The garden is calling

The garden is calling, but I can't get in. We had a down pour of rain today, high winds laid over some of my corn. I just can't wade in mud to my knees to pick the corn, okra, and squash.

Last week I did a little canning; 6 pints of Bread & Butter pickles and 3 1/2 pints of Spaghetti Sauce. EVERYTHING was grown either in my garden or Mom & Dads and is Gluten Free. I have food I know is save for me to eat, yippee!!

I would have frozen more corn by now, but I eat it as fast as I can pick it....well not really. I've frozen about 2 dozen ears on the cob, but I've only eaten about a dozen, yep a dozen. Think of it, an ear of corn, a fresh tomato, sliced cucumber, man it just doesn't get any better.

Well now that I've talked about all this food I'm getting hungry.
It's 11:03pm and as Taco Bell would say, I'm ready for fourth meal.

Gluten Free

It's been an adventure finding out what foods are gluten free.
So, I've planted squash, tomatoes, peas, corn, okra, bell peppers, all the stuff that is good for me.

Guess what....MARSHMALLOW CREME IS GLUTEN FREE!! Most Dark Chocolate is Gluten free, cinnamon Hot Tamales, corn chips, pop corn, all kinds of junk food....I know, but I was getting bored with my options.

So for now I am searching the Internet, reading blogs, buying books to see what is "legal" for me to eat. Believe me, if it has gluten in it, my body tells me, and it is not fun times, puts me down for days.

One more thing, that jar of marshmallow creme, well it didn't make it ;-(

Eating Out

Rose and I ate at Outback Steakout in Madison on Saturday. We had the best service ever, we will always ask for Joel.

Now don't all of ya'll go use up our waiter.     ;-)

I ate from the Gluten Free menu, and gosh I couldn't have made it better myself, and all of you know I can cook. It may have had something to do with the fact that I knew I wouldn't have to wash dishes..heeheehee

I think the Owner/Manager Chris visited our table as well. I guess this was one of the best hours we have had "eating out" in a long time.

Rachel

Playing in the dirt

OK, I played in the dirt yesterday. Well that is what I call it when I'm in the garden, I love it so. It took all day, and many breaks, but I got 15 tomato plants in the ground, 6 spaghetti squash, 4 yellow squash, 4 zucchini squash, 1 green bell pepper, 1 yellow pepper, and 3 jalapeno peppers. After the storms go through Mr. Kyzer and I will plant the corn, field peas and okra.
My body is so sore I can hardly move, my back is killing me. My fall in Feb. already had my knee killing me, now it's unbearable, but knowing all the fresh veggies are coming is worth it.
I'll be playing in the dirt again soon....

Spring is here! ;-)

Wow, Spring is here! I have my first bit of red skin on my shoulders, but I'm not complaining, it feels good to be able to get outside. I feel as if I've been in a cave for the winter. Those of you that know me, well you know that I have been hibernating.
I finally have a doctor that seems to care about the entire body, and I think she has found a connection between all my symptoms to on major thing, Celiac Disease. I have a lot to learn, read and change about my diet and my life to get better.

I've tried to keep myself busy since the sun has been out. Rose and I planted Buttercups at Kenny's grave. I cried, the pain is still so deep, I miss him everyday. Not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of him in some way; an Alabama Roll Tide sign, a side walk full of flowers, Talledaga, Red Hots, M & M's, and just 9 days from now, his birthday will come and go without him.
I know the Angels love him as we do/did, but the tears still flow regardless.
This is not where my post was going when I started, but I guess my heart is hurting more than I realized.

I have flower beds to work on, and I know Kenny will be looking down on me smiling, and wishing he could plant his sidewalk flower beds too.

Forgot I had a Blog

With Facebook, work, night school and my space I forgot about having a Blog.

What would I talk about here? It's been over a year since I've been here. This is the year I will be 50, the mile mark year, a time to reflect, to look back, to look forward, to wear the RED HAT!!!

My life is good, I want for nothing but companionship, yet that seems unatainable. Seems everyone of my close friends have a wonderful husband/wife, solid roots and their life is there waiting for them to live, to share.

I have no regrets, I've learned what I know from the things I've done, things I've seen, and the things I've been through, that is what makes me the complex person I am.

The next chapter in my life will be to live life to the fullest, make the most of everything, either alone or sharing with someone. I figure that God has a plan for me, and maybe the perfect person just hasn't crossed paths with me.

So with 2010, my heart is still open, my mind may be a bit slower, and my body is getting older, but I'm ready for anything.
Bring it on!

Ready to begin, in 2010

My scrappy friends

Well it happened this past week, I got another year older. My daughter set up a special dinner to be prepared by my best friend Dianne and her family on Sunday. It was SOOOO good and I ate too much, I just couldn't stop myself. Dianne gave me a Southern Living at home Bowl that I had been druelling over. It was wonderful to be with friends, and yes Rose had to drag me out of the house, I just didn't want to go anywhere, but in the end, I'M REALLY GLAD I DID.
So Friday night was our monthly scrapbook class, I've missed more than I've been to.
Rebeca was the host and made us a complete dinner, dessert and Margarita's, how could it get any better, right??? Well then there is this wonderful cake that has birthday candles lit, that birthday song was song, I smiled and was thankful to be surrounded by wonderful friends. Beth is not only a great friend, she is talented beyond anything I can ever imagine when it comes to creating beautiful cards. Everyone there signed the card and I felt all warm and fuzzy.
Rose gave me a book to read for my birthday "A Wonderful Mess", now those of you that know me can figure this one out.....
Mom, Dad and Kenny sent birthday cards with money (this is a good thing), heck my sister even called me.
My Space has well wishes, and facebook has been written upon, I feel loved!!!!
Thanks to all of you!!!! It couldn't have come at a better time.
Love to all of you!
Rachel

The card Beth made is posted on my link to "a stampin good time"