A FAREWELL FOR NOW....

Hello Friends,

I hope you are all well. May I say I am so thankful for the friendships I have been able to enjoy here in this little space. Truly the most warm and gentle people have found their way here and shared of themselves. For this I thank God above.

Right now I am in one of those difficult seasons.

  "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

 In order to try and accomplish all I need to do in a day, with my focus on Jesus, I will not be able to consistently blog. The amount of pain I am in day to day really effects the days around Blueberry Cottage. However, the Lord is gracious and He has shown me if I just keep my focus on Him and stay true to my calling as wife and mother He will get me through the days. This life is going by so quickly, my son graduates this year, another is finishing nursing school, I have four grandbabies to help with and my last two are further along in their home education journey and need me so very much.  There are many things vying for my attention around here! God has revealed to me that when I am pulled in other directions and take on responsibilities that He hasn't ordained for my life, that those He has called me to will suffer.  At one time I loved to blog and visit blogs, I have found my heart is just not into it anymore.

I must admit to feeling a bit guilty for not keeping up, not visiting the many lovely people that stop by here. I see woman blog and run ministries and work while homeschooling and running homes and I must say I feel completely inadequate--and I am a very organized person! But I suspect other things are suffering in their homes and lives.

The pressure with blogging is really huge. It sucks you in. Your thoughts become focused on the next post. Each picture you take becomes a photo op for the blog. Each ministry a testimony to share through the blog. I found I couldn't just enjoy the moments of sewing or knitting without the thought of how this will look in a post! I want to cook and bake without worrying if I should post and share the directions in photos--how stupid!!!

I guess I am getting back to my Tasha Tudor lifestyle. Just simply live simply. Enjoy the everyday blessings God has bestowed on me by noticing them for what they are-a gift to minister to my soul and pain. Enjoy my  family and entertaining the lovely friends I have in real life. Take comfort in the beautiful flowers I grow and the meals I can cook through the earth we turn each year.  Sew a bit, knit a bit, draw a bit, paint a bit. Keep house and love up all that enter. My heart desires to stay focused on what the Lord has called me to do. 

With all that said, I hope I can pop in from time to time and share a snippet from our lives. I truly do.

My ETSY shop will be put on hold too. I have cut the prices on my necklaces and that is all I will make for now.

Warmly,

Suzanne

"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He saved them out of their distresses."

Psalm 107:19 NKJV

THIS MOMENT

Our first big farmers market opened and to kick it off there was a sustainability fair. Very fun! 

Joining in with Amanda , but  two pics 'cause I couldn't choose. Goats or all natural goats milk and strawberry pops-tough decision.  

LET'S GET STITCHED!

Hello Friends! Welcome to the weekly mem Let's Get Stitched where I have got nothing , absolutely nothing this week to share.  I have been digging out flower beds, raking and hauling leaves. Not a single stitch was put in anything--oh wait, I digress, I did finally stitch the buttons onto this sweater. So I guess I did stitch something!

My grandaughter's birthday is this Saturday and the little orange sweater is all wrapped up pretty. I am hoping it gets a grand reception, you never know with littles.

I am off for an impromptu getaway with my husband. Oh yes, we may have been married a loooong time , but we still get giddy over a little alone time, ya know what I am saying ;-)  Heading to my favorite state for some sight seeing and antiquing.  Hopefully I will have a few pics to share.

If you have a project to share just leave it in the comments this week. No time to fiddle with linkys right now...LOL!  Have a lovely weekend yourselves....

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Joining in with Amanda this week.

FRUGAL GARDENING~INTERVIEW WITH THE PRUDENT HOMEMAKER

This is a post from two years ago. Now more than ever we need to grow a bit of our own food. Most of us need to do it frugally! Our economy is not recovering folks and Monsanto is strong in Washington. We need great nutrition at affordable prices. You can only get that by growing your own!  Do chime in on the comments and share your frugal gardening tips and links.

You can read the first interview with Brandy here and see why her interview is thee most popular post on my blog.  This gal gots wisdom folks:-)

This second interview focuses on the frugal aspects of gardening , and Brandy is an expert on the subject. She maintains a garden on a small plot of land that year round helps supplement the food needs of her family of eight.  Brandy's garden is not only functional, but beautiful! In our rush about society of today, how wonderful to have a home one doesn't want to leave, as well as a home that grows the nourishment to feed your family a healthy diet.

Brandy's site is filled to the brim with gardening information and delicious recipes incorporating the vegetables and fruits she grows. 

If you have a question for Brandy feel free to leave it in the comments section, and as time allows she will be glad to answer them for you.

All photos are from Brandy's gorgeous property!

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Suzanne:  In today's economy the need to supplement our food budgets with our own homegrown is becoming a necessity rather than a hobby. How exactly would you recommend one start "gardening" with an eye toward frugality? 

Brandy:  Grow the things that cost you the most at the store, and yet are not costly to grow. Lettuce and herbs are inexpensive and easy to grow. A packet of 750 lettuce seeds is just under $4 from most seed companies. That’s a lot of salads, compared to $1.49 a head for loose leaf lettuce at the grocery store. 

Zucchini and green beans are another great way to get a lot of food from a small amount of seeds.

Suzanne:  More families are buying at farmers markets than ever before, a surge in awareness of "where does are food actually come from" is sweeping our country. What crops do you recommend growing that could take the place of heavily sprayed produce one normally buys in the grocers?

Brandy:  I think the answer for home gardeners depends on your climate and space. If you have a lot of space, you can grow a lot, and if your climate is right, you could conceivable grow everything on the dirty dozen list. If your space is limited and your climate is too hot or cold for those things, see which foods grow best where you live, and start with those. Also, be aware that even organic farmers use pesticides; they just use organic pesticides. (It’s a common misconception that “organic” means “unsprayed.”) Learn about the pests that plague the foods you want to grow, and learn about the organic solutions to those pests.


Suzanne:   What is your advice in regards to the person who has little land to garden on?

Brandy:  There are two things that you can do to maximize the space you have. Number 1 is to make sure that everything that you grow is edible. Have every tree and bush produce fruit. Learn about edible landscaping and see how your space can be both beautiful and productive. Even your flowers can be edible. Number 2, grow things vertically. Use fences and walls to grow grapes, peas, and green beans.

Suzanne:  Your garden is not only functional , but beautiful! How has this helped you in other ways feel about your home and your role as a homemaker and keeper of the home?

Brandy:  I feel very blessed to be able to look outside and to see this every day:

It’s really uplifiting. We create a lot of the beauty around us. 

I don’t leave the house very often (1-2 days a week, if that). I can go weeks without going anywhere. If I’m craving beauty, I can go outside and sit on the bench and enjoy the flowers. I can watch the hummingbirds, and listen to the warblers that sing in my garden. In addition, I can grace our table with flowers, which is always delightful.


Suzanne:   You have a great page on your website, “Gardening for less ". Which single tip would you strongly recommend to the new gardener and why?

Brandy:  Grow from seeds! It will save you a ton over buying nursery seedlings.

Suzanne:   Can you share a recipe of yours that has used only produce or fruit from your garden?

Brandy:  When we have artichokes , I like to serve mine with lemon. I grow both the lemons and artichokes in my garden. I serve Swiss chard with lemon as well.

Most of my recipes incorporate other foods from my pantry with items in my garden, whether it’s making a salad , a clafoutis , or making jams and jellies. 

We also eat a lot of fresh fruit from the garden; I grow cherries, peaches, blackberries, apricots, figs, apples, pears, Asian pears, pomegranates, and 3 kinds of grapes.

Suzanne:  How do you incorporate your children into your gardening, if you do?

Brandy:  My children are still very small, so they can’t do a lot yet. Still, they have learned to identify several weeds, and they sometimes work alongside me, and we pull weeds together. They also help me harvest peas, tomatoes, and edible flowers. I’ll have them help me plant the big seeds, and water the pots.

Suzanne:  Would you share some of the beautiful gifts you were able to give from your garden?

Brandy:  I have given jams and jellies. I’ve been able to give mint starts and baby aloe plants. I have been able to share flowers, fresh herbs, and flower seeds. I hope to be able to share more garden seeds, as I try growing open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables.

Suzanne:   How do you balance the demands of growing a significant amount of your own food with your home duties and home schooling?

Brandy:  My gardening schedule is dictated by the weather. Where I live, I can garden year-round. I use naptime (quiet time for the older children) in the winter for pruning, fertilizing, and winter seed-sowing. I’ll go out in the evenings and work in the garden, or in the early morning.

Suzanne:  How do you use your garden to minister to others or your community?

Brandy:  I host three garden tours/classes a year, where I teach a free 2-hour class on gardening in the desert to people in the community. I also speak in the community about gardening. Gardening where I live is very different than other places (for example, we get around 2 inches of rain a year, we have to jackhammer holes for trees, and we have 5 months of above 90º temperatures). Many people come from very different climates, and they are surprised to learn that you can grow food here—and that tomato plants should get set out in the garden in February!

Suzanne:   Final thoughts or an inspiring quote to share? 

Brandy:  A garden is an ever changing thing. Be willing to try new things, and realize that your garden will change over time—for the better. Think of new ways to better use the space that you have, and try planting new things, too. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn to like! Above all, don’t give up, when bugs or inclement weather threaten or destroy your crops. Keep trying!

Brandy

Brandy Simper writes about gardening, frugal living, food storage, sewing, and homeschooling at The Prudent Homemaker . She is working to grow as much food as she can on a .24 acre lot in the desert, where summer temperatures average 116º, and it only rains 2 inches a year. She is the mother of 7 children, ages 1-11. You can now visit Brandy on Facebook and keep up with all the adventures of The Prudent Homemaker . Brandy also has a blog which can be found HERE

"Homemaking is the highest, most noble profession to which a woman might aspire."

Flora Benson, quoted by her husband, Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986