Thursday, April 27, 2017

I Won't Back Down

 So, things are chugging along here.  We have almost all the garden in, except for just a few things, and it's all going gangbusters.  Should have taters coming in soon to join the radishes and lettuce.

 The broccoli plants are growing well but not showing any signs of heading up so far.  This has been such a weird year, weather-wise though, I'm not sure what they are going to do.  If nothing else they will become chicken feed and that's okay.  I'm always looking for fresh stuff to feed those bottomless pits.  We are also getting lots of lots of eggs!  The girls are in overdrive! lol!

 We should have a very good crop of blueberries this year and hopefully, cherries also.  Even my rhubarb came back this year and is really putting out the stems.  Remarkably, it has lasted several years here, so I might be able to actually cut some this year.

 Love me some Easter Egg radishes.  They are so pretty.  I also planted some of the "watermelon" variety of radishes but they have not finished yet.  They are about double the time as these Easter Eggs; which  are a very early type.
I'm not sure if we are going to try to sell at the farmer's market this year.  I did better just selling from home last year and advertising on Facebook when I had stuff available.

 In some other good news, the university I attended recently purchased one of my sculptures for it's permanent collection.  It replaced another one of my sculptures that was supposed to go in the collection but the university wanted to give that one to a very generous patron.  This patron had bough the original sculpture at one of the alumni auctions on the premise she got to keep if for a year to enjoy herself before handing it over to the school.  Now, she gets to keep the one she loved so much, the school still gets one for it's collection, and I made a little money and have 2 more items to add to  my CV.

 I also ran my first official 5K and came in 2nd in my age group (45-49)!!!  Woooo!! I was so excited.  I was 4th overall amongst the women and if I remember correctly there was about 126 women in the run.  The week before my back had decided it hated me and became so stiff I could barely get around.  I was sure I would just have to forfeit the race and this thought was very, very upsetting to me.  I was very discouraged and heartbroken at that possibility.  I mean, the race was nothing; I knew I would not win anything but I wanted to be able to just do it.  I kept working, stretching, soaking and being very, very careful with taking my meds until I got to the point I thought, well, I can give it a try. Honestly, I wasn't even sure the morning of the run.  Thank goodness it was a late afternoon/ evening event because I do better at that time of day.  Anyway.  We went and I was just going to be happy to not finish last. LOL!  And amazingly, did way better than that!

Now, I'll tell you, in the same month, I've also been rejected from 2 art exhibits (one of which I really had my heart set on), passed over one run because of feeling bad and have hurt excruciatingly bad since running this one.  I guess the success/ failure rate is about 1:2 right now.  A number of things in my life have not turned out like I thought or had hoped.  Not even close on a couple.  But you just have to keep trying, keep going, and like I kept telling myself during that 5K....just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  And if I get to where I can't move my feet...I'll crawl if I have to.

14 comments:

Ed said...

I would have pegged you at older than your listed age group. I'm almost in that age group! I'm guessing had I entered the race in your age group, you would have still placed 2nd!

MamaHen said...

Hey Ed! haha! well thanks man....you know how to make a gal feel good...:P jk! I look back at photos of me 7-8 years ago and I see just how badly the past 6 years have aged me. But, whaddya do? Just trying to keep the next 6 years from aging me as badly. :D

JO said...

This is quite and accomplishment Annie. I now somethings haven't gone the way you wanted but for as long as I have been following and knowing how bad off you were I'm just thrilled for you.

Your garden is really producing, love the radishes can't buy any good ones these days.

MamaHen said...

Hey Jo!! thank you so much! I was (still am) very happy with my few accomplishments lately. It has helped my feelings a good bit.

Anonymous said...

Who is that man beside you at the table? I don't know.

MamaHen said...

Hey Anon! That is one of my former university art professors that is now the Chairman of the Art Dept. there where I went to school. Being Chair of the Dept. he was sent to procure the sculpture. Plus, he had never been to my house and wanted to come meet the chickens. lol!

Blackland Prairie said...

Hey Annie! Just wanted to leave a quick CONGATULAIONS! For the 5k and the sculpture!! Yay, you!

Vonne

Anonymous said...

Overall, more pluses than minuses.

MamaHen said...

Hey Vonne! thank you!!! wooo!

MamaHen said...

Hey Paul! oh yes, definitely!

Harry Flashman said...

You're doing pretty well overall, looks like to me.

MamaHen said...

Hey Harry! Yes, for the most part I think so.! An occasional bump in the road but nothing too bad so far.

Hermit's Baby Sis said...

Congrats and a big Woo-Hoo for you, Annie. Never would have thought this time last year that you'd be running a 5K, maybe not even walking it! Many big strides! You're showing us all what hard work and perseverance can do. I'm proud of you!

MamaHen said...

Hey Sis! thank you so much! It's been a little rough going since then but I'm still going!