the harvest

My heart is happy.

I never really understood that little phrase until I "grew up." Today, though, I keep looking around at things that really, truly do make my heart happy.

It started last year when I decided to become a little more domestic and attempt a garden. Some things grew - almost 50 perfectly perfect pumpkins, lots of tomatoes.

Some things didn't- 5 rows of corn, all afflicted with "corn smut."
An accidental planting of the hottest peppers on the chart (don't remember the name) also resulted in an accidental eating of the hottest peppers by a then 1-year-old. The gophers liked my garden as much as I did and the sunflowers created the perfect backdrop for my entire backyard.

On a whim -call it a horticulture high- I even attempted canning. My shelves made room for peaches and salsa. So good. And, SO much easier than I expected.

Harvest.

It is here again. I love it. This year's garden has done well. Few pumpkins, better corn. Heaven reaching sun flowers and green beans that will be pureed into baby food. The gophers found the neighbor's garden instead of mine. I planted, what I call my "salsa box." Everything is ready to be chopped, diced and sliced. The cilantro didn't grow (if anyone knows how to grow cilantro, I would love some tips) and the peppers have cross pollinated into a new breed, but who cares? They grew, and will be mixed up into jar after jar of homemade goodness.


Can I just tell you how happy I am that "organic" is in? Organic is an excuse to not have to buy pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic is an excuse for the rampant weeds that I have officially declared a truce with. Organic means that our corn may not be big & plump, but I can be proud serving my children "all natural" produce.

We went to the fruit orchards owned by our church. After picking for others, we were able to pick peaches for ourselves. The butterflies in my stomach are all a-flutter thinking of making my mom's peach pie, ok- maybe the excitement is more about eating the pie than making it- but yum-oh.

Saturday, I spent the entire morning at my in-laws taking these:



Off of these:



Then, I spent the entire afternoon doing this:




Sunday, I let the kids mash up all of these berries and added untold amounts of sugar to make freezer jam.



Today is peaches. Later this week will be the salsa.
I love it. Love it all. Hmmmm.....except maybe that one pesky problem.....



Remember the zucchini I mentioned a few weeks ago? It is still quite the prolific producer. How about a "My zucchini is bigger than your zucchini" contest? Details to come, and definitely a great prize. If you have zucchini in a garden- or maybe grandma's garden- let one of the little buggers just keep on growing. Measure it & take a photo to document it. Oooohhhh.....I am getting excited. This could be quite funny....I mean fun.



If you aren't excited for summer's end, lets indulge a little, shall we? Crunchy leaves. Hot fresh peach cobbler with ice cream on top and pumpkin rolls. Cool nights and caramel apples. The unmatchable smell of fall. It is in the air and I love it. Oh yes, most definitely on this Thankful Monday, my heart is ever so happy.



What are you thankful for today?

Flab to Fab......all inclusive

Thursday Check-In

FYI- for those of you who love to see my fat rolls, I will be checking-in once again next week with "the shirt."



Do you ever wish you could be on one of the get fit & fabulous reality shows? Such as: Biggest Loser, Fit Club, etc. Can you imagine being able to be at an all inclusive resort where the opportunity to exercise surrounds you? Healthy food options are all around you, with temptations near by just to "test" your ability to withstand sweet sugary carbohydrate filled goodness?


Of course, in my dreams, this wish is minus the cameras and other people to witness my attempts. Oh, and it is okay to give into the sugary goodness once daily.

I have been lucky enough to be staying at such a place. Apparently, I have been at the "resort" for the past few years.

My husband and I had the brilliant idea to leave life in the city for a "few acres out of town." To anyone else that is contemplating this idea, may I suggest: include a high allowance of funds to be spent on a weed wacker, Round-Up, garden tools, gloves, and a few more weed wackers.

Since, our funds have not necessarily allowed for large quantities of these items, I have been spending ridiculous amounts of time in our yard pulling, prying, digging and raking. I dream at nights of buying the "Hula Hoe 1000L." Looking on the bright side though, I have been burning almost as many calories as the weeds I plan on torching later today.

I really, truly enjoy yard work. But the weeds- oh- the weeds!
We are surrounded by fields. If you have never lived in the country, let me explain. Every weed- each measly little single weed has the capability to produce seeds ten-fold. Every time the wind blows, literally millions of seeds land in my yard. Now, I realize that many people have figured out various solutions for said seeds, their yards are show places, but I am still working on it. I am quite positive the solution includes lots and lots of weed killer and a live-in nanny for the children. Neither of which are in my budget.

Our property is turning out to be the all inclusive healthy body makeover resort I needed.

This week's work out routine is proving to be my most effective yet: just plain old hard work. Out with the elliptical & Nikes; in with the gloves, mosquito spray, and hoe.

How am I ever going to stay motivated by dirt, dust, hay fever, and the never-ending pulling?

After reducing myself to bribery, (I reduce myself to this on a daily basis- just beyond television and fruit snacks this time)- I promised to take my kids to the swimming pool today. It will be the first time I have been in a swimming suit in public in over a year.

I should have no trouble staying motivated this up-coming week.

How is your flab to fab this week?



Oh- and if you would like to stay at my all-inclusive-resort for a little body magic, (AKA: be my slave and do yard work), room rates are low & include all of the free zucchini you could wish for.