Gardening on a Balcony...

When I moved down to the university, I didn't expect to do much gardening stuck in a dorm or in an apartment. However, I was blessed by sharing an apartment with a couple other girls and being the one with the balcony. One of my first purchases was planters for the patio. I added two strawberry plants and planted an Asian mesclun lettuce mix in one planter.

(The strawberry and lettuce planter. The pots that the strawberries came in were recycled to start red swiss chard.)

(A couple days later...)

Then my mom came to visit! She brought two 1/2 barrels that she had made from a pickle barrel and more seeds! I had helped her haul home four pickle barrels last spring to use for a rain barrel system that would include water from the roof. We already had 3-4 barrels and she realized over the summer that we didn't have enough space to really use that many. It was really fun seeing my mom and entertaining her for an afternoon. She thought it was fun seeing me play hostess. We spent most of the afternoon playing in the dirt. With great results...

While I live in the middle of a sandy patch, I'm actually in a great agricultural region with fabulous farmers markets so I planted accordingly. The seasons are different here so right now we're in the middle of "summer". It's been cool this year so I focused on starting my cool season crops. Each barrel is planted with lettuce and a row of snap peas. The two other planters are filled with snap peas. I also added a some Sweet Alyssum seeds to the planters to attract pollinators.

This last week, I started thinning... While I thinned I remembered the first book in the Boxcar Children Series. Henry, the oldest, takes a job thinning a woman's vegetable garden and gets permission to take the thinned plants back to the boxcar where his sister turns them into a soup.

My thinnings weren't suitable for a soup so turned them into a most delightful salad with some additions from the farmers markets...

Reading... I mean listening

Starting when I was young, every summer was filled with swimming, gardening, family and books! The summer library programs started and I would be on a race to see how fast I could reach the highest goal.

Mom would always check to make sure I was reading appropriate material but by the time I hit Jr. High age, I was pretty self regulating. This was in the middle of my long skirts, of course I'm a conservative homeschooler "how could you tell?" phase.

In college (2004-now), while most students took a break during summer, I would make a list of things I wanted know more about or would make me more "well rounded" and check out stacks of books from the library. And in July, I would wish that there was an adult summer reading program to motivate me to finish!



I read Shakespeare, history books, cookbooks, architecture, math and science books. No, I didn't become an expert on anything but I have fun watching Jeopardy!

This summer, my reading was different. Since I drove quite a bit for work, I borrowed some audio books. I "read" the Fellowship of the Ring (for the first time). I know... what kind of person am I? Don't worry, I haven't seen any of the movies yet either. The experience was more enjoyable because I was listening because I listened to the parts that I would normally skim over (songs and poetry) which definitely added to my understanding as the story progressed.

I also slipped in some Jeeves and Wooster short stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Once again, so much better when listened to! I had read some stories before but so much of the subtle humor was lost. Are you getting the feeling I tend to read fast and skim over? ;)

Of course, I did read actual books.



The Insectopedia by Hugh Raffles seemed fitting considering that I was looking for insects all summer. It has an essay for each letter of the alphabet. Each essay is insect related but often touches on a more social commentary outlook. The first essay made me laugh out loud as it described a sticky trap attached to plane (researchers were trying to track how insects migrated). I'm picturing the yellow sticky traps we used in trees dangling from a plane. Other essays included the language of bees, Chernobyl (insect deformities as seen by an artist) and the culture of cricket fighting. It was fascinating and I was disappointed when I couldn't renew it any more.

So what do you read? Fiction, Non-fiction? What subjects interest you and do you have any recommendations?

School Story: Part One

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- Colossians 2:6-7

(School Landscaping)

When I arrived at school, the first week was chaotic and overwhelming. I had expected mounds of homework but when it started coming... I was ready to run. I was fine and enjoying the experience up until the middle of my third class that first day.

I had visited enough that the school felt comfortable; I had navigated the shuttle system, and I had previewed most of the class assignments online. In the middle of that third class, I was ready to drop a class and run for the hills. Nothing was harder but I had started worrying about all sorts of extra issues. I hate worrying. It doesn't help and it just makes life harder.


The verse from Colossians reminded me of what my focus should be on. The Lord led me to this school. If it had gone my way, I would have been done 3 years ago, attending the big state school near my house and living at home. I also would have gone through a program of study that wasn't appealing and had to fight to get into overcrowded classes.

Instead, I found out that my position was ending at church in the end of February. I had a applied to this school an hour away from home (an hour and half away from church). School plans had fallen apart so many times before that I really didn't think that I was going or if I did go that nothing at home would have to change. I could keep working and living at home and commute. I went to visit the school for the first time on a Monday, a less than a week after I found out that I wouldn't have a job in a few months. I started to get excited, the school was more than I had hoped with small classes, service learning and a rigorous senior project. I had been excited about the school when I applied but that had faded, I wasn't sure what God really wanted at this point.

(Campus artwork by students)

When I got home from the visit, there was the acceptance e-mail from the school! It had arrived before I even left for the visit.

My life:

Beautiful gardens

and great clouds,

are some of the best parts of my work!

Things I've learned...

Things I've learned from my new job as an agricultural assistant:

• That numb feeling in my lips? Sunburn.
• Your hair looks lighter as your skin gets darker.
• Don't hit the clutch in the county vehicle; it's not there.
• Don't forget the clutch when you get back in your own car.
• I now understand how the pioneers felt walking all day everyday.
  
• Parking a Porsche under a sticky trap; not a good idea.
• People go out in the oddest states: no shirts (men only, thank goodness), old fashioned pajamas or smoking an old fashioned pipe while shirtless and driving a red scooter.
• College textbooks can be used as a platform for changing a tire.

Of all of the unusual and interesting things I've discovered at my new job, the best is that I really enjoy my work and am really blessed by it. You can't ask for more than that!

Reality

Tap tap tappity tap… tap tap tap. My fingers move reluctantly over the keys. Tappity, tap. This is never easy. Tap. I play with words. “Due to budget cuts.” “stepping down, leaving?, no longer on staff.” The words don’t make it easier. I finally get it done; proof read and make the final changes. There it is: “Due to leadership vision for children’s ministry (talk to ____ for more details) which will help our current budget needs, as well as my desire to complete my education, I will no longer be on staff here at church after June 30^th.”

So much is summed up in that one sentence. It contains hints of what’s to come and the bold truth of the present.

Books Everywhere!

Welcome to my bookshelves.

(Louisa May Alcott Collection)

You've caught me at the best time. You see, I had started taking pictures of my books a few months ago to post but never got around to it. I took pictures of the most accessible bookshelves and stopped. Now, I'm looking at the possibility of moving in August and it was suggested by my roommate (sister, who would like a more minimalist look) and parents that I should box up and store the books since it would be quick, easy and make my summer much simpler. So I started boxing...

and boxing...

I already have two boxes under my bed. Now, add to that the 9 other boxes stacked next to my bed; it's like a built in bed now! I didn't realize I had so many books! I only had a 3'x3' bookcase, two 4' shelves and a 7 1/2' shelf. Of course, the long shelf was double stacked and I had carved out other spaces (under the bed, in the closet, ahem). The books are all boxed with the exception of a couple Spanish books, Bible studies, writing books and cookbooks which I know I will need at the University regardless if I move or commute.

I took pictures of the books in the boxes as a record so those are posted here as well. Almost all of my books are book sale finds, from recycled book stores or gifts.

(From left to right) Wives and Daughters, Jane Austen, Five Little Peppers Collection, Understood Betsey, The Prince and the Pauper, Deerslayer and Last of the Mohicans.

The Louisa May Alcott Collection (minus Jack and Jill)
My favorite surprise finds: Pansies and Waterlilies and one of the Lulu's Library series)


Various Christian living books, How the Heather Looks, The Burgess Flower Book for Children






My two favorite series from when I was younger: The Sugar Creek Gang and the Homeschool Detectives. The Sugar Creek Gang fans will know why The Hoosier School Master is boxed with the series. ;)

Bobbsey Twins

Favorite: Dr. Christmas


Boxcar Children and In Grandma's Attic

Nancy Drews = 1 1/2 boxes
Not pictured: Hardy Boys 1/2+ box

My contribution to the living room collections: Elsie Dinsmore (circa 1906 editions)

I hope you've enjoyed a peek at my shelves. Most of these are children's collections but I have a fair amount of classics that didn't get pictures taken before being boxed.

God be with you!