More Pumpkins Please

The day after tomorrow is the last possible date to plant pumpkins for the season. Any later and the crop will suffer. I have one last packet of seeds. For me planting pumpkins has been so fun, and meant so much to me . The last few months would have been much harder  had I not  found my love for pumpkin farming. Art and I are 91 days clean today, and we are super involved in the farm, and Art is really busy collecting old bottles he and Eric are digging up from the old root cellar his dad buried in the 50's. Rabbits ate all the cantaloupes and beans. They too must be in the ground within 48 hours or so, if I want them to do good. I cant believe how fast the days go by. I have been watching the lunar cycle this month, because I see the moon every afternoon rising above my garden. It was such a sliver and now almost full again. Art is too busy with all the cool bottles to blog much....but me him, and mango and melon are all happy healthy and enjoying these first few days of summer. 

Fear

 “Perfect love drives out fear.” (1 Jn. 4:18)
Today Art might be running some errands in town, going with some friends. Crazy me freaked out inside worrying, what if they crash, what if they get in trouble, what if they get high, and as the very familiar feeling of fear welled up in me, I turned to the bible and found this quote. Once it put things in perspective for me, I lost all anxiousness entirely. We have visitors on the ranch today. Plants goin in like crazy, and our craigslist/recycling business is still pulling a solid lead in the income area. Church tomorrow. Keep checkin back, chickens are still coming.

Insane Green thumbs!

By Tilly
We got insane green thumbs. When we began in March I feared death in our farm plants, but nope we got green thumbs like no-one i ever met. Art is outside cutting a new plant area....if you could only see the insanity, or sheer beauty of the amount of plants we now foster. Life is everywhere, and 90 days clean creeps up. I am blissful, introspective, prayerful, saved, forgiven, and in love. I have learned to love even more through these green babies we birth, almost passionately. Art bought me more pumpkin seeds with our paycheck from yesterdays labor. I have gone through a dozen packs at least....our plants are in the higher 2000's now! Our craigslist retail side business is taking off...its so fun learning how god chooses to bless us...but we continue to survive, and eke out a sober livin here on the ranch doin what comes natural and what feels right. We are a well oiled machine these days. Im so proud. Keep checkin back, we might be gettin  some chickens!

Imagine that

      BY TILLY NICHOLS

Today I stayed indoors most of the day. That almost never happens. Tomorrow we have to work, so it will be two days I haven't been in the garden. Even though I have let up on the hard labor some, we are eating our ranch grown veggies now. We have had lemons, radishes, beets, sugar peas, jalapeno, Serrano, basil, mint, and zucchini. I have been trying to get the house in order, and the kitchen has taken days. I can hardly imagine we are on day 83. A week away from the elusive 9o days. It has been awesome. I find so much joy in our simple life. Even the earthquake last night hardly messed with me like usual. Tomorrow will be hot and our job doing manual labor gets tough, but the money is nice, and anything we do together is bearable. I made Art a great bag lunch, and mint iced lemon tea all from the garden. 7 hard hours at sunrise. Ill take photos and see y'all tomorrow.

77

By Tilly
Its a quiet day on the Ranch. I am here alone, and I love that. I am working on the rental, doin laundry, watering, and feelin like a cowgirl. Art and Eric are out hiking, and have been digging up old bottles from an abandoned root cellar on the ranch. life is real good and I remain focused as far as being clean, and can't wait to see my kids. Time just  zooms by. I have so much I need to do and even though the days are longer and summer makes its mark, I crave more long summer days . Winter might be odd for us after getting so used to being outside all the time.  I feel so peaceful here though, especially on these days I am  farmer in charge, haha.  Well I better get back to work cleaning the rental. 

Peace within, peace without.

Today began with the end of my two day long headache, and a few new clothes. Along with the clothes, and the characters that brought them, came a lot of food for thought. I feel like our sobriety is part of a larger scale picture as I felt compelled to try to help persuade this girl to clean up off Meth....either that or I just climbed on some huge box of soap and need to hurry down? Who knows. I cant remain silent about my decision not to tweak. I have been buying more seeds so I have a lot of work outside. Its hot, and summer has crept in.

So Happy

By Tilly Nichols
My last post wasn't my most positive one. I need to catch up although the farm is calling me. The days are getting hot, and everything needs work...its a race to keep it all alive. I couldn't imagine taking a vacation now. Even though its all been so much to do Art and I took some of our hard earned money (yes weve been blessed enough to make some) and we went to San Diego. We had a blast walking through Logan, Eating Tamales, cruising seaport village, wandering the midway and all the military memorials, looking at the modern art along the waterfront, watching the planes land at Lindbergh field, happy hour at Fat City Steakhouse, a walk through little Italy and lastly dinner and beers in the Gas-lamp. All this on the bus and trolley. I have never been so tired in my life, but what a blast I had. We do manage to get off the farm now and then, even if its only to the little lake to feed the ducks (at Art's insistence) Things have never been this right for me. I love Art, I love pour farm, our kitties, Mom and Johnnie, goin to church and dreaming. Even the pastor has said thats enough right now. Any demons I have to slay and ultimate battles between good and evil we intend to fight, can wait. Why spoil the times that I am learning just what a perfect peace I am fighting for.

by Art Nichols

Today is May 31, Memorial Day.  Today Tilly and I harvested these white radishes. All the sudden they got big. Yep, today is a good day.  We both have reached 67 days clean of hard drugs and life is great and it gets better every day.  Together, Tilly and I are an unstoppable team.  I would have never believed we could do the things we are doing.  I only would have daydreamed this and then wrote off the image as fast as I focused on whatever was going on. Dreams do come true.--Our cats are like our kids they are brother and sister and they love each other. They hunt together and watching them explore the world is one of the funnest things to do.  Here's an excellent picture of some small box blue agave and mostly some variegated American agave.  We were hoping possibly to trade them for a goat.

Day 55

by Tilly
I got my first rose bush today. Mom gave it to me. I wanted one so bad after taking care of hers while she was away. I also replanted the dead watermelon hill with lemon cucumbers that we "rescued" oh and the cats caught a rabbit. On a less positive note, although nothing is really wrong here or with me, I am a little overwhelmed, and a bit lonely. I spend most of my days outside by myself.... my plants are my only friends. I still have 20 rescue plants to put in the dirt. I might be better off with plants as friends. Art is cranky, irritable and tired. I broke his mic, and it seems like anything I do doesnt cheer him up much anymore and that makes it hard for me to cheer up.... I know every day cant be perfect... but I am used to us being kind of manic happy and this flat line middle ground is weird for me. Such is life as a bipolar eh? Im asking the pastor to give me piano lessons tomorrow. I wonder how that will go. I better head outside before my babies out there die. I hope something comes along and makes day 55 a little less lame.

Brussels Sprouts?

BY TILLY

Before yesterday I thought they were called "Brussel Sprouts" but now I know they are called Brussels Sprouts...I never really cared about them one way or another.... and now I have 300 plants of them. They are "rescue" plants from the dumpster behind the nursery. Art brought them home along with like 100 broccoli and cauliflower and 25 cucumbers and a few melons. We planted till dark and now own a "Brussels" forest. Each plant will yield about 100 sprouts..meaning we expect 30,000 sprouts or 3 lbs per plant ...so 900 lbs of baby Brussels..... oh Lordy what have we begun?!!!!!

First Fruits

by Art Nichols

HALLELUJAH, Heres some of our "first fruits"!!!!! Radishes to be exact. My overall grade I would give them would be an 'A', next time--We can't help but bring in 'A+' radishes all day long.

DAY 51

The face of confidence and the biggest sundog ever

BY TILLY

Today Mom and Johnnie are coming home to the Rancho...I thought I would be bummed, to lose the freedom and quiet, but Im so excited to see them. I missed them, I was worried for them and they are bringing us a fitting souvenir!!!!

SEEEEEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is only just after 8 in the morning and I am already done making cofee and posting blogs, Art is in bed being cuddly...... Sitting out here in the living room I can hear him yawning and giggling at the TV. He comforts me, and makes me laugh, tests me, stimulates my mind...and...hehe...never mind eh? I guess Im just so blessed, I am filled with love and gratitude and While I was looking at these pictures to post I realized how truly happy I am. I dont think I have ever been so true to myself and I have never met a family truer to me. This farm is so much more than a business idea or a distraction from drugs...this farm symbolizes everything I dreamed but never found. I miss my kids but thanks to sobriety and the fairness of the US justice system as long as I keep my head on straight, I will see them soon. Love, God, and Time are on my side. What I cant fix they will. I lost everything I ever loved over drugs and alcohol....but I have faced my guilt and and I have been to the mountaintop....also check out this sunny day rainbow or "sun-dog" as I call it....remember in genisis, rainbows stand for the new covenant between God and Noah....its a peace symbol....of pain and turmoil and punishment ending and fruitful plenitude beginning which is just the way I was feeling... can you tell I am studying Genesis haha....reading it with a vigor, over and over....strange huh? Church tomorrow.... And so many good things are COMING UP! I dont say it often enough, but Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

pix

im back

by Art Nichols

Of course, since the news of my moms, allowing us to plant as much as we want, I've been busy from the time I wake up to the time I rest before shutting my eyes for the night. Here I am though, to proudly announce the arrival of many blessings. The really big one have been briefly, the opening of at least 4 more areas to plant and seed. Plus, the arrival of some needy "rescue plants" as well. Not to mention more seeds popping out of the ground, but most to mention as of this moment is the newest plan of attack, so to speak, we've decided to try making and stock-piling adobe walk-way stones. I just came across the idea and both of us agreed upon the production part and we both have high hopes on what is to come of what we decided. For now, we are on the second day of production, and we both have started to go through the numbers and extent of what we can provide as a service to the public.

From where I am sitting the sky is the limit and this is the best time I've had just staying at home and living life, for a good number of years. Upon writing those words and reflecting ever since I changed my views on life and got closer to God and living according to what I think his plans are for me, to this point, every year becomes more enjoyable than the last and my horizons are without visual accompaniment. They reach as far as my realistic, touchable, future extends.

Im a happy housewife.

By Tilly

I am consumed by the little joys in womens lives, like feeding my man, doin bucket laundry....I love the smell of laundry, and hand washing reminds me to stop and enjoy little things like that. I am feeling old timey, like sewing and gardening's and canning. Art is such a wonderful man, and I enjoy serving him. About 50 % of womens lib is crap...I enjoy serving my hard workin loving man. I need his guidance. I get myself into as the sheriff said Sunday "pickles" left to my own devices. I know its mentioned in the bible too....I truly am beginning to feel like he has earned my total trust as the pants in this family. No fear, he hasnt let it go to his head....he treats me with total honor and respect and love...he deserves to be loved and served. Its my privilege. I love you Art...but can you post soon...this is my 6th post without your input....ok back to work for me. This is my bible quote for the week

proverbs 31:10-31

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

John Deere vs. Ford Fusion....

By Tilly

Well today was Gods day, and a the second Sunday in a row we had to play it loud and sing even louder It was also mothers day. And its Arts John Deere day.... I concede the loss Arts the Boss...hehe I won't explain it all....but it was heavy and blessed and I am in a very odd mood. Is there anybody out there? I need an e mail....someone? artandtillynichols@yahoo.com . Oh yeah we need seeds....vegetable seeds...again....panic.....more planting.....more everything. Art and I are on fire.....Day 45 was good.

ROSES LOVERS AND WARPAINT!

Settling in

By Tilly

If the last few weeks was a moving in period, this week is the settling in era. We plant less feverishly, we water religiously, we ache constantly, and IM drinking over a pot of coffee a day. Art doesn't drink coffee....but he insists on tea, even when its been left in the sun too long and starts becoming some sort of bubbly grain alcohol...I mowed the front field today for the first time...its a long itchy tedious process.... the dog and birds are on schedule...the fish is fat, the cats are lizard crazy and the rabbits are trying to move in on the cucumber fields...the transplanted sage died..the white rose bugs had aphids so I sprayed em with some oil shit they left in the shed....the new zucchini popped up, the watermelons finally are coming in, just as we layed in the new plot of them. The top side radishes and BEETS are up too, the middle crop radishes are well along and the bottom ones are edible. The tomatoes are all strong, the eggplants are getting eateen by some bug... the elephant ear is wilty and in shock but alive, the cala Lilly is 18 inches high......the peas are all making spirally feelers to climb with, our beans are going to be worthy of the giant and good old jack....fee fi fo fum...hehe...the pumpkins on the first bed are all 4-6 leaves long, and last night we planted 3 more packs....we made essentialOIL TODAY FROM ROSEMARY AND EUCALYPTUS AND LAVENDER AND MINT. the front fence plot is a desert AND BORING TO WATER...BUT THERES SO MANY SUNFLOWERS AND THE PUMPKINS ARE IN THE GROUND.... art DID A NEW CORNFIELD TODAY... and I turned the cornfield into a swamp when i forgot the sprinkler cuz we were jamming karaoke in the house singing at the top of our lungs...i actually sand till i was sweaty and breathless and dizzy for the first time in my life..l love how Art frees me...when I am around him and especially when its just the two of us for a few days here on the ranch i begin to lose all inhibition and soar to places I only dreamed and thought i was unprivileged to be ALLOWED....SELF ESTEEM ISSUES ALL THE WAY FROM THE LATE 70S...FUNNY HOW WE HOLD BAGGAGE FOR SO LONG AND FINALLY CAN LET IT GO.......the therapy of music and plants and hard hard work is amazing......I am looking forward to church tomorrow. What a blessed week. Rancho bedamned is my milagro......

one more thing

BY TILLY

We got our first comment..maybe our second reader, annie oak leaves....who inspired me to do a lot of this awesome stuff left me a very uplifting comment on my "my family" post. Today is also my youngest daughters birthday....bittersweet for me as I am without her, and her without me....soon babies, im doing all I can....tears only fall but prayers uplift...so instead of crying for her and I today...pray for us today....AMAYA GRACE happy birthday and I love you.

Blog Block

By Tilly Nichols

Heres the problem...well I think its a problem, heehe....I have blog block....I cant seem to come inside for more than a minute at a time. Then when I do we had a virus on the computer and everything was dinosaur slow online...and simply the farm is taking all my attention....theres plants everywhere...they are dry, then they get sick or some get rabbits or gophers or diseases or need trellis fences etc..always weeds to pull, and never a dull moment in the dirt.....then the fact I cook so much means we never have an empty sink..but call me sloppy but its messy bein this cool. talk about the hostess with the most-est....those of you who know how to get here, and wanna get down n dirty with us better get on over here for some carnitas, and have this fiesta with us......its party time...well pork roast time at least....we can burn some sage and sing some karaoke....its a day to celebrate all things living....and of course day 42 on this wagon turned rocket ship....hehe.... I'm high on sunshine.....hope to see y'all soon.

it rained again II we did it!

by Art Nichols

Today is cinco de mayo. It has been a number of days since my last post. Mostly because our efforts have paid off and the goal of starting a farm stand is within range, so to speak. Our labor has been noted and the success of seed pushing through the ground with baby plants is evident. My mother whom owns the land we farm on has given us the green light to expand as many areas as we can into farmable plots. I myself am amazed. It is hard to believe what both Tilly and I have accomplished, in merely 5 weeks. The proof is in the pictures. To those whom are wondering, Tilly wants to post and has been wanting to for days but cant seem to pull away from our beautiful garden.