Because a whole lot of lighthearted and carefree people will be baking their skin that hasn’t seen the light of day for eight months 😎

Sunburns

A Simple Aloe Vera and Lavender Spray

Fresh baked sourdough focaccia today with the first snips of rosemary and lemon thyme in between garlic cloves and sun dried tomatoes. I ate way too much of it but it was worth it. How are you all doing? Optimistic? Despairing? I'm good; I know how the story ends 😉 My washer, dryer, and oven all quit within days of each other which was a ton o'laughs. And I still don't have my van back that was stolen and is supposedly getting repaired. First world problems! But today is the first real warm day here (high of 65! Whoohoo!) and the gardens are puttering along and the kids are all well and good so I'm counting my blessings and watching the barn swallows swooping in open areas between the cedars. And eating focaccia. That, too.

Sweet little bundles of fur, ready to head to new homes ❤️

Herbalists: How to Find One

On finding a qualified herbalist to introduce you to the wild and wonderful apothecary

I started another Substack, this one specifically on using herbs and food for health and healing. This latest article is on how to find a qualified herbalist. #grownostr #herbalist #herbalism #plantmedicine

My nonverbal kid is doing ammmmmazing learning how to spell to communicate. This is only "amazing" if you've never had a chance to know what's in your kid's head without guessing (and hoping you aren't wrong) until it gets unlocked by some miraculous hand of God. All these words were spelled on letter boards with effort and persistence. It's crazy how these kids already know how to spell everything (amygdala?!) and do split second math. If you've never seen it, and the hope there is for nonverbal people everywhere, check out Spellers the movie: https://www.spellersfreedomfoundation.org/spellers-the-movie At the very least, presume competence the next time you see someone struggling with motor control. You have zero idea the incredible intelligence in that head. P.S. I drove to the bakery right afterwards and yes, bought chocolate cake to share and celebrate 🥳 #grownostr #spellers #downsyndrome #autism

Happy mama's day to anyone who's ever loved or cared for anyone. I hope you get to rest and care for yourself today.

I bought myself some mom day flowers. I'm gonna love whatever cards and whatnot my kids give me but 🤷‍♀️ I happen to love peonies and ranunculus and used it as an excuse to treat myself. Plus I needed something in that porch corner 🌸 I've grown ten babies, sadly lost one of them, and to this day rarely get an uninterrupted night's sleep. I wouldn't trade these beautiful and incredible people for anything, but if I can buy myself some flowers in celebration of them, I'm gonna be good with that. #grownostr #happymothersday

So the day I took the cat in to get spayed was the day found out she was going to have kittens 🙄 I have to keep telling myself two cats are enough! Cute stinkers.

I'm about finished in the garden, everything has transplanted well and looks good. Garlic planted last fall looks great, too. This year I'll have to pay attention to watering but next year's project will definitely be adding drip. I've got some thinning to do, two more beds to plant with green beans and whatever else, and a spot on the ground ready for all the squashes. A few stragglers remain under the dining room grow lights (flowers, mostly), but I've got room now for whatever interesting starts I find at the nurseries now. Seedlings are sprouting and I can't wait for my flowers to bloom! Speaking of blooming, lots of that going on here. Gah...mock orange is a wonderful scent. Forget-me-nots and bluebells are everywhere! Lord willing, now it's just keep everything watered, keep the weeds down, and enjoy the harvest. Are you growing anything this year? #grownostr #homesteading #gardening #growyourfood

Pressing tincture today. Regretting jumping the gun on transplanting my tomatoes yesterday, fooled by the sun and it's only mid 50's this week. Ah well, hope their little greenhouses keep them going ok.

I finally got a good look at my van that was recovered (it had been stolen). I really want to knock the thieves heads together, shaming their mamas and all. They even used my ice chains to rip out the seat for whatever reason. They abandoned it stuck deep into mud on the side of the road. Insurance is supposed to pay for it but it's still 500 bucks out of my own pocket for the deductible. $500 for their joy ride that I could have used in so many places. At least the kids' car seats were still there and the van tested clean of drugs (I insisted on testing). And. I learned when I got home from TX that the drive shaft on my pickup literally fell off onto the ground 😫 Another 200 bucks, at least. There's nothing I can do about any of that. So I transplanted my tomatoes into their little red greenhouses, planted potatoes, and enjoyed the massive apple blossoms outside. I refuse to let morons or other crap that happens rob my joy. #grownostr #moneyisnteverything #Godisgoodallthetime

Had a great time in Texas visiting. Y'all (wink wink) have the most interesting plants and birds (furry plantain! Cardinals!). My husband built a chicken tractor for my daughter's family. You'll see in the pics my great roll in that 😂