Sanctuary

This morning I am having coffee in the backyard with the garden pest, and my surroundings are aiding in my quest for peace and understanding during a time of grief. It is very easy to watch a garden travel though the seasons of life, and it is truly a blessing to be sitting in my garden, surrounded by plants that I have watched weather the seasons as I try to grasp the happenings of last week. My best friend's mother passed away very suddenly 4 days ago. She was so vivacious and filled with life and energy, it is hard to comprehend that she has passed on to the next life. Today I feel like we are in the bleakest days of winter, where the cold and darkness have us wondering if we will ever see the lush, bright, warm days of spring and summer again.

I keep thinking in my head " to everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose, under heaven". The lyrics are from a song by the Byrds, in which they go on to quote Ecclesiastes 3:2. We will never know why things happen when they do, all we can hold on to is knowing that winter will melt into spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and that all of these seasons of our lives have a purpose.

When I began reclaiming my yard I set out on a quest to find a peaceful place in the dirt. I feel like I have accomplished that and so much more. I have create a sanctuary for myself and for my friends. Here is a place where we can come together to celebrate the seasons of our lives.

The Gardening Pest's Lump

I have been under a lot of stress over the past week, and was in the yard with the GP and noticed a mole he has had for almost a year has recently doubled in size. Needless to say I freaked out and immediately began searching on google to figure out what the lump could be.

The lump originally looked like a swollen tick on GP's chest. It was grayish-black, and was hard to the touch and harder at the base where it met his skin. Now that it has doubled in size, the middle is squishy and the color has changed to more black and less gray. Everything I read on message boards and websites had me convinced that this lump was cancerous. I freaked out, called the vet and begged them to work us in.

The next day we went to the vet. After a short wait he was ready for us. I think GP knew I was on edge, because he was on his best behavior. When the vet walked in, he looked at the lump and told me it was just a cyst caused by a clogged pore. Totally harmless, but that it needed to be removed so it wouldn't rupture or cause other pores to clog.

The best part is that they will not even have to use general anesthesia for the procedure. They will give him a tranquilizer, and numb him locally. AND the whole thing is affordable. He is scheduled to have the lump removed next week... Maybe we will have some cone of shame pictures to post afterwards:)

Almighty Alfredo

I haven't really been doing much gardening lately. My summer class was pretty intense, and it has been so hot and humid outside. Most of my efforts have been focused on weed control and general upkeep.

Last night I decided to break out the pots and pans, and remind my husband (and myself) that I am a fantastic cook:) I made chicken Alfredo over tofu noodles and broccoli. Tofu noodles- I can hear you gagging already- but these things are awesome! They are also so much healthier than regular pasta. The only place I have been able to find them is at Whole Foods. They are in the refrigerated section with the yogurt, and come in a bag that has brine ( I think) in it. You have to rinse them a few times and then cook them for a short time at a high heat to get rid of the flavor, but after that they are just like pasta.

So the sauce: Take 1/4 cup of butter and 1 cup of heavy cream. Put that in a sauce pan and let it simmer for 5 mins ( I whisked it while it simmered). Then add in a clove of crushed garlic and 1 and 1/2 cups of grated Parmesan cheese ( I suggest the farmers market for this ingredient). Whisk that together and wha-lah! Homemade Alfredo sauce. I threw bacon in it for good measure. It was delicious, and soooo very rich.