Green Gourd Creations

A Fresh New Start

2020-06-19T11:45:00.401-07:00

Where To Start?

A lot has happened in 4 years, so much that it's probably best to just go with where my feet are right this moment.

Okay, maybe I better back up the bus

just a tad bit so I can share

a very BIG game changer for me.

In October 2019 up go the bones...

The Greenhouse

Of course we kinda did things a little backwards.

Most of the folks I know start collecting windows YEARS

before they start their greenhouses.

Not us!

We did have a few old windows, a door

and a whole lot of giddy-up.

And you know what?

As soon as Bill started building...

windows started to find their way to us.

Live life...

As If

Some more windows...

As the cold evening temps started to quickly roll in

my Billy Goat Gruff, my hero, my hubby

started to close in the greenhouse even though we didn't have enough time or windows to finish the job.

Installing the rest of the windows will have to wait.

An Old Door

A Work in Progress

Some hardware, paint, tables, shelves, electric and water

and I am off and running.

All the plants that we used to bring in the house now could winter in the greenhouse.

Heck, even a few that I would have left out to fend for themselves found shelter from the cold.

As winter sets in here on our little island.

Things begin to slow down.

Then...

Well, I don't have to go into much detail here do I?

Winter tends to bring on solitude and introspection

for most of us

however, this winter takes it to a whole new level.

I have only just come out of the darkest winter of my life

and I don't mean literally.

(even if this past winter WAS quiet stormy)

I mean a physical, mental and spiritual winter.

For many years, I had just simply given up hope

of any kind of tomorrow for myself.

My health and depression had sunk to an all time low.

However, God

in Her infinite wisdom and love

did for me

what I could not do for myself.

Faith is Like a Seed

and planting a seed

is acting with faith

that there will be a tomorrow.

Time to Sow Seeds

... and

Transplant Seedlings

Sow more Seeds

Just when I have used up every bit of space in the greenhouse

it is time to plant the spring garden.

Making room for...

More Seeds

More Plants

And now I am out of space AGAIN!

It's still to cold to put most of my plants

directly outside to harden off.

So my caped Billy Goat to the rescue...

Remodeling of Potting Table

Now my potting table 2.0

doubles as a

Makeshift Hothouse

More Room

More Seeds

A few years ago

I handed the reins of the vegetable garden over to Bill.

He wasn't too happy about this to say the least.

But he did it, for me.

In his first growing season he remedied most of the issues

I had battled for years.

He brought a water source to the garden.

No more escape chickens massacring the garden.

He fortified and enlarged the chicken run, made a trap door and implemented movable fencing.

Now the chickens work for him.

Earning their Keep

Now Bill and I SHARE a love for gardening...

I sow the seeds and he tends the garden.

(at least the vegetable garden)

All this growth inspired me,

Bill and Mary to do MORE.

A New Compost Bin

More Seeds

More Plants...

and MORE plants!

Screech!

Let me pump the brakes.

With all the abundance that this...

Greenhouse

has brought into our lives.

... and I could go on and on.

I have to confess

the seeds of this abundance were planted long before the bones of this lovely were ever even

conjured up in my dreams.

Kombucha

In case you are not familiar with kombucha

it is a fermented tea

full of probiotics.

Tonics

Tinctures

Apothecary

But alas that's a conversation for another day.

A New Year

2016-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

A new start, a new leaf...

Sometimes it's the little things that can really inspire a girl.
Like a brand new shower curtain and a curved curtain rod made by her hubby.

A brand new tablet for Christmas!

And sometimes just thinking about having a little joy in your life again will stoke an ember of creativity.

I made an outdoor

"Moonshine Candlelier"

This is something that I have wanted to make for several years.

Ever since I saw it in a book I picked up, way back when...

"Moonshine Candelier"

may not be an original idea, but it won't really matter if it gives me even more reason to hang out here by the pond.

On the second day of this New Year which just happened to be my birthday...

I made this awesome

Pineapple and Turmeric Smoothie

Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie

1 cup diced pineapple

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbs chia seeds

1 tbs shredded coconut

half a lime, peeled

A dash of black pepper

I won't tell you how long ago I bought those chia seeds before actually using them.

But better late than NEVER!

Who knew making healthier choices would feel so good!

And it doesn't taste half bad either.

Last Fall/Winter

we had 2 fox dens within a stones throw of our house

and they WERE literally that close.

Needless to say we lost almost all our hens.

However 4 of the girls did survive but they stopped laying eggs, even though the attacks stopped.

Not sure how those foxes got relocated but they no longer reside in the neighborhood.

And I am not sad that they are gone!

It has been almost a year since any of our girls produced any eggs, so I broke down and bought our first grocery eggs a couple months ago.

Ugh....

it physically pained me.

But from pain comes growth, right?

I sweet talked Bill into allowing me to get some new girls.

I wanted new chickens so badly I was ready to get a type that wasn't what I wanted.

But guess what?

Where I get my chicks, they only had one kind hatching in a few days and the rest...

not until

May.

So...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

and Happy Birthday

to me!

I have new baby chicks.

A dozen Dominique

(plus 6 for the barn)

Like so often with me,
most of my projects originate from necessity.

After all the 70 degree days of winter...
when my babies are ready to ship
we are slapped with actual "Winter" temperatures.

The shop will be too cold for these gals.
So, I need to make room in the "studio"
And before I can do that I have to do some organizing.

FABRIC FOLDED

These are just some of the sewing/mending projects that I had to move out to the living room to make space for the chick brooder.
Idge-midge the cat
doesn't seem to mind though.

Hopefully being out in the living-room will motivate me a little more than being "out of sight-out of mind"

The chicks have been here 6 days
but I haven't gotten too motivated yet...
But I think that may be because of all the time I am spending in the studio.
And not because I am being crafty.
First because I just couldn't stop watching those cute babies.
But unfortunately, I have one little girl that is starting to struggle.
I got her drinking again, but not eating.
I don't know if she is going to make it.
However, I am hoping for the best.

Believe it or not...
this is a little neater than it was.

Now, check these ladies out!

My 4 remaining hens.
They must have sensed that there was some new blood in town because the day the chicks arrived, we found 3 eggs, and since then a mini, then 2 and today...

Three More Eggs

One more thing I have been treating myself to this New Year,
at least once or twice a week...

KOMBUCHA

Let me tell you something about my dear husband, Bill...
he
HATES
to spend money.
I can't say as I blame him, since these days we don't have much of it to spend.
One of these store bought babies cost almost
$4 a pop.
He was grumbling just a little bit about this.

This Pickle Jar

has been collecting dust on my kitchen shelf for quite some time now.
Can you see the green tea in there too?

My sister-in-law, Celeste sent me home with this jar 3 Christmas ago with the intention of starting to make my own.

As with so many of my good intentions to put my health and well-being at the top of the priority list ...
like that pickle jar
they have sat collecting dust over the last few years.

I am hopeful for the first time in a long time.
I have to-do lists again.
I am finding my Joy in the things I once loved.
I am looking forward to what tomorrow may bring.

I am hoping that the kombucha I bought today might be some of the last store bought kombucha I will have to buy.
Yesterday I ordered an organic mother scoby to start making my own.

Bill is even on board, he is actually considering trading in his much loved
Coke-Cola for this healthy pro biotic alternative to soda.

Things are beginning to look a bit brighter at the Marchitelli Home.

I look forward to sharing more as I turn this corner of my journey.

Show Sockwave Spirit!

2015-10-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Mary "shocked" me several weeks ago

when we were at a tournament.

She told me that she wanted a...

Big Ass Bow!

Really?

OK, big bows have been a "thing" in softball that we have always kinda

poked fun at.

It's not like she never wore ribbons or sparkle headbands...

BUT

a BIG ASS BOW?

There was a vendor at the tournament in Tennessee with LOTS of bows.

Even with Shockwave colors.

But when I saw how much they cost...

$10 a bow

Shew!

I told myself...

"I am not going to pay $10 for a I can make"

Well, the next weekend we played in Elizabeth City and guess what was having their

Grand Opening

right down the street from the ball field.

Hobby Lobby

I couldn't help myself!

So we stopped before we headed home and I picked up a few supplies.

And the next day she was rocking her very own

BIG ASS BOW

and Ribbons...

It may not be my most creative endeavor

however it is more than

I have done in a while.

So what to do

with the left over ribbon I picked up?

I have one for every girl on the team if they want one now.

It is NOT my masterpiece,

inventory for my Green Gourd Shop

but considering it has been a

VERY LONG time

since I have been motivated or inspired to be creative in any way...

This is as good a place as any to

START.

I am going to challenge myself to post at least once a week from here on out.

So, feel free to

REMIND

me if I am not living up to the challenge.

When You Play in RED Tennessee Clay

2015-09-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

I lived in Virginia

until I was 17 years old

and thought I knew a thing or two

about red clay.

However, after the showcase tournament

Mary played at last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee...

I have a new level of awareness when it comes to red clay.

I know the REAL reason Tennessee is

Big Orange Country.

It's NOT because everyone LOVES

The University of Tennessee.

It's because of all that INTENSE red clay

they have over there.

Everything is forever orange once it comes in contact with that stuff.

It is insane.

When I first saw the Shockwave uniforms

I cringed...

White,

REALLY?

But they do look sharp.

So...

how do I keep them looking sharp and white?

In the past

I used a carpet cleaner for tough stains on the white parts on the uniforms

and it worked fairly well.

But as many of you already know,

I like to make a lot of my own cleaning products.

One of which is my

LAUNDRY SOAP

Recently I have been seeing posts on Facebook

about stain removers.

And with the new white uniforms and this recent encounter with Tennessee red clay I thought this might be an excellent opportunity to give them a try...

especially since the carpet cleaner is full of some nasty chemicals.

Because these uniforms are polyester,

hot water and beach are not an option.

So,

what to do with red clay stains?

BEFORE

So, first I used a hard brush and brushed as much of the loose dirt from the uniforms as I could.

I decided to try two different stain removers.

On the "Teal" Uniform

(teal shirt & orange trim pants)

from tournament day 2

I decided to use the

Fels-Napth

This is an ingredient I use in my

homemade laundry soap.

I hate admitting this...

But, I have never used it alone on a stain.

I got the uniform wet then simply rubbed the bar over the stained areas.

The "White" Uniform

(white shirt & teal trim pants)

from day 1 of tournament,

which by the way, was the worse of the two.

I decided to use the

Hydrogen Peroxide & Dawn

2 parts hydrogen peroxide

and 1 part Dawn dish washing liquid.

From everything I have read it has to be the original "blue" no other.

Spray Bottle

Then applied to stained areas.

I have to tell you...

Going into this I thought this version of stain-remover would be the least labor intensive.

I was WRONG!

After applying the spray, you must then rub the fabric together and when pretty much the whole uniform is stained...

this is not a "Quick" treatment.

As for quick and easy...

Fels-Napth is the way to go.

Off to the washing machine...

I used my homemade soap and washed in warm/cold water then hung to dry in the sun.

AFTER

Not too bad, right?

On the LEFT ~ Fels-Naptha

There were still some faint clay spots but overall the uniform seemed brighter and whiter.

On the RIGHT ~ hydrogen peroxide mix

A very valiant effort here for sure, but there is still a large area where orange stain is still faintly visible.

Not terrible but...

To be fair, the hydrogen peroxide & Dawn did have the worst of the two uniforms.

On a whole, I would have to say that the

Fels-Napth won this round for me.

A brighter white with little to no effort.

So what do you think?

My Laundry Recipe

1/3 bar Fels-Naptha (Ivory, Zote or Purex)
1/2 c. Washing Soda
1/2 c. Borax Powder

Grate bar & put in pan.

Add 6 c. water & heat till it melts.

Add soda & borax, stir till dissolved.

Remove from heat.

Pour 4 c. HOT water into 5 gallon bucket.

Now add soap mixture & stir.

Then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups & stir.

Let sit for 24 hours & let gel.

Use 1/2 c. per load of laundry.

I can't call any of these

"All-Natural"

but they are by far a better choice than some of the alternatives while getting the job done well.

Knocking Off Some Rust

2015-05-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

I am happy to say that I have finally started having moments of feeling HUMAN again.

It pains me to admit that I have been struggling for so long.

When I don't feel like I have anything positive to share or talk about, I tend to go underground.

Not the healthiest place for me to be...

isolation is NOT pretty!

So, I am pulling out my tool belt and knocking the rust off some of my old reliable tools.

Time to take care of ME!

I started journaling & meditating again, getting more sleep and listening to my body.

And I am trying to listen to more

MUSIC!

Finally my health has taken a drastic turn.

I started seeing a new doctor several months ago that has challenged me to make some aggressive med changes.

I won't lie, it is like WWIII inside my body.

But, I am determined to continue this journey of

BECOMING ME!

I will stop

SHOULDING on myself...

and accept exactly who & where I am at this very moment.

I wasn't able to see the big picture.

What is that expression?

I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

Acceptance is a POWERFUL thing

and not feeling like crap doesn't suck either!

Removing some of the clutter from my head, creates a ripple effect...

I can actually sit in my rocking chair, enjoy the view and be inspired.

I found my tattered koi flag that has been MIA for a long time & got it hung as well as some new baskets.

I re-strung one of my favorite wind chimes yesterday and Bill made a nice brass addition to catch the wind.

I LOVE IT!

My handy welder husband, seeing my long awaited motivation...

fixed this metal stand to help feed my inspiration.

I know that this may seem very insignificant,
but this is something my youngest brother Pauly gave me.
And it means a lot to me.

Last weekend was the first time in a VERY long time that I got my hands in the dirt.

Only to have my chickens mow it down in less than a day, leaving only stems.

A week later... I see signs of recovery.

It is blatantly obvious to me how much my husband has missed the happy, healthy, motivated me.

After seeing the swiss chard massacre,

he finally made sure those gals of mine couldn't get out of the run anymore.

How many years did I bug him about that?

With the ladies locked up tight, I found a nice cool place to put my very sad kale plants...

in hopes that I might be able to harvest even in the heat of the summer.
Now lets see if I can weed this poison ivy patch.

I got to cross one more thing off my list of things that I had been meaning to get around to...

a little pruning & transplanting

Mother of Thousands

This was a first for me...

it bloomed and kept blooming almost all winter til spring.

I understand this is pretty rare when it is kept as an indoor plant.

I wish that I had gotten a picture of it while it was in full bloom.

I brought Mary's Japanese Maple out front...

I just can't pull the trigger and put it in the ground.

I do need to get it into a bigger pot if I am not going to put it in the ground.

I found a new place for an old friend.

I planted this peony 16 or 17 years ago

and it has been sorely neglected.

I can't even remember the last time it bloomed.

Let's see if I can give this baby some TLC.

Rhubarb

I have never grown this or even eaten it before.

But I am ready to step outside of the box and try something new.

I am excited!

Sweet Potatoes!

Bill surprised me and put these in for me.

He isn't a fan...

so I know that they were planted with love.

False Indigo

I absolutely LOVE this plant!

It is one of those plants that I got several years ago that I knew nothing about.

I got one for each side of the outdoor bathroom/shower.

And I am soooo... glad I did.

They were gangly and didn't do much for a few years.

Then out of the blue...

they just came into their own.

Star Jasmine

Wow!

This is what I see & SMELL when I take my showers now.

I am not one of those people that takes a shower EVERY day but when this stuff is in bloom...

well,

I could take two or three.
The smell
is intoxicating

Bill's red potatoes...

Pomegranate!
My cousin gave this to me several years ago.
I repotted it a couple times since then.
But,
I finally got this baby in the ground last fall.
Woo hoo...
it is a happy tree.
Tons of big beautiful blooms!

Gardening is ONE of the many things that I do to feed my soul...
It is so nice to know that a rusty tool works just as well as a shiny brand new one.

BIG CHANGES!

2015-02-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

I started this post a while back...

and couldn't get around to posting it.

So I am going to do my best to wrap it up.

Then start FRESH.

Where do I start?

I can start by saying that Mary got herself some

New Glasses

and it is official,

she has to wear glasses full-time now.

She is farsighted and has a astigmatism that she comes by honestly.

Sorry Mary...

My mom had it, and so do I.

But, she LOVES her new "Poindexter's"

I am glad because she needs them for her...

New Classes

We traded in the homeschool curriculum for the lockers and hallways of

Manteo High School.

After much back and forth we finally decided that it would be the best decision for

our family

at this point in our life to travel down a new path.

I have NO REGRETS!

Not for the choices we made 4 years ago or the one we made over the summer.

Two days after registering her for school...

she tried out for a

New Sport

Volleyball!
I think it was a great way for her to get her feet wet before starting school.
Also it forced her to step up her exercise regiment and food choices.
Not to mention...
it got me out of the house for a different view and jump started a new routine for myself.

Last February we had to find a...
New Barn.

This was very scary for us at first.
But we have fallen in love with our new family at
L & L Farms

and have settled right in.
They built a new riding arena last spring

And few months ago we set up a full jump course.
They have taken us in as part of the family.
And we couldn't be any happier.

Wow...
now I know this post has been sitting for a while.
It almost time to start my seeds for this summer's bounty.

Bill's Babies

He was so proud!

We only got three this year.

But man, where they delicious

and
humongous!

Okay, so that is what I had in the "draft"

before the demise of first, my PC

then
the laptop.

All this went down just before Mary started back to school.

I am just going to say it..

This is when

my panic started to set in.

How would Mary keep up with all her classwork?
How would I know what was going on without physically going in to speak with her teachers.

Dashed also, were my illusions of getting my greengourd going full throttle.

Heck, without a computer, tablet or even a smartphone I couldn't even start things at a snail's pace.

So, not exactly the way I imagined this new adventure to begin.

Around the same time my computers went on the fritz

my washing machine decided that it wanted human assistance to manually switch between all it's cycles.

Let me tell you, not much else is getting done while you are standing over this baby manually switching each cycle.

I am no pioneer's wife.

Hanging the wash on a clothesline is one thing

but washing everything by hand in a 5 gallon bucket without even a washboard

is for the birds!

I wish I could tell you that I just rolled with the punches

but that is not how my story unfolds.

I slipped not so comfortably back into some old unhealthy habits.

My food went Helter Skelter,

then my emotional state of mind followed.

It was as if all my fears of sending Mary back to public school were coming to fruition.

Because just when I thought things couldn't get much worse...

Murphy's Law went into effect.

Since we opted to send Mary out of district, riding the bus is not an option.

We have to take her to school.

So you know what happened next, right?

Yep,

ole Bessie broke down!

And the day after she broke down,

Bill's motorcycle broke down.

(which is our only other form of transportation)

Fortunately,

we had the weekend to at least get the bike running again.

So, for the next two weeks while the truck was in the shop...

Mary and Bill had some wet chilly rides to and from school and work.

I sunk even deeper into my isolation.

I am a very spiritual person

and I

WAS aware that even though things seemed to be conspiring against us,

God was still looking out for us!

However, the gap between my mind and spirit was as wide as the Grand Canyon.

There was and still is,

so much more going on that I won't even go into right now.

Life continued to rush by while I held my breath.

Fear and depression had taken over my life.

I am not exactly sure when or even HOW things shifted for me.

But I give thanks to God that they have.

I know that I did not just wake up one morning and discover my life was no longer mine.

It has taken years of erosion to form this landscape I call my life.

The GOOD as well as the bad.

Acceptance is key!

I don't have to LIKE who or where I am.

Today I am moving forward

with peace

and acceptance.

I am not alone

I am

Masterpiece in transition!

I am ...

2015-02-11T15:53:00.004-08:00

I am slowly pulling myself out of my isolation.

I WILL be back in the sun soon!

Don't give up on me...

They are Back

2014-12-05T05:44:00.001-08:00

Check out this item in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/88272550/santa-banana-gourd-ornament

I got all my Christmas ornaments back up on my Etsy!

This penguin Santa gourd belongs to my personal Christmas collection and isn't for sale.

Most of the ornaments I have for sale are the banana gourds which are much smaller than this penguin gourd and most of your more common hard shelled gourds.

I haven't made my Santa Banana gourds in a few years and I only have two unpainted gourds left with no seeds saved.

It might be a while before any more of these guys come to life.

So, once they are gone

they are gone.

Get 'em while I got 'em!

3 New Bars Added

2014-12-05T05:32:00.001-08:00

Check out this item in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/116613518/recycled-horseshoe-blanket-bar-towel

It Has Been a Long Time

2014-12-04T20:30:00.001-08:00

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I last updated my blog! I know it shouldn't surprise me though.

To say the very least, I have been holding in a state of transition for quite some time now. Resisting most of my way. I am not proud of my stubbornness or backsliding. However, it is all part of my story.

Today, I look down... and I see exactly where my feet are. I don't have to like it, I just need to accept it. Only after accepting all the parts of me, will I finally be able to move forward and change the things I can and let the rest go.

I plan to be back soon. I actually even have a post in draft from before both my computers took the grand swan dive. So getting y'all caught up might be quicker than starting from scratch.

Much has changed since my last post. And after many painful spills, I can honestly say that I am finally dusting myself off and getting back in the saddle and tending to many areas of my life.

I look forward to sharing the news twists and turns of this new phase of my journey.

Big thanks to brother Michael for lending me this device, so I might have easier access to some of the places I have not visited in a while.

Collage of Events

2014-09-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

I came across this draft that I never got around to publishing.

So I figured...
Why not go ahead and post to really punch home exactly how long it has been since I last made an attempt to tap into my intentions of becoming a better version of ME.

April 3, 2014

WOW

I can't believe how long it's been!

December...

Really?

Christmas was joyfully UNEVENTFUL!

Yes, Mary Elizabeth...
there is a Santa Clause and he rides a horse.

The horse community is a tight knit group of folks.
We may be a bit on the "crazy" side but most are quick to help a cowgirl in need.

A New Year...

For my Birthday I was gifted a consolation at
Green Comfort

Holistic Prescription:
Tincture, Fiber Blend and warm lemon water twice a day before breakfast and dinner.

It was a special gift of hope with a new path on my journey of becoming me.
When I came home from the mountains...
I cleaned out all my shelves.
All processed foods with artificial colors and preservatives were packed up and gone.

I even got Bill to give up the white and raw sugar.
He didn't care much for the Stevia but he is a fan of raw organic Agava

Once I realized that these Mason Jars fit my blender, morning smoothies with my fiber blend became a routine.

3/4 of jar fresh/frozen fruit
Enough Almond Milk to cover fruit
1 tbs. Fiber blend

And we are off to a great start to the day!

Snow on the Outer Banks,
I know... bizarre!

Obviously a lot of time has elapsed since I started this post.
And I plan to try and fill in some of the extra wide gapes as briefly
as I am capable.

However, my plan is to start a new post that focuses more on where I am at this present moment.

Keeping Busy

2013-12-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

I kinda lost my...

blogging momentum for a moment

but I am BACK!

Birdfeeders are done

and Bill got 2 more

Horseshoe Bars Finished

Remember this???

Well...

I started the process.

Before

After

Before

During...

One of my shelves decided to come crashing down while I was cleaning.

Yep,

perfect time for a break!

Break is over...

we got the shelf back up.

But I still have a little more organizing and cleaning to do to call this room officially

"Finished"

But, I am keeping busy...

since the last post we have started a new

Language Arts Curriculum with and emphasis on

Writing and Vocabulary

Absolutely NOT Mary's strongest subjects...

thus the emphasis!

But she really seems to be liking the
Wordly Wise.

Writing...

not so much but we WILL get there!
She isn't fighting me nearly as much when it comes to writing.
She is acquiring some strong writing skills that are allowing her to feel more confident in her ability to write.
So far so good!

In October, Mary participated in a 4-H OPEN FUN SHOW

This was the first time off the farm in over a year,

and first show in almost 2 years.

It was a miracle that Mary was able to even make it into a class.

Phoenix is notorious for his temper tantrums,

especially when it comes to going on the trailer.

This day was actually one of his worst displays yet.

After an hour we gave up...

we didn't want our friends to miss their classes.

Mary was heart broken.

She had been really practicing and had him all dressed up and ready to go,

squeeky clean with mane and tail braided.

Then Mary's trainer swooped in to the rescue.

She dropped her horse off and then headed to Wrangler to help with Phoenix.

After winning the first battle he was even more determined to win the next.

Unfortunately for HIM

he was not victorious in this epic battle.

It took many helping hands but we ultimately got him on the trailer and made it to the show.

He was no longer handsomely groomed.

He was a sweaty mess.

But we were there...

with only minutes to spare before her classes.

The simple fact that we were there was a victory in my book.

But now the next hurdle was to get both Mary and Phoenix settled down and get their show face on.

We opted to scratch her showmanship class so they could collect themselves enough to even get in the show arena.

They were both off the rails.

(LITERALLY!)

But they pulled it together!

Not only did they make it into the arena...

but they pulled it off three times!

And if competing wasn't enough

for icing on the cake...

she got her first ever

CHAMPION Ribbon.

WOOT, WOOT!

She was giddy!

Phoenix can be as stubborn as Mary!

But all the practice is beginning to pay off.

And now...

her confidence is making a come back!

Flash forward two months later...
they are
JUMPING AGAIN!

They will be riding together in her first ever over fence class in a benefit show at
Wrangler Farm
Sunday, December 8
see facebook link below for more info.

Post by WRANGLER FARMS.

Mary is really looking forward to showing again.

This time she will have the luxury of no "Trailer Drama"!

In October, Mary made her very first...
BIRTHDAY CAKE

So, now it's official...
Bill is finally a bonafied Senior Citizen.

October and November were also very busy and exciting months for softball.
Mary was asked to guest play for the first time in October.
We traveled to Williamston, NC to play for a team out of Winsor...

The 14U Lady Diamonds

AKA...

the Cashie team that we battled against both in District All-Stars and at the State Championship.

We weren't sure if she would even play...
but she did, she came in as a clean up pitcher and struck out every girl that she pitched to. It was an absolute treat for Mary to have a chance to pitch with Akyia.

Mary had been impressed by her catching for a

while from playing against her all these years.

But to actually play WITH her ...

She was beyond words!

Then...

Softball Nation's

NATIONALS

in Va Beach, Virginia

with her OBX Xtream Team

Then the very next weekend Mary was asked to guest play once again.

However this time for a...

16U Team

WOW!!!
What an experience!
We thought...
ok, probably sit the bench most of the time.
But, NO!
She pitched, she hit, she ran bases and she even got to play 1st base for the first time in a VERY long time.
It was exciting and she held her own against the big girls.
She struck several girls out...

even caught em looking!

The first full game she pitched they won

17 - 2

against the Coastal Fury.

We had so much fun we decided to do it again two weeks later.

This time it was in the HS Division which pit her up against 18 and 19 year olds.

We didn't come home with any trophies... but we did come home with our heads held high.

Not bad for a 13 year old, running with the Big Dogs.

(I totally just used this blog as a brag rag)

My etsy shop has been unusually busy.
And let me state for the record...
I am NOT complaining!
It has started a smoldering ember under my butt.
Even though I finished the feeders and the blanket bars, it took me quite a while to get them listed on my etsy shop.
But I managed to get them listed before Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
And I am so glad that I did!

I even managed to make a few new items .

DOLL CLOTHS

3 Pair of Pants from Recycled Jeans

Then it was...
"over the river and throuht the woods"

to my brother's home for
Thanksgiving!

We had a nice UNEVENTFUL holiday!
Good food and wonderful company.
But...
HOLY STINK BUGS!
I am sure a few made their way home with us in our bags.
Nasty little boogers!

Hope they don't find their way to my winter garden.
Which by the way is still kicking, I haven't killed it yet.

KALE

CELERY

and a few herbs in the background.

LETTUS

and More KALE

I even have some beets, carrots and sunchokes.
I am determined to get that juicer going.

Plus I got turned on to

KOMBUCHA

http://www.foodrenegade.com/kombucha-health-benefits/

And as soon as I recieve my mother scoby disk...
I will be making my own.
I am gearing up for a complete clean kitchen make-over.
When Bill gets home from the maiden voyage of the Texas Star...
he won't know what hit him.

So that's about the gist of what's been going on in my world.
Hopefully the next post won't take so long!

It is my hope that everyone reading this has an abundance of reasons to give thanks!

Love and Healing to all!

Natural Finish Gourd Bird-feeder

2013-12-03T07:57:00.001-08:00

SOLD- Yesterday!

Natural Finish Gourd Bird-feeder:

'via Blog this'

Listed for only 5 days!

Dark Orange Gourd Bird-feeder

2013-12-03T07:54:00.001-08:00

SOLD- YESTERDAY

Dark Orange Gourd Bird-feeder:

'via Blog this'

It had been listed less than a week!

Recycled Horseshoe Blanket Bar / Towel Rack

2013-12-03T07:51:00.001-08:00

SOLD 2- November 27, 2013

Recycled Horseshoe Blanket Bar / Towel Rack:

'via Blog this'

Better get busy making MORE...

2012 Sunflower Birdhouse Gourd 2/3

2013-12-03T07:49:00.001-08:00

SOLD - November 24, 2013

LAST SUNFLOWER BIRDHOUSE

2012 Sunflower Birdhouse Gourd 2/3:

'via Blog this'

Grinchish Christmas Gourd -

2013-12-03T07:46:00.001-08:00

SOLD- November 17, 2013

Grinchish Christmas Gourd -:

'via Blog this'

Recycled Horseshoe Blanket Bar / Towel Rack by Greengourd on Etsy

2013-10-08T04:31:00.001-07:00

Newly Added to Etsy Shop

Recycled Horseshoe Blanket Bar / Towel Rack by Greengourd on Etsy

2012 Sunflower Birdhouse Gourd 1/3

2013-10-08T04:29:00.001-07:00

SOLD

Sold 10/5/2013 from my Etsy Shop

2012 Sunflower Birdhouse Gourd 1/3

Til I Reach the Highest Ground!

2013-09-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

The sale of my birdhouse gourd last week sparked a little motivation.

So, I pulled out some bird feeders that I had started a while ago and never finished.

I kept one in it's natural state and gave it a nice application of beeswax oil.

Then the other I applied some orange leather dye.

I will finish them up with hanging holes, decorative hangers and a clear coat to preserve the finish.

Hopefully, you will see them on my Etsy shop soon.

Then I pushed up my sleeves and got busy scrubbing some gourds.

Nothing like getting some mold under a girl's nails to make for an exciting day!

Scrubbed, Drying and Waiting to Inspire!

I can't wait to share what Green Gourd Creation was born!

I know that you all will be waiting on the edge of your seats!

And if one sale wasn't enough...

the second sale in one week was down right inspirational!

Horseshoe Racks SOLD OUT!

There will be more available soon.

We have some in the making at this very moment.

This breath of fresh air, just keeps on coming!

Phoenix is back out in the pasture again with his buddy the Rocket Man...

And is slowly getting back into the swing of things again with Mary.

As much as I would love to take Mary out to see Phoenix everyday!

I can not tell you how nice it is to not have the stress of HAVING to go every day.

Allowing us to fall back into our much needed school routine.

8th Grade

has begun even though we are waiting for some new books to come in.

They should be here in a couple days.

Everyone seems to be much happier in the Marchitelli house these days.

And maybe even outside the house to!

I thought that we only had one gourd this year...

SURPRISE!

There are several!

Yippy Ya!

Maybe when we feel good

we may do good?

No wonder I am not getting much done...

My "studio" is sad

and cluttered.

My hope now is that since I have exposed my

messy office...

I will be inclined to clean it up.

Let's see if it works.

I have high hopes!

A Constant Gardener

2013-09-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

There's a topic that's been on my mind lately, and I needed to write about it.

I don't expect anyone to agree.
These are my thoughts and opinions.
And I am the sum of MY experiences and no other human has the exact sum.

A long time ago, my mother told me that there are two subjects that you should always steer away from in public or at parties ...

1. Politics

2. Religion

This is one of the rare times that I will cast off my mothers advice and jump head first into both of these topics.

But not in the way that you may think.

A couple weeks ago my sister sent me an email... she was in a MINI panic.

She just started homeschooling her boys this year. And she has been flooding her brain with all kinds of information.

And she was about to commit and purchase a complete curriculum.

Most families who have made the decision to homeschool their children go through similar moments of panic.

And if they are honest...

they continue to grapple with their decision throughout their homeschooling journey.

Questioning always if their child is getting the best possible education.

Anyway...

here is the question she asked me:

"Do you teach Creation or Evolution?"

Folks, I don't think I truly grasped the weight of this question or my answer at the time.

It was late when I read and responded to her email.

And I gave her a somewhat brief response...

brief for me anyway.

I told her simply that I taught

"Intelligent Design... which is kinda both"

Then I told her that it hadn't REALLY been a topic of discussion within our Science curriculum yet.
(folks, I really thought this was a Non-Issue)

I also felt that our text had a very balanced viewpoint of both sides.
Then I told her that I felt that there would not be any ONE curriculum that would fall inline with all that we believe.

So we need to take what we like and leave the rest.

God truly has a sense of humor.

It is ALL relevant!

So...

after Ginny's email question,

I decided to check the index of Mary's science book and see what it had to say about

EVOLUTION -vs- CREATION

The title of the book alone
seems to give it's position on Creation.
However, you know the old saying...
"Never judge a book by it's cover."
Or can you?

OK,

like I said earlier...

up to this point

we really had not ventured much into this topic.
Or so I thought!

However, there was a lot on the subject in her very next chapter.

I started reading the next chapter.

What is Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism?

And what exactly does this have to do with

Creation vs Evolution?

A lot!

I didn't realize how much until this question arouse.

I had to go back a few modules.

Definition PLEASE?

Ok...

Reading on...

And what I read left me asking even more questions.

What SPECIFICALLY do I believe to be SCIENTIFIC FACT?

I think I better give a little background on my beliefs first.

I am a Roman Catholic by birth and now by choice.

My whole life,

I had been taught, first in public school and then in college (via History) about Evolution and never given any reason to believe otherwise from my devout mother.

My Church taught me that God was the creator of all things.
If I ever questioned the interpretation of the story of Genesis and the theory of Evolution out loud, I don't recall my mother's response.

However, it has always been my belief that both Creation and Evolution co-existed.

It had never occurred to me to believe that it was
ONLY

Either/Or ...
and I still do not.

It blows my mind how different groups can change the definition of words to encompass such rigid all encompassing theories to manipulate and force their own personal agendas.

Those who win the war or those with the most power write the history (or science.)

This doesn't necessarily mean the "TRUTH".

For some reason a while back, I asked my priest...

"As a Catholic Priest and teacher, what is your position on Creation -vs- Evolution?"

His response was
"Intelligent Design"

I never really gave it much thought, until NOW.

I suppose I just assumed

and DON'T LAUGH ...

that this meant intelligent individuals could not dispute all the findings that supported evolution but still had faith that God created the "world".

Who knows how long a "day" was in the beginning it could have been millions of years or even billions.

So here I am TODAY...

teaching my daughter science.

The only science I took in college was 2 years of Psychology and 1 of Sociology.

I dropped out before I had the opportunity to take Biology, Chemistry or even to receive my teaching degree.
(what I had originally gone to school for)

I am feeling a bit like a fish out of water...
however, I am "adapting".

So what is "Intelligent Design"
... really?

The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.

by: http://www.intelligentdesign.org/

How Intelligent Design Works

by: How Stuff Works

Intelligent design (ID) is a form of creationism based on the argument from designand promulgated by the Discovery Institute, a politically conservative think tank based in the United States.

defined by: Wikipedia

There are as many opinions and definitions of Intelligent Design

as there are branches of

Christianity.

(a lot has "evolved" since the council of Nicaea and the reign of Henry VIII)

So I tried to dig a little deeper into this subject of Intelligent Design.

And came across a movie on

Netflix

A very good movie I must say!

Then another one ...

My head was spinning after these two movies.

I am so glad I didn't watch them both in the same day or even two.

My head would probably have exploded if I had watched them back to back.

I have come to the conclusion that all this debate is a bunch of political crap!

And I also have to say that I am sick to death of

POLITICS!

I am a REGISTERED Independent and proud of it!

Every side with their holier than thou talking points and sound bites.

There is no such thing as a "One Size Fits All"
in politics, education or faith.
People have become LAZY in all of these affairs!
And quite frankly rather apathetic as well!
Especially in thought and faith!
I am guilty as well.
There is no such thing as a true Liberal or Conservative.
If people were completely honest, they would have to admit that they share a little of BOTH fundamentally, depending on the subject.
We as humans, as citizens and spiritual beings are far more complex than any label can give us.

People have gotten so caught up with defending their position or rather bashing someone else's

that the actual pursuit of TRUTH is lost.

I know that I had been struggling with whether I should send Mary back to public school or not...

and now I am all the more convinced than ever, that I have made the right decision for
US.

From the statistics I have seen...
Between 80-90% of Americans believe in God.
And most people believe that dinosaurs existed.
However,
when you throw this word out there
Evolution:
ev·o·lu·tion (v-lshn, v-)

1. A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. See Synonyms at development.

a. The process of developing.

b. Gradual development.

3. Biology

a. Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new species.

b. The historical development of a related group of organisms; phylogeny.

4. A movement that is part of a set of ordered movements.

5. Mathematics The extraction of a root of a quantity.

Definition by The Free Online Dictionary

It seems as if folks heads start to spin around and split pea soup starts shooting from their mouths by the mere mention of the word, EVOLUTION.

This is SCIENCE we are talking about.
Science: an area of knowledge that is an object of study.
This is where we study the natural world using the scientific method.
Which deals with observable facts and conclusions.

It was once scientific law that the sun revolved around the world and that Pluto was a planet.
So is't all theory, disguised as scientific fact til another scientist comes along with their own theory or observable facts?

A safe drug yesterday, gives you cancer today.
"Truth" and "Fact" is constantly changing/evolving.

Do you care?
You probably don't unless you are teaching, preaching or being tested.

So... I care!
I am teaching.

I don't understand why politicians or scientists keep trying to make Intelligent design a fundamental Christian / Creationist agenda.
It doesn't push or force a belief in God...
it merely leaves room to ask questions.
It gives argument to Darwin's idea of Random Mutation.
And argues that there is nothing RANDOM about nature.

Or why those same folks want to claim that Evolution means a lack of belief in God.

Politicians are mandating what to teach our children thus what is printed in textbooks.
This is not just in science either.
It's is also relevant to what is taught in our history books.
To exclude God, religion, religious leaders or an oppressed minority from our history is not giving an accurate portrait of history.
I understand the overwhelming difficulty of deciding who's truth to present.
However...
I don't believe that this is what Thomas Jefferson meant by the "separation of church and state" either.

If I thought that it was time consuming to homeschool...

Picking through every bit of information out there.
Choosing a style of education, then curricula and now I have to go through it all again with a fine tooth comb.

I can't imagine how overwhelming it would be to comb through what is being taught in Public Schools. That's a lot of State and Local Board of Education meetings, text reading and honestly sitting in during lectures.
Or I could just have faith that all these hands of absolute strangers and political agendas have my child's best interest in mind at all times.
I know that I sound like an absolute control freak.
And honestly I am.
However, this is MY child I am talking about.
The most important job of my life...
is to make sure that she is given the tools to become a healthy, happy and prepared adult.

That's my JOB!
Not to be a consumer, to accumulate wealth or status, and not to blindly follow the herd.

My sister's 1 simple question has turned our "classroom" upside down.

This is how God works in MY life...
and I am grateful!

NOW...

because of this ONE question,
Bill is taking more of an interest in Mary's lessons where he wasn't before.

It is my belief ...
that we all learn, especially children by asking questions.

Thankfully I have been given an opportunity to create a
CLASSROOM
in which all questions are relevant and openly discussed.
My daughter is able to question what she reads and is allowed to study and pursue knowledge instead of being taught that there is only one correct answer...
or one side to history.
To be given only one story is not FAITH or KNOWLEDGE.
Seeking truth and freely choosing your path however allows room for the seed of FAITH and knowledge to grow.
I was once told
the best teachers are those who are teachable.

And that when the student is ready the teacher will appear!

I truly am BLESSED!

SOLD Sept. 13, 2013

2013-09-14T05:32:00.001-07:00

2 Sales in 1 Week!

Recycled Horseshoe Blanket Bar / Towel Rack by Greengourd on Etsy

SOLD Sept. 7, 2013

2013-09-14T05:29:00.001-07:00

Just the Motivation I Needed!

2012 Sunflower Birdhouse Gourd 3/3 by Greengourd on Etsy

LOST and FOUND

2013-09-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since my last blog.

So, I know there are some things we need to catch up on.

The first thing that I want to tell you is that I didn't wait til I had more designs before putting the

Sparklelicious Headbands

on my

Greengourd Etsy Shop

I went ahead and listed all the headbands we have at the moment for sale and created a new section in the shop called

Headbands for MEM

Deciding what to say about each item and getting all the dimensions is usually the hardest part about selling on etsy, in my opinion.

So, now that I have broken the ice...

and have mastered the art of cut & paste

it will be much easier to add new colors and designs to Mem's headbands.

I know this will make Mary happy since all the proceeds go toward her softball fund...

after-all it was her brain child.

Secondly...

While my neighbors & friends were getting ready for school to start

Mary, Bill and I headed down to Salvo to WELCOME my soul sister and family

into town.

Since we still had two days left of her 7th grade year.

I decided we would use these last two physical days as a "field trip"

to study

The Piping Plover

Complements of the National Park Service

And what better place to do some field research than...

The Old Lifeguard Station

aka... "The Boilers"

And let me tell you it took us all day to collect all that data!

Then it was back home to get a good nite's rest.

After our morning routines we headed out to the barn to check on Phoenix's leg.

Mary took full advantage of the nice weather and gave him a bath.

But this goof-ball likes to drink and play with the water more than take a shower.

Mary also used this opportunity to give him a good sheath cleaning.

Luckily for her he is usually VERY cooperative.

I am super proud of her for doing this.

I know some grown folks who can't/don't do this part of horse grooming and health care...

myself included.

These boys can get PRETTY nasty!

When life gives you

RED FLAGS...

You find the nearest

Kiddy Pool

Unfortunately for Robin and her family the first couple days they were here, the water was pretty ruff.

But I don't think that it stopped anyone from having fun and enjoying a day at the beach.

We love tide pools!

But the winds shifted and the good times rolled in!

Man do I remember these days.

LOVE IT!

However, I also remember when this fella's mom was the same age running around on the beach naked and eating sand to.

Wow...

We are getting old, Ya Ya!

Most of my close peeps know that I have been struggling with some pretty heavy stuff.

I have share on my blog some of these things but some of the BIG stuff , I have kept pretty close to my belt.

So I am HAPPY to say...

There has been some serious healing mojo going on the last couple weeks.

Beach Therapy!

Along with some ...

Crow's Nest Contemplation

Followed by some long needed conversations.

Obviously not all my troubles are gone

or all my problems solved.

But I have to say that the boil has ruptured...

the pain is receding...

and now it is time for some more healing.

Thanks to my two sisters...

(one by origin and the other by choice)

I am finding my way back.

I'm laughing more...

I'm listening to more music...

I'm going to bed earlier...

getting up earlier...

and I am finding my voice again!

I also made 5 new wash rags and 4 new swiffer pads...

Then put them to good use!

I even have a NEW project...

Sanity on a Scain

On another good note...

Phoenix's original leg wound is almost completely healed and we are going to start working him again this week.

If all goes well, I think we might be able to turn him back out by the end of the week.

New Sport Boots

This isn't bubble wrap, but...

he can wear these out in the pasture.

Hopefully they will help keep Phoenix out of trouble for a little while.

I sure sure hope so!

My Little Indigo

A doodle by Mary Elizabeth

The four universal healing salves.

"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of the four questions.

When did you stop DANCING?

When did you stop SINGING?

When did you stop being ENCHANTED BY STORIES?

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of SILENCE?

Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.

Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves."

~ The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Healer, Teacher and Visionary

Coming of Age

2013-08-23T08:11:00.001-07:00

Creepy McCrawly

Micrathena Sagittata

(Arrowhead Micrathena)

I have a confession...

I am not a big fan of spiders!

However I couldn't resist getting a close up of this creepy fella...

or gal?

I've never seen anything like this before.

And there it was...

right out my front door.

Eeek!

This summer feels like it has just blown by.

I didn't get much of anything

"Creative"

done at all.

However, I did manage to make several dozen Sparkleicious Headbands

Any money made from these guys go straight towards all things Softball.

Equipment, Pitching Lessons, Travel Expenses, Apparel etc.

This was one of Mary's brilliant ideas.

And she hasn't done to badly,

at $5 a pop.

We have a few different color combinations to make and then I will be adding them to my

Etsy shop.

Family Time

Even thought it was a quick drive by...

it was great to see my little brother and my

Beautiful Niece.

I hate that we only get to see her a few days out of the year now that she lives over there on the left coast.
I had such high hopes that these girls would have spent weeks together this summer.
Unfortunately life doesn't always work out the way you want it to.
It has many unexpected twists and turns.

These girls are growing up so fast.
I can't believe that they are
TEENAGERS

I have been having some of my own growing pains with this new coming of age.
Mary went to her first
"Teen-Nite"
while her cousin was here.
And I have allowed her to go twice more since then.

Ugh...
I know that talking and giggling about boys is all par for the course at this age.
I just don't know that I am ready for what comes along with all this.

"Oh my gosh, he's looking at me..."
"He is coming this way!"
"Is he going to talk to me or ask me to dance?"

It hasn't been so long...
that I don't remember all that excitement.

Unfortunately that's not the part that sends chills up my spine.
It's the part that comes after the innocent boy crazy phase.
It is when these young ladies start interpreting what they think boys "like"
and start to explore
"how to get a boy interested"
and
what BEAUTY is.

I worry about the time when they start looking more to their peers for input than that of their parents.
And the time when I have to let go and pray that I have done enough to keep her steering in the right direction.

My beautiful
Pomegranate Tree...

This summer is the first time that it has produced any blossoms or fruit.

The first fruit dried up and fell off.
But now it has 3 more fruits and one GIANT bloom.

I have never grown a pomegranate before...
this is a first for me
and I have no idea what to expect.
But I am ready to find out!

With all the buzz about
Back to School
I found myself getting a little more inspired to
CREATE.

A New Top for Mary!

Some ties for my
Dapper Young Nephews!

And I am also getting back to some of my old tricks...
This is the closest I got to cleaning my house yesterday.
I made a new wash rag for the kitchen and
some new cotton swiffer pads.

This seemed so much more enjoyable than scrubbing the floors.

Yesterday was supposed to be a field trip to the Norfolk Zoo.
Unfortunately the folks that Mary was going to go with had to cancel.
But a friend called and we changed plans.
A day at the beach with her...

Gal Pals

squeezing in those last bits of Summer!
One of the perks to homeschooling is...
OUR summer days
can be stretched out just a little bit longer with a lot less crowded beaches.

While all the local kids and parents are pulling their hair out next week trying to get back into a new school routine.
I will be spending time on the beach with my soul sister in Salvo.

I can't wait
to see ya Robin!

I'm ready for a lot of laughter, a few tears and drowning some bait.