<![CDATA[Big Green Acres - A Project of Organic Gardening and Cooking - News]]>

<![CDATA[Big Green Acres - A Project of Organic Gardening and Cooking - News]]>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:34:06 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[My Ratings]]>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:12:42 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/02/my-ratings.htmlI have a new project in the works. In fact, I have several projects in the works. I could expand into more gardens if I can work it out with help watering and other chores. It seems sometimes, things just get a life of their own and off they go.

Anyway...I have been doing a lot of research on this new project. If you are new to this site, you will find I am an information junkie. I want to know everything yesterday. It is the reason I learned to use the computer in the first place. So I could gather information, in large batches, fast enough to make good decisions about...anything I want!

Mostly it is medical information. I handle health issues differently than most people. I even had my dentist ask me this week what herb would I use for swelling. Arnica Montana.

I digress. I eventually started looking up 'organic gardening and cooking' on Google. I wanted to check out the other sites to see what they were doing. The Lad checked out my standing a week or so ago and I was half-way down page three.

I have to say... today I am two. Not page two. I am the second web site on page one. I don't know how that happened, but I am so happy!

Thank you all for coming here. It is just amazing to me. Blessings abound!

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]]><![CDATA[Sooner Than Later]]>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:49:52 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/01/sooner-than-later.htmlAs you have known, I have been having dental work done. I get to go back on Wednesday. They are going to finish my root canal. They found some infection and they didn't want to close it up without clearing it up first.

They gave me some antibiotics in November, the last time I went to the dentist, for the same thing. I think the infection has been there so long that it is going to take several refills before it goes away and stays away.

I don't like that at all. I am VERY sensitive to the side effects from antibiotics. I am just glad we are getting it taken care of now.

After this is all cleared up, I will have to work on getting my body cleaned of all the after effects of the antibiotics. Like doing some body cleanses for the liver, and colon. Maybe a five day fast would be good.

It is always one thing or another. What can you do?

I was going through some stuff on the internet today. Just looking up stuff, and got drug 'down the rabbit hole' as I call it. This site takes you 'here'. Then something else catches your eye and off you go somewhere else. I was thinking about my sister today and 'looked' her up on Facebook. Then I went to see her obituary in her local paper. On the bottom of the newspaper article was a comment section. It showed two of the ten comments.

To go back a little farther in time, a few weeks ago, I got a phone call from a girlfriend I met when I was sixteen. She said she had received a newspaper article from her sister. It was an obituary of my first steady boyfriend. He used to live downstairs from her sister. That is how we met.

Confused yet? Anyway...back to MY sister's obituary...the first comment was from MY dead boyfriend's brother. How weird is that?

So...I tried Google-ing him. After trying for hours to get a phone number or an address, I came to the conclusion that cell phones are the reason I can't get information. Most people don't have 'land lines' anymore. Phone books are for businesses.

So tell me, how do you locate someone who my not be so used to computers? I will put my wish to the Universe and hope he contact me.

Will it work? Maybe yes, maybe no. We shall see.

Hopefully sooner than later.

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]]><![CDATA[Root Canal]]>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:07:59 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/01/root-canal.htmlToday I went to the dentist and had a root canal done. I have to say that I really love my dentist. For the first time in my life I am not afraid of the dentist anymore. I am so happy I am finally over that hurdle. Not that I don't have more work to be done, but at least now I know of a good place to go.

Boulevard Dental. Palmdale, Ca.
]]><![CDATA[Perfect!]]>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:32:39 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/01/perfect.htmlIn October, I signed up for some free health insurance, and had a physical. One of the tests that the Dr. ordered was a mammogram. Yesterday was my 2:30 p.m. appointment. I know that is funny...getting a normal appointment on a weekend.

What was typical was, they were late for my appointment. THEN...she was going to take a lady before me that had missed her 10:00 a.m. appointment.

When I finally got in, she asked me how old I was.

I said fifty-six.

"That can't be right."

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"No!!! You just look like MAYBE 46." She then proceeded to take two pictures on the right side and two on the left. "Wait to see how well these turned out before you leave in case I need to re-shoot them."

Now...any of you who know me, know that my Sis had breast cancer twice.

I have told cancer it is NOT allowed to live in my body, EVER! Also...I take pretty good care of myself.

Then there is the fact that Farmer J is very observant and if he felt something that was not right, he would have said something to me.

At least that is what I said to myself as I waited for these 'films' to come out of the processor.

I KNOW what breast cancer looks like on an x-ray. As the film came out of the machine, she put them up on the light frame.

And there it was. Four shots of the most perfect looking x-rays. Without any suspect spots.

In my relief, I said..."Aren't those just perfect!?!?"

As she turned her face to mine...it said it all.

With a BIG smile, she said...Yes they are!

So...As a very happy, breast cancer free female, I have to say...guess I am doing something right.

YEAH! Now I have something else to be grateful for. Love it.

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]]><![CDATA[Some News]]>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:41:35 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/01/some-news.html

Here is my poor, desolate garden. I hate this time of year because everything looks dead. In fact...everything is dead...or gone.

I am still deciding if I want to plant these boxes again. Or...pull up the boxes and just plant the dirt. I just want to use up as much space as possible.

I think this is a great picture of Farmer J's dogs. She looks like she is running at full speed, upside-down and howling.

The first week in the New Year, we built the goat barn bigger and stronger. In fact, it is four times bigger. We have babies coming in a few weeks and we will be needing LOTS more space. This new barn is twice as wide and twice as long as the other barn. It has some little porches (sort of). Farmer J's sons helped me build it. We had a good time doing it, too.

Here is a picture of Farmer J's rooster. He came here as just a wee baby, and now his side-burns are coming in and all his shiny, new feathers, make him look really 'cocky'. I have taken to calling him Quagmire. You know, the nasty neighbor on Family Guy, the cartoon. They run the same.

See how pretty his feathers look in the Sunshine? He is magnificent! If you look close, you can see his puffy side-burns.

This shows it better. His feathers are so shiny it looks like he got into some wet paint.

Here is a picture of Little Bitty. Doesn't it look like there is a baby in that tummy? I sure hope so. About a month and a half and we will find out for sure.

We know the White Mamma is preggers, cause she can hardly get back up off the ground once she lays down.

The Cranky Brown one is still a question, too. I have to say they LOOK like they have all gained weight, so it looks like there will be babies a plenty!

This goose reminds me of the Aflak ad on TV.

"Major medical, Boys!"

I just love these creatures!

Later.

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]]><![CDATA[I Am Back!!!!]]>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:01:52 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2012/01/i-am-back.htmlI have to say...life is sure interesting. I have been busy as usual. Been working things out...so to speak. Or...actually...been watching as things work themselves out.

It is a hard path to travel. To let things unfold as they are supposed to, without influencing the outcome.

I am a powerful person and I find it hard to not try and fix things. Sorry to be so cryptic...but some things are not about me. They just include me.

Farmer J and I are making plans for a garden this year. Well, not just 'a' garden...we will be planting many large gardens. Here at my house, we have close to 2000 sq. ft. of fenced in, and tilled, garden space. We plan on having about that much at Farmer J's place. Maybe even more.

What is really wonderful, is that The Bee Whisperer offered us his garden space to use as we would like, this year. This is the best garden space I know of. The dirt is perfect.

I also have a friend who owns a house in town here, that has offered her yard up for garden space. So...if we can get the ground prepared and planted, we could have bunches of gardens all over town!

Another thing...I have been sick for the last five days or so. Did you ever cough so hard, for so long, that your stomach muscles hurt from top to bottom? And your tongue hurts on the under-side from dragging across your teeth from coughing?

I forgot yesterday, that it helps a throat full of mucus to gargle with salt water. The Lad has been tending me since I got sick. He has learned a lot from me about how to do that. I couldn't ask for a better nurse.

I had a coughing fit last night and the Lad reminded me to gargle by handing me a glass with warm salt water in it. The abrasives in the water cut right through the phlegm. Then I ate a big spoonful of honey.

Honey is a natural antibiotic. In a mater of seconds, I felt so much better. I could talk and not cough. It is amazing what a few minerals and honey can do.

A lot of times I use honey and lemon to make a cough syrup. It is also nice to make a hot-tottie. Add a little whiskey or brandy. It relaxes you and may get you to sleep. Because we all know you need your rest when you are sick if you expect to get better.

I also was having trouble with my computer/camera interaction. Those problems have now been resolved. I am looking forward to taking pictures and reporting my findings, again. Real soon, and regularly! Farmer J is getting the internet!

One of the things I want to do this year, is to find a place to give canning lessons. Maybe make a few videos to put on You-tube. These are my new years resolutions. At least, just a few of them.

Hope to 'see' you all there. May your new year be starting out well.

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]]><![CDATA[My Holiday Wishes]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:24:38 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2011/12/my-holiday-wishes.htmlAs Christmas approaches, I am still in my kitchen making goodies for the masses. Banana bread, zucchini bread, and lots of cookies.

BFF is coming tomorrow. I am always pleased to spend ANY amount of time with her. It is so precious to me. She is coming to get her Christmas stuff. After she leaves, I will be making turkey for Farmer J and all his family.

As I look back on this past year, I see how much we all have grown as a new family. It is so wonderful. I feel lucky to have a man who loves me so much. His family has embraced The Lad and me, and welcomed us into their life. Blessings abound!

As hard as I fought to NOT be Farmer J's girlfriend over the last twenty years, I am happy I finally caved. I am also grateful he never gave up on me. Twenty years is a long time to wait. He just kept saying...'That's OK. I have time.'

Anyway...I want to say thank you to you all for coming to this site. For reading my little musings. For backing me up when times got hard. For holding my heart when the sadness was too much to bear.

This year was sad because we lost my Sister to cancer this June. I could never remember a time when she wasn't here. I miss her badly. Sometimes I pick up the phone to call her before I remember where she is. Then I cry.

But she is where she can't hurt anymore. That gives me peace. There were too many years where she suffered so. I know we will be together again, someday. But not yet. Not yet. (Name that Russell Crowe movie). We will be young and pretty and so happy to be together again.

But for now, I am where I am supposed to be. Looking forward to the wonderful possibilities of the coming year. The new gardens. The new friends. And all the love that makes it worth while to be here.

Best wishes for the Holidays and the New Year to come.

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]]><![CDATA[Life Changes]]>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:04:08 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2011/12/life-changes.htmlToday is a day that I want to celebrate. Today is the day that Farmer J gets two new toilets.

TWO!

I am so happy!

He is also working on putting in a couple of sinks and some shower fittings. The Bee Whisperer is instructing on the proper way to do that. The Lad is also in attendance.

I would call it 'males bonding'.

A perfect way to spend a Saturday. Hope you all have a perfect one, as well.

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]]><![CDATA[Holiday Baking]]>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:07:50 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2011/12/holiday-baking.htmlI have been working like crazy lately. Like that is something new.

I made 24 loves of zucchini bread, six of banana bread, a batch each of hot pepper relish and kiwi pineapple jam. Yesterday, I had some help squeezing pomegranates.

It was a lean season this year for fruit. The frost this Spring, took almost all the fruit in town. No joke.

Hopefully...with a little tree trimming this Winter, the fruit will be great big and beautiful this coming Spring.

I know that in apple trees, if there was a lean year with very little fruit, the following year the tree will likely be loaded. It is the unused 'energy', stored from one year to the next. I hope all fruit trees carry that same trait. AND...that it doesn't freeze in an untimely manner this coming Spring.

Early this year, my next door neighbor died suddenly from diabetes. On Mother's Day, her only child came and scraped weeds from the empty acre between us. It was so heart wrenching for me to 'feel' his pain, I couldn't tell him how sorry I was about his Mom's passing.

This weekend, he was over at the house, having a garage sale. I finally screwed up enough courage to go talk to him, and say how sorry I was for his loss.

That made me think about all the other losses that happened this year. The saddest one is my Sis. I miss her so.

She loved decorating for the holidays. It didn't matter WHAT holiday...she had them all covered. It was something she could do no matter how bad she felt and it gave her comfort and a sense of accomplishment. I am sure it also satisfied her artistic bent.

Anyway...I want to say Love you Sis. And Mom.

Miss you both bunches.

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]]><![CDATA[Off Balance]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:18:39 -0800http://www.biggreenacres.com/9/post/2011/12/off-balance.htmlAs usual, hub bub galore! It keeps me from my 'appointed rounds'.

I find that I really miss writing when I don't do it for a while. It is like a pallet cleanser...it gives me a fresh outlook afterwords. I 'work' through my 'issues' through my writing.

I have issues dividing my time and still doing what I need for me. Like this site. It is finding the balance.

I have to trust that I am on my path for the highest good for all concerned. I just don't always 'see' the next right action, and have a tendency to not trust the path right away.

Lately, I have been feeling uneasy. I think the full eclipse of the Moon that happens tomorrow is affecting my mood.

Eclipses seem to pin point areas that need change and put that change in motion. You need to make room for the good to come in.

I have a little trouble waiting for things. It is because I am a girl of action. I have always thought that if I can't 'fish', then I need to 'fix nets' and 'cut bait'.

hen the phone rings and I am off again.

It is nice to be needed.

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