My last blog post was on September 29th.  I can’t believe that I haven’t posted in that long!  There were many reasons why I decided to put my blog away for a little while, although I didn’t intend on doing so for 6 weeks.  The last six weeks have been a time of great reflection for me, and honestly hasn’t left much brain power for blogging.  I have thought about blogging my thoughts as I have sat quietly and studied, listened and learned, but it is all far to personal and precious for me to share at this point.  Maybe sometime later. 

I also wondered if anyone was really reading my blog anymore, and I am embarrassed to admit, I did a lot of my writing for the feed back I geo.  I love the pats on the back, who doesn’t, but that shouldn’t be my reason for writing.  When I started this blog I wanted to share my love of homemaking, but it turned into something I was doing just for the praise that others were giving me.  So with that said, I am happy to be back.  I want to share with you all what I have been doing in my kitchen.  My blog might have sat idle, but I have not!  I hope that you all will keep commenting, but I am going to focus less on what other are giving me and more on what I can give others.

Love to you all

Momzoo

Apples and grapes, gleaned from my in-laws, they will be for eating and juicing.

Peaches for cobbler, tomatoes for sauce and Zucchini for bread.

All needing my attention asap.
 

A box of pears for…I have no idea…and various canning supplies, it is September, they live in my kitchen in September.


Eggs that need washing…so much to do.

Really though, life hasn’t been only about food.  There has been a lot of pray, pondering and scripture reading.  Finishing our first read-aloud book of the school year (Caddie Woodlawn, and the kids have loved it).  Refinancing the mortgage for a killer interest rate, while also contemplating a long distance move so we can actually afford to purchase land.  Two dinners to sick neighbors, a leg surgery and some stomach flu.  Learning effective communication skills with Dadzoo.  Making a wonderful discovery in regards to reverence on Sunday mornings.  All the while, loving, laughing, crying and giving thanks for my wonderful live.

How has your September been?

I really did fall in love with Eastern Oklahoma while I was there. It is beautiful country. I was so surprised by what I found there. I had assumed that Oklahoma was corn fields, cattle and dirt. I was partly correct, western Oklahoma is that way, which is fine, but this girl, born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, was starved for variety. Once we got into central and eastern Oklahoma the land changed and my breath was taken away. Rolling hills, forests, rivers and creeks, farms, all that I had ever dreamed about. It would be so easy to tuck a little house up into those hills and hide away forever. I could imagine my children spending their days playing in the creek and forest. Planting and growing a huge garden without having to struggle with desert conditions, Oklahoma’s last frost date is April 8th for heaven sake! That is a full 6 weeks before the last frost date in Utah, I could harvest tomatoes for months instead of a few weeks. I could picture a little farm house with a big porch, a swing and an old hound dog, Dadzoo and I sipping lemon aid in the twilight. (Yes I am a dreamer). All of this within an hour from Oklahoma City or Tulsa, cities big enough that Dadzoo could find work in his profession.

 

I could never have this in Utah, for a few reasons. Number 1, trees don’t just grow here, they have to be planted and babied…this is the high desert after all. Number2, we just don’t have creeks running around all over the place, once again, this is a desert. Number 3, any and all “farm land” within 1 hour of Salt Lake City or any of the other bigger cities has been taken and is priced at a premium. The Salt Lake Valley is right up against the mountain to the east, and while there are some communities up in those mountains, it would mean commuting on those high canyon passes in the winter, not fun, and not always possible as those roads are closed at times. To the west we have the desert. Which is fine for suburban sprawl, but not so good for farming, there are no trees, and very little water, not conducive to hobby farming.

My dreams of the hills of Oklahoma sound so wonderful….

However, I don’t know if I could ever live in Oklahoma, for a few reasons. Number 1, family, I love my family, we are close, and Oklahoma is a good 3 days (2 if you really want to push it) drive away, I wouldn’t get to see them and I would miss that very much. Number 2, I have always lived here, I am comfortable here, and Oklahoma would be a very different world from the mostly Mormon community where I have grown up. Number 3, would my children stay around? Would they grow up and move away, and then Dadzoo and I would be away from all our family? I know that could happen here in Utah, but then I would still have my extended family around. Number 4, would the humidity kill this desert baby? It was hotter than…well… you know…. Number 5, I am afraid of the change.

The chances of moving my family to Oklahoma is pretty much zero, so my question now, is how to I remake my dream to fit into my reality? How do I find contentment where I am now?