With a big hill across the road, I don’t get to see spectacular sunsets very often. I was sitting on the porch Wednesday evening reading when I noticed the light changed. I looked up and caught this beauty! The temperatures have cranked up here in West Virginia, along with the humidity. When I mowed yesterday morning, even though it was only 70 degrees when I was done, I was whupped. I have discovered stuffing an ice pack in your sports bra does wonders for keeping your core body temperature down. I learned from a back country rescue member not to just drink water when you are overheated. The body will keep working to move the fluids into your bloodstream, further depleting your electrolytes. It’s best to drink some sort of sports drink as you exercise in the heat…and mowing is exercise, trust me! I like to use powdered Spark from AdvoCare in my bottle of water. I have had fewer problems with it than say, Powerade. I like Powerade but the last time I used it there was just too much salt and it made me sick. Little safety tip for the summer.
As I was poking around in the old garden area last week, I found several asparagus stalks…tall, lanky, and leafed out. Somewhere back in the furthest recesses of my mind, I seem to remember grandma talking about asparagus that she had planted not doing well. There are probably only half a dozen plants out there along the ditch alongside the garden so my guess is, this was a particular delicacy that would not have been wasted on the unsophisticated palate of a 6 year old girl. I am going to place dowels or something alongside these plants to mark them for spring next year so I too can enjoy those first spring veggies. My favorite way to cook asparagus is to break off the woody bottoms, lay the spears on a plate, squeeze half a lemon and a drizzle of EVO over it then sprinkle with garlic. I cover that with plastic wrap and pop it in the microwave for two minutes. Then I test it to see if it’s done enough. If not, I add time in fifteen to thirty-second increments. Divine with grilled salmon or served cold on a salad.
My neighbor across the road is planting his garden this week…last night was tomatoes and peppers. When I first arrived at the farm three years ago, I was really looking forward to the following spring when I could put in a garden. Since things changed with my aunt and I headed back out on the road in a different direction, I find I spend the majority of the summer in Colorado with my family so it wouldn’t work to have a garden right now anyway. I do believe I will try canning again this fall, though. I love seeing the rows of jars put away for the winter and there are some wonderful farmer’s markets and produce stands here. I’d love to take advantage of that.
I was going to write a Friday Fitness post today, but my fitness routine isn’t as established as it was last year. I love climbing those stairs in town, but that is a forty-minute drive from here and you don’t drive 60 miles round trip every day just to exercise. I am getting plenty of exercise here on the farm…mowing and hiking. And I get at least three or four good walks in a week between the country road and the parks in town. I have maintained my 40 pound weight loss, even though my tone is not quite what it was with stair climbing. My diet has always been my downfall because I do love sweets and salty things, but as long as I stay away from fast food and gluten, I do pretty well.
This is graduation weekend for many. Gas went up just in time. Camping season is upon us. I visited TOW-Wanda this week to retrieve some items I needed. It really made me itch to get out on the road with her! I’m taking her to Colorado with me right after the 4th of July. I’m not taking her on this Florida trip. I’m watching my Sister and Girl Camper friends posting pictures of their adventures. I’m seriously thinking of getting a little, tiny trailer so I am more inclined to pack up quick and go camping on the spur of the moment. If the right thing comes along, I will know it. Enjoy your weekend…get out there and have some fun! ❤️
“It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”
2 Timothy 2:6 ESV