Savor the moments

I picked up Good Housekeeping magazine the other day, something I rarely do because I think I'm just too much of a feminist. I'm glad I did, though, because an article caught my eye and, because it relates to the theme of my blog, I'm going to write about it here.

The article I'm talking about was written by Geneen Roth, who's written a number of books on food addiction. This article, entitled "Hidden Gifts," reminds the reader that wonderful moments can arise out of what we consider to be our challenges. Geneen focuses on weight loss here but her advice is applicable to all areas of life. For example, she asks that we "think of how [we] might be blessed right now," and tells us to consider the little things that bring us joy. Here are mine:

**Yesterday, my daughter came running full-bore when I arrived at her preschool to pick her up. Her face was lit up and she shouted "Mama!" as she ran. I swept her up and she wrapped her little arms around me and I knew the full extent of her love.

**Today, the sun is shining and the temperature is 82 degrees. Yesterday I had to scrape ice off my windshield before I could drive, but this morning no jacket was needed.

**At home I have various greens sprouting in one of four raised beds, and I know within a few short weeks I'll be able to harvest lettuce and spinach for my salads.

**Tonight I'll go walking with a friend and we'll chat. That I can walk around the track is a blessing. That I can feel safe with Emma playing in the nearby playground is a blessing. That I have a nice person with whom to enjoy my walk is a blessing.

Remember your blessings as you move through your day. Notice the small things and appreciate them before you move on to the next moment.

Bury the veggies!

Where food is concerned, my daughter is a typical six-year-old. She wants the same thing every single day (peanut butter and jelly, of course) and hates trying new things. Hates it. To get her to just take a taste of a new food, I always remind her of the first time she had ice cream: I literally had to hold her face still and force the bite into her mouth. For ice cream!

I've discovered, though, that if there's something about a food that she likes, I can get her to try it. For example, she likes broccoli and garbanzo beans, so last night I made Farmgirl Susan's Simple Broccoli-Onion Soup. Never mind that Emma doesn't like onions (naturally). This stuff is awesome, because you just cook the whole thing, then use an immersion blender to mush up all the ingredients. And if the ingredients are hidden, Emma has no clue...and I certainly don't tell her!

I do this with black bean soup, too, and will do the same thing with vegetable soup the next time I make it. So far, I've gotten her to eat tomatoes, red bell peppers, onions, and zucchini, and she hasn't had a clue. Is it wrong that I'm so gleeful over what is essential a lie that I'm telling my child?

Sharing my little spot on this earth

See that picture in the blog banner above? That's the river that runs behind my house. Well, right now, since it's full of melted snow and rain, it's a river. I've been told that later this year it will be more like a mud flat. Still, it thrills me to no end that at the back of my property is a body of water.

Last month, we had a few sunny, warm days. Emma and I were in the back yard and what should we see but this:



Emma and I waved at this woman as she went past us in her kayak, and I couldn't help thinking that I am very, very lucky. This is right in my back yard!

The weather is supposed to be sunny again this weekend. I wonder what we'll see next?

Milestones and moments

When I was little, growing up in California, I wanted to be what we would all refer to as a "housewife." I wanted kids, with whom I'd stay home. I wanted to sew my family's clothes and clean and decorate my house. I wanted a garden which would yield both beautiful flowers for indoors and delicious fruits and vegetables for the healthy meals I'd cook.

Then I grew up. I got married and was then divorced with no children. I discovered the real-estate market in California had left me far, far behind. I lived in a tiny rental house and, while I did have the small garden, between full-time school, full-time work, and going out with friends, I had no time to grow much of anything. The dream lived at the back of my mind, and I figured that's where it would stay.

Later, still divorced, I got pregnant and had a little girl. I moved to Ohio, finished school, began working as a librarian, and bought an old house on 1/3 of an acre with mature trees and plenty of room for a garden. I began knitting sweaters and socks and hats and scarves and enjoyed decorating my own home for the first time ever. And I discovered that, while I still couldn't be a "housewife," I was thrilled - am thrilled - with my life. This is where I am today.

So here I sit, beginning a blog in which I'll talk about my adventures, and misadventures, as I attempt to create this life that I've always dreamed of, minus the husband. I may talk about single parenting and how challenging it is. I may talk about maintaining a house that's at least 150 years old when I have zero - and I mean ZERO - home maintenance knowledge. I may talk about what works and what doesn't in my Zone 5 garden, and may share recipes for foods that I cook. I will definitely share pictures of my home, my knitting, my daughter, our pets, and anything else that seems to fit my loosely-themed blog. And I'll invite you to share your experiences and knowledge, too, and hope that you'll feel comfortable sharing in the milestones and moments of my life.