I found trying to adapt to voice-to-text software somewhat wearisome. I'm not very articulate. A past quadriplegic patient I came to know had no choice as she took a considerable amount of time to become proficient enough to rely on her computer voice software. She said, “Don’t expect overnight results.”😉
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.
A Personal Update
In a renewed sense of gratitude I continue to rely almost entirely on my left hand to write anything. It's slow but it's what I have. Precision use of my desktop mouse is an effort that often leaves my right shoulder and wrist sore and stiff following an evening of reading and commenting posts. It feels as if the unwieldy mouse weights more than a kilo. Gaming with my kids helps motivate me to maintain what I have left.
In my battle against depression, gardening is my ‘Go To’ happy activity as long as I could get a window of half decent weather sometime in the day. Being on medical leave I can once again take up this neglected joy from the last few years of caring for my sick roommate before Cancer took her last fall.
Since my adult sons are able to more or less look after themselves, gardening will fill my need to nurture instinct. The last few weeks were a bit cold at nights but I took the opportunity to boost the veggie garden with new topsoil and compost. The veggie garden was left fallow last year.
Assessing what I still have. I lost a few of my smaller blueberry shrubs leaving the three larger shrubs. The Sage is gone, so I'll need a new one. The Rhubarb returns for another year. I’m not sure of the raspberry shrub yet. The Kiwi vine is budding and may be fruiting in another year. Most of my potted strawberries appear to be coming back.
On the veggie front, I will stick to the always successful string beans. They are calorie and nutrient dense and ideal food for long term storage if I can grow enough of them. Beets, I like them and an important source of dietary iron. Peas, easy to grow, in their pods are great in a stir-fry.
New are two varieties of potato; Norland reds and Columbo whites. Again, these are calorie and nutrient dense tubers, grown in buckets and re-purposed recycling containers since I have space on my deck. Also new are three varieties of onion; reds, yellows and whites. A pair of Japanese pumpkin vines are planted. Leafy Bok Choy will be added in a few weeks if space is available. My older son suggested some Basil while I'm looking for a live Sage.
The Violet tulips I planted last fall in Debs memory are seven to ten days from blooming among the other tulips Deb had planted a few years earlier. Only one Daffodil remain of her original planting. They need some tender loving care this year and my plan to liberate some free Snowdrops and Spring crocus would look great nestled among these tulips next spring.
Oh yes, a new garden herb. I forget what variety but it has a high CBD content and minimal THC, you know, ...for medicinal purposes. The Municipality allows only up to 4 plants for personal use only. From ...can you guess who?
Things feel different this time. Growing some of our own food may not put much of a dent in the cost of food this year as Inflation takes it's toll, but there is a sense of satisfaction in the effort and accomplishment.
With the debts paid off and my Emergency Reserve Fund restored I’ve changed my Stacking plan a year ago by stepping up my gold stacking pace. Adding another 2023 $50 Gold Maple Leaf to the gold stack. With gold's recent sustained All Time Highs my hunch paid off. Next, will be shoring up some of my long term food preparations, replace my old fridge with a new one.
We hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
2024 will be a crazy year.
Time to get my hands dirty. 🌱🌱🌱
April 1st, 2024 Hive Power Up!
For Today's Hive Power up day I will power up about 229 Hive to bring my Hive power to a total of 21,000 Hive Power. The proof will be in the comments below.
Adding Gold and Crypto to my Stack for that dark and stormy night!
And thank you 
References
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
