Lazy W Marie

Carpeing all the diems in semi-rural Oklahoma...xoxo

You are here: Home / Archives for 2014

Archives for 2014

New Baby, New Bees

This past weekend was busy at the farm. Lots of planting, lots of tidying up of the  already flourishing edible gardens, lots of photo taking and chicken chasing. But two very exciting things happened that are totally news worthy.

Seraphine had her baby.

cria day three
This little guy was born mid-morning on Friday, May 30th. He is already running like the wind and nursing like a champ, and he is never short of kisses for Handsome and me. No name yet. But we’re definitely in love. xoxo

And I brought home two new hives of honeybees.

We had heavy rain at the farm all night and into the morning, sending the bees deep inside their boxes. I had a small panic attack thinking they had absconded on day three of living here. They're okay! Just staying warm and dry until the skies clear. If you look closely in the entrances you can see them churning about. Beautiful.
We had heavy rain at the farm all last night and into this morning, sending the bees deep inside their boxes. I had a small panic attack thinking they had absconded on day three of living here. They’re okay! Just staying warm and dry until the skies clear. If you look closely in the entrances you can see them churning about. Beautiful.

 

On Saturday evening Maribeth drove me to Noble, Oklahoma, where Brian and Marcy Royal run a wonderful little bee business from their home. We admired their peach trees (how could they not be well pollinated?), wished Brian well on their soon-to-be-born fourth baby, and put the two NUCs I had ordered into the back of Maribeth’s minivan, the one with the magic rear hatch. (When she’s not looking I play with it endlessly. You can close it without touching it, just using your mind powers.) We made a quick stop at her house for supplies I needed which of course she had, then drove the bees easily and without incident back to the Lazy W.

Once the two waxy cardboard boxes were settled onto their tabletop spots in my vegetable garden, we stood around in the purplish dusk eating sugar snap peas straight off the vine and accepting fuzzy kisses from the new cria (baby llama). I wondered that night, as I do so often, whether Maribeth knows how important a role she plays in our hobby farming adventures. I hope she does.

On Saturday night I went to bed a very happy beekeeper (but a very sad Thunder fan, because on that same evening my team lost their shot at the playoffs). My dreams ran thick with golden honey.

Early Sunday morning Handsome nudged me from sleep saying, “Hey are you gonna go feed your bees?” I sprang out of bed like a kid on Christmas morning, donned my pink bee suit, and ran outside. Past the hungry cats, past the fattening eggplants and cantaloupes.I ran straight to the bees and fed one of the hives all the sugar-water I could offer them, which wasn’t much. We’ve been trying to eat less refined stuff here and so I just don’t keep sugar in the pantry anymore. Also, I wasn’t planning to feed the bees so early in the season but am happy that Maribeth urged me otherwise. Maybe keeping them overfed and happy will be a good buffer against the odds. Two years ago, remember, I just kind of crossed my fingers and walked away, until winter.

After church and a family lunch, we stopped for groceries. I bought five million pounds of granulated sugar. Home again, I mixed up some thick, yummy syrup and returned to the vegetable garden. It was easy to gently brush the bees away from the feeding holes to position the inverted buckets. The sweet stuff was dripping softly, and my heart was content. I looked around and knew that everything growing nearby would not only feed these amazing creatures; the bees would also pollinate these plants and help them thrive. In one lopsided rectangle of earth, symbiosis and poetry were reigning.

I thought of my Papa Nieberding.

Excerpt from my great-grandfather's apiary journal, these pages dated May 1980. I was in Kindergarten, and Oklahoma was in full bloom just like we are now, 34 years later.
Excerpt from my great-grandfather’s apiary journal, these pages dated May 1980. I was in Kindergarten, and Oklahoma was in full bloom just like we are now, 34 years later.

May 2- This was truly a lovely day. The temperature was in the high 70s- and the bees were carrying nectar in loads- Tonite there was an odor of ripening honey. I haven’t any idea what the source.
May 3- The willows are blooming and should bolster the brood rearing.

Well, it’s mid-morning now and I have a long list of wonderful stuff to get done here. I wish you well, friends, however you are spending your Monday. I wish you good, nourishing food. Memories that heal. Friends who help. I wish you goals worth pursuing and love that catches you well at the end of the day.

“She did not need much, wanted very little. A kind word, sincerity, fresh air, clean water, a garden, kisses, books to read, sheltering arms, a cosy bed, and to love and be loved in return.” ~Starra Neely Blade
XOXOXOXO

Saturday Morning Stress Management Ideas

A few of my friends are having a really hard time catching their breath lately. Stress is building up and stealing their joy in heart-breaking ways, and I hate it for them. I hate it for myself, too, because I love my friends and want them back. LOL I want their shine back in my life. You know? : )

So today, before I walk out to the garden, before I start preparing for the new bees which we are bringing home tonight, before we go play with the new cria who was born yesterday…

 

Seraphine has once again gifted the farm with a beautiful, healthy little cria. And we are, once again, madly in love.
Seraphine has once again gifted the farm with a beautiful, healthy little cria. And we are, once again, madly in love.

 

I want to share a simple formula I use in times of paralyzing stress.

Start with your environment. If you need to relocate to somewhere more peaceful than where you are, do that. Or, if you need to spend half an hour cleaning your house in order to enjoy it more, do that. I always think more clearly with a clean, shining room and a fragrant candle. That’s just me. Speaking of environment, I also suggest considering your most personal environment, your body. Go get really sweaty for a while, doing whatever you do that feels good to you (I like running, duh). Then take a shower and get cooled off and peaceful. Now your slate is somewhat clean and you are ready to re-energize. The mind-body connection is so strong.

Now just sit still and count your blessings, big and small. When I say small I mean notice the colors and fragrances outside that please you, the loving memories captured in your home’s furnishings, the sounds of your people or your animals, etc. Notice the incredible things, too, like every bill that is paid. Every physical ailment that is in your past. Every broken relationship that is either repaired or removed. Be as wild and thorough about counting your blessings as you can possibly be. Spend real energy on this, to the point that you feel silly, because it will fuel your asking for new blessings. Soon you won’t feel silly; you’ll feel exhilarated. I use a pretty notebook to record these things, and I am still playing with Ann Voskamp’s 1,000 gifts exercise. You do what works for you. Just be detailed. Notice what feels amazing to you, what things you can’t imagine losing. Rather than giving any thought to the problems you’re facing, be thankful for the problems you don’t have. Notice what physical pleasures, which thoughts and emotions, every plan that excites you or comforts you the most. Spend a little energy magnifying those things. I promise whatever energy you spend here will be restored to you in spades.

Now write down a few wishes. Don’t even call them prayers yet; call them wishes, and be happy about it! Like, totally indulgent. If anything in the world could go exactly your way, what do you want out of life? (And by the way? I had the realization recently that what I want out of life is in many cases very different from what society thinks I should want. Be genuine!) Think about that outcome in detail, imagine it. Dwell in the possibility of total fulfillment, both short-term and long-term. Now pray over these things. Ask for them boldly, beyond what you by yourself would be able to do. This means ask largely. Ask for the most overwhelming version of whatever your heart desires, and trust that the best possible thing for you will happen. It really will! Trust that Love reigns over your life, because He does.

Finally, go do something for someone else. Simple as that. Your needs are now met. Your biggest hopes are being fulfilled even before you see the evidence of it, and you have life and energy abundant in you, overflowing. You have plenty to share, so go share it! For the rest of the day, anytime you have the urge to focus on your problems (they are real, I’m not saying they’re not), just dismiss the thought and remember that the solutions are forthcoming. Instead of dwelling in frustration, pain, or sadness, make a conscious choice to dwell in the mystery of the future, the overwhelming possibility of EVERY SINGLE WISH GRANTED.

 

Life is beautiful! Treat it with that expectation. xoxo
Life is beautiful! Treat it with that expectation. xoxo

 

Happy Saturday Friends! I’ll be back soon with farm updates and an installment of Tiny T’s love story!

XOXOXOXO

Friday 5, Fun Stuff This Week

Happy Friday!! What is going on with you? So much here, as always. But even more than normal, my summer days are packed and I am pretty darn happy about it. This past week these five cool things have happened:

#1. We started the week watching a Thunder basketball game with friends and Tiny T tagged along. He took a ride on Buster and together they pretended like they were the Never Ending Story. Who am I to argue? Because the Thunder beat San Antonio, and I’m not saying Tiny T didn’t help. #WeAreThunder!!

 

Tiny T is on the job. "Atreyu! I pity the fool who surrenders to the Nothing!"
Tiny T is on the job. “Atreyu! I pity the fool who surrenders to the Nothing!”

 

#2. I attended my first meeting with the Horticulture Society of Oklahoma and had such a good time! Gardeners are fun, happy people. They really love life, you know? We learned about the Proven Winners campaign, and I added about a gazillion plants to my ever-growing wish list. I also finally got to meet the sweet and effervescent Jeannie Brooks! Such a happy night. I’m looking forward to more fun with this group, including a trip to the Stillwater grounds where they test plants and gardening techniques and also film television segments for Oklahoma Gardening. When shall we go, Jeannie? On Wednesdays only? : ))

#3. I drove to the Myriad gardens in downtown Oklahoma City to record a video segment for the “My Aha Moment” campaign. Have you heard of it yet? The Mutual of Omaha is traveling the country asking average people about turning points in their lives, moments when something clicked or crystallized so well that everything changed for the better. How often do we get invited by strangers to celebrate the amazing parts of life? It was so worthwhile, even if being in front of a camera is on my top three list of scary things in life. After frogs and hair in my food. To recap…

Top Three Scary Things in Life:

  1. Having frogs touch me. Especially sit on me. It’s the stuff of nightmares.
  2. Finding hair in my food. You might as well kill me. Because I will starve myself to death anyway.
  3. Hearing the words, “Now smile for the camera!” I mean my god. Hate this. I freeze up so badly.

So anyway it was pretty amazing to hear myself say words like, “You have to focus on the good and imagine good things in your life for those good things to grow or happen.” I type this message for you guys all the time, but I don’t verbalize it much. It was cool. And the young woman named Sam who interviewed me was super sweet. I mean, she made me cry a little, but that is probably her job.

 

My "Aha Moment" was when I realized that imagination is as powerful a force as gravity.
Look for Aha Moment stuff in the media. People are amazing!
Look for Aha Moment stuff in the media. People are amazing!

#4. I went to the orientation meeting for the Master Gardener program at out county’s extension office. They described the curriculum, asked us to submit applications explaining why we would make good candidates, then set appointments for interviews. INTERVIEWS. Do you know how long it has been since I have sat through any type of screening process? One million years. It was kind of exciting, I have to admit. So the next step with that is a half hour in late June, when I will try to convince the powers that be that I am worthy of learning all there is to know about Oklahoma agriculture. This is a pretty fantastic program, I am really really really excited. 

#5. The gardens here have seen lots of good progress this week, and the long, gentle rainstorms day after day have turned the W into a verdant paradise. I am so grateful for the precipitation and mild temperatures. All of my vegetables, herbs, and flowers have enjoyed such a boost from it all!

 

 imperfect garden pink raccoon

 

#6. Running has been on the back burner this week. Just like last week. And half of the week before that (I am doing elliptical work and yoga instead). So I did not meet my goal of “100 Miles in May.” But I feel amazing physically and am so rested and full of good, wholesome food that NOW I am ready to run again. The reset was successful. Bring it, June.

So those are five SIX wonderful features of my week! I lead a charmed life, for sure, and it seems like month after month my heart deepens with gratitude and swells because I just can’t believe how lucky I am. And I know deep down that one day (maybe soon) I’ll get to share more of this magic with two incredibly beautiful people who need lots of prayer. Thank you, friends, for praying for them. They need it, and it will work beyond our wildest dreams!

What amazing things were unusual about your week? Please share!

“If you surrender to the wind you can ride it.”
~Toni Morrison
XOXOXO

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou

To mark the passing of great American poet Maya Angelou, I’d like to share with you my favorite quote from her. It has thrummed in my heart for years, inspired my pursuit of beauty in daily life, and helped me focus on what matters most and what is truly fulfilling.

“Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.” ~Maya Angelou

 

heart shaped rose petals

 

Wise words from a lady filled with nourishing turns of phrase.

I hope that whatever you are facing that threatens your survival, you are able in fact to thrive. I hope you find ways to reassemble your broken pieces into something even more beautiful than before. Glean both gentle inspiration and bold strokes of electric genius, at just the right times.

Do you have a favorite quote or poem from Ms. Angelou? I’d love for you to share it here.

Sending much love from the Lazy W.
XOXOXO

 

 

 

 

Grape Fruits & Good Thoughts

Have you eaten a ruby red grape fruit lately? I bought a big bag of them last week and have been enjoying one per day ever since. Each one is massive and almost completely edible, even the white fleshy membranes. So tender. They are juicy beyond belief, like biting into the ocean. But a sweet, tangy ocean. They need neither salt nor brown sugar to temper the powerful flavor, because they are naturally perfect lately. When your teeth grip the pink, webbed meat and fruit juice splashes in your mouth, you can literally hear the vitamins collide with your blood cells (it sounds like sparklers on the Fourth of July), and within minutes your future seems brighter, stronger, more likely to improve. I ate one this morning and my bank account instantly went up by like forty three bucks.*

 

grapefruit

 

I’m a pretty big believer that regarding physical health, what you put into your body matters a great deal, as much as or possibly more than what you do with your body. I believe the same about our minds. What we are able to do with them comes a step after what we allow to seep into them. Or at least, the two are so intertwined that we might as well consider mental input-and-output as one. An infinite circle of thought, whether healthy or toxic. And we all know by now that thought is the beginning of action, is the beginning of habit, is the beginning of path and character, etc…

 

What do you allow into your body, your mind, your home, your heart?
What do you allow into your body, your mind, your home, your heart?

 

That’s about all I have right now. Just some encouragement for you to make conscious choices about what kinds of mental influences you allow in your days. Beyond positive or negative: What schools of thought are your entertaining? What social attitudes, spiritual leanings, and life approaches are regular parts of your thinking diet? I know I have to stop and ask myself these questions once in a while. Unexamined ruts are no good.

Also, buy some ruby red grape fruits. They are spectacular right now.

Eat well, listen well, move better, think better
XOXOXOXO

*disclaimer: this is a lie