Nicole,

WOW!!! Living in “tick country” myself, I’m really glad for this blog post as a reminder to be very aware. My husband and I do a little “tick check” on each other every couple days during these months when we are working outside continually. It is hard to see those little things yourself sometimes.

I’m so thankful you kept at it and didn’t just lay down and give up. I’ve found that we are our very best advocate and if we don’t take responsibility for our own health, very few will. (I also have a husband like yours that is there in the background pushing for answers.) I’m so happy you got answers, got help, and got your life back.

And the weight you think you need to lose? Keep it. You look fantastic! 🙂

Thanks for this post. I’ve been trying to patiently wait for Part Two! Glad for the happy ending! Big hugs,

– Dori –

Congratulations! You have a disease and you know how to handle it. I am so happy for you. Now you have a new normal to deal with but you’re much more energetic and can carry on. I’m rooting for you.

Huraaaaaah Nicole! Finally! Thanks be to God! I had been misdiagnosed for over three years by 7doctors for a b12. Deficiency It’s called pernicious anemia! It is an auto ammunition also! I have to take injections of b2 ! My body will not absorb it! I was having ALL kinds of issues! By the time a neurologist found it! It was a simple b12 blood teats! It left me with permanent nerve damage! I still have tremors and severe neuropathy in my feet and legs! Left untreated ,I would have had permanent brain damage soon! Thank God! I was treated by an internist in the Bay Area! She knew exactly what it was! So many doctors missed it! If you are interested you can look up! I had every classic symptom! So hard to understand all of these doctors missing it! Well! You are on the mend! Congrats and God bless to you! YES ! You need to be your own advocate! I fully agree! Take care,Cindy

I have heard so many stories like yours, and it amazes me that the doctors are so slow to figure this out. Glad you are better and thankful you put it out there for others to read!

That’s great. I’ve had a lot of health issues and the worst part is not knowing what is wrong and IF it will ever get better or worse, not knowing what’s around the corner. So I’m glad to hear you found an answer and a solution! If you don’t already have any, you might want to consider getting chickens (or guinea hens). They are great at getting rid of ticks in your yard. My dog got Lyme disease twice before we got chickens, and never again since then. Just a thought. And it sure doesn’t look like you need to loose any weight, you look great!

So glad to read, you’re well again. 🙂

So happy that you finally found your answer! My DD has Chronic Lyme Disease. She was misdiagnosed and treated for a different illness for over 3 years. It lies dormant and rears it’s ugly head in the most peculiar ways. A few years ago she was again very ill with a mysterious ailment. I fought and searched and helped her get her insurance company to let her see a Lyme Specialist. Her Lyme Antibodies were off the charts! They put her on an IV drip of antibiotics for 28 days. She was again back to her normal self. The medical community has started to wake up to this epidemic of Lyme Disease. Back when she was misdiagnosed, if the test was negative then you didn’t have it. Problem is the test back then was not very accurate. Testing today is much better. I am glad you are feeling better and I hope your story will help others become their own advocates and get the help they need. There is an older blog post on MJF which tells my DD story in detail. http://maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46176

As my dad used to say “If you don’t have your (good) health, you don’t have anything!” I’m so glad you were persistent in finally finding out what was wrong! It’s a lesson that will stick with me for a long time to come. And please keep us updated. Your story was truly interesting (and concerning for anyone in tick territory!!)

I know exactly how you feel.. better to learn to listen to your body. Many times its just the aging process. Sometimes sickness or tiredness. The pituitary gland affects everything. If you get a little bump to to forehead it can create all kinds of things including a stroke. My husband just slightly bumped his head and had a stroke two weeks later. Died three months later. Unreal..one day he seemed like he was fine. The next night he was gone. May he rest In the arms of Jesus! He died June 8,2015. Hope you take care of your self.

Oh Nicole, I am so relieved you are ok! I have a horse who had had Lyme twice and his symptoms mimicked yours! What a horrible time for you. Blessings to you and your family with your returned good health❤️ Love from Virginia from your transplanted Ridgefield Ct. farmgirl friend!

Dear Nicole,

My heart was racing through this whole post. Now we have to wait TWO WEEKS for the rest of the story? 🙁

Seriously, I’m so sad for you and what you’ve been through. Health issues are so scary. The fear of the unknown is the worst.

I hope you’re doing much better and I cannot wait to read the next part.

Big hugs and love,

Dori

There is also a pig hormone that you can take to regulate your thyroid ! It is supposedly natural? I don’t know for sure! Are you on brand name synthroid or are you on generic? I am very sensitive to ALL medications and I don’t have any problem with taking the brand name synthroid! Not the generic! Maybe try it but obviously the dose has to be incorrect! Have your blood tested often! Good luck,Cindy

Oh, I feel so badly for you. Please give us part 2 soon.
Could you also have fibromyalgia?

Oh dear. I felt the same way when I starting having seizures at 30 and need to take medication every day for the rest of my life. I’m sorry this happened to you and I know you’re dealing with a “new normal” as those of us who have cancer refer to it. When you’re feeling down with your diagnosis and future, know that those of us, your readers, have faith and confidence in your ability to handle this invasive challenge in your healthy lifestyle. I believe in you.

This is such a complicated issue! I did go to an endocrinologist when I decided to take a step in another direction after the usual ‘normal’ thyroid reading from my regular internist. Actually, my pharmacist (also does bio-identical hormones for me) suggested it..Otherwise I would still be plodding along with nothing…. The endo. found nodules on my thyroid and ordered an ultrasound, so that we would have a marker for the future. I have had one ultrasound since then, and the readings show that the nodules are not growing. My endo. said that it points to Hashimoto’s Throiditis. Supposedly there is a blood test ( I was not told about this at the time and did not have it) that can help diagnose. The diagnosis is in my file..
This has been over 6 years ago, and I do take Levoxyl (T4) every day. I do not take the generic. I know that there are more natural alternatives, but this seems to be the most easy for me. Like you, I prefer a natural treatment options!
My advice to you is to find a GREAT endocrinologist and research…research…research… It seems that the anxieties that I felt during menopause almost TOTALLY WENT AWAY when I started my thyroid medications. Does this mean that the thyroid was the deep problem all the time and the other changes going along with menopause were not? Complicated, my friend! Hang in there!

I hope your condition has improved and you are back to your normal healthy habits and routines. I’m eager to hear the rest of your story as my energy level has dropped significantly, projects are unfinished, I’m over whelmed by garden tasks yet to be completed and the worst is I have days when I can do nothing. I have accepted my current condition as ‘just getting old’. But I have not seen a doctor; partly because I do not have much faith in modern medicine and partly because I’m afraid they will find something that I must face alone. My comments won’t interest anyone but I wanted to let you know I care.

When you were a baby, you hardly took naps; as a toddler you were always a “busy little bee”. Your energy last July when I visited you, wore me out and I went home thinner from the activity and eating such good organic vegetables, etc. that you cooked for us. I think I know “the rest of the story”, but anxious to read Part 2. I love you, always, my active, interesting and full of life daughter! Mother

My 17 year old daughter was diagnosed with Hoshimotos disease a month ago. We are going to an endo dr. next week. I had nodules on my thyroid 12 years ago and had to have radioactive iodine treatment. I have been taking Synthroid for 10 years. I am still tired all the time. Sometimes I drag myself through the day. I hope part 2 of your story will have some additional info that will help and encourage. Thanks for sharing!

Please research celiac disease, which is what I have. Good luck

Nicole, glad to hear you are finding out more and you are ok. I pray the Lord Jesus keep you in excellent health, and remember 1John 4v17….as He is, so are we in this world…
Whatever it is, He has got you covered. AMEN! Be Blessed in your health. Neta

Denise, blanketing you with not only my prayers and love, but envisioning the healing, rejuvenating beautiful white light of love surrounding you and encompassing you with its positive energies. Be at peace and be well as you live in the light of His Love.

I wish I knew more about composting….I have two outside compost containers and I don’t know how well its working until spring. This past spring I found a layer of dry looking tomatoes but not much as far as fertilized dirt. I fill the containers , water a bit’ and leave the lids unlocked and open when its too hot. And was quite faithful about putting scraps in the bin. I see worms but nothing like your mini compost . I prefer to feed my worms the scraps and sometime I get a bountiful supply of worms and spread them around to other sections of my garden. I prefer to not add anything foreign to my garden.because when I have, I found I would get other forms of pestilence.
Every change you make to your soil affects it….its what I have learned over my lifetime of gardening-farming. When I brought some mulch in, I brought new pest and new weeds that have caused he nothing but troubles….good luck on your mini compost!

What an interesting article! We used to raise fish worms in the 1960’s but they finally died out, or got eaten by fish. I don’t fish, but I’ve always loved worms, just to watch what they do with what we don’t want. They are the ultimate recyclers.
A dear friend, the late photographer Al Clayton, and his wife, Mary Ann, a food designer, produced a book called Dreadful Delicacies; you can guess the subject matter. I can still see him leaning against our kitchen counter saying in his very strong southern accent, “Now, you can eat a grubworm, but don’t you EVAH eat a red wriiiaahglah! That taste just haaayngs on your tongue for weeks!” I’ll just be happy to watch them. Thanks for the informative blog.

I so enjoyed reading your blog about “worm farming.” That’s what my second grade class and I call it. I’ve sponsored a worm farm in my classroom for the last 5 years. Every year we explore our worms, feed them healthy snack leftovers, tear up newspapers and then harvest their “black gold” for our school garden in the spring. The children take care of their squirmy pets and love it!!!

I am still in the learning phase of earth worming and keep finding worms in the ‘worm wee’ catcher part of my bins. Really not sure why. Is there not enough food, is it not warm enough, is it too warm, is there too much or too little light? Please help, can’t figure it out.

Sounds so delicious! Glad you guys had a great family treat!

Hi Nicole,

I love home-made ice-cream. I grew up with a milk cow and my Mom made ice-cream every single Sunday afternoon with cream that she had saved all week. Talk about rich ice cream! My favorite was strawberry. And speaking of which…. we have loads of fresh strawberries right now, maybe I’ll be making some home made ice-cream today! 🙂

I totally love that your vintage ice-cream maker works. The new ones are horrible (I have one, so I know) and I think it is so amazing that you’ve got that. What a great find. My grandmother had the hand crank kind that she used and we grandkids took turns turning the crank. It takes FOREVER to make it that way!

I love it soft serve too. We never can wait for it to “harden”!

Happy summer… so happy you’ve finally got summer weather!

– Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

P.S. Your pictures of the three of you are precious! I think the picture of you and the one of your daughter could be interchangeable!

A vintage ice cream maker will be on my list for sure. It is 85 to 95 year round here in Panamà, perfect for home-made ice cream…Yummy and awesome. Thanks!
Bob
Peace Corps/Panamá
Home is Oregon

Home-made ice cream is the best. We make it for new year’s using lake ice. My favorite is peach. Thanks for the pictures, many of today’s young farmgirl’s haven’t had the pleasure of tasting it yet. Your wooden bucket kind is the best. Enjoy!

I love ice cream but am allergic to cow milk. My daughter bought me a small modern maker years ago. Now that I can’t have regular ice cream I regularly make my own goat ice cream since the stores are no longer carrying La Loo’s . (Goat). With my maker I just freeze the inside canister which is filled with a liquid around the edges; pour the mixed ingredients in, insert the stirring blade and flip the on switch. The old fashion makers are definitely fun as a group activity for the experiece. I always fondly remember making ice cream with my youth group out at a farm using a crank maker.

Nicole, I remember the wooden ice cream makers. Everyone always made vanilla or peach, and I yearned for chocolate! Your blueberry ice cream looks so good in the pictures. Like the pictures of you, Kim and Audrey. Look like you are having fun.
Love,
Mother

My parents made ice cream with a hand-crank model they bought when they were married in the 60s. Always peach, I think. My brother and I hated to crank it when it got hard to turn and my daddy would get tired of waiting on us and do it himself.

Hi Nicole,

Sooo glad that it is spring time for you now! I love that tick twister – I’m going to have to look for that here. It looks like a nifty tool.

I’ve only ever been to Niagara Falls in New York and I know that doesn’t really count – I’d love to see some of that state. As well as all of the New England states. Someday. I bet staying at your friends lake house was so enjoyable. What a gorgeous area.

– Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

What a fun trip!! thanks for sharing. We aren’t quite that Spring’y along – only 38 here at about 9:00 a.m. and a cloudy day too. We don’t do a whole lot until after Mother’s Day – just not safe for most outside things but fun to see yours. God bless.

Like you, I love spring, and the first thing I noticed some baby daffodils. I saw my columbines put some shoots out and some leaves, as well as my red raspberry buds on the vibe. Thought I would snip the tops off, maybe tomorrow. But today I modes the law. And I actually did that in one hour a d 30 minutes, but my time was less by 30 minutes. Then I cleaned around my hibiscus bed. Can’t wait til summer gets here to see them in bloom. I need to get some mulch tomorrow to cover the bed where the hibiscus lie. Then I will work on another bed. I did see one Hollyhock pant that/came back, but only one. I was kind a disappointed that more did not produce more. I am just ticketed out after being outside this afternoon…..but it did feel good to be outside today. Hopefully .longer tomorrow.
Loved your pictures especially if the lake.,,,we have quite a few in the stare if New York I wish I could share photos…..

Good morning Nicole. Your post made me feel really mad at myself because ever since we finished building our house and moved in, I haven’t purchased a clock. I use my phone or the clock on the stove. I looked and looked for a clock that I loved and never found one. And now I realize that I have gotten used to using my phone (shame on me) and I need to get back on the search. I LOVE yours. They are gorgeous. I too miss a lot of things that have gone by the way-side with technology. And definitely receiving letters is one of the things I miss. I still make home-made cards and try to send a few every month because I think it is such a lost art. I’ve been teaching my grand-daughters to write letters as I think this generation has really lost that. Thanks for the reminder on the clock… gonna get on that search right away!

– Dori –

P.S. Are you thawing out yet? 🙂

Oh indeed! I am a watch wearer and clock lover. I used to have a grandmother clock that chimed the Westminster cycle on the quarter hour and a wall clock which my brother bought from me that chimed “Ave Maria” on the hour. It’s made of three different kinds of wood and the entire front of the clock opens to wind it. I have a Timex for daily wear and a Seiko for dress wear. When I’m working out at the gym, however, I use the wall clock or the digital timers on the machines to measure my fitness regimen. My wrist perspires too much to wear anything other than a diving watch. Hmm. Maybe that will be the next watch I put in my gym bag.

I work at a major university in Colorado. One of my student workers, a geek in the computer science program, actually wears a watch. I haven’t seen a young person with a watch in years. I asked him why he wears one, and he said it’s more convenient than digging his phone out of his pocket. This is a guy with technology on the brain, and he wears a regular, clock-faced watch (not digital). We have clocks all over our house, but only my husband wears a watch. We are in our 50’s.

But, digital clocks are good for some things. My 21 year old daughter has a learning disability, and try as she might, she could never figure out how to read a faced clock. She tried, oh, she tried. Her teachers and we tried EVERYTHING. Now as an adult, she can stare at a faced clock for a long time, and finally get the time, but she can always read a digital clockface. So for her, having access to a digital clock is important. My younger daughter, just turned 13, can read a faced clock just fine.

Nicole, this is very interesting. Beautiful clocks! I still wear my turquoise and sterling silver watch made by the Zuni Indians which I bought while still living in Texas at a store in Grapevine, TX.
Also, my friend, Jackie, bought the Black Forest cuckoo clock as a gift for me when she lived in Germany.
I do not like the idea of a phone watch. And you are right about cursive writing. I never could print well!
Love you,
Mother

Thanks for your post, Nicole! Very thought provoking and I love all the pics. We do still have regular clocks in our house! I have a chiming, clock that belonged to my parents that you have to wind every day. I don’t keep it wound anymore because it doesn’t keep good time, but it hangs on the wall and I love to look at it.

I DO still have a wristwatch with a regular face and I wear it went out and about and traveling. Not at home or at work however.

We also DO still have two corded phones in our house along with our cordless phones and we are probably the only ones in the neighborhood that still have a house phone when the electricity goes off!

And, the art of handwritten letters and cards being on the verge of extinction is of interest. I also DO still went notes, cards and letters and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE receiving them. So, I for one am trying to help keep some of our past treasures alive and well!
Thanks again!
HUGS and LOVE TO YOU!
CJ

Nicole, Loved your blog today, I too have an anniversary clock, when my husband and I were dating, the first year he gave me a Jewelry catalog and said I could pick out anything I wanted for my birthday, I picked the anniversary clock, I just really liked the old look, still runs and sits on our mantle today 28 yrs later. Also, we have a grandfather clock that his grandfather actually made, and his mom gave to us. as for watches, I love them, and I love to wear a bunch of old ones like bracelets all together. And as for handwritten notes, my youngest son’s girlfriend who I hope one day to be my daughterinlaw, still sends cards, thank you notes, and they are always very sincere. I actually got her a little metal owl sealer and wax sticks to seal her envelopes, and I always get her lots of stamps for little extra holiday gifts. (I love getting my cards) I keep them all. Be Blessed. Neta

Nice Blog!
I love old clocks and watches! I refuse to have all digital displays of time on the newer alarm clocks. I miss my grandfather clock from my former house. After reading your blog, I decided to get another one, maybe an antique, as a welcome addition to my new home.
Rose

I still wear a watch and feel undressed when I go out without it. When my parents visited us when we were in Italy, they purchased a grandfather clock. Now both are no longer with us and I inherited the clock. I think of them every time it chimes. Thanks for sharing your love of clocks.

Good morning Nicole. Your post made me feel really mad at myself because ever since we finished building our house and moved in, I haven’t purchased a clock. I use my phone or the clock on the stove. I looked and looked for a clock that I loved and never found one. And now I realize that I have gotten used to using my phone (shame on me) and I need to get back on the search. I LOVE yours. They are gorgeous. I too miss a lot of things that have gone by the way-side with technology. And definitely receiving letters is one of the things I miss. I still make home-made cards and try to send a few every month because I think it is such a lost art. I’ve been teaching my grand-daughters to write letters as I think this generation has really lost that. Thanks for the reminder on the clock… gonna get on that search right away!

– Dori –

P.S. Are you thawing out yet? 🙂

Oh indeed! I am a watch wearer and clock lover. I used to have a grandmother clock that chimed the Westminster cycle on the quarter hour and a wall clock which my brother bought from me that chimed “Ave Maria” on the hour. It’s made of three different kinds of wood and the entire front of the clock opens to wind it. I have a Timex for daily wear and a Seiko for dress wear. When I’m working out at the gym, however, I use the wall clock or the digital timers on the machines to measure my fitness regimen. My wrist perspires too much to wear anything other than a diving watch. Hmm. Maybe that will be the next watch I put in my gym bag.

I work at a major university in Colorado. One of my student workers, a geek in the computer science program, actually wears a watch. I haven’t seen a young person with a watch in years. I asked him why he wears one, and he said it’s more convenient than digging his phone out of his pocket. This is a guy with technology on the brain, and he wears a regular, clock-faced watch (not digital). We have clocks all over our house, but only my husband wears a watch. We are in our 50’s.

But, digital clocks are good for some things. My 21 year old daughter has a learning disability, and try as she might, she could never figure out how to read a faced clock. She tried, oh, she tried. Her teachers and we tried EVERYTHING. Now as an adult, she can stare at a faced clock for a long time, and finally get the time, but she can always read a digital clockface. So for her, having access to a digital clock is important. My younger daughter, just turned 13, can read a faced clock just fine.

Nicole, this is very interesting. Beautiful clocks! I still wear my turquoise and sterling silver watch made by the Zuni Indians which I bought while still living in Texas at a store in Grapevine, TX.
Also, my friend, Jackie, bought the Black Forest cuckoo clock as a gift for me when she lived in Germany.
I do not like the idea of a phone watch. And you are right about cursive writing. I never could print well!
Love you,
Mother

Thanks for your post, Nicole! Very thought provoking and I love all the pics. We do still have regular clocks in our house! I have a chiming, clock that belonged to my parents that you have to wind every day. I don’t keep it wound anymore because it doesn’t keep good time, but it hangs on the wall and I love to look at it.

I DO still have a wristwatch with a regular face and I wear it went out and about and traveling. Not at home or at work however.

We also DO still have two corded phones in our house along with our cordless phones and we are probably the only ones in the neighborhood that still have a house phone when the electricity goes off!

And, the art of handwritten letters and cards being on the verge of extinction is of interest. I also DO still went notes, cards and letters and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE receiving them. So, I for one am trying to help keep some of our past treasures alive and well!
Thanks again!
HUGS and LOVE TO YOU!
CJ

Nicole, Loved your blog today, I too have an anniversary clock, when my husband and I were dating, the first year he gave me a Jewelry catalog and said I could pick out anything I wanted for my birthday, I picked the anniversary clock, I just really liked the old look, still runs and sits on our mantle today 28 yrs later. Also, we have a grandfather clock that his grandfather actually made, and his mom gave to us. as for watches, I love them, and I love to wear a bunch of old ones like bracelets all together. And as for handwritten notes, my youngest son’s girlfriend who I hope one day to be my daughterinlaw, still sends cards, thank you notes, and they are always very sincere. I actually got her a little metal owl sealer and wax sticks to seal her envelopes, and I always get her lots of stamps for little extra holiday gifts. (I love getting my cards) I keep them all. Be Blessed. Neta

Nice Blog!
I love old clocks and watches! I refuse to have all digital displays of time on the newer alarm clocks. I miss my grandfather clock from my former house. After reading your blog, I decided to get another one, maybe an antique, as a welcome addition to my new home.
Rose

I still wear a watch and feel undressed when I go out without it. When my parents visited us when we were in Italy, they purchased a grandfather clock. Now both are no longer with us and I inherited the clock. I think of them every time it chimes. Thanks for sharing your love of clocks.

Thanks for the pie recipe! Going to make this!love the pics ! Cindy”’

I loved seeing the Easter pictures of you and your daughter. I was lucky to have the kind of mom that would encourage us to color eggs! She always did, even up in her eighties…Since I still have the occasional yard visit from my lovely friend the English Angora, I have had rabbits on the brain. I went to a class the other night, and what would be nibbling on the bushes around the building? A nice brown domestic rabbit! Must be a lot of ‘releasing’ of rabbits after Easter…Drat…
Thank you for the great pie recipe. Just what I envisioned for Easter dessert!

Lovely pictures…..kids are cute….I wish I could remember to force bulbs to bloom, but not sure when to start.love the flowers. Used yo do the egg coloring with my kids. Miss those simple days of Easter surprises…..went the bunny route one year and we ended up with…..rabbits galore! Won’t forget that year!we kept one after we got rid of most of them. Had to keep our thumps. Believe me the between into things….cards, drywall and kids toys.yes they have teeth! Did you know rabbits can be frightened and/due from it? Happen to a baby rabbit we had. Its a job to care for rabbits….kids get tired very quickly….I ended up caring for them, cleaning their pellet poops and/when it got too much for me, we found new homes for them. Never again! I think I’d rather raise a dog!
Happy/Easter, susana

Nicole,

Missed visiting you this Easter and spring break! Thanks for the great blog about your Easter and spring activities, I feel that I are keeping in touch with your daily life by reading your blog.

Loved the “blast from the past” Easter photographs! I must find my “vintage” photographs and frame them to keep those holiday memories alive. I never heard of the Bridgewater Chocolate company but will make plans to order some chocolate from this company in the near future!

Thanks for the great photograph of your cute bunny, Patches! She looks happy and
healthy!

Love the butterfly glassware! How exquisite and festive! I especially love the full apron that you are wearing! It looks great on you and I am glad that you can make good use of it!

Rose

Hi Nicole, Thanks for sharing those gorgeous pics with us. That’s going to be a lovely sweater. You’ll be ‘pretty in pink!’
Yesterday we had 60’s and sun all day and we were outside cleaning out the shed and really enjoying it….becaaaause….
by Friday winter is suppose to return to N.E. Ohio. weee….lol…here we go again.
I knew winter wasn’t through with us and that the sun and warm temp was just a tease and a glimpse of things to come, but I really don’t want to see any more snow. hahaha Wishful thinking! Today is high 30’s. BUT the sun has been blazing away. Surely can’t complain about that!
Happy St Patty’s day and just know that your snow will all be gone soon!
Good for you taking classes on something you love! Enjoy and…You Go Girl!

I can’t wait until spring gets here too. But I expect the best time fir me will be April 13….according to the muskrats, who came out of their holes March 13. As they don’t come up out of their holes to mate unless its going go be nice in 30 days, approximately.I love smelling the musk in the fresh Dean are, fir me that’s the first real sign ,that I will be in my garden soon.
As for testing the soil, I’m sure my soil has plenty of iron, as the previous owner used to bury old nails in it…found plenty of them while digging. But I always add magnesium, for green vegetables love it and grow profusely when I remember to put some, scattered about. And always add a but if fertilizer, want it or not. And I figure if I see a lot of worms, there’s enough goodness in the soil. And full of life. (Not/sure if I want to see my soil under a microscope.) And I always rotate my plants, be year a seed producing plot will become a flower plot the following year.or a strawberry plot.rotating is good because some plants will take the nutrients of e element whereas another pant will leave it behind. For my tomatoes plot of soil I always burn some newspaper, as tomatoes love a little ash in their space. But I sure wish I knew what those slimy snails
hated, as I would put more in the soil to discourage them from hanging around, and those green tomatoes bugs with the horn, saw one east year. Haven’t seen them n ears so I wonder hat I’m doing wrong that they came back after many years.
Yes, I’m ready for my garden. Anxious as anyone else whose tired of winter. Love to enjoy my space…every year I too learn something new.there’s always lessons go be learned from a garden. To get kids interested, I always gave them a jacket of seeds. Got a neighbor kid interested. Such I could get my whose tin interested in growing beautiful gardens. Makes you want to live outside all the time! I love it when I can touch the soil with my bare hands…..did you know people ho do, are healthier than those who don’t garden? I knew this woman whose mother lived to be 103, and the daughter felt it was due to her interesting in gardening. As she didnt like it, but she did grow these beautiful flowers. The daughter only lived to be 98! So working a garden has its blessings….hard work keeps you young! Go garden! Happy gardening!

We didn’t get nearly the snow but our COLD happened and we have to be concerned into late April early May for night freezes – it has been known to freeze late May – so all our new gardening has to be put undercover and the perennials sometimes get nipped – we do feel your pain of not being able to get out there and ‘do dirt’. Congratulations on becoming a Master Gardener – real talent in those people. God bless.

Hi Nicole.
I like to read your blog , and I always looking forward to see what you have written this time, and see your pictures.

I really enjoyed reading the information about the soil we plant our vegetables and flowers in. Never knew any of this! Your pictures are all so pretty. Love the tulips and last summer when I was there in July, I saw and tasted your garden vegetables and herbs. Beautiful and delicious. You fed me well! I am so proud of you becoming a Master Gardener soon, and your pink sweater is lovely and well made. Glad you are using the talents God blessed you with.
Love you,
Mother

Hi Nicole, Thanks for sharing those gorgeous pics with us. That’s going to be a lovely sweater. You’ll be ‘pretty in pink!’
Yesterday we had 60’s and sun all day and we were outside cleaning out the shed and really enjoying it….becaaaause….
by Friday winter is suppose to return to N.E. Ohio. weee….lol…here we go again.
I knew winter wasn’t through with us and that the sun and warm temp was just a tease and a glimpse of things to come, but I really don’t want to see any more snow. hahaha Wishful thinking! Today is high 30’s. BUT the sun has been blazing away. Surely can’t complain about that!
Happy St Patty’s day and just know that your snow will all be gone soon!
Good for you taking classes on something you love! Enjoy and…You Go Girl!

I can’t wait until spring gets here too. But I expect the best time fir me will be April 13….according to the muskrats, who came out of their holes March 13. As they don’t come up out of their holes to mate unless its going go be nice in 30 days, approximately.I love smelling the musk in the fresh Dean are, fir me that’s the first real sign ,that I will be in my garden soon.
As for testing the soil, I’m sure my soil has plenty of iron, as the previous owner used to bury old nails in it…found plenty of them while digging. But I always add magnesium, for green vegetables love it and grow profusely when I remember to put some, scattered about. And always add a but if fertilizer, want it or not. And I figure if I see a lot of worms, there’s enough goodness in the soil. And full of life. (Not/sure if I want to see my soil under a microscope.) And I always rotate my plants, be year a seed producing plot will become a flower plot the following year.or a strawberry plot.rotating is good because some plants will take the nutrients of e element whereas another pant will leave it behind. For my tomatoes plot of soil I always burn some newspaper, as tomatoes love a little ash in their space. But I sure wish I knew what those slimy snails
hated, as I would put more in the soil to discourage them from hanging around, and those green tomatoes bugs with the horn, saw one east year. Haven’t seen them n ears so I wonder hat I’m doing wrong that they came back after many years.
Yes, I’m ready for my garden. Anxious as anyone else whose tired of winter. Love to enjoy my space…every year I too learn something new.there’s always lessons go be learned from a garden. To get kids interested, I always gave them a jacket of seeds. Got a neighbor kid interested. Such I could get my whose tin interested in growing beautiful gardens. Makes you want to live outside all the time! I love it when I can touch the soil with my bare hands…..did you know people ho do, are healthier than those who don’t garden? I knew this woman whose mother lived to be 103, and the daughter felt it was due to her interesting in gardening. As she didnt like it, but she did grow these beautiful flowers. The daughter only lived to be 98! So working a garden has its blessings….hard work keeps you young! Go garden! Happy gardening!

We didn’t get nearly the snow but our COLD happened and we have to be concerned into late April early May for night freezes – it has been known to freeze late May – so all our new gardening has to be put undercover and the perennials sometimes get nipped – we do feel your pain of not being able to get out there and ‘do dirt’. Congratulations on becoming a Master Gardener – real talent in those people. God bless.

Hi Nicole.
I like to read your blog , and I always looking forward to see what you have written this time, and see your pictures.

I really enjoyed reading the information about the soil we plant our vegetables and flowers in. Never knew any of this! Your pictures are all so pretty. Love the tulips and last summer when I was there in July, I saw and tasted your garden vegetables and herbs. Beautiful and delicious. You fed me well! I am so proud of you becoming a Master Gardener soon, and your pink sweater is lovely and well made. Glad you are using the talents God blessed you with.
Love you,
Mother