Monthly Archives: April 2024

After the Snow

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The snow has finally stopped. The sun is making a showing. The greenhouse stayed above 0, the lowest temperature being 5.6℃. I can breathe a sigh of relief. The thought of losing all the seedlings was a bit distressing. I think that’s all behind me now. The greenhouse is now sitting at 22.8℃. The top vents have opened a little. I took in 2 pails of snow to melt.

Today I’m working on keeping a beginner’s mind. What the heck is that? you might query. It is to look at something or situation as if for the first time. For me, it is having an open or no mind, having no judgement and bringing no past feelings and experiences to the present moment. It is a very hard concept to understand first and then to practice it. I will probably fail many times. Then have to try and try again many times. I succeeded today, thus saving myself some misery. The effort was very worth it.

It helps to think of a beginner’s mind as a child’s mind. Children don’t have any expectations, preconceived notions, or past experiences to limit their view of a situation. They also have endless curiosity towards something new and are open and eager to learn. They are opened to a world of possibilities. I like to watch them at play. They teach me alot about being in the moment and making a concerted effort.

Resilience

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When I woke up this morning it was still snowing and the wind still blowing. It is still. The snow is piled up against the greenhouse door again. The two pails of snow I took in yesterday did not amount to much when melted. All is cosy inside, the roof being insulated with the cover of snow. The little heater is running. The temperature barely 6℃. Being no sun yesterday there was no residual heat built up to help the heater. As long as it’s above 0 that is good enough.

While not feeling stressed, I am not exactly ecstatic or joyful. I wonder how the plants are feeling in these times of climatic change. I will pay close attention. They might teach me the art of resilience by how they grow and perform. It will give me a sense of purpose in observing and helping them to thrive. We are all connected. We need plants as much as we need other people to survive. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

I’m deciding what to do with my #100dayproject – of a daily painting for 100 days. I’ve done up to day 58. I’m tired and not so enthused any more. I feel I’m regressing, my colours muddy. Perhaps it’s fatigue talking. I can paint simpler things. I can also take longer. I can also quit if it doesn’t bring me joy. That’s what Marie Kondo would say.

I am still surviving the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I’m learning changing the time I come to the keyboard makes a difference.

Snowy Wednesday

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The snow came as promised. Along with it wind. It feels wintery except that it’s not cold. The snow is wet and heavy, weighing down the branches of the neighbour’s spruce trees, but not my spirit. I feel just fine, thank you very much. I’m happy we’re getting this moisture to quench the earth’s thirst. I’m getting used to the unpredictableness of the weather and life. It’s a rocky ride. I’m hanging on.

Everything is cool, meaning ok in the greenhouse. We have a little heater that turns on when it gets below 7℃. There’s the rockwall and buckets of water that hold in the heat during the day and give off heat at night. So the heater seldom runs unless we have a long stretch of cloudy cold days. Seeing that the snow was piled up by the greenhouse door, I filled 2 buckets to melt inside for watering. I see that 2 of the photos are a bit blurry. Drat! They will have to do. They’re good enough. So ends day 17 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Waiting for the Snow

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Photo by KoolShooters on Pexels.com

It’s a cool overcast morning. I felt the weather in my left hip when I woke this morning. There’s 50% chance of shower today and 70% chance of snow tomorrow. I see it as all good. It’s moisture for our thirsty earth. While I’m waiting for all this, I want to keep moving on down the line. I have been sitting and pondering too much in the past. I have not yet acquired the skill of letting go. I sit and think too much about the mystery of everything. Now I see that most of the time there are no mysteries. I have given people and things too much credit. They just are what they are. There are no hidden depth or meaning.

So on with the show – day 16 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I like to live by #46 of Regina Brett’s 50 life lessons from God Never Blinks. It has been my motto for many years. And I have gotten up, dressed up and shown up, no matter my mood.

  1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
  2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
  3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
  6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
  8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
  9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
  10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
  11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
  12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
  13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
  15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
  16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
  17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
  18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
  19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
  20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
  21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
  22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
  23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
  24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
  25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
  27. Always choose life.
  28. Forgive everyone everything.
  29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
  31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
  33. Believe in miracles.
  34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
  35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
  36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
  37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
  38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
  39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
  40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
  41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
  42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
  43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
  44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  45. The best is yet to come.
  46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
  48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
  49. Yield.
  50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

While I’m waiting for the rain and snow, I have prepped the paper for another painting for my 100dayproject. I’m a litle over the halfway mark. It is not always easy and fulfilling. Sometimes it is a drudgery. That’s the nature of a commitment. I have to work through those days. Next – I have potted up the bitter melon, zucchini and pumpkin seedlings. I have many more seedlings to repot. I can easily get overwhelmed if I think of it all. I don’t. I have to take one bunch and one day at a time. I can’t affort to look at the whole picture. It will deplete all my energy.

Things I Don’t Have to Do Anymore

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Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com

A windy and cloudy April Monday in Saskatchewan. Snow in the forecast for Wednesday. The weather, like life, is turbulant. The word turbulant started the jukebox in my head. The Everly Brothers are singing Ebony Eyes. The wind sounds like someone weeping. I imagine heaven is crying for the sorrows of the world.

It is a good day to lunch and be surrounded with friends, have a nice meal and share the good and bad times. It’s a good day to relax and let go some. It’s not a day to pick the cobwebs out of my head or do tricky math. Someone else can figure out to save the world today. I don’t think I mind shirking my duties. I am dang tired of doing the proper thing all the time. I found a list of 15 things I don’t have to do anymore on Tiny Buddha. Too bad I didn’t come up with them on my own.

  • You don’t have to wait for change.
  • You don’t have to accept anything you’re not comfortable with in your relationships.
  • You don’t have to ask for permission to do what’s best for you.
  • You don’t have to follow anyone else’s advice or rule book.
  • You don’t have to be afraid of failing.
  • You don’t have to be the same as you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a day ago.
  • You don’t have to continue doing anything that no longer feels right for you.
  • You don’t have to feel guilty about saying no or accomplishing less.
  • You don’t have to ignore or suppress your feelings and instincts.
  • You don’t have to hide your pain to make other people feel comfortable.
  • You don’t have to go it alone.
  • You don’t have to fix anyone else or make them happy.
  • You don’t have to be ashamed of your past. .
  • You don’t have to worry about what’s coming in the future.
  • You don’t have to stress about doing something big to change the world.

On Plans and Planning

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Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com

Beginning is the toughest thing to do. There are many things I want and need to do but how do I start? Often I am overwhelmed with indecision. I waste much time fiddling and twiddling, pacing and drinking tea. It’s a habit hard to fix. I have had it for so long that it is woven into my very fabric. I am not a planner. I live by the seat of my pants. I have no concrete plans for anything.

Perhaps I could make some changes to make life easier. I’ve done well so far winging it but I could do better if I sit down and write down whatever it is I want. Then break it down in simple small steps on how to get there. That would be a plan. We’re halfway through the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I can start working on making plans for the second half. I found a few famous quotes to inspire me.

  • “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
  • “By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
  • Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra
  • The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.” – Lil Wayne

How I do start the day is always with my morning tea. I used to meditate with 20 minutes of sitting meditation with Mark Williams on Youtube. I’ve given that up and play Wordle and Spelling Bee instead. My brain wants to busy. It feels wasteful doing nothing. I’m not sure it’s a good thing. At least I am not subscribing to play so the time is very short. I guess I do have a mental plan of limiting myself.

All in Good Time

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Friday morning coming down and it’s a cool one. Though the greenhouse temperatures are good, staying above freezing on its own even at night, things are not taking off just yet. I guess I’m impatient, wanting now, now, now! The snowpeas are growing tendrils. The seeded lettuce are poking their heads above the soil. The spinach is still skinny but the radish leaves are getting fatter as are the Gai Lan. They will burst forth all in good time.

The seedlings are doing well also. They are robust, thriving in the greenhouse. They get plenty of light in the day. The cool nights keep them from bolting and getting leggy. I can repot some while waiting for the other seeds to germinate. I can get swamp if I’m not careful. Even after all these years of gardening and starting my own seeds, I still have many doubts. It is still a miracle when I see them germinate and poke their heads above the soil. I do not take anything for granted. I tend to over seed – just in case.

This year I am being a little more bold and confident. I cut back a little. Prices have gone up and you get fewer seeds in a pack. I label the pots with the number of seeds I sow. That way I would know the germination rate. It would help for next year’s sowing. So far I’m pretty happy that it’s almost 100%. There are those seeds that’s too small to count. I’ve also started to date my seed packs so I know how old the seeds are. 3 years is supposed to be the best before date. But nothing is set in stone. Here is an interesting video about a seed grower in Saskatchewan. It’s inspiring me.

Quirky Thursday

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I hope I can crank out a post today. I’m feeling a bit quirky and restless, thinking about my paper clutter and that income tax thing. I’ve been procrastinating about them for months now. What a waste in energy, eh? You think knowing that I would buckle down and do something about it. No, it doesn’t work that way. It has to be that deadline that will do the trick. So I should stop feeling the guilt and the weight of putting off. Just forget about it till then.

It’s better if I put my energy into doing something useful. Wish I could dance away my quirkiness like Tom Hanks in Big. That would be so cool. Hey, it works just watching that clip. Now I am settled and more at ease. I can evaluate my progress since I’ve learned about Jim Kwik, watching his videos and reading his book. I’ve memorized 3 phone numbers and my social insurance number. I understand how easy it is to remember names by linking it to another person. It’s not a huge gain but it’s a step. I’m not so worried about senior moments now.

Well, this is it for another day of the UBC. It’s all I can handle today. It’s enough.

Seedy Wednesday

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It’s another Wordless Wednesday in the blog world. Wish I have some fantastic photos. It would save labouring to get the words out. Alas! My yen for photo shots disappeared sometimes this year. Where it went I do not know. I hope it comes back. I miss the pleasure it gave me. The most recent pleasure that registered with me was getting my new Cosori electric kettle. I love getting a fast cup of hot water for my tea.

I’m not in any bad way or mood. The day is rather overcast and windy. The greenhouse vents hardly opened at all today. The guy had the automatic openers installed yesterday. They save me from trotting back and forth to open and close the vents. I hadn’t minded the exercise but I don’t miss it either. I used the saved energy in sorting out my seed piles. I hang on to everything, very old, old and not so old. The mess was making my head crazy. I had to sit down to sort and discard. Still have alot to sort but making some progress. My head doesn’t feel quite hairy.

I found some seeds I ordered last year but haven’t opened. They are now and seeded. I’m looking forward to some catnip and sesame. I hope I won’t attract all the neighbourhood cats. My sister says that her cat and the neighbour’s cat really love her catnip. She has it in a planter on her deck. Her cat rolls her head in it and the neighbour’s cat tried to rip it out of the pot. Cat pot! I guess they get high on it.

I registered another pleasure just now. I see that the comfrey has germinated. Well, I see one green head poking through the soil. While comfrey has many uses, I am growing it to use as mulch for the garden and to make compost tea to enhance the health of the soil. I’ve learned all this from watching all those gardening videos on Youtube. You can learn just about anything on Youtube. Well, that is it, that is all for this 10th day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

The Eclipse

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Morning and I have risen. I had such high hopes that I could sit down and whip out a post for today’s Ultimate Blog Challenge. But no such luck. I’m stuck in the eclipse of my mind and yesterday. We didn’t see much of the eclipse here in Saskatchewan. It reached 41% at maximum and was gone in an hour.

Not having the proper eyewear, we did not look at the sun. We experienced the clouds. Because I’m such a weather vane, I was paying attention to see how the eclipse would affect me. I felt no noticeable effects most of the day until the sun came out full force in late afternoon. I was hit with a headache accompanied by a chill. A tylenol and glass of wine at supper eased my discomfort. I had a good night’s sleep.

Now it is 2 in the afternoon. In my stuck-for-words time, I had soaked 4 more kinds squash seeds. Time is getting away on me. I got too relaxed in my seeding planning. Now trying to catch up before it’s too late. I cannot afford to nor do I not want to waste time in being stuck. I try to do something else in the meantime. So in the meantime I’ve also painted my little creation for today’s #the100dayproject. I wasn’t super motivated but it required little effort in moving muddles of paint around. And voila – a picture. Looks like I painted mysel or how I felt!