Category Archives: Itsnotta farm

The Expert Master Gardener: A Reflection on Life and Lavender

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Welcome back to another week of Livin’ the Dream! It’s been a full week of activity… the hubby and I celebrated another wedding anniversary year of not killing each other, and we hosted our friends for a grand gathering and Bar-B-Que at Itsnotta Farm. One of our kids moved into a new place today, and we found a fabulous little nook off the lake to watch sunsets together (aren’t we romantic?) All around, a good time.

On with the muse for this week, though… enough about me. At said Bar-B-Que, I was touring around a friend and showing off my albeit colourful, but disaster of a flower garden. I have a variety of flowers there, but the goldenrod (aka giant ragweed) is about to take over and give my daughter-in-law a severe case of the sneezes. As the friend and I chatted about this and that that I would like to do in the garden, what I want to swap out, what I love etc. etc. it occurred to me how much I really do recognize in the flower world. I know quite a few plants by name and how tall they get, and where they like to be, and when they are in their prime. I’m not sure how I acquired such knowledge over the years… but it’s somewhere in there rattling around in my brain. Huh! I was impressed with even myself.

One of the many varieties of lavender!

Now, I will openly admit, I am certainly not a horticulturist by any stretch of the imagination. I dabble and dig and hope for the best. I know some common plant names, and googled a few, but certainly don’t know the Latin derivatives nor all their uses. I’m learning though. For our anniversary, the hubby and I visited a working lavender farm for a relaxing afternoon. I love lavender, and it’s been on my list for awhile… even though lavender is not in season at the moment, it was fun to walk through the bee loving “bushes”. Did you know there were several varieties of lavender? Buena vista, lavandin, and edelweiss (a white one!) and 450 some odd other varieties! Of lavender alone, people…

Let’s look back at my golden rod mess… golden rod is a “wild flower” … to me, a weed. Along with cosmos, daisies, buttercups and I’m sure you can name a few others. Tiger lilies are also weeds for me… you can’t kill those things! I found out that one of my favourite wild blue flowers (which grows along the road side but never will transplant to my spaces!) is actually a chicory… like the coffee substitute. A lesson I just learned this week. Now just start to let your mind wander a bit to add flowers to your list from mine. What do you know? Roses. Tropical plants, grasses… it goes on and on. And there is a name for every one! I am sure all the gardening books couldn’t put a dent in the list. Let alone the gardener get it all right.

Oh my beloved, do you see the comparison here? Our Master gardener knows not only every tree, flower and blade of grass, but He knows YOU! Every hair on your head, every wrinkle and every scar. He knows your name and why you are here. And He knows all of us. From the beginning of time to the end – God knows us all! I cannot begin to imagine. I have trouble enough keeping my own kids and pets straight… not to mention cousins and extended relatives. Yet, God knows every minute detail about you and me… and cares about it! Like an expert, He tends the hearts of each of us, like a flower farmer tends his rows of lavender. He knows the conditions necessary for us to flourish, and the things that choke us out and cause us not to flower and bloom where we are planted.

I don’t know about you, but this is so encouraging to me. God’s got this. He knows me better than I know myself! Which can be a little frightening, I suppose. Yet, the awesomeness of it, seems to outweigh the fear for me. A deep muse which I don’t understand, but captivates me nonetheless.

So, next time you drive by a field of wildflowers, or pull those “weeds” from your flowerbed, be reminded that there is a Master gardener, who’s got it all figured out!

Living the Dream

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Welcome back, my beloveds! Seems like we are half way through summer already — how’s it going?! Too fast? Yeah, us as well. The pool is green again and the pond is bubbling, so we are all up to snuff over here. In fact, I was telling a co-worker, recently, where we were and what all is on the property, and she commented “Ah.. you’re just living the dream.” Which caught me musing.

Are we really “living the dream”? What even is the dream? My dream? The all Canadian dream of independence, health and happiness? Surely, this life isn’t for everyone. In fact, I don’t even think the hubby would say we are living his dream. I more than likely dragged him kicking and screaming into my dream with the promises of fresh eggs and a bit of land ownership. It’s a fact, that yes, we … okay I … searched for three long years to find my little piece of property where chickens could roam and a few creatures could be had. I looked for a century home that had all the fixings I wanted with a bit of modern conveniences. It had to be far enough out, but not too far from “home” and our family. Itsnotta farm checked a lot of my dream boxes… but are we living the dream?

I will openly admit that I was drawn to the Instagram worthy country scene of friendly chickens and wild flowers on the porch. I’m not the girl in linen dress and straw sun hat dancing through sunflower fields, but I could fake it if I wanted. I could show you only the cute bunnies playing and digging around in the dirt. I could show you our bubbling waterfall at the pond. I would not show you the bucket full of bunny poop I collected today with sweat and mosquitoes. I would not show you the stinging nettle rash up my arms from the pulling the relentless weeds. Or the muck and mire they vacuumed out of the pond before we got the water moving again. I won’t mention the frustration and agony of my husband’s constant battle with lawn mowers and pool filters. These are the nightmares that accompany the dream. It’s work and it’s real.

Am I “Living the dream?”

So, I’m torn. Despite the blood, sweat and tears, I love this place. I sat on my porch the other day with book in hand and cool breezes blowing across my sun-kissed skin and I watched a morning dove coo at me from the over head wire and I smiled. It was my dream come true. It still is. Yet, the deeper muse here… where should we be focused? Have all my dreams been wrapped up here on this so called heaven-on-earth? Can I really be living the dream only when I am focused on my place here? In this fleeting moment? We won’t be here forever. Our bodies will age and the fight with the lawnmowers will get tougher. We won’t be able to keep up with all the work that needs to be done. Soon, we will be surrounded by only our people… not our property. The people we have brought into our circle. We can only take people with us to Heaven. Our relationships must focus on the bigger picture. The true dream of forever with Jesus must be our mantra. And we must share it with anyone and everyone.

Our Sunday service this week focused on the words of Revelation chapter 22... “the Lord is coming soon!” It was a reminder to me that yes, although my life here on earth is like “living the dream”… it will be a soon forgotten memory when I stand face to face with my Maker. Living trees in Heaven won’t need pruning. Rivers in Heaven won’t need mucking out. There won’t be curses (or mosquitoes?) or grass to cut. Then you can come over to my mansion and play with my bunnies… no shoveling involved.

Still, the true part of living that dream will be hanging out with Jesus for eternity. Sitting at His feet and listening to the stories of the disciples and how they too, must have thought they were living the dream with Jesus by their side. Until paradise, when they realized, that forever will be the dream. I can only imagine!

Pecking Order

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Oh my beloveds! As I chat with you, my chickens are wandering around my living room. If you’ve been following mittonmusings for any length of time, you’ll know: it’s a dream finally fulfilled! The hubby and kids already think I am turning into the crazy chicken lady… alas, I fear it is true! I ordered wallpaper and toys for the coop. My instagram is loaded with tips and tricks. I have been monitoring growth charts and stages of development. They have grown into full-feathered ladies now and really need to move outside to the coop… only it’s not quite ready yet! Almost, but not quite! So, as any good mom, as any good new chicken mom, I indulge in their baby needs a little longer. I’m allowed – it’s my dream – don’t judge!

The Ladies … each with their own personality!

Seriously though, the chickens have been so fun to watch. They definitely have distinct personalities: Mort is my weakest link, and Mavis is the boss lady. The rest fall into line in perfect chicken “pecking order”. I can see where the term comes from. In six short weeks, my little flock has fallen into their own rituals and routines as they follow each other around — exploring — but at their own pace and personality. I hope to be at the top of the food chain (after all, I have the treats!) but we’ll see how it all pans out once they are out on their own! I may be chasing crazy hens all over the yard soon.

I suppose my little flock is like any other herd or family. Kids, chickens, mother-in-laws, we’re all the same. Cows, offices and schools – same deal. Principals, roosters and work wife… we all play our roles and fall into place as we grow together. That’s just life, isn’t it? Sibling rivalry is part of growing up, right? I’m guessing it is. And the muse this week? What about the followers of Jesus? Did the twelve have their own pecking order? How did all the early Christians get along?

I’m guessing that thousands of years haven’t even put a dent in human nature. Jesus’s disciples had their own pecking order as well. Peter, the Rock. John, the beloved. Biological brothers and lifelong friends. Women. Certainly there was a motley crew of followers, each touched by a savior, but with their own unique personalities and backgrounds. Not unlike our churches of today, eh?

How did this motley crew ever get along? Photo Credit: The Chosen

Yet, our human nature was tested by a new set of rules. Jesus’ agenda didn’t fit the rules of pecking orders. He demonstrated this so clearly when the boys questioned who would be at His right and left hand in Heaven. They didn’t get it. It’s not about who is right or left… it’s who will be willing to serve. The last shall be first. The pecking order is reversed. The weakest hen must be the leader.

Of course, nature is so designed that survival of the fittest keeps everyone safe. My chickens must rely on alarm calls from a leader. And I suppose, leaders must do their God given gift of leadership, too, but our attitude about it must be kept in check. We must learn to be humble and tactful. We must learn to lead in love… for the protection of the flock, not for our own selfish gains. Sometimes, it’s only through God and lots of prayer that we can be part of a “coop” where we don’t gel with those around us. We learn to love the unlovable.

So, as much as I am enjoying watching “my ladies” grow and mature, and laugh at their silly antics, I must look beyond the pecking order and appreciate each one for their own personalities. Not only in the coop, but in my own circle of influence as well. Join me as we grow together here on #itsnottafarm! Crazy chicken lady, here, at your service!