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Starting Over

Category: Life Changes | Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:44 pm

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First off, I haven't been posting because I have been in a funk of sorts for quite some time and didn't want to put any negative moods off on anyone else. Having said that, I am back and plan on staying.

Life has certainly changed during the last two years. I am now at a point that seems kind of like starting over. It has drawbacks at our age, however, it can be a great opportunity to create a new life, break old habits and start new ones.

I have done a lot of reflecting back, looking forward, been at times at what seemed like a stand-still and now feel like I can start moving forward. Life is not what we have or don't have but what we do with what we do have. When I am feeling unmotivated I usually come to gardenstew and read, even tho I haven't posted in a long time, I read here often. It is inspiring and helps remind me that some of the best things we can experience are not even tangible. It's the love of life, appreciation of nature, sharing with fiends and just an attitude of gratitude in general.

Now for the gardening aspect of my future. I have 1 acre. I have a group of trees about 40 feet from the home. I started last fall trimming some of the lower branches so I can walk under them. I also have a very low spot amongst the trees that is not a pond but hoping I can create one there. It holds water quite well as the soil here is mostly clay.

Which brings me to my gardening problems. I found out last summer that things don't grow well in clay (at least the vegetables if tried) So I have a lot of research and soil conditioning to do. I plan on starting in one area at a time and am going to make some raised beds this spring. I also have to start a compost pile. More research... as I have never been able to get one to heat up.

We also have problems with water standing, not only because of the clay but also due to the lay of the land. Needless to say we need to do some work to get the water to flow out of the yard and hopefully into my "pond".(Did I mention that my back yard is a skating rink when it freezes! One good solid fall can lay you up for a couple of weeks.)

So even tho it is going to be a lot of work, I am more than ready to begin as soon as weather permits. It took me quite a while to get through the grief of leaving my last home behind. However, I am over it! The time I spent wishing I had it back was time wasted for moving forward. A beautiful garden is something to behold but working and building it is so rewarding. It is always a work in progress but I still can't wait to see some results.

I plan on taking pictures and tracking my progress as things begin to take shape and change. Since I left most of my treasures (garden junk) behind I get to start collecting again!

My first endeavor is going to grow potatoes in straw. I will have to build a trough so the drainage will be sufficient but it looks like a fun project.
Well, it is nice to be back and look forward to being involved again.


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Back In the Real World

Category: Life Changes | Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:35 pm

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Hello, hello, hello!
Well it has been quite a while since I have had the internet. There was a time when I didn't think I could live without it. I proved myself wrong, I am still alive. Things did not quite go like expected when we came to Oklahoma. As I told you all, we came here to take care of Hubby's Dear OLD dad. It took two trips with a huge Uhaul to get all of our possessions moved (1000 miles) Half of our things were here in Ok and we made a trip back to AZ to get the rest.

We came back to OK and were met with total hostility, told to get out and we had 1 day to get the animals (dogs,and Birds) off his property or else.(goes without saying...the man it nuts) After moving and driving 1000 miles we then had to find a place, unload the uhaul, moved my dog kennels and aviaries and then moved the rest of our things we had stored in his barn. Keep in mind that he is unable to even use his barn for anything.

So we moved for 3 days in the non stop drizzle rain. I can't even begin to tell you how unreal this whole thing was. We couldn't go back to AZ as he had quit his job, we sold our house for almost nothing. So what can you do but pick yourself up and start over.

One thing I can say when the recession hit, it really didn't have an impact on us. We had already rid ourselves of job and home.

Skipping ahead to present...Finally found a place we can hopefully afford (hopefully since we are buying it) I 'm all excited, I have one whole acre of grass, trees and unlimited possibilities. However, when I started checking into getting the internet I was on a wild goose chase. Satellite was too expensive and after talking to them I don't think I would like it anyway, no dsl available here where we are, need a tower installed if we want radio/broadband,the little deal from the cell phone co that you plug in to the use port for internet didn't work and also has a limit of how much you can use it a month, so all that is left is dial up.

Turns out NOKIA has a cell phone, that when has a free program from the internet loaded on it, turns into a wi fi emitting device that will handle 4 computers at a time. Cost for the phone and unlimited internet use is $30 a month. Not bad.
It is a little slow but I will not complain, it does work. Since it works off of the cell phone signal, you can use it anywhere you get a signal.

Well, so much for all the drama but now I can get back to things that make life worth living, like gardening. The soil here is something else, solid clay. I will have to work around it but have some ideas for raised beds for next year.

Anyway, this is part of the story of my life for the past year and a half. Have missed being here and have a lot of reading to catch up on.

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Life as an Oklahoman

Category: Life Changes | Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 1:20 am

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Well, I have relocated to Oklahoma. It is so beautiful here I can't believe it. We were on the road for like 32 hours getting here. It was impossible to stop at a motel because of the animals we brought with us. so we did stop and sleep about 2 hours after being on the road for six hours. We worked 20 hours straight the day before we left getting things loaded and packed away what we couldn't take. If my cousin and her BF had not been there helping us we would probably still be packing. Anyway it was the longest, most dreadful trip I have ever taken. My son and d-inlaw came too, but we were each driving a vehicle so no one was riding with anyone. Hard to stay awake after the 20 hours working the day before, 1 1/2 hours of sleep then working another 6 hours before hitting the road. It is a miracle we all got here without an accident. We did stop often tho to walk the dogs and make sure everyone had water. I had to leave the birds home with my cousin but brought my chickens. Everyone thought I was nuts because I brought my chickens. But all of the animals fared the trip better than I did.

I do not have internet where I am living but my mother in law does so when I come to visit her, I will visit you. Hopefully I will have pictures. We have been here one week and already have a garden put in, lots of flowers planted and been fishing 4 times. Life is good so far and I fully expect it to stay that way.

Take care all, and I will get some pictures that will make at least some of you envious. The landscape here is like paradise compared to the desert in AZ. I feel so blessed just being here.

Till later,
DF

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Life and Living

Category: Life Changes | Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm

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I had just popped in to catch up a bit and realized just how much I have missed all of you and this lovely community. There is always something here to cheer up even the weariest days of life.

I have been struggling just to maintain some form of normalcy in my life. I suppose if I admitted it, I would have to say depression had taken up residency in my life. It's odd how sometimes, or most times, we don't recognize it until we feel better. Anyway, having recognized the problem, I can and am doing something about it.

It's not that my life is so bad. I believe it was due to health problems and some of the medications I am on. Then the new Dr. I am seeing tells me that I won't get better living where I am. I live right next to the train tracks. Sometimes the train parks in front of my house and leaves engines running for days. Turns out the diesel fumes are very bad for me,
among other things in the immediate area.

Last visit he asked me if I had moved yet. It's just not so easy to pack up and move! My house is old, but it is paid for. I love my yard and we have built a little paradise in a small area to escape and relax in.

My Hubby's father's health has taken a sudden turn for the worse. We went and visited him for two weeks. After being out of my house for two weeks, I started feeling much better. I was home for 2 days before I was sick again.

Our plan is to move to Oklahoma to help take care of DH father. Here's where things get tricky. I need to sell my house to have money to move on. We will be staying with FIL as long as he needs us. I have a few dogs and a lot of birds, along with some really cute chickens.

It is just a little overwhelming to try to imagine things will come together with the right timing, but I have faith they will.

At any rate, life is going to be changing...hmmm.
I know it will be for the better of all of us. I like change and I love the area we are going to. I can grow a garden in soil that is not contaminated with lead as it is here. The water here is also not good. It has toxic levels of a few things. I don't know how they can even sell it. We don't drink it but we do bathe in it.

The only draw back is leaving family here that I will miss. I will be leaving my two precious grandsons. I know I will still get to see them but I will have withdrawls from holding and cuddling them. They give the best lovin's of anything I have ever came into contact with. I will also be leaving my mom and dad as well as my four children. But I may be gaining my health back and that is worth every thing to me.

I plan to sell most of my birds, but can't part with my dogs. My baby, Bouncer, is 10 mo old and weighs over 80 pounds now. My FIL doesn't want dogs at his place but my SIL said I can keep them at her house a couple miles away.

I haven't advertised my house, but have one prospect. He is coming by this week to let me know if he wants it. If I sell it I can pay off my car and leave it for my daughter. I will be completely out of debt. Yippie! I hate owing on things.

It was so wonderful when we were there. I went outside at night and instead of trains (every 15 min day and night) I could hear an owl and some coyotes.

Things will be changing for sure. One of the lovely things about online communities, you can take them with you and it is one thing that you don't have to leave behind.

I am so looking forward to this change, even tho it is stressful getting everything done to get there. I am going to have one huge yard sale. The things I want to move are my big pile of barnwood, my rocks, and some of my plants. My hubby thinks I could leave my rocks and wood here. It's funny how us garden junk people put value on certain things. But I didn't see very many rocks there!

I met my husband in Oklahoma and lived there for 13 years so I know what it is like. I will have to come up with a good bug repellent that doesn't aggravate my sensitivities to chemicals.

I'm not sure when all of this will take place, but it will be soon. Now that I have vented all of my concerns, I feel much better and need to start packing and sorting. I have a lot of stuff.

Once I am there, I am sure I will have a lot of nice pic's. I will be able to take a walk and see trees and streams and different birds and such. It will be a huge change from walking in the desert where almost nothing grows.

Life is good and getting better!

I really have missed being part of this "stew" and hope I can get things done so I will have time to come and visit!

Have a great day everyone! I am going to pack!!


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