Jubilee

Swing and turn… jubilee

Live and learn… jubilee

– Traditional Kentucky Mountain Tune (source George Gibson)

Every morning for the last week I have woke up with these lyrics in my head, running through over and over again.  It is my favorite old-time mountain tune and it fits my mood perfectly.  I’ve gained a new perspective having been able to step away from the routine for the last week.  I know the order of my priorities now, and I am learning to work with myself.  I’ve got to be able to swing and turn – to go with the flow – to ride the waves.

It is interesting how things come about in clusters.  This past week I’ve discovered how important my every day work around the cabin and with my girls is to my family.  I’ve discovered that I love Kundalini yoga.  It’s a refreshing practice.  The garden has taken off this week as well.  The zucchini, squash, and cucumbers have splendid yellow blooms.

mid afternoon blooms - in the morning they are big and full

The corn that managed to survive the rains and our unthoughtful planting has gotten the first signs of ears.  I’m loving the different colored stalks as we planted a multi-colored sweet corn.  We are eating lettuce and scallions (that I thought were bulb onions when I planted them… 🙂 ) and they are delicious.  There is a whole mess of “new” potatoes that we dug from the ground yesterday as our plants didn’t make it, but I can’t complain at the abundance we have despite the bug problem.  Our sunflowers are developing their heads, and I can’t decide whether I will be the one eating the seeds or the chickens.  The carrots and cabbage look lovely, and we are looking forward to heirloom tomatoes by the end of the summer.  Today, I planted some cantaloupe and watermelon where the potatoes had been.

Zucchini, Squash, Lettuce, and Sunflowers

We should at least double our investment with the garden.  We’ve put in about $60.  That is excellent for a first year attempt at an organic garden, in my opinion.  I have learned several things so far that should make next year better.

1. Vacations/Trips as a family should be reserved for fall and winter months.
2. Corn should be planted parallel to the hillside.
3. Scallions and bulb onions are totally different… Look into that for next year.
4. Get as much of the garden planted as possible in one day as early in the spring as is safe from frost. (An almanac might be a handy thing next year.)

There is no other satisfaction that I need to look for other than the blessings of the moment.  I have it all at my hands for the taking.  Whatever I am doing presently is important as all my jobs are important no matter who is paying attention to what I am doing.  As the work of my foremothers was the backbone of their families, the stability in times of chaos, so it is with me.  It is all in how I choose to approach triumphs and difficulties.  It is all about the reaction.  We live and learn, but in the good and the bad, there is jubilee.

Morning visitor...