Let's discuss women shall we? I have been thinking a lot lately of how gorgeous women are, thin, curvy, tall, short, curly hair, crazy hair etc. Almost automatically when these women look in the mirror they find an imperfection. "my hips are huge!" or "I'm so fat!" that is a popular one. Girls will starve themselves silly to become the ultimate ideal of what we think we should look like. I have always thought that it was society that put such an emphasis on this kind of thinking but I realize now that it is us, we as women put that into our heads think of it as a plate; we have the main course our minds with side dishes of influence, society or other women with insecurities who make comments to each other to make themselves feel better for even just a moment. We as women need to put aside the natural women and try to be more Christ-like we need to delve deep and find the love for each other and ourselves. I don't know if you all know this or not but if you love yourself first you can properly love others. Now I'm not saying love yourself and go and buy 200 dollars worth of new clothes by any means and don't confuse self-improvement with self-change anyone can get a haircut and a new pair of jeans and feel good for a week. Love yourself and tell yourself to give a compliment to someone it is hard at first I know but once you get used to the idea of being nice to one another we will be able to change lives! Not just ourselves. OK I know what you're thinking! "Laura you're such a hippie" you are probably right but love and charity is what the world needs right now. I am preaching to myself too my brain wants to judge others just as much as the next person it is a real problem I have, I want to be better, stronger, prettier than other girls but that is just the natural woman coming out in me and that is so not attractive.
I just needed to rant for a bit now I have really got to sew and check out the garden! MY BEANS ARE COMING UP! They are so beautiful the most dainty spectacular thing I have seen all week. It smells incredible outside right now too It has rained for a couple of days I am convinced rain is best for gardens.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
a few gardens and Linda the reporter.
Me at the old sewing machine
Debi getting her hands dirty
Blair planting a pepper
mont with the lettuce starter
my guys being silly as usual
So I have been working 2 jobs, sewing and painting like a mad woman and have developed an irrational fear of seamstresses, in addition I have also managed to spread green thumb fever among my peers and co-workers. I thought it would be a great idea to have my clients take care of a small garden this summer and as you can see they loved it! I got lucky too I was originally going to take my foundation money * I donate 10 dollars from my paycheck monthly to go towards fun things like gardens* and build a big garden but we are right next to a field and have a vole problem like no other and I didn't want to risk hard work for rodents even though they are really cute. So I decided to plant a few things in these planter buckets the wood shop build, these were extra and had been used for wasps nests. We managed lettuce, broccoli, a sweet 100 the only tomato I like, and a pepper plant. I even got to plant some spinach and onions in the flower beds out front today haha. I am out of control but after weeding the main garden (Andrew, Liann, mine and previously Skoticus) I have decided to stop with two, BUT...my night job where I take care of girls with disabilities as well talked me into helping with a really overgrown garden where I did half the shopping for and pick-axed the whole damn thing. Here is Chrissy with a huge weed patch I pick-axed up. Needless to say I was wicked sore the next day, but felt like a WOMAN! There were lots of unnecessary spiders too, I do not know why they insist on being places I am.
OK so at ATEC my boss about 2 months ago came to me with an idea for my class, he suggested we take on a volunteer route for the meals on wheels program. I of course thought that was a wonderful idea and got right on it. I had to fill out at least 15 background check forms for all my people and send it in to the coordinator, a few weeks later we were ready to go I got trained had a blast meeting all the new people and finding out how cute my guys can be with seniors. I got praised for being such a wonderful girl (not to bad a deal) and how I would make a great mom because I can give shotgun rights evenly. So I had only worked the route once and the coordinator thought we were so great she called the newspaper and told them what we were up to. They also thought it was wonderful and sent Linda the reporter to follow us and get a story....I had done the route ONCE! so Linda the reporter called me Monday and got times and places to meet etc. She was there on time and we headed out I was so nervous! So nervous in fact that I pulled out into traffic in front of a big truck and almost caused an accident. Then I went in the completely wrong direction I was supposed to and made a total idiot of myself, let me just paint a picture of this....Very large white van with 5 adults with disabilities one in a wheelchair so the van is super sized, making large sloppy u turns and reeking havoc in the town of Pleasant Grove, and a very confused repoter behind me thinking she may have a different kind of story on her hands. She was actually very nice and called me later that day to thank me and we ended up chatting for a few like besties. Linda the reporter was really neat very down to earth farm woman so of course we talked about gardening!
To read the article and my hippie quote go HERE
Sunday, May 17, 2009
PLANTING DAY!!!!
OK no more words of the day, or quotes... because it takes to long and I don't like sitting at a computer for longer than an hour I have better things to do.
I do have to tell you of the best song in the world I am hopelessly hooked it is called bruises by chairlift the song is cute and makes my head bop.
PLANTING DAY! I have been looking forward to this day for a long time! I was so excited to finally get things rolling in the garden. We started off (Andrew and I ) at a green house that he goes to, tho I am loyal always to Vineyard I was willing to check it out, I cannot remember the name because I had hiked till 2 in the morning the night before planting day, and kinda had my eyes closed in the car and didn't think to know the name of this place, but it was wonderful! In stead of boxy carts they had RADIO FLYER'S!
That was a surprise for me, we walked thru the rows of veggies and flowers and found this particular plant which was one of the prettiest plants I have ever seen! it is called Dianthus Purple Picotee, I had to take a pic of the label so I would be able to spell it correctly. You'll have to click on it to see the details! I loved this plant I have at least 7 other pics I kept, this plant is very photogenic. I love how the water is rested in the middle held by three leaves that look like webbed hands, almost like it is offering the water to you.
After getting a few last minute plants we headed back, Liann showed up right when we got home. We had a quick breakfast and went out to the garden, this was the first thing I saw. I thought the butterfly was a nice touch. Thanks nature!
We planted so many things from 3 kinds of tomatoes to all sorts of squash, 2 different kinds of beans, eggplant, broccoli, peppers, celery, cucumber, corn, sweet potato, yam, etc. Some of these are just experiments we will see if anything turns out. Faith my friends FAITH!
Cute and little Liann planting some sweet 100's when she used the shovel she looked like a hobbit. Here is Andrew and Liann planting the peppers Andrew is very helpful to show us how to do such things.
ahh the huge worm we found! I thought it was a snake at first.
Pretty cabbage below
The awkward eggplant
Fresh Basil
Finished garden!!! We still have to plant a just a few things like more squash and such but we planted for 4 hours on Saturday, and were completely exhausted! 
We had some issues with the hose someone ran over it and broke a piece off and then during the winter the snow plowed a gash thru another hose so we are finding alternative ways of watering the garden for now. This would be the gash.
The field next door during sunset
I have never gardened, but I have admired others gardens and told them I had no such green thumb. I take my words back, I love getting down deep in earth picking out unwanted weeds and finding huge mutant worms next to the pea's. Taking the shovel and digging deep, creating space for the corn and squash talking with friends as we laugh and joke about the random things we find in the dirt, like broken glass and wires from an marshmallow roast in years past. Finding a spot in the garden where nothing has been planted before and getting a little too excited about the dark rich soil and then toting it back and forth for other plants to use, being completely exhausted at the end of the day but feeling content with the days work and actually considering becoming a full time farmer. Licking my lips and finding a salt mine, not being able to get all the dirt from under my nails. Eating a big meal after the whole day and feeling no guilt because I have earned it. I cannot text today because I have so many cuts, blisters and scrapes on my hands, my back hurts and I am mildly sunburned not to mention every muscle in my legs have been stretched and used to their full capacity this weekend. The best thing though? That would be the connection with nature, with friends and finding out how metaphorical growing can be to life in general. I have never seen Andrew so happy, seriously the kid was beaming! I am happy too! this was a goal for me for many a month, I just had no idea this was how it was going to work out, but I know that the Lord has lots of ways of doing things for us if it is a righteous desire right? with a lot of hard work we can be rewarded in many different ways. "For the Beauty of the Earth" definitely comes to mind...
PLANTING DAY! I have been looking forward to this day for a long time! I was so excited to finally get things rolling in the garden. We started off (Andrew and I ) at a green house that he goes to, tho I am loyal always to Vineyard I was willing to check it out, I cannot remember the name because I had hiked till 2 in the morning the night before planting day, and kinda had my eyes closed in the car and didn't think to know the name of this place, but it was wonderful! In stead of boxy carts they had RADIO FLYER'S!
That was a surprise for me, we walked thru the rows of veggies and flowers and found this particular plant which was one of the prettiest plants I have ever seen! it is called Dianthus Purple Picotee, I had to take a pic of the label so I would be able to spell it correctly. You'll have to click on it to see the details! I loved this plant I have at least 7 other pics I kept, this plant is very photogenic. I love how the water is rested in the middle held by three leaves that look like webbed hands, almost like it is offering the water to you.
After getting a few last minute plants we headed back, Liann showed up right when we got home. We had a quick breakfast and went out to the garden, this was the first thing I saw. I thought the butterfly was a nice touch. Thanks nature!
We planted so many things from 3 kinds of tomatoes to all sorts of squash, 2 different kinds of beans, eggplant, broccoli, peppers, celery, cucumber, corn, sweet potato, yam, etc. Some of these are just experiments we will see if anything turns out. Faith my friends FAITH!
Cute and little Liann planting some sweet 100's when she used the shovel she looked like a hobbit. Here is Andrew and Liann planting the peppers Andrew is very helpful to show us how to do such things.
ahh the huge worm we found! I thought it was a snake at first.
Pretty cabbage below
The awkward eggplant
Fresh Basil
Finished garden!!! We still have to plant a just a few things like more squash and such but we planted for 4 hours on Saturday, and were completely exhausted! 
We had some issues with the hose someone ran over it and broke a piece off and then during the winter the snow plowed a gash thru another hose so we are finding alternative ways of watering the garden for now. This would be the gash.
The field next door during sunset
I have never gardened, but I have admired others gardens and told them I had no such green thumb. I take my words back, I love getting down deep in earth picking out unwanted weeds and finding huge mutant worms next to the pea's. Taking the shovel and digging deep, creating space for the corn and squash talking with friends as we laugh and joke about the random things we find in the dirt, like broken glass and wires from an marshmallow roast in years past. Finding a spot in the garden where nothing has been planted before and getting a little too excited about the dark rich soil and then toting it back and forth for other plants to use, being completely exhausted at the end of the day but feeling content with the days work and actually considering becoming a full time farmer. Licking my lips and finding a salt mine, not being able to get all the dirt from under my nails. Eating a big meal after the whole day and feeling no guilt because I have earned it. I cannot text today because I have so many cuts, blisters and scrapes on my hands, my back hurts and I am mildly sunburned not to mention every muscle in my legs have been stretched and used to their full capacity this weekend. The best thing though? That would be the connection with nature, with friends and finding out how metaphorical growing can be to life in general. I have never seen Andrew so happy, seriously the kid was beaming! I am happy too! this was a goal for me for many a month, I just had no idea this was how it was going to work out, but I know that the Lord has lots of ways of doing things for us if it is a righteous desire right? with a lot of hard work we can be rewarded in many different ways. "For the Beauty of the Earth" definitely comes to mind...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The secret life of bees
Last week I was at lunch and I decided to eat at a nearby park close to my work where a very large purple tree with heavy bark existed, I had seen this tree a number of times and wanted to take a picture of it so I can get a good idea of colors to use in order to paint it. What I found was incredible! The whole tree had a strong sweet smell and was covered in Bees. I watched them, followed them with my camera and must have looked like a loony. Anyone who knows me knows that I take forever to get the right shot I always have, it is just worth it to take a bazillion pics even if you just get a few good ones. I must have taken at least 25 pics of these ladies craning my arms and neck just to see them, most of the time they were way to quick for me! I managed to figure out the flow of things after a while and took some really pretty pics. I loved being so close I could see the pollen that had accumulated on her legs, the thing I felt most while watching these guys was determination and team work, they completely ignored me the whole time all the while I was completely enthralled with their hard work. The tree has lost almost all of it's flowers and the bee's have gone else where but I am grateful for the experience! to see them more clearly just click on the pictures of course! NO BEES WERE HARMED DURING MY ADVENTURE
Sunday, May 10, 2009
adventures in gardening, compost and Andrew
I really just want to blog today. I don't feel like posting quotes or words of the day, sorry if you like those.
So I have been really busy, like really really busy. In addition to making bags for my stint as a vendor at the farmers market this coming season I have been painting A lot! trying new things and feeling like a true artist here are a few of my paintings.
I have also been working on a garden with my friends Andrew and Liann, I am hopelessly addicted to buying plants I usually pick up a few a week. Liann is pretty busy right now so Andrew and I have been working on it mostly and we literally sound like a married couple out in the garden bickering over what plants to plant and how to do it (Andrew is always right and it drives me crazy!). Our most recent planting session was on Thursday evening I had bought a bunch of cabbage and some lettuce I wanted to plant, so of course Andrew being the wonderful friend he is, obliged and helped me do it. I had brought over some compost from the pile here at the Carr's, mostly consisting of rotting fruit and other material I couldn't quite make out. So Andrew insisted that we use the older compost from a bag and I insisted we used the compost from the Carr's, Andrew of course obliged after much whining from my end. As we were digging up spots to put stuff, getting ready to plant, and planning where to put things I was shoveling out the compost with a little shovel on my hands and knees with my face in the compost, I had accused Andrew of tooting on a number of occasions, he then pointed out that my face was in the compost. I shoveled in more compost and noticed lots of Beatles and other creepy crawly things which caused a few yelps here and there but when I found a centipede I made Andrew shovel in the compost....Andrew of course obliged. He took too long tho after a while and I decided to take over the shoveling now that I have gotten used to the centipedes, while I was planting the celery I had taken a big dip in the compost and saw the biggest nastiest spider ever! she was a translucent grey color and had little hairs all over and a crap load of eyes I jumped and made some kind of noise indicating I was frightened and Andrew looked over and said "kill her" in like a everyday nonchalant tone like "no thanks", I was going to when I noticed she wasn't moving and she was clutching a bag of eggs and I just couldn't do it! The conversation when as follows ;
Andrew: "Just kill her!"
Laura: "I can't she's a momma!"
Andrew "first you were all scared now you're sentimental"
Laura: "you're not a woman you wouldn't understand!"
Andrew: "Thank goodness for that!"
I guess that could be my quote for the day. Okay so I planted about 30 heads of 2 different kinds of lettuce, I had to be cut off! The first row was about 20 and Andrew was looking but not really saying anything till it was time plant the next species and he came over with a hoe and was like "you can plant to here" indicating space for about ten plants he explained that you have to cut the plants otherwise they will seed and this will be annoying and a lot of unnecessary work. Then I started thinking how cute it was that he let me do as much as I did! I called him on it thanking him for letting me plant what I wanted knowing he would have to pay the consequences of my actions. He is truly a sweet friend and I am lucky to have him, and I encourage anyone to be his friend because he has character, he is loyal, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. All you need is a few good friends.
We finished up weeding and watering after about 2 hours I am always sore afterwards. On Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market I am starting in June so I still have a few weeks but they were selling these way cool plants called step-ables they are of the mint family and you create a little path with them!! Andrew encouraged me not to buy any more plants but I bought two of them and they are currently sitting in his kitchen ha ha.
We are planting the rest of the garden next Saturday, Liann called me yesterday to get a recipe and I made sure she could come and help so maybe with another person there it won't be so bad for poor Andrew, I really do put him through hell.
So I have been really busy, like really really busy. In addition to making bags for my stint as a vendor at the farmers market this coming season I have been painting A lot! trying new things and feeling like a true artist here are a few of my paintings.
I have also been working on a garden with my friends Andrew and Liann, I am hopelessly addicted to buying plants I usually pick up a few a week. Liann is pretty busy right now so Andrew and I have been working on it mostly and we literally sound like a married couple out in the garden bickering over what plants to plant and how to do it (Andrew is always right and it drives me crazy!). Our most recent planting session was on Thursday evening I had bought a bunch of cabbage and some lettuce I wanted to plant, so of course Andrew being the wonderful friend he is, obliged and helped me do it. I had brought over some compost from the pile here at the Carr's, mostly consisting of rotting fruit and other material I couldn't quite make out. So Andrew insisted that we use the older compost from a bag and I insisted we used the compost from the Carr's, Andrew of course obliged after much whining from my end. As we were digging up spots to put stuff, getting ready to plant, and planning where to put things I was shoveling out the compost with a little shovel on my hands and knees with my face in the compost, I had accused Andrew of tooting on a number of occasions, he then pointed out that my face was in the compost. I shoveled in more compost and noticed lots of Beatles and other creepy crawly things which caused a few yelps here and there but when I found a centipede I made Andrew shovel in the compost....Andrew of course obliged. He took too long tho after a while and I decided to take over the shoveling now that I have gotten used to the centipedes, while I was planting the celery I had taken a big dip in the compost and saw the biggest nastiest spider ever! she was a translucent grey color and had little hairs all over and a crap load of eyes I jumped and made some kind of noise indicating I was frightened and Andrew looked over and said "kill her" in like a everyday nonchalant tone like "no thanks", I was going to when I noticed she wasn't moving and she was clutching a bag of eggs and I just couldn't do it! The conversation when as follows ;
Andrew: "Just kill her!"
Laura: "I can't she's a momma!"
Andrew "first you were all scared now you're sentimental"
Laura: "you're not a woman you wouldn't understand!"
Andrew: "Thank goodness for that!"
I guess that could be my quote for the day. Okay so I planted about 30 heads of 2 different kinds of lettuce, I had to be cut off! The first row was about 20 and Andrew was looking but not really saying anything till it was time plant the next species and he came over with a hoe and was like "you can plant to here" indicating space for about ten plants he explained that you have to cut the plants otherwise they will seed and this will be annoying and a lot of unnecessary work. Then I started thinking how cute it was that he let me do as much as I did! I called him on it thanking him for letting me plant what I wanted knowing he would have to pay the consequences of my actions. He is truly a sweet friend and I am lucky to have him, and I encourage anyone to be his friend because he has character, he is loyal, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. All you need is a few good friends.
We finished up weeding and watering after about 2 hours I am always sore afterwards. On Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market I am starting in June so I still have a few weeks but they were selling these way cool plants called step-ables they are of the mint family and you create a little path with them!! Andrew encouraged me not to buy any more plants but I bought two of them and they are currently sitting in his kitchen ha ha.
We are planting the rest of the garden next Saturday, Liann called me yesterday to get a recipe and I made sure she could come and help so maybe with another person there it won't be so bad for poor Andrew, I really do put him through hell.
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