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The Aardsma Weekly
May 23, 2009
Writer: Rachel Aardsma
Summer is Here!
Although summer doesn't officially start for a few more weeks yet (at least I don't think it does!), it has already begun here in Illinois!
Our garden, which is always the big tell-tale sign of summer, is doing very well. It is not yet in full swing, but it won't be long! Currently for sale we have green onions, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, and asparagus. Beka and I just finished planting the tomatoes, and the other day I did the first replanting of a few things which are already nearing 'picked out'.
Of course, the big summer crop is strawberries. That hasn't come yet, but the patch is working hard this time of year! A week or two ago the patch was fairly covered in white blossoms. Now, the blossoms are still plentiful, but they are rapidly being replaced with berries in all stages of ripeness and unripeness! Since picking strawberries is a lot of work, I can't confess to be looking too much forward to the start of another year's strawberry season, but I do have an added incentive this year! As I mentioned last time, three friends of ours are flying here to help us out for a week or two in June. I am really looking forward to that!
Beka in the final stages of making rhubarb juice. Photo by me.
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As always the actual garden sales are handled mostly by Mom. I fill in whenever she isn't around or isn't available. Occasionally, Dad or Timothy and Caleb help out if neither Mom nor I are available.
I think I am enjoying selling to the public more this year then ever before. Maybe this is because I know what I'm doing after four or five years of this! It is also much more pleasant than last year, as this time I am pretty efficient with the cash register. (Anybody remember my trials with it this time last year?) Or perhaps I just know what to do to fix my mistakes now! Whatever it is, most of the time I enjoy interacting with and getting to know the customers. Most of the time, that is, unless I'm five minutes away from putting a complicated lunch on the table with bubbling pots and pans on the stove, and the whole time I'm making a sale I'm thinking woefully about my poor lunch burning---or getting cold if I had time to turn all the elements off!
This time of the year, the garden requires a lot of maintenance. Keeping the weeds down is a big part of it. It seems we go in circles. We weed the potatoes, then the strawberries, then the corn, and by then the potatoes are in need of weeding again! Watering has been mostly taken over by a handy contraption Dad made last year. It does require some setting up each morning, but other than that it is pretty easy to use! Some watering still has to be done by hand if it is just a row or two that needs to be watered, and not several yards wide of garden. But that is not a big deal.
Just look at that lovely garden! Photo by Mom.
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With summer comes heat in pretty much all parts of the U.S., and it is no different here! Even as I write I can feel the sweat trickling down the back of my neck! We have the oven on for cookies and rhubarb bread just now and it sure is heating up the house! It was hot enough in here before that started! Oh well, it isn't as hot inside as it is outside, so I suppose I should be grateful that I'm inside writing instead of outside weeding!
This afternoon another uniquely summertime thing happened: some of us braved the cold water and took a swim for the first time! Caleb and Tim jumped in first. Once I saw they were in, I couldn't resist! I spent a very enjoyable hour swimming. The water wasn't cold at all---much warmer than I remember it being last year. I love our pool. It provides many, many hours of enjoyment and refreshment all summer long. The rest of the family has yet to try it this year, but I expect I'll be back in there tomorrow!
We don't get a lot of free time during the summer. Generally our work days start between seven and eight (between five and seven during strawberry season) and we work either as late as necessary or until around four o'clock if we're pretty caught up. What time off we do get is spent either in the pool or inside for Beka and me. We enjoy reading, watching movies (if there is anything to watch), listening to music, writing e-mails, or just sitting around and acting crazy if there is nothing else to do! The boys do more active things like riding their bikes or Tim's motor scooter, swimming for hours on end, chasing each other around the house and yard, helping Matthew with whichever of his million projects he happens to be working on at the time, or just hangin' out.
Now I know summer is here! Mom's peonies are just as beautiful this year as they always are. Photo by Beka.
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Summer is a busy time for Matthew. Between finishing up his school, running his yard business, preparing for college in the fall, one or two part-time jobs, caring for, training, and learning how to train his two dogs, and doing things with friends, we never see him! Most of the time he leaves early in the morning, comes home for a few minutes a few times a day, and then gets home way past my bedtime! I guess it is good preparation for when he goes to college. Even though he plans to live at home, I doubt we'll be seeing much of him then either!
Well, I should end this and go find something to do with myself. Despite the fact that I just finished telling you all how busy we are all summer long, just not there isn't that much to do! We had a big day in the garden yesterday and did a lot of weeding and things, and we've spent the last few hours getting everything caught up inside. Now---I think I'll go join Caleb in the pool.
The Weekly Bible Verse
Joshua 1:9: "...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Day In My Week
May 17, 2009: It's a Sunday today, and even though I didn't set my alarm last night, I wake up shortly after six. I don't stay in bed for long as it is a big day for the family today! I get up and start a massive search for my jeans which went through the laundry and subsequently disappeared! I eventually find them in Beka's room when she gets up. We chat about the day and other things as we eat breakfast.
When the rest of the family gets up the action begins! We have an unusually busy Sunday planned. Beka and I decorate the living room and dining room for Matthew's graduation party with crepe paper in the school colors: blue and orange. We also have blue and orange balloons which we put on the bookshelf, by the front door, and on the mailbox. This takes several hours, and soon after we finish, it is time for church.
We are on a schedule this morning, which differs from our usual relaxed Sundays. We keep our service pretty short, finishing with plenty of time for all the preparations neccesary for the party. Mom gets lunch in the oven and then joins Beka and me, cutting up and preparing the many desserts we made for the party. After a lunch of delicious pizza (I have to admit it was store-bought frozen pizza) the three of us are once again busy! There is last-minute cleaning to do, food preparation to take care of, and arranging of all important details to attend to! But we finish with an hour to spare. I find Tim and we head up our road to the little stone bridge and entertain ourselves with improvised games: tic-tac-toe with grass stems and dandelion heads, an attempt at checkers with dandelions as pieces and no board, two different versions of marbles using dandelions and rocks, and finally a game of 'darts' with a ring of rocks on the bridge to be aimed at with more rocks. None of the games are especially successful except the first and last.
We take some pictures in the last few minutes before the first guests arrive. And then a busy afternoon of many guests, fun, and constant refilling of the punch bowl begins! It is a pleasant, if a bit chaotic, time with all of Matthew's friends, and it is enjoyed by all. David and Kathryn and Laura and Philip arrive towards the end of the party, and when the last of the guests have left, they stick around to enjoy some 'family time' and all the leftover food! (Also popcorn, compliments of Dad, and cold pizza!) Laura and Philip have to get going after a while, but David and Kathryn stick around for another hour or so for some special time just with us, and a lot of fun playing with their delightful baby girl! We are all tired though, so by nine o'clock we all head to bed.
Bits and Pieces
We sure have been busy lately!! As I mentioned in my article above, summer is a busy time! But it always amazes me just how busy it is!!
Happy birthday, Matthew! Photo by Mom.
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Matthew had a birthday this week, turning 19! That was exciting for all involved. Beka made a nice lunch and cake, and we had a small family party. Several friends sent gifts and cards as well. His 'big present' (the one everybody contributes to) was two CD's by Gordon Lightfoot, which he has been enjoying lately. He likes to listen to music on his frequent trips to and from places, and also at home, so this was a welcome addition to his small collection of music! For pictures of his graduation party held last Sunday, check out Mom's farm journal at this link.
As I write we are experiencing what is probably the hottest day here so far this summer! We only did a little work in the garden this morning---it was just too hot!! Fortunately the house is staying pretty cool as we kept all the blinds down and the windows closed today, and avoided turning the oven on as much as possible.
A big tractor at work tilling the field behind our yard. Photo by me.
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We were excited recently to watch, once again, the local farmers preparing the field that surrounds us here on our block for planting. I believe it will be planted to corn this year as there is a yearly rotation of corn and beans. It is interesting to watch the full cycle of a crop as it is planted, grows, and then is harvested literally before our eyes! It is nice to have that field finally planted as it was getting pretty overgrown with weeds, and looks so much nicer in neatly plowed rows! The actual planting hasn't happened as of now, but it might by tonight as rain is expected to be moving in soon.
A Word About The Weather
We experienced some unusually cold weather this week, but the sun is now more than making up for it! Mostly, though, it has rained (4 inches in a few hours!), and along with the rain have come the first tornado watches of the year.
An Interesting Fact (For All You Word Geeks Like Me)
Recently, it struck me that there are some terms and phrases used commonly which, when looked at logically, make you wonder where they originated! A case in point is the term 'basket case'. During a family discussion, somebody used this term, and I got curious as to what the origin of the term was. I brought it up, and though everybody, myself included, was full of brilliant ideas, nobody really knew. Mom and I went online, and we found the following by Gary Martin on www.phrases.org.uk. I thought it was interesting enough to share with you.
Meaning: An infirm or failing person or thing--unable to properly function. Originally this referred to soldiers who had lost arms and legs and had to be carried by others. More recently it has been used to denounce any failing organization or scheme and is rarely applied to people.
Origin: In its original meaning it comes from the US military immediately following WWI. Strangely, the term was never used to describe anyone--only in order to deny that any such servicemen existed. This bulletin issued by the U.S. Command on Public Information in March 1919, on behalf of the Major General M. W. Ireland, the U.S. Surgeon General:
"The Surgeon General of the Army....denies....that there is any foundation for the stories that have been circulated....of the existence of 'basket cases' in our hospitals."
....Clearly, given the scale of casualties in both wars, there must have been cases of multiple amputation. It isn't recorded what term the U.S. Surgeon General used to describe these--clearly not 'basket case'.
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