Back to my roots....

Well I haven’t blogged in a while but it is never because I am not pondering or pursuing, or having predicaments for that matter.  Sometimes it just takes some time for the right moment and the clarity to sit and write.  We are going to the farm today and it brings me such peace.  I never fully appreciated this place as a child.  In fact, my mother always made me promise that when I grew up I would move away from the farm.  It was the worst and the best advice she ever gave me.   Cary and I lived there for our first 2 years of marriage, but left 10 years ago and have been chasing our careers since.  I needed 10 years away.  I needed to experience new things and new people.  I now have really great friends who live across the country, and even in Japan.  They are from different cultures and backgrounds and standards and religions and diets.  It is through understanding their experiences that I have evolved into the person I am.  We have traveled to many states and a few different countries.  I love experiencing other cultures.  It is truly profound to me to consider all of the immense differences and yet the very basic similarities of the world.  I think and I hope that these experiences have made me more tolerant and more temperate towards others.  They have certainly changed the person that I am. 

We have, on a couple of occasions, considered moving to another state.  I suppose we could go anywhere on earth we wanted.   I can’t imagine so fully immersing myself in another culture this way.  I know that southerners aren’t always respected in other places.  I wonder how I would be accepted.  Would people ridicule my accent?  Would they appreciate me as a person, or just assume I were an ignorant country girl?   How would I fit in?  How much would I miss Tennessee’s rolling hills and green grass and my family and… my roots?

My granddad relays the story his grandmother told of her family’s voyage here from Ireland when she was a small girl.  They landed in Charleston, SC, floated on a raft down the river, got off in Memphis and walked back towards the east to finally settle just a few miles from the family farm today.  I am so lucky to still have my grandparents to share these stories.   My grandparents still own the farms where they were raised in addition to the farm they bought when they were married.  On my grandmothers family’s farm, there still stands the old hand hewn log house that was built by her great grandfather.  The house is old and very dilapidated now.  We were able to use some of these logs in the construction of our cabin.  It is special to me to have something so authentic.  It was hewn by the hands of my ancestors and now is a part of our home.  There is the old white farmhouse that Cary and I lived in when we got married on my grandfather’s family farm.  These are such invaluable gems to me.

While I will always have a spirit for experiencing new cultures, at the end of the day my roots are firm and strong.  I am a southern girl.  I love my heritage and I have a deep yearning to get closer to that from whence I came.  While I think we have certainly made amazing strides as a civilization, some we should not be so proud of.  Some things were better before we went and messed them up.   Some things I would prefer to do the old fashioned way.  It is why I love gardening and patty pan squash ; )  It is why I am committed to organics. 

 It is why we are now planning to move back to the farm.  Our plan is to try to move in the spring 2 years from now.  The land is beyond beautiful with fields of green grass, rolling hills and woods of tall oak and maple trees.  The pace is slower.  The work is more physical.  The people are honest.  There is a goodness that I want to come home to. 

I know that in many ways I am idealizing life on the farm.  I have seen my dad work many hard and long hours in the baking sun.  The commute will be grueling.  We have certainly grown accustomed to the conveniences of living in town.  But, I cannot wait!  We are visiting more frequently these days.  We are hearing old stories and taking tours around the farm and eating grandmothers cooking and sitting on the front porch and dreaming…. And it all has a deeper meaning than I have ever known before.           


                    

I know that I am not the same girl who left there 10 years ago.  I have gotten faster and tougher and more jaded, but I have also gotten more compassionate, more respectful and more mature.  I am more educated, less religious and have taken on some new-fangled ways.  And now, I am wondering how I will be accepted.   Will people make fun of my ways?  Will they appreciate me as a person or just assume I am an ignorant city girl?  Cary says I am Jerry Sullivan’s daughter and that is all the credibility I need.  While I can't wait to find out, I am sure hoping he is right…

Today is my 12 year anniversary.  12 years.  That sounds like an eternity.  It is hard to believe how it has flown by.  Cary and I met when I was only fifteen, so we have actually been together for 17 years.  That is over half of my life.  I am 100% certain that I could not have been wise enough at that age to know what I had.  It was luck.  Pure dumb luck.  But, somehow I landed my perfect partner before I could even drive a car.

For those of you who don’t know the story….We met in downtown Nashville at a Beta Club convention.  There was a mixer for students from all of the local schools and we met there.  I honestly don’t remember being swept away at that point.  I was staying there with 4 girlfriends and he was there with 4 guys.  The story really began with a group meet up later.  As fate would have it, we were all staying at the same hotel, Days Inn (very swanky).  We were invited to come hang out in the guy's hotel room.  3 of us girls went to hang out for a while and proceeded to chat until the wee hours of the morning.  Something must have tipped off their teacher because he came tapping on the door at 2am.  We (the girls) ran into the hotel bathroom and hid in the shower while he was there.  We were terrified!  We were good girls!  This was bad!  We could see Mr. Larkin through the mirror from the tiny crack between the shower curtain and the wall.  I think we held our breath the entire time he was in there.  Somehow, we went undetected.  He left the room and taped the door shut from the outside to make sure the guys did not leave and that no visitors could get in (or out!)  We were stuck!  There was no way out!  There was only 1 thing to do.…we spent the night.  Cary and I spent the night together on the very first day we met.   4 people slept in 1 hotel double bed that night.  We were too innocent and wedged too tightly in that bed to do anything (if you know what I mean ; )), but we spent the night together none the less.   The next morning, we woke to the sound of tape being ripped from the door.  Again, we held our breath hoping Mr. Larkin was not coming in.  When he moved along, we quickly grabbed our things and scurried out of there, but not before exchanging numbers with the boys from McEwen. 

Cary was a little more straight laced than my usual interests.  If I am being honest, he looked a little dorky (I love you babe!) He had braces and glasses and he wore his hair swept over to the side.  The morning we left, he had on jeans and a white (dorky) Guess sweatshirt.  I was smitten.  I cannot explain it, but I was completely smitten. 

We dated for a full 5 years with only 2 short breakups…1 for 3 days, 1 for 6 months.  The 6 month break up was the test.  It was during my sophomore year in college.  My chance to see what else was out there before committing to this guy for life.  Of course you know where this story is going…we got back together and were quickly engaged after that.  We got engaged my junior year and married with 1 semester left in my senior year.  We were YOUNG!  We were POOR!  We were IN LOVE!!!  We went to Gatlinburg on our honeymoon and had to come home 2 days early because we ran out of money.  I have no idea what we were thinking, but we were HAPPY!  

We lived our first 3 years of marriage in my great-grandparents old farmhouse, built in 1937.  We rented it from my grandparents for $250 per month.  We were both in school and both working.  Cary worked nights as a nurse and I worked as a waitress.  I am proud to say, we made it on our own.  From the day we married, it was understood that we were responsible for ourselves.  To this day, we have worked for everything we have had and paid our own way.  Back then, we had a very tight budget.  Our blow fund (going out money) was $25 per month!  WHAT!  The house was OLD.  The winters were so cold that we could see our breath upon wakening in the mornings.   We paid $600 in November to fill the gas tank for the winter and it was empty by the end of December.  It was a COLD January and February.   We lived on Hamburger Helper and grandmother’s cooking since she was just a few miles away.  In the summer, we woke to the sound of these huge hornets that made their way through the window AC unit into our bedroom.  We drove an hour each way to our classes at Vanderbilt and shared one enormous desk top computer for writing all of our papers.  And the worst part, farmhouses have mice, lots of mice!  They were the worst of times and looking back they were the best!  I loathed that house until we started packing to move and then the tears could not be held back.  It was where all of our memories were.  I still look back so fondly on all of the hours we spent studying and quizzing each other, wrapped up in blankets on the rockers on the front porch.  I am getting a little nostalgic now….

We graduated and took our first jobs together in McMinnville, TN.  We moved to Murfreesboro and our income grew exponentially overnight.  Our first purchase was a Nissan Xterra that Cary still drives today.  (I am feeling a little bad about this as I am typing since I got the new Mercedes last year).  The job was awful but we gained much needed experience and took better jobs in Nashville 6 months later.  5 years into marriage we bought our first house in Franklin.  It was perfect!  At least it was perfect until we both took jobs in Murfreesboro.  We decided to move again and have been here since. 

We have had many adventures…..I am always full of ideas.  I always have a project lined up, a trip to be planned, a remodel, a puppy, a garden, a 1/2 marathon …. and on and on, and Cary is always by my side.  I once thought I could do some plumbing in the upstairs bathroom and flooded the ceiling downstairs so badly that the wallboard fell in.  I was soaking wet with mascara running down my cheeks from the water spraying me in the face.  Cary did not kill me.  He did not even scream.   We have completed grad school together, moved 4 times, changed jobs, flipped a house (successfully), opened a business (not so successfully), and most recently have built 2 houses within 1 year.  I am a total glutton for hard work and self torture and Cary is always always good for a go. 

Cary is the truest person I have ever known.  He is genuine and dependable and honest and caring and offers a constant stability and support that words cannot quantify.  He lets me do most everything, act most anyway and say most anything, but knows how to gently reel me back in when I have gone too far.  He is interesting and brilliant and humble and strong.  He is my guy : )  I love him and he loves me and that makes me the luckiest girl in the world!
               

We spent this weekend like most, at the cabin.  We just built a twin sized swinging bed on our screened porch and attempted to sleep in it last night in honor of our anniversary.  It was pretty chilly and reminiscent of the first night we spent together wedged in that tiny bed.  The twin bed is definitely better for napping!  The dogs started growling at something at around 4am so we moved inside and slept in this morning.  We went to Sunset Marina for a late breakfast and had a lazy day.  Every year we reflect on the highs and lows of our journey....all in all it has been amazing!

                                                   

Raised Bed Gardening 101

    

     Here it is by request...  I have so enjoyed my raised bed gardening.  I want to share a few pointers for those of you getting started.  This is only my 3rd year, so I am by no means a pro, but have learned a few things along the road.  I hope to inspire you and I hope to share some things that I have learned the hard way.

     I am organic all the way, I think you should be too!   I could write an entire blog about why we choose organic.  I hear people say it is overrated or who don't want to try it for fear that the food won't taste good???  For those skeptics, it is just fruits and vegetables minus the chemicals.  Some things taste the same, some much better.  These chemicals are strong enough to kill insects and weeds.  It is not out of the question to think that overtime, as we consume more and more of these chemicals, that they may damage our health as well.  Given the choice, wouldn't we choose not to eat pesticides?  No one in their right mind would eat a spoonful of 7 dust or roundup???  And the best part, we don't have to.  I also hear, "Organics cost too much, most people can't afford the extra cost:"  Well...there is no extra cost when you grow at home.  If you have a choice (and you do), choose organic.  Organic vegetables have been proven to be higher in nutrients and antioxidants and they are delicious.  You officially have no excuse ; )

     Okay okay, let's get back on track.  I am a little late on this, but there is still plenty of time.  The first thing you should know is that anyone can do this.  You need very little space and very little tools.  The primary ingredients are good soil, seeds, water and sun.  You will want to find the right spot that is level and gets at least 8 hours of sunshine daily.  Building the beds is really quite easy and the options are endless.  The recommended size for a raised be is 4 X 8.  4 feet wide is the width that most people can reach across (2 feet from each side).  The length is really your preference.  I am not a rule follower, so I built my beds 5 x 8.  If 4 is good 5 is better right??  WRONG.  I have short arms and it is quite a stretch.  I have made plenty of mistakes that I hope you can learn from.  The depth should be 6-8".  You can use stones, landscape blocks, wood etc for the beds.  It is best to use untreated wood (we are trying to minimize the chemicals, right?)  Cedar will last longer, but is a bit more costly.  The easiest bed is 4 pieces of wood with brackets at the corners.   Once you have your bed set and leveled, you are ready for soil. 
     The cornerstone of raised bed and organic gardening is starting with great soil.  With properly conditioned soil, there is no need to add fertilizer.  There are different options here.  My sister has used straight dirt from the woods and has had amazing results.  Woods dirt has naturally been composted for years.  If you do not have access to woods dirt or don't want to put in the muscle work, there are other options.  You can purchase bags of topsoil, peat moss, manure and compost, mixing equal parts of each.  Worms are your friend, so toss a few of those in there as well.  This year I am trying out a recipe for an organic soil amendment that I found in Mother Earth News (see the link if you are interested) Organic Soil Amendment 
     One of the main advantages of a raised bed garden is efficiency of space.  You will not be planting in rows, but rather using every square inch of space.  You may purchase plants or start with seeds.  For tomatoes and peppers, I recommend plants.  Organic plants are very hard to find around here.   All Seasons Garden and Brewing Supply Company in Nashville does have organic plants.  You could probably find some at the Franklin Farmers Market as well.  For most everything else, I plant from seed.  For seed planting, look at the backs of your seed packets for planting instructions.  You will find valuable information for spacing as well as when to plant.  All seed packs recommend row planting  but also tell you how far apart to plant the seeds in the rows. 

                           

                                              

If it says plant every 4 inches, then you need 4 inches on all sides of the plant.  You will plant in more of a grid pattern.  Some people use the square foot gardening method, actually marking off their beds in 12 inch x 12 inch squares and planting different plants in each square according the guideline for spacing as mentioned above.  You may want to put 2-3 seeds in each spot to ensure germination, if so, you will thin later by cutting the extra, weaker, plants away at the stem. 

      You can plant anything!!!  I have planted everything in my raised beds from lettuces to root vegetables, corn, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, beans and herbs.  This year I am trying quinoa!  I do not think there is anything that cannot be planted here. I will say, I have not had luck with broccoli : (   Proceed as you wish.  If you plan for root vegetables, carrots, potatoes, beets etc, you will need your beds to be at least 8 inches deep.  You should plant what you like to eat, it is that simple.  You should start by figuring out what you want and how much you think you will need and draw a chart of how you will plant it.  Gardeners.com has a very helpful tool, in addition to great garden supplies, on their website for planning you garden.  Create your Garden Beds  You can design your garden and it will also help you with spacing per square foot.  You will find this most helpful!  I have experimented with planting everything.  I even planted beets, just for kicks : ).  They weren't too bad but I will not be wasting space on beets this year! 

     At this point, it is certainly not too late.  I have had my greens, lettuces, spinach, kale, in the ground for several weeks now, but they can still be planted.  If you get them in early enough (late Feb/early March) you can harvest them in early May and then plant for summer.  You get more out of your beds this way by maximizing your space and using more of the growing season.  If you want potatoes, get them in the ground right away.  For everything else, we still have plenty of time.  There are a lot of different thoughts on when to plant summer crops.  I think we all start getting a little anxious to plant, but it is wise to make sure we are past the last frost.  I have waited as late as the end of May.   Many people are planting now.  I plan to plant the 1st week of May.  This year I will plant patty pan squash, butternut squash, zucchini, crooked neck squash, eggplant, cucumbers, beans, okra and herbs, all by seed.  I will wait a week later for my tomato and pepper plants to make sure it is a bit warmer.  Tomato plants, squashes, okra and corn can take up a good bit of space.  You will have to determine if it is worth it for your available space.  The University of TN has published a Guide to Warm Season Garden Vegetables which I have found to be very useful.  They provide a chart which includes all vegetables imaginable along with when to plant and how to space and # of days to harvest.  I refer to to it regularly.  Guide to Warm Season Garden Vegetables

     I hope this helps.  I hope you have half as much fun as I do.  And.....

I hope your garden kicks ass too : )

Cow Day

                              

  

      You have not lived until you have experienced working cows on the farm.  I kid you not, this is an experience like none other.  You know I grew up on a farm.  When I was 21 I moved away and now visit only about once per month.  I live an easy suburban life.  The only animals I feed are my 2 dogs.  I wear high heels almost everyday.  I enjoy the occasional pedicure.  I pay someone to mow my grass.  I have almost forgotten what farming is all about.  BUT...twice a year I pay my dues as a farmers daughter and go home to help "work the cows".  A few of you know what I am talking about.  For most of you I can only assume that it would be an experience beyond your greatest imagination.      

   

       I got the call on Friday night, Sunday would be the day.  It is always last minute.  I had brunch plans with a friend that had to be postponed until dinner.  The scheduling is based on when the help is available.  Not my help, the strong help.  We would start at 7am, so I set my alarm for 5:45am.  Cary set the coffee pot the night before for 6am so I could have some caffeine for the road.  He had to work, so he missed all of the fun.  You do not want to wear nice clothes for this day.  In fact, the worse, the better.  I rolled straight out of bed, put on my old sweats, shoes and hat and headed to the farm, a 1 hour drive.  Grandmother had homemade biscuits, sausage and eggs waiting for me when I got there.  (Even though I have been eating little meat, I cannot resist a bite at Grandmothers) 

    

We were working ALL of the cows this time.  Mamas and babies, about 100 total.  My dad had gotten the cows to the barn before I got there (the noise you make to call a cow cannot be spelled in a blog), so they were all waiting for us in front of the barn.  100 cows balling.....and you can imagine the smell.  The old ones know what is coming.  The babies are in for something special.  They do not like the looks of me.  I wore a hot pink shirt, probably not my best choice but it was 5:45 am after all.  They balled louder and some charged the fence when I walked by.  They are very accustomed to my dad and grandparents, but weary of city folk : )      

           There is a maze of small pens and gates used to separate the cows from the babies, then a long narrow pen leading to their destination, the "head catcher".  It is exactly as it sounds.  Narrow around the body and tight around the neck to minimize the head movement.  They typically do not like this.  They are huge and strong and angry.  They are usually slobbering and balling and trying to swing  their head in such a way as to knock you down.  Noses have been broken.  Sometimes they try to climb over the top, sometimes they do. 
     The purpose of working the cows is to immunize the babies against "black leg" and "pink eye" and the cows against something I have never heard of, "lepto".  We also trim their horns, put a fly tag in their ear, and if they are unlucky enough to be born male....castration!  I must say, the ladies have the luck in the cow world.  Very few boys are kept for bulls.  Most are castrated and then sent to the market for meat.  The girls (heifers) have a much higher chance of a long happy life on the farm making babies.

     I am a nurse practitioner, I am experienced with immunizations.  My job on cow day is to draw up all of the shots and load all of the ear tags so the guys can get busy once the cow is in the head catcher.  I am also on standby to assess any injuries.  There are always injuries.  JD works on the head, replacing the fly tag, while my dad gives the shot and keeps the others in line.  I gave a couple of shots, but mostly try to stay out of danger.  My grandmother is the gopher and my granddad works the head catcher (pretty good for 85, you have to catch them just at the right moment!)

                                         There are 2 accepted methods for castration.  One is banding (a tight rubber band left on to cut off the circulation), the other is cutting.....we cut.  It is actually more of a cut and pull, (use your imagination here).  As I said before, the best help is the strong help.  As it turns out, baby bulls don't like to be castrated : /  For the castrations, I got promoted to pressing a bar over there neck to keep them more stable while JD (the strong help) moves to the rear.  He holds them up (by the tail) to keep them from sitting while my dad does "the job".  There is about a 95% chance of getting kicked, or worse, shat upon during this process.  I tried to give them some loving by petting their head during the "procedure", but as you can imagine, they found no solace in my touch...

     The remains are thrown on the ground for which the dogs find great delight!  Once everything is done, my granddad opens the head catcher and they are free.  Some of them simply walk forward, some of them leap out of there and others (possibly low IQ) just stand there.  I whispered to them, "you're free".  Finally, they understand and move forward.   We did this 100 times in what felt like 100 degree weather.  It took about 5 hours and that was considered good time.  My dad got kicked in the leg, but overall, no complications.  I was sweaty and dirty and probably smelly.  Gross I know, but I had 12 ticks on me!  We were exhausted and hungry.  I changed clothes, ate lunch and headed back to Murfreesboro for a shower and a nap. 

     Once I woke up, I put on a dress and heels and went to dinner.   I like that I grew up on a farm.  I like that I can live in both worlds.  I like that I can handle most any situation.  I am rarely if ever a damsel in distress.  It is true what they say, "Country boys (and girls) can survive" : )  

                                                        



The ponderings of my wholesome side.....

I am finding myself increasingly longing, daydreaming about the warmth and wonders of spring.  I know that I represented myself as a girl who never stops to smell the roses in my last blog, BUT spring is worth slowing down for.  My favorite way to start a spring morning is with a cup of coffee and a walk to the garden with Sarge, just for a look.  My favorite way to end a spring day...back to the garden (now with wine or Cary's home brew or maybe just tea) this time with a bucket for gathering the harvest.  You would be amazed at how much vegetables grow while you are away at work!  It is okay if you think I am weird, but there is something so incredible about watching a tomato grow.  I am like a proud momma, watching all of my seedlings flourish and produce new baby vegetables.  The tiniest beginnings of a green tomato or cucumber or pepper makes me giddy like a school girl.  I am romanticizing this a bit, but it really does something for my soul.

I told you before, I grew up on a farm.  When I was young, we always had a garden.  I remember setting out plants and hoeing and watering.  (I think I blocked out the weeding- or maybe it was that we used 7dust : (  We know better now)  I remember watching the cabbages as they opened.  I really believed that cabbage patch kids came from our cabbages!  There was always a small black dot in the center...you know that means I truly thought we raised the African American variety!   Somewhere along the way, my parents stopped gardening, but my grandmother, now 82, still sets out her garden every spring.  I had no idea when I was younger what a privilege it was to have such a bounty of fresh vegetables.   Even still, when I go home in the summer, I can count on fresh corn, pattypan squash, tomatoes, okra, beans....you name it.

I am afraid that gardening is a dying art.  While I learned much about cooking from this amazing woman, gardening, I had no use for.  I did not understand the value and the fulfillment gained from growing ones own food.  I wish now I had soaked up all of her knowledge, hung on every word, taken notes.  She is slowing down a bit now.  My generation does not know when to plant zucchini versus spinach versus tomatoes.  We do not know which bugs are beneficial and which are not, which vegetables to plant from seed and which should be started inside.  We do not know about hardening off seedlings (learned the hard way), planting beans with corn so they have a natural trellis, how to save seeds...  For me, gardening is a way of connecting with my heritage.  I know that every single generation before me has known the art of working with mother nature to bring seeds in the spring to summer vegetables on their dinner plates.  I would hate to think this did not go on because my generation is in such a hurry or so technologically focused that we cannot stop to appreciate the wonders and gifts of the earth.                                                          

3 years ago, Cary and I were renting a small house with no yard while we were building here in Murfreesboro.  That year I set out my first seeds in pots on the back patio.  My entire harvest consisted of 2 tomatoes and 3 tiny bell peppers.  I made a fresh salsa to take to a labor day gathering.  One dish and the fruits of my labor were spent.  We moved into our house in October and come spring began working on our backyard garden.  It is cute.  A raised triangular shaped bed, 20x20x30,  in the back corner of the yard.  It is divided into 3 spaces with stepping stone walkways between for easy picking.  I began my first real organic garden then and there.  Our first year, we had a few tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and tons of okra and cucumbers.  We like okra and cucs, so it was not a bad thing.  A thriving okra plant has to be picked daily and cucumbers almost as often.  This was terribly gratifying to a new gardener.  By fall when I turned over the beds, the soil was much darker and richer than in the spring.  This would prove to be a good sign for the following season.  This past year, we built our cabin and, of course, I had to have a garden there.  The cabin is on the lake, in the woods, in the middle of nowhere.  It makes you want to live off the land.  We planted fruit trees, strawberry plants, grape vines and we built 4 raised beds there.  We had more tomatoes than we knew what to do with this year along with spinach, lettuces, carrots, peas, beans, zucchini, squash, an assortment of peppers, corn (which the raccoons loved), okra, cantaloupe, watermelon, potatoes, and herbs.  We made fresh pesto, put up tomatoes and made homemade marinara and enchilada sauce which we are still eating on this winter.

Gardening is against my hurried nature.  I think that is why I like it.  It gives me balance.  It is calming and therapeutic.  There is so much I do not know.  There is so much I want to learn.  There is so much that I approach differently.  I am not the best weeder, I think there is plenty to go around (so if the raccoons eat the corn, so be it), and our gardens are organic, which means amazing fresh, healthy vegetables that aren't tainted with chemicals.  There is a difference.  Besides the seemingly obvious benefits from reduction in chemical consumption, organic vegetables have been proven to have more nutrients, more antioxidants.  They are healthier.  At the outset, my dad thought we would have to use fertilizers and pesticides.  He has known no other way.  I think we have all been pleasantly surprised.  We had a few bugs on our potato plants this year which were quickly resolved after about 5 minutes with some tweezers and a plastic bag.  I have been amazed at how easy gardening is.  As it turns out, seeds are made to grow.  A little sun, water and good dirt is all it really takes.  You just have to put them in the ground, sit back and watch the magic. 

                                 
I previously mentioned my dietary changes: less animal protein and refined carbs, increased fruits and vegetables.  While there are some reasons for decreasing meat consumption (#1 being increased risk for heart disease and cancers), there are as many or more for increasing fruits and vegetables.  Decreasing meats makes more room for the veggies.  It is going well.  I am actually enjoying eating and exploring new vegetables and recipes.  Again, it is okay if you think I am weird (on some level I know it is weird), but I have developed this reverence for vegetables, enough to write a whole blog about them!  It is a new love for growing, preparing and eating vegetables, for the health and vitality they offer.  They make me happy.  And, contrary to popular belief, they taste delicious!

I am now reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  It is inspiring to say the least, a passionate look at where our foods come from and the joys of eating locally.  It makes you feel good, warm inside, like watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie. 
                                                          

 I could go on about this for days.  Last weekend's warm weather got me thinking and studying the seed catalogs for what new things we may try this year.  If you are at all interested or just want to humor me, you will certainly be hearing more as spring rolls in.  I personally cannot wait!!

The inaugural blog...

So, I have decided to start a blog.  Not entirely sure why.  Everyone is doing it, right??  The blog will be about my daily predicaments, pursuits and ponderings.  While my life appears pretty boring and status quo, it seems I have A LOT of predicaments, pursuits, and ponderings.  I love sarcasm and I love the absurdities of daily life.  I always have something going on...a new project, a new diet, a new exercise regimen, a new room to decorate, a new puppy, a new something (anything) that I need right now.  I am truly the person who creates her own adventures, her own afflictions, her own dramas.  I do realize this, but it sure doesn't seem to stop me.   I have to be DOING all of the time (this makes my husband crazy because typically he gets to be DOING all of these things with me)!  So I suppose this will be about the things that I get us into and my motivations for such.  This brain does not stop!  I love to go new places, try new things, dream up new goals....  I am driven and it has served me well.  I do believe we all control our own destiny.  We are in charge of living whatever life it is that we aspire to live.  While we can control little that comes our way, our reaction and attitude will determine our outcomes. 

                                    

Disclaimer:  You should know I am a horrible typist.  I think fast and move fast in almost everything I do (except running- we will get to that later).  I do not have time for the nuances of life (such as editing my blog).  So I will offer an apology right up front and while it is sincere, I will make no effort to improve.

I have a theory...  I believe that I have limited time, energy, brain cells and I will not waste any of these commodities on things I do not deem important.  I had to call my husband at work yesterday to figure out how to start a movie at home.  Remote controls?  Forget it!  But, I successfully run a business, take care of patients, am a wife, mother of 2 dogs, and do all of the extra curricular things that I can concoct for myself to do. 

My current pursuit is a plant-based diet with less animal protein and less refined carbs which I started on 1/1/11.  I AM eating seafood and lots and lots of veggies, beans, quinoa....  I have no intention of giving up dairy, cheese, butter etc.
 Come on now, that would just be ridiculous!  For a girl who grew up on a beef cattle farm, this is quite a stretch.  It turns out that getting rid of the refined carbs is much harder than getting rid of the meat.  We'll see how it goes....  I have been inspired by the books, The China Study thechinastudy.com and The Food Revolution foodrevolution.org.  Very interesting reads with profound dietary information.  I highly recommend!!  My husband is on board which makes things much easier.  My niece (age 2) informed me yesterday "I no like that!" regarding the lunch I served.  If I am being totally honest, I no like it either.  We are definitely going through some trial and error on recipes. 

My current predicament is a 10 week old standard poodle puppy named Barley whom I HAD to have for Christmas. 

I was like a child, so excited, I had dreams about him, bought the toys, collar, crate, you name it.  I absolutely could not wait!  Much to my husbands and Sarge's (older dog) dismay, we brought this little monster into our home, also on 1/1/11.  Wow!!  This is more than we bargained for!!  (you know we were already a little grumpy from no meat or carbs)  He is really cute and sweet and soft and cuddly...when he is sleeping.  Otherwise, he is biting the rugs, chewing on shoes, stealing Sarge's toys, trying to nurse on Sarge (a boy!), or sneaking off to "go potty" in the house somewhere.  We have had snow on the ground almost constantly since we brought him home.  This makes 2 am potty breaks especially enjoyable!  On a bright note, he only pooped in the house twice yesterday, so I think that is really promising : /

My current ponderings.....I have got to get back to the gym!  (Notice I did not list this as a pursuit.  If you know me, you know this is a joke, but maybe I will do something...)   I picked up running last year, but I have realized that I find very little motivation, or enjoyment for that matter, for running and am barely faster than a snail. 

I have completed 3 1/2 marathons to date and  have signed up for another in April, The Oak Barrel sponsored by Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, TN oakbarrelhalf.com.  I am rallying the troops, so feel free to join us!  It is true what they say, "misery loves company".  You get a medal made from a real oak whiskey barrel for finishing!   That is reason enough for me to gut out 13.1 miles!  I do like sporting the 13.1 magnet on the back of my car too.  At this moment, these are the very best reasons I can think of to keep running : /  Weak, I know!  I am considering taking up cycling, although my sister tells me that if I become one of those people, she will run me off the road.  All I know is my lovely lady lumps were a little too lumpy this morning!!  I had to change my outfit 3x before going to work.  So...something must be done!  Stay tuned.....

Carpe Diem!