I just read about the word "Contentment" and how we should live with contentment. Well, for me that is the easiest feeling. I have to say when I lived in the middle of a big town, I didn't feel it, everything was rushed and busy. When I moved to the country, oh I was instantly transformed, because that is where I belonged. That is where I was raised. My father taught me about nature and my heart and soul belongs with nature. The closest one can be to nature is living a country life. I feel happy, secure, and just at home where I live. I don't want for anything. I did have to have flowers and plants of course on our 3 acres, but I had everything I could have wanted and more.
Most recently though I have discovered something else that brings me contentment. I was cooking for my husband and 3 kids. (You know being a nursing mom you actually do cook for that child too. Just the way it should be!!) I stood in my kitchen cooking my heart away and I laid down my kitchen utensils and realized I am happy being here. I could breathe. I didn't have to rush. (Cooking you don't have to always rush. ) At that time of day some parents are rushing from work to go pick up their children that someone else had watched all day. I'm not putting them down, that is something I am not brave enough to do. They rush here and there and end up picking something up that someone else had made. I feel guilty going to a restaurant making someone cook my food when I can do it myself. I felt so proud, comfortable and when my husband comes home and I have a masterpiece put together on his plate and he says that was good, good job mom, I am proud to be a stay at home mom. My whole life is my family!! A nice little confidence booster! I have a place in this life! So I pick up my spatula and continue my masterpiece smiling and say out loud, "I am happy, there is no stress, I don't have to go anywhere, and I just simply love cooking." I live in the moment and smile and know in my heart that I am content and right where I want to be!!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
My Orchard
My Orchard not only consists of peach, apple, plum, and pear trees, I am also raising 3 young children. My 2 girls and my 1 boy. 3 total and how I wish I could grow more, but these three are my life and what I am teaching and feeding them with is everything grown on my almost 3 acres.
I am teaching them the excitement of harvesting, the belief of tomorrow by planting seeds and nurturing by watering and hoeing of our very own garden.
"Our Orchard" consists of
2 peach trees this year that have fruit
and 2 pear trees that have fruit. I, as well, as my oldest were thrilled to see the flowers this spring.
My 2nd daughter was excited to hear by her birthday which is in July we will have fresh peaches!
The other trees not so well this year. One plum died so left the other plum hanging literally with a bloom. Apple trees didn't do well either. The surprise of mother nature. No one said she has only good surprises for us!
My favorite berry to grow is the Blueberry!! I have made a decision to replace the what I call Dutch Iris in front landscaping with a blueberry bush and on the other side of landscape plant another blueberry bush. So that would mean in my landscape along the house 6 blueberry bushes. That is only on one side of the house. As we landscape the other side of house I will put in 2 more. They are the most wonderful bush for landscape. Add beautiful color of red in fall, winter red twigs and dainty white bell flowers in spring. Blue in the summer from the growing berries and harvest time is usually in June. Wonderful addition to the landscape. No pests, although this year did notice ants trying to get to the berries. I use netting while berries are growing and ripe for picking, otherwise birds will get the berries first. I adore them and exited when they are ready to pick. My favorite moment was this summer when my girl's grandparents came over and picked off one for her grammy and one for grandpa. The grandparents loved it. Where else can you drive up a driveway and have the sweetest 6 year old hand you a fresh picked blueberry! That would be only in my blooming garden!!!!
So I send you from my Blooming Kitchen a recipe using fresh fruit:
Fruit Salad
1 pear
1 red apple
1 green apple
1 peach
grapes
Mandarin oranges (1 can, drain and save the juice)
Pineapple chunks (1 can, drain and save the juice)
Cook n serve vanilla pudding (1 box)
Walnuts (optional)
Coconut (sprinkled and optional)
Cut up all fruit. Boil pudding and half of pineapple juice and mandarin orange juice. to the measurement on box needed. Stir constantly. Let cool and pour over fruit in bowl. Sprinkle in coconut and walnuts if desired. (You may add different fruit in season or some of your favorite fruits.)
I am teaching them the excitement of harvesting, the belief of tomorrow by planting seeds and nurturing by watering and hoeing of our very own garden.
"Our Orchard" consists of
2 peach trees this year that have fruit
and 2 pear trees that have fruit. I, as well, as my oldest were thrilled to see the flowers this spring.
My 2nd daughter was excited to hear by her birthday which is in July we will have fresh peaches!
The other trees not so well this year. One plum died so left the other plum hanging literally with a bloom. Apple trees didn't do well either. The surprise of mother nature. No one said she has only good surprises for us!
My favorite berry to grow is the Blueberry!! I have made a decision to replace the what I call Dutch Iris in front landscaping with a blueberry bush and on the other side of landscape plant another blueberry bush. So that would mean in my landscape along the house 6 blueberry bushes. That is only on one side of the house. As we landscape the other side of house I will put in 2 more. They are the most wonderful bush for landscape. Add beautiful color of red in fall, winter red twigs and dainty white bell flowers in spring. Blue in the summer from the growing berries and harvest time is usually in June. Wonderful addition to the landscape. No pests, although this year did notice ants trying to get to the berries. I use netting while berries are growing and ripe for picking, otherwise birds will get the berries first. I adore them and exited when they are ready to pick. My favorite moment was this summer when my girl's grandparents came over and picked off one for her grammy and one for grandpa. The grandparents loved it. Where else can you drive up a driveway and have the sweetest 6 year old hand you a fresh picked blueberry! That would be only in my blooming garden!!!!
So I send you from my Blooming Kitchen a recipe using fresh fruit:
Fruit Salad
1 pear
1 red apple
1 green apple
1 peach
grapes
Mandarin oranges (1 can, drain and save the juice)
Pineapple chunks (1 can, drain and save the juice)
Cook n serve vanilla pudding (1 box)
Walnuts (optional)
Coconut (sprinkled and optional)
Cut up all fruit. Boil pudding and half of pineapple juice and mandarin orange juice. to the measurement on box needed. Stir constantly. Let cool and pour over fruit in bowl. Sprinkle in coconut and walnuts if desired. (You may add different fruit in season or some of your favorite fruits.)
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