Gardening Cures The Blues

When I was the caregiver for my Mother in our Aging-In-Place home environment, I found that  reviewing e-mailed pdf documents and talking over project status by cellphone did not require a coat and tie so my clothing of choice became flannel shirts, Lands End’s® version of Levi’s® and Ecco® casual shoes.

As I am trying to be a bit more active in my commercial property management business, I tried on my old wardrobe today and found that my suit and blazer were moth eaten and that I no longer fit into my dress shoes. Whether through age or my former osteopenia condition, my size 10.0-10.5 shoes now measure 11.0.  I purchased new shoes today and my remaining slacks and extra blazer will have to do for now.

“Moody Dan” returned today for awhile until I worked in my garden late this afternoon and cured my blues for another day. Scattered showers are predicted for this evening, so a quick weed, cultivate and photo session occurred at 5:30 PM PST.

Hope you enjoy my “work in process” photos for today. They include rock-on-guard and its close-up, first red sweet peas, first strawberries, heirloom lettuce planters I and II, hydra barrier® sandbag alternative to keep rain from flowing through the garage, patio ready for spring and the garden view through the side gate just right of the blooming blueberries.

Peace Be With You.       Daniel John Cooney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon & Danvers Carrots

The instructions on the carrot seeds packet notes “germination is slow and uneven, be patient”.  Fortunately for me, the seeds emerged into sprouts in  about 15 days.  Looking forward to purple Dragons and orange Danvers in 75 more days.

Planted another rotation of red oakleaf lettuce [my favorite] today and placed a sample of collards and rosemary in the herb side of my garden.

Today’s photos are of the carrots in process and  swiss chard, newly planted red oakleaf lettuce and kale.   I enjoy swiss chard and kale in my nightly salads and have added both to  Amy’s Kitchen® low sodium organic soup to further enhance its flavor.

Peace Be With You.     Daniel John Cooney

Happy Valentine’s Day

Poor, Pitiful Pearl®, a doll that Dad gave Mother in 1958, now resides in my guest bedroom. Today she is surrounded by her entourage of friends that include the wise owl, calendar bear, Valentine heart bear, Easter bunny with chick,  teddy from her childhood and 2010 bear.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Peace Be With You.       Daniel John Cooney

 

Sunday Puzzler

I am taking a break from online puzzles and brain games and returning to moderate sudoku® and jigsaw puzzles with pieces that exercise my fingers as well as my brain.

Adaptive yoga with healthy breathing,  Omega-3-TG fish oil,   a diet of salmon and fresh home produce and my freelance writing and blogging efforts, are keeping my brain in tune.

A sample of jigsaw puzzle photos include the cat in the family room, the puzzle box of tonight’s endeavor and the jigsaw in process.

Peace Be With You.       Daniel John Cooney

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

At Roman Catholic Masses, after the priest’s homily and our profession of faith, as a Christian people, we pray for the needs of the Church and for people in general. The response to each petition, e.g., “let us pray for the sick and dying” is “Lord, hear our prayer.”

When recited with a group of people, the effect is greater than when said alone.  In the Gospel according to  Matthew, chapter 18, verse 20, the Lord is quoted   “for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”.

I oftentimes find it easier to attend daily Mass online, rather than driving to the local church. Online I am in the presence of a priest, lectors and parishioners, in numbers of at least three, so I am able to pray “Lord, Hear Our Prayer” aloud during  Mass.

In preparation for Mass, I read and meditate upon  the Bible passages of the day at Eternal Word [www.EWTN.com/devotionals/inspiration.asp/], then click on Daily Mass on my blogroll which takes me to CatholicTV.com.   The weekday Mass is located at Catholic TV headquarters near Boston. Sunday Mass is presented at the University of Notre Dame Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

As is customary, both websites accept donations to continue their respective online ministries.  A Paypal® collection box is always nearby and I do my part to tithe as I receive spiritual enrichment from these programs.

I heartily recommend attending online liturgies, whether homebound or needing a prayer break from your work-from-home business.

Peace Be With You.            Daniel John Cooney

Camarosa, Chandler & Temptation

My backyard planting areas have full sun and good clay soil enriched with tree roots, natural mulch and potting soil.

As I am able to grow fruit and vegies all year long, I am experimenting with growing different varieties in both above ground cedar planter boxes and terra cotta pots as well as in the ground flower beds.

I hope  to better manage garden pests naturally and to test if planting method affects size and quantity of berries.

Yesterday afternoon,  I harvested the remaining bibb lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli and  replaced them with red salad bowl lettuce and three varieties of strawberry.

Camarosa and Chandler strawberries have a shorter life span but mature in 60-70 days.  I planted half of the Chandler’s in terra cotta and the remainder in the ground. I also planted all of the Camarosa in the ground as that variety produces larger berries.

Temptation Everbearing strawberries mature in 100 days and continue to produce fruit year round. I planted Temptation starts in the terra cotta pots.

St. Francis of Assisi sharing concrete with strawberry planters is the subject of today’s photo.  The dirt patch just to the left of the statue is planted with carrot seeds. I am told that carrots grow slowly, so will wait a bit longer for sprouting to occur.

Peace Be With You.          Daniel John Cooney

 

 

 

Bok Choy, etc.

When I mentioned to friends that cook that I planted bok choy in my vegetable garden, the common answer to my question “can I toss this into a salad” was “steam it”, “cook it” or “what is bok choy”?

Tonight, I picked fresh bok choy, kale, red oakleaf lettuce and cauliflower from my garden, washed the leaves, spun them out in my salad spinner and served them with lemon flavored olive oil, cut-up chicken breast, sourdough bread and Edna Valley Vineyard® 2008  Chardonnay.

The first bite of the bok choy was robust and spicy, the second reasonably adjusted to my taste buds; fresh vegies are difficult to beat.

The photo tonight “is what it is”, Friday night at Dan’s.

Peace Be With You.          Daniel John Cooney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovery 2012

In 1999, I penned the Spiritual Portrait© entitled “discovery”:

textured lives challenged daily

stretching talents endlessly

new lands await us

discovery a lifelong occupation

 In 2012, I find “discovery” to be more relevant to me now than it was “in the old days”. The daily challenges of caregiving are in my recent past and I feel that I have completed the grieving cycle and am in my next phase of “discovery”.

 Gardening used to relax me, now it feeds me. I live on a much smaller budget these days, but overall I am doing fine. The Aging-In-Place concept that worked during my caregiving time with  my Mother, continues to work for me.

One of the gifts I received from my Dad was the desire to help others freely, in whatever way that I can.  I find that Grateful Discoveries® has allowed me to touch the hands and hearts  of friends and family and a new audience of readers.  My site comments are much more constructive now and the spam content is greatly reduced.

To kick start 2012, my vegie garden is producing well, heirloom lettuce thinned, carrot seeds just planted, bok choy and kale hearty and tasty, and sweet peas [flowers] staked to climb up the backyard wall.  I now eat four varieties of lettuce, though I enjoy the red oakleaf the best. Have also harvested broccoli and cauliflower which is great in salads.

My writing research  has reached a breather stage. Moved materials to breakfast room table so I have a choice of writing drafts or standing in the kitchen to eat.  When files sit on my home office desk, they tend to collect dust instead of ideas.

The Chia® Cat grew, now bald and ready to be re-gifted to my sister next Christmas.

Had a fasting blood draw at Noon today, a dozen vials worth.  It is always a good idea to have doctor ordered tests completed before  the date of your actual physical. Then you are able to obtain a copy of your complete chem panel when you meet with your doctor, rather than get a message on your cell or home phone of “OK” or “call our office immediately”.

Taking daily blood pressure readings on my CVS Pharmacy® monitor a month prior to my doctor’s appointment, then summarizing results on an Excel® spreadsheet including 30 day average. When my blood pressure reading in his “white coast syndrome” office is 150/75 and he is ready to prescribe the “little pink pills”, I am able to accurately show that my average BP is 130/70 and that I’m fine.

 Preparation beats procrastination when dealing with your health.

Today’s photos are of the sweet peas staked and edible bok choy and kale and of the words in process in my breakfast room.

Peace Be With You.      Daniel John Cooney

Seeds in Process

Our Christian life is a journey, with birth, baptism, joy, anger, despair, renewal and eventually the reality of death and the hope of everlasting life in heaven.

Likewise, my current gardening adventure begins with seeds and along the way to my salad bowl are sprouts, water, cultivation, growth, and harvest.

The “seeds in process” photos for today include romaine lettuce sprouts [two varieties]; looseleaf lettuce sprouts [four varieties]; swiss chard, bok choy and kale and sweet peas flowers ready for trellis support; the end of life for butterfly mums, soon to be harvested and replaced with Danvers and Dragon carrot seeds; and the first apple blossoms of this season.

Peace Be With You Always.       Daniel John Cooney

Farmer Dan’s Story Part II

I remember discussing with my sister if I should get a kitten to help deal with the loneliness felt while grieving. We never resolved the question but I was “happily” surprised at my Christmas gift from her – my very own Chia® Cat.  It sprouted grass or weeds, hard to tell, within 5 days. Kind of a water hound and constantly needing attention as to too much or too little sunlight. But it is the thought that counts!

The Heirloom Lettuce seeds have been planted in the cedar planters and the two dozen or so lettuce heads in my backyard produce garden continue to feed me.  Broccoli plants are opening so edible soon. St. Francis statue moved to backyard to draw birds to it rather than the produce.

After much research, I found the perfect boulder at H & H Nursery in Lakewood to complete my front yard “stonescaping”.  A 650# rock was delivered this morning  and I am smiling ear to ear now that this job is finished.

In the front side yard where the cedar planters rested between crops, I planted baby tears among a selection of lighter weight rocks which I had used to help select the colors for the final “stonescaping”.  The planting and propagation of baby tears is one memory of my parents gardening talents from my early years and as Farmer Dan, one I will continue to cultivate.

Today’s photos include the Chia® Cat, backyard produce,  the 650# boulder, side yard rocks with freshly planted baby tears and a young Farmer Dan.

Peace Be With You.          Daniel John Cooney