a texas breeze and bees in trees

Well, it's been a little longer than usual since my last posting due to travels and preparing for moving. Last week I was in Texas searching out a new place for my family to live after we move there in July. It was way more challenging to find a suitable house than I realized it would be. Apparently the demand from students and the limited number of places available really makes for a competitive market.


I was totally blown away and it took us a few days to really understand the town and it's dynamics. Comparatively here in GA we rent a great three bedroom house on about 1/2 acre with trees, garden space and a nice big yard for $775/mo. In Denton, a moderate three bedroom with small fenced yard and close neighbors goes for about $1200/mo. Big difference! So it was a shock to get comfortable with that.

However, I'm looking forward to our new adventure that will be starting up very soon. Denton seems like a great place with a neat town square built around an old awesome courthouse where you can hear live music every Thursday night during the summer. There are lots of public parks with facilities like a disc golf course and water park.




Today we had one of the coolest homeschool lessons ever. Early this morning while I was fixing breakfast Ian came running into the kitchen and said, "What is there an invisible bee army outside my room that's making a big buzz?" So I answered, "Of course not you silly." A short while later I had to get something out my car and so I went outside and was greeted with a very loud buzzing sound.

I looked out into the yard and there in the branches of the silver maple were tons of bees in frenzied flight. I called Ian out and told him that there was indeed a bee army right outside and the reason was because the hive here had split and was swarming.

After a while the bees settled in to this tight glob protecting the queen while the scouts found them a new home. This evening when I went out to check on the swarm, it was gone. I guess the scouts picked out somewhere good and they went off to make it home. I wish I knew where there went simply so we could follow the rest of the process.

Nature is so awesome!

journeys continue

Well, as always life is moving swiftly onward, here is an image of our baby robins on their way to fledgling.

So, today our journey in Athens takes a huge step. Jim officially graduated from UGA receiving his PhD in Anthropology. For a moment a few months back he contemplated the idea of not walking the stage, but his opinion was quickly overthrown by my own and his mother's. At least for me, being present to see him walk that stage in all the wizardlike regalia was not only a testament to all of the hard work he has put in, but to my own as well.

Here we are in front of the stage: Jeanne, Me, Ian, Jim and Benny. The graduation was followed by a rockin party later in the day complete with BBQ, Beer and live music by local musician Nathan Sheppard.

wandering the greenpath

I returned home this evening from a deep place. My family and I attended a gathering in western NC focused on the green path. What is the green path you're wondering? Well, it's a lot of different things rolled into one. For me it means learning to exist in harmony with our sacred mother earth as well as her other inhabitants, and being in tune with the plants surrounding us that help give us food and medicine, clothing and shelter, appreciating that the water we have to nourish our bodies is a gift that we as humans cannot live without, knowing that many if not all of my actions do have an impact on someone else somewhere whether directly or indirectly, allowing myself to breathe deep and feel connected to the essence of life that exists in every living being.

Sharing space in the woods with other like minded individuals, hiking with my boys, cooking for others, weaving a bittersweet basket, washing my face in the cool mountain stream, hearing the rain falling on the tent, eating wild foods and fresh picked greens, sharing stories about old friends, re-connecting, just taking the time to slow down and be, made for an exhilerating experience. I feel rejuvenated and grounded and back in touch with my inner self. Ah, springtime in Appalachia always makes me feel whole.

i could hear the trees,

branches swaying,

and the chill breeze blew me backwards into birdsong,

clear and loud,

the land heaved a deep breath and the mayapple danced,

my spirit resounded with joy

Emerging

In between & Quinoa Salad

This house we're renting came complete with flower beds and pre-existing garden beds (albeit overgrown). It's one of the things I love most about this place.


I spent most of today outside. I find that allowing myself to be in the moment enables me to more easily flow into what is coming next. As we prepare for a life changing move, I am intentionally doing things that help me feel grounded and somewhat normal.

For instance this morning Ian and I worked out in the garden. I had planted the greens so thickly that there is an overabundance for us to enjoy. There are so many little bundles coming up that I cleared a whole bed and transplanted it full of extra kale and mustards. Even though the greens season isn't too too long, we will have enough green leafies to last us, and plenty to share.

I also cleared a bed for zucchini and planted squash, I know they may continue to bear after we move but I am simply craving home grown food. I spent time cleaning up some of the existing flower beds too so that we can really have the chance to enjoy the abundant beauty that is surrounding this house.

For me, working in the garden just feels right. I know that we can't plant anything that bears later on in the summer like tomatoes or peppers or winter squash, but planting and caring for what I can reminds me where my food comes from. Allows me to take at least some responsibility for the nourishment I am consuming and feeding my family and lessens my need to buy something in the grocery store shipped from far away.

I am looking forward to our change of scenery andgetting to know a new place. With the stresses that come from a big move looming, It's important to take time out and breathe. To play with Ian and rest with him too. To allow myself to feel connected to this place and begin loosening my roots from the red clay soil.


Quinoa Salad

1c quinoa, rinse and soak 20 minutes

2T olive oil
1/2c chopped onion
1 clove garlic minced
1c favorite frozen veggies
1/2c frozen spinach (or 1c fresh)
1 cube Rapunzel vegetable boullion dissolved in 2c water

While Quinoa is soaking, heat lg skillet and add oil. Then sautee onion and garlic until soft. Add frozen vegetables and then spinach. Drain quinoa and add to hot skillet. Sautee 2 minutes until well coated then add vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce ehat to simmer and cook approx 25 minutes until tender. Adjust seasoning to your preference.

green grows the sringtime

Hole in the Yard by:Ian Veteto

There is a hole in the yard.
There is a hole in the yard.
What do you think lives in the hole in the yard?
A snake?
Or a bunch of worms?
Or is it just a hole in the yard?

Oh I love the glow of greens growing in the springtime, and the taste of them too. We harvested our first greens this week including kale, mustards, spinach and radishes as well as some lettuce. They were all so very delicious.




We have so much packed in there since I direct seeded that we can eat what I thin out and I have plenty of already growing beauties to create a whole other bed of greens:) The bounty of the plant world is pretty much never ending.

It will still be a while before they are ready to harvest but our little English peas are slowly making their way towards the trellis so they can climb, climb, climb.

Just a pic of some busy bees loving the spring days. This is a hive that the folks we rent from thought was on its way out a while back and then realized that it was still thriving. So, here you can see these honey bees made it through the winter and are seemingly doing very well. Ian and I watch them going about their business pretty much everyday. There is still hope for the bees, hooray! This hive is untreated, unattended by human hands, and doing great!

Soul Funk Greens

So, it's not often that my hubby comes up with anything good for the kitchen. Usually when he tries to cook something it doesn't work out that well. He is most often relegated strictly to the grill when it comes to food preparation.

Anyway, for a while now he has been talking about these soul funk greens that he used to fix, allegedly. Although in all honesty his story was corroborated by my in-laws. He told me that this THE way to fix some delicious southern style green and he had based his original trials off a dish he had eaten many years ago at Soul Vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta. Well a few months ago we were having dinner guests and he insisted that I make them, and so I did. Well, they were really tasty and I have made them numerous times since. Who knew?

I don't have a specific recipe but here's a list of the ingredients and you can just use your imagination and taste buds to get it how you like it.

1 bunch of greens (collards are my favorite)
fresh garlic, chopped (maybe 3 cloves)
onion, chopped (about 1/2 c)
nutritional yeast
soy sauce or salt
pepper
hot sauce or fresh jalapeno, chopped and seeded
tomato, chopped