Slow Living Monthly 9 Linkup

I am in recovery mode these last couple of weeks.  I had a sinus infection that I wrote off as an allergy attack (in all fairness it is that time of year!) and did not get on antibiotics, I also had work done on two teeth that turned out to be significant in the drilling department, or - according to the medical sources it may be for no known reason that I am recovering from an episode of Bells Palsy, which leaves 1/2 of ones face sort of paralyzed (different degrees for different people).  This has been sort of an unnerving experience (forgive the pun).  Waking up in the morning with half your face droopy is the kind of thing that sends you running for the blood pressure monitor and thinking stroke, after that - really - all news is good news!  :)  My friends and Hubby say they can see marked improvement now so hopefully in another week or so it will all be over.  So other than that how was my April?

My friend brought me flowers to cheer me up!

Nourish - Warmer weather now means lighter food - salads and simple meat dishes are becoming the going thing again.  It is always easier to loose weight in the summer for me as I don't get as  hungry and we just eat lighter.  The farmers markets are open again!  Hooray!

Prepare - This may sound a little backward but preparing this month has been a lot of emptying out the pantry shelves, trying to cook up the preserving from last year and planning for the stuff we need more of this year.  Got out the jars and did a little inventory, going to have to get more jars, this will be a good problem to have.

Reduce - We have been using the pots and plant holders from previous years to grow this years starts.  I suppose every little bit helps, we also dumped the whole of our compost heap into the new garden area and tilled it in. 

Green - This month green is the lack of both heaters and fans.  We have had warmer days and slightly warmer nights so have made the effort not to warm any rooms and we haven't gotten to the stage of needing a fan for cooling so the electric usage is way down!

Grow - Oh the fun of the little plants at the start of the growing season!  My kids swear I was not as excited about their growth as I am about the new dill or watermelons!  Hubby has put out the first tomatoes and we are about ready to start putting in a few things, the snow is all gone off the mountains so maybe we are safe.  Last year we had a killing frost on the 9th of May so - we hope.

Create - Springy crafts here, made this little bouquet in our quilting/crafts meeting in April, one of our ladies used to do windows and decorating for retail stores and she gave us all some hints. I have been able to stick to my plan of not starting any new projects until I finish the short term works in progress and I am putting in a lot of time as it has motivated me to finish so I can move on!

Discover - Most of what is on TV these days just appalls me - I have started watching a lot of historical documentaries on 'youtube', these are, of course, older shows and programs but it is fun to have while I crochet etc. and not so silly as most of it.  This month I discovered the back episodes of 'Tales From the Green Valley' where the experts move onto a farm from the 1600's and use only what was available then.  what an interesting show and I truly enjoyed the watching, now I have moved on to "Victorian Farm"!

Enhance - I took several of my friends to the local meat market a friend of ours has opened - they are carrying organic and grass fed meats, fresh milk and they make their own sausages - yum.  So I shared the place with others in hopes that they will do well and stay around for me to shop at!  Motivated by selfishness!

Gus behind the counter!

Enjoy - Hubby and I have enjoyed getting back out into the yard and working together, ending the days tired and satisfied and being able to see results.  The togetherness outdoors after the cooped-up-ness of the winter is wonderful.  There is a lot to be said for these years when we have been together for a long time and can finish each others sentences and then surprise with a comment!

On the grandchild watch front, daughter in law called today and she is dilated 2cm and thinning nicely!  We are on baby watch!!!

Amber and her sister and of course Lily

 

 

 

Check out the other posts a this monthly link up!