally joined Facebook. I joined for two reasons: to join a social group that only has a presence on Facebook, and to find out about my sister in law. No one calls any more, no one emails, or writes. You're supposed to go find out how people are doing on your own.
What a friggin' narcissistic society we live in.
I have stepped over to the dark side. I'm not all that impressed with it - suffice to say, it's serving the purpose I intended. I don't think it's going to replace my presence here or on my other blog.
Back to sister in law's progress - she recovered from the surgery well, and it sounds like her particular type of cancer does not have as bad a prognosis as other pancreatic cancers. That's good. Her Facebook posts are very up beat and she seems to be keeping on a normal schedule fairly well. She posts a lot of Bible verses on her site - if that were to stop, I'd know something is wrong.
Friday, April 6, 2012
After it's resolved
So, now work is without my friend. It is going alright, really, and there's a different feel to the group.
Now, almost two weeks out, I think it was the right thing. I saw her yesterday in passing and I think it may have been the right thing for her also. It feels strange to say that.
That is behind me, and I get a lovely break with a half day off from work (to meet the HVAC maintenance guy and enjoy a little me-time) I am ready to move forward. I'm taking on different responsibilities at work and doing some recruiting for new people to assume some of my current responsibilities.
Last weekend provided some much needed rest - I went on a quilt retreat and I could be creative for a whole weekend. I got several things done and started making some new friends in the quilt guild. Prizes were fun, too! Here are two of my completed blocks from the 2011 Block of the Month called Starry Night (Kaffe Fassett fabrics).
Incidentally, I've slipped a bit in my enthusiasm for my "It Works" goals, but the list is still working its magic. Nothing too astonishing but bit by bit, things are going the way I want them to.
Now, almost two weeks out, I think it was the right thing. I saw her yesterday in passing and I think it may have been the right thing for her also. It feels strange to say that.
That is behind me, and I get a lovely break with a half day off from work (to meet the HVAC maintenance guy and enjoy a little me-time) I am ready to move forward. I'm taking on different responsibilities at work and doing some recruiting for new people to assume some of my current responsibilities.
Last weekend provided some much needed rest - I went on a quilt retreat and I could be creative for a whole weekend. I got several things done and started making some new friends in the quilt guild. Prizes were fun, too! Here are two of my completed blocks from the 2011 Block of the Month called Starry Night (Kaffe Fassett fabrics).
Incidentally, I've slipped a bit in my enthusiasm for my "It Works" goals, but the list is still working its magic. Nothing too astonishing but bit by bit, things are going the way I want them to.
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