Splash of color from my garden

I am a teacher by profession and beginning next Friday I will be back at school teaching music to high school students.  I love to be an educator! I love my students; most of the time.  One of the biggest perks about being a teacher is witnessing kids grow as musicians and individuals and know that I am a contributing factor in their development.

Another perk about being a teacher is the summer  I have to enjoy as I see fit.    Today was hot and humid so I gave myself the luxury of spending time indoors.  I finished a book my daughter gave me (The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson).  I made 4 loaves of wonderful whole wheat bread that made the house smell divine!  We had a loaf for supper along with a potato dish my husband grilled, called “creek potatoes,” and coleslaw made from cabbage out of the garden.  We had fresh blueberries and double chocolate zucchini cupcakes for dessert.  I made a gallon of black mint tea from mint growing outside my back door.  Another indoor job today was to cut into bars the olive oil/goat milk soap I made yesterday and place it on the rack to cure for the next month.  Tomorrow I will make shampoo bars and I have some napkins and kitchen towels I want to complete.

I made sure to spend time with  my husband and boys today.  Finding time to be together is a luxury when you work a job outside the home and my time is running out.  Time with my family is one of Life’s Simple Pleasures that has to come first on my list of priorities.  I  sat with them, did chores together, talked about whatever came up and enjoyed sharing our meals.  No matter how busy your life gets, you have to remember what is important;  the people who share your life.  Don’t take them for granted because they are God’s Gift to you and they won’t always be there.  I lost my Mom and Dad and one brother, and very nearly my husband (to a heart attach).  It has reinforced for me the value of just enjoying day-to-day life with those I love.  You don’t have to make special plans to enjoy time together; just enjoy the time you have.

Tonight it cooled down to the high 80’s so I decided to go to the garden.  It will be hot and humid again tomorrow and I thought an evening pick would be a wise choice.  I picked cucumbers, zucchini & yellow neck  squash, okra, broccoli, tomatoes and green beans.  It was cooler than daytime but I was drenched through to the skin by the time I was finished.  Which leads me to the best part of this wonderful summer day.

Earlier this summer we bought an 8 foot livestock tank on sale and my husband completed the “swimming pool” by adding a pump and sand filter.  The pool is metal and indestructible, and on a farm with a dog, cats, chickens, goats, a lawn mower, and a 12-year old boy, this is a primary concern.

After I finished bringing the garden produce into the house, I made a quick decision and slipped outside in the twilight and took a leisurely dip in the pool.  The water was so clean and refreshing! As I looked up I realized the stars were just beginning to peek through into the night sky.  The fireflies were busy “glowing” in the pasture and my goats were taking advantage of the cooler temperatures to graze.  The hay was baled yesterday and there was a wonderful aroma of new-mown hay to scent the evening.  All in all this was a moment of heaven on earth to savor and appreciate all the gifts of the day; it was definitely one of Life’s Simple Pleasures.