Oh, lately I have been pretty busy. My volunteer and learning adventures are what keeps me more busy than the normal stay at home unschooling mom things. But, now I know what it is like to really miss my at home kids and to really be missed. I know the business will slow in a couple months and my normal adventures will return with the new ones being weaved in and out. It's the closest to the wild freewheelin' life I dreamed of in my youth.
So what have I been up to? A lot of things surrounding environmental education. Learning things that tie in with sustainability. I do office work, I get dirty, I take trips, and take pictures. I am making new friends, stepping out of my comfort zone...and missing my old friends. It is bittersweet to be 41 and feeling like your lifelong friends are forgetting about you while new ones embrace and encourage you. But, like waxes and wanes in ways we do not expect and honestly really want.
Today was pretty good, with a friend I made in my Master Gardener class I volunteered with Redlands Conservancy. We put some seeds to start in trays, and small pots. They are all native plants to the area. The seeds were collected locally and will go back to into the conservancy land ruined by a recent fire. Yesterday, they started reforestation of Live Oaks. Someone from IERCD was there and spoke to us, and he helped. I came home with some wildflower seeds to put into the ground at home.
This is the California Holly. It is related to rose, and tastes like a crab apple. You can make jellies out of it. Look below and you will see it even looks like a miniature apple for a dollhouse.
Here we are getting instruction for one of the Outdoor Ambassadors on how are are going to plan the seeds, and on her yucca starts. Yucca is also edible. Did you know there is several ways to prepare it?
Above is white sage, it is mostly ceremonial but is also edible. White sage, like black sage is stronger than a kitchen nursery sage and should be used to taste.
Here are some of the pots I got started, it was pretty fun. I got to bring home one thing of white sage. I use it during prayer and meditation.
The grren tubes are Live Oak saplings and acorns. This is the first step of the reforestation.
I Live Oak that survived the fire this summer. Standing strong.
A volunteer for IERCD showing us how to plant the seedlings the best way.
Here is my hat, all kattywompus while I was handcasting wildflower seeds. I think this and putting plans into the ground was my favorite part.
This area that we live in, there are some things that people consider "weeds" that actually serve a purpose. They help keep beneficial incest alive, and those insects help pollinate our other plants. Some of these native "weeds" are the telegraph weed, Pomona local weed, buckwheat, and the yucca. So before you go pulling things out, try and identify if it is something that is good or if it is invasive.
Oh, hey! Look at me in my skirt form the Goodwill! getting work done and living the wildlife.
This song has been in my head all day. Ever since I woke up, so now I will post it here. You know how it is with songs from a specific time in your life. Maybe a line or two ring true with you, maybe now, maybe when you first heard it. You have songs like that? I have quite a few.
The big geek I am, is very excited about playing Dungeons and Dragons with my family. I think we have all agreed on a Dungeon Master. We are just waiting on some other things to come in, and in the mean time studying will occur. Oh, my gosh I can not wait to create characters.
Here is my OOTD:
Dress: Old Navy via Goodwill
Boots; Merona via Goodwill
Jacket: Vintage via Goodwill
Necklace: Made in the Philippines via Goodwill
Glasses: RayBan via Glasses.com
The way I dress is an expression of myself. I like using it like an artist palette, which means not everyone will appreciate it. But, do I really care? Not so much.
We got to see some baking with different types of pre-made pastries, hot water bath canning, freezer preserves and more. After all the demonstrations we got to eat the food that was prepared. This was fun, although I had to steer clear of some things because of my food sensitivities.
I brought a basket of my homegrown goodies and gave some away. Lemons, pecans, and pomegranates were happily taken. It is nice to live in an area where taking these types of classes is possible, and available.
This is where I spent my morning volunteering with San Bernardino County Master Gardeners. When there are no pending calls, or emails to the helpline I read through materials that are available. I watch videos on YouTube on gardening and urban homesteading.
Here is my orange tree that is grafted. We mostly get blood oranges and this year we seem to be getting what is like a cross between a lemon and an orange. We shall see what the season continues to bring.
Here I am on a ladder up in the lowest parts of my pecan tree. Notice I am in skirt. Really, I think there is so much I can do in a dress or in a skirt. That is how I go through like, finding challenges and going forth. It really wasn't that long ago that women worked and even hiked long distances in skirts and dresses. This is how I am choosing to go through my life.
5 dry liters of pecans....there's plenty more where those came from.
Today I have spent some time writing some poetry and reading. I changed some of the books out in my Little Free Library. Also, did some planning on what to do with my front yard and clean it up. I really need to get some lettuces in the ground. There is much tending needing to be done all over my yard. My oldest daughter and I would like to have some prairie dresses, aprons, and summer bonnets to work in the yard with next summer. She is good with the sewing machine so we should look for some patterns and fabrics. For some people this may seem weird, but we will be comfortable and we like to dress up.
Music pulsed through my ears from time to time and so did some emotions. When I write I get emotional, and so be it. That is part of the process for me. For the most part of my life it has been. Right now I am also coming up with a name for my collection of poems. I know the call for submissions is no guarantee, but I need to step out of my comfort zone. I need to keep stepping forward and doing things I have always wanted to. Soon, I need to edit and work on the novel I wrote in 2008. One thing at a time, and one tick off my bucket list at a time.
Today is the Marine Corps. birthday and we celebrated with free cheeseburgers from Farmer Bros. They always make good burgers. Thankful for that.
My friend shared me the Leon Bridges song that is in this post. It just speaks to me, the lyrics, the music, all of it. Growing up a brown girl was hard for me, it was a struggle. It was struggle when my mom and dad parted ways. It was struggle being told I wasn't good enough. It was a struggle being told I am too much. This has been my life. This is a mindset I am trying to leave behind, not my browness, not my womeness, just that "too much" or "not good enough".
