R.E.S.P.E.C.T

I've posted before about how I know when I'm supposed to write something. Basically, to make the voices in my head stop their tirade I have to put it down on virtual paper. Well, the ranting won't let up and after a lengthy debate with myself, I finally figured out what I had to do. You see, I witnessed a disturbing (not eww gross disturbing, but the I'm going to pummel that person disturbing) situation where as a normal, calm person I did nothing. Unfortunately, my lack of nothing has unleashed the raving, moral, avenger and justice needs to be served. I think we're a nation of complainers and virtual healers. We see this abound on Facebook with the "state your bra color for breast cancer awareness" or "post this if you want to bring the troops home." The only thing I became aware of was your preference for undergarments and I'm pretty sure the troops still aren't here. So before I could write my lecture I had to make sure I did something about it, I did, so on we go. Disclaimer in place, this has to do with church, religion, God and other uncomfortable for some issues, please move along if these topics bring twitches and/or hives. In our last church service I viewed not 1 but 2 persons texting and reading emails through the entire service. Not an "I need to jump on quick, it's really important, someone may die if I don't read this right now" but a leisurely "I'm bored out of my mind, I should be making clam dip for the big game" sort of perusing. To top it off not 1 but 3 phones rang and 1 was actually answered. So what's the big deal? Why the tormenting voices? Respect. When I was working and we had those big corporate meetings we were told every time to put our phones on stun, and we did. We respected the VP that flew in from who knows where, to tell us how bad we were doing. We didn't like them, we didn't want to sell their "I wish it was at least mediocre wine" but we respected them as people doing their job. OK, so back to church. Who's the boss there? The pastor? That guy? Her? No, it's God. I go to hear what it is that He wants me to hear that day. Not what the literal guy behind the podium is saying to me, but what God is telling him to say, to me. Now, do I wish I was in a position that I no longer needed to hear what the message for the day is? No. Every time I read one of the books in the Bible I end up highlighting different passages than the last. Depending on what stage of my life I am in, things hit me differently. I can't tell you how many times I've thought "oh man we're singing this song again?" Only to see a woman a few rows up weeping at the first cords. It was what she needed to hear that day and if I wrote off the service as "not for me" maybe she wouldn't have heard it. Respect. If you can't go to service and give your undivided attention for the one hour, one time a week that he is asking then shame on you. Are you really going to convince anyone that that phone call was more important than hearing what little message may be lurking in today's sermon just for you, or what about the hurting parishioner next to you? What if they miss that one thing they were meant to hear because of your obnoxious ring tone? These are the same people I'm sure, that are holding out for God to scream their life plan at them. "Where is He? Why doesn't he answer my prayers?" Take the bluetooth out of your ear and LISTEN. Stop complaining and be an active participant in your spiritual health, God is not going to smack you upside the head and toss your cell phone into the narthex, but I might.

A Planting We Will Go...

Well, maybe not so much planting as planning. Every year I pour over the seed catalogs trying to figure out the perfect veggies for our climate and when to start them. This year is no exception albeit I've been otherwise occupied with my crack habit du jour, aka alpaca/silk bliss, the veggies still need a plantin'. So instead of writing my plan out on yet another piece of paper to be found (or not) next year, I figured I would put it all here. If you could care less about the first and last frost dates I suggest you move along right now...Our last frost date is April 25th. Oh sweet April 25th, the trees will have buds, flowers poking their heads and Ethan will once again be able to let the girls out without bundling up like an Eskimo. The veggies right now are...

Beans, golden beets, brussels sprouts, carrots, corn, cucumber, lettuce, melons, spinach, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and a whole mess of herbs. Now this may seem way early but honestly there are plenty of cold weather seeds that just might get going so why not try!?! Lettuce and peas love the cold so Ill be putting them out shortly, a milk jug cloche and we should be set!!

January: assess seeds from last year, buy more...using Botanical Interests for most since proceeds go to our MOPS group and I bought some of their seeds at Portland Nursery last year and they did great!! The rest will be picked up at Portland Nursery on our Spring Break vacation. Need to gather pots and till garden with a plethora of chicken poo.

February Late: Spinach, lettuce and early tomatoes will start indoors.

March Late: beets, St. Patrick's Day potato, peas, inside: peppers, tomatoes, melons all, winter squash,

April early: lettuce, rest of potatoes, onions,

April late: carrots, beans~ bush and pole,

May Late: Corn, Brussels sprouts, summer squash, set out starts for peppers, tomatoes and melons.

June Early: Cucumbers

Lettuce will be sown every couple weeks till it gets too cold in winter!

Dandello's Garden is a wealth of information for planning, as well as Home Vegetable Planning. Absent off this years list are cauliflower and broccoli. I don't know who you are that say those grow easy but all I got were giant plants with no flower! Off to assess the situation, unfortunately seeds are stored right off the knitting room and the cashmere wrap still on needles is calling my name...

Cave's

What started out as a funny quip quickly turned to an illogical reality. I've been setting up my own knitting room, fully furnished with couch, chairs, tables, storage, wine and beverage (Guinness) fridge. I put up some old curtains last night to hide the laundry room and stairway from view at which point Eric pointed out that I had made myself quite a nice cave. I retorted "yeah, it's my 'mom' cave." laughs ensued as did remarks that I should blog about it...etc...So in preparation for such blog I thought I'd conduct a bit of an experiment and I googled 'man cave'. I got dictionary responses such as...A room, space, corner or area of a dwelling that is specifically reserved for a male person to be in a solitary condition, away from the rest of the household in order to work, play, involve himself in certain hobbies, activities without interruption. This area is usually decorated by the male that uses it without interference from any female influence.~ Urban Dictionary.

I also got lay outs and plans on how to build and stock the ultimate 'man hideaway'. Now google 'mom cave' hmmmmm, couple blogs using the term loosely (just like me), google 'woman cave' this was actually pretty funny it gave me lists of things relating to cave women!! nice.

Apparently, we don't need a refuge. We don't need any where to rest without interruption, without influences of any one else. again, nice. Women don't need time to recoup, we don't need to involve ourselves in activities that don't involve the entire household. Trust me my 'mom cave' still has a children's corner, I can only fight the inevitable so much, they might as well play with their own toys instead of mine! I'm lucky enough to have a husband that understands the importance of me time. Wonder when the rest of society will come out of the stone age.