De Clutter

I thought if I wasn't busy I would have lots and lots of time to blog.  For me it doesn't work that way - if I'm not busy, I don't have anything to blog about.  I 'm a little busy these days - Physical Therapy (PT) is work.  I'm doing all the recommended exercises - if you want to get better (read "healthier") you have to work.  Some days I dread the PT but afterwards (a few hours, pain meds, and an ice pack or two afterwards) I feel much improved.  I'm very thankful for the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and others who have had a hand in fixing my knee.  The progress is much slower than I imagined, I'm having a hard time not being critical, I think it's because I have a bit of brain clutter.  You know, ideas or beliefs you have that no longer work or that you know to be untrue.  If you keep acting on what doesn't work it will make you crazy.  I used to believe if I had surgery I would miraculously be healed by the time the stitches began to fade.  Turns out most miracles need a bit of work.  Sometimes you just have to clean out the clutter so the rest of you can change and grow. 

This cleaning up business is a lesson I learned years ago from gardening.  Weeding, deadheading, clearing out the old dried up plants makes room for new growth.  Just clean out the old and in comes the new, usually it's a year later.

This summer I haven't done much in the garden, just watering the plants in containers. The green oxalis I got from my mom back in February and planted beside a purple one I had purchased locally were getting along beautifully back in the Spring.

Early April 2012

They were beautiful back in April, however by August, after 20 plus days of 100 F heat, they were cooked and I was a little afraid they might not come back.  On August 11, I was out sweeping the front porch, watering my plants and startled by how sad this container looked.

8/11

I started cleaning up and was surprised by how easily the old, dead stuff lifted out of the pot - almost no roots holding it down. 

8/11

It's very embarrassing to realize you are letting things compost right outside your front door.

8/11

I left the lone purple shamrock and went inside think about what to plant next.

Thursday (8/16)

 

I had expected the plants to go dormant and was surprised the next Thursday (8/16) when I remembered to water the containers on the front porch and there was 'new life.'

This picture was taken on Monday, 8/20.
 

I went inside and got a damp cloth to clean up the pot - just trying to do my part to make it look good.

This picture was taken Wednesday afternoon (8/29). 

Those little dots next to the purple oxalis are new plants.  I don't know when the oxalis is supposed to start growing again.  I can't help but wonder if I had not cleaned out the dead plants would the new plants have started to grow?  Was nature waiting on me to do my part so the miracle of life could 'show off?'  I may have to look into that one of these days.  Right now, I am going to go stretch and do a bit of exercise.


Life goes on.


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What's Cooking?

One of the best things about summer is the fresh food.  My favorite summer meals are the ones that come straight from the garden - any garden.



Potatoes & Green Beans

I remember watching my mom 'string' beans before she cooked them.  Now I just wash them, cut them into bite size pieces and put them in the pot.  The new potatoes I washed and neatened up (I leave the skin on but cut away dark spots and anything I don't think looks pretty) and put them on top of the green beans.  I used my little steamer basket - about an inch of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt - and cooked until the potatoes are tender - I poke them with a knife, if it goes into the potato easily - everything is done.

Our meal with beans and potatoes was wonderful.  I put them in a serving bowl added some butter, a little more salt and a dash or two of black pepper, tossed them, then sat the bowl on the table. 

So good I forgot to take anymore pictures. 

What are you cooking?

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Welcome Back!

It seems like forever since I fretted over a blog post - my brain and my knee are well rested.  Yesterday I had my first meeting with my physical therapist and with a 'little' work I should be almost as good as new.

Since I had to have the surgery I have decided this was probably the best time to get it done.  Who on earth wants to be out working in 103F weather?  NO ONE.  Many thanks to everyone who does get out and work in this heat on these hottest days of the year. 

I have ventured out into the garden a few times, checking to see that everything is getting watered (I'll worry about the weeding another time).  It is so hot in Fort Worth even our lizards are looking for new ways to stay cool. 

His/her name is Rodney - I call all the lizards around here Rodney -
that's about as affectionate as I can get with a lizard.

They keep popping up in the most unusual places - on top of a 'frog' garden hose stake (these stakes really do keep the hose away from my plants), under the birdbath, in and on top of a birdhouse on our patio (I'm pretty sure one of them lives in there), and a few other places. 

I know they are here - still I scream when one surprises me.  That's all I can do these days - I have been forbidden by my doctor from running or jumping.  That's o.k., I am happy to be on the mend.

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