In and Out

Oh I'm a lucky man
To count on both hands
The ones I love

Indeed

Dusty & Rusty

I just went to the Free Library-which wasn't very free, I had to pay off some late fines, sheesh! Anyway, I saw a book there by an author named "Dusty Bunker." I just had to check it out, I felt a special connection to her.

See, you might not find that very amusing or interesting if you didn't already know that I sometimes roll with the handle "Rusty Plyers." I gave it a little British flair to throw the gawkers further off my trail.

I don't use the alias for any malicious intent, just social network sites, tables for two and the like. I'm just a little shy you see. Depending on the level of informality, I sometimes roll with "Donnie." Just ask my nephews William and Charles. They are whip smart, I only had to ask them once to use Donnie in public if there were strangers within earshot, and never had to remind them. Silly me, I was surprised when they whipped it out at the University of Pennsylvania bookstore. "Donnie, Donnie, Uncle Donnie, let's go!"

Let's go.

He Who Forgets

Somewhere, in the hinterlands of South Georgia, a lonely man, father of five (four if you like), cries in his backyard, alone with his hedge. His phone does not dial out.

Somewhere in Kesington, on a dreary Fathers' Day, a childless husband, leans on his cart, laments his feeling abandoned, betrayed. His phone does not dial out.

See the cat? See the cradle?

The Pedal Brake That You Depended On

So, back to the Fruits. I don't know really. I feel so bad lately. I came home from work and lid down for a nap at 3:45. Sarah woke me up at 10:15, asking me to let her in bed. So odd, why couldn't she get in bed? Why was I sprawled like that? Why was it dark? I went back to sleep and woke up around 8 am. I guess the past couple of weeks finally caught up with me. My body aches and I just can't rustle up the gumption to do anything.

And I'm supposed to think about this? I am supposed to think about how I can be more loving? I asked Sarah last week about that, what being loving meat to her. In reply she stated that a way to love her more would be to take care of myself. Gee Whiz! Tall order there girl.

Well, I'll end like this:

That is my beautiful wife, Sarah, to the right, and our beautiful friend Mariko, to the left at some outside food function. One, I forgot to ask Mariko about that beautiful dress-shirt she is wearing (its origin and whatnot). Two, Sarah smiling at an outdoor food function.

The Fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19-23, New International Version)

Not a real whack at LOVE, we'll try again later. I have some Ideas they are just mired in upheaval and tumult at the moment.

Sayonara Dora

Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables

My little brother Tariq brought the "fruit" up on Sunday. He kind of jogged my memory about it. I mentioned , the fruit of the Spirit yesterday in reference to Stephanie. Thinking about it reminded me that trying to live out the fruit is probably a pretty good way to live. It could be thought of as a code even.

"Not many people got a code to live by anymore."

Sorry, I just had to. Anyway, I want to try to apply the Fruits of the Spirit to my life. I think it could be good. It might make me a better husband, employee, drummer, whatever. While in Georgia last week, Stanette mentioned that there were many qualities about Stephanie that she liked. I think these qualities may result from living out the Fruits of the Spirit every day.

But first off, I have to call them the "Fruits of the Spirit." There are nine (plural) of them, maybe they should all be one-a unit even, but naw, it sounds better.

So, what are the Fruits of the Spirit?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19-23, New International Version)

That is really only verses 22 and 23, but check out 19-21. It's pretty clear about what is not "fruitful" behavior. Hey man, you gotta be cooler than that. I am going to try to go through the fruits one at a time, think about how I currently live each fruit, and how I might live them a little better. Maybe I'll just talk about songs or old sitcoms that make me think about the fruits. I might even get kooky and mystical, talking about nine-pointed stars and the like, who knows.

Here they are again: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

One more picture for you; check out "joy," what is that a fried egg white? What about kindness? Haacha. Faithfulness looks like a pair of wax lips.

Feel well.

Set Your Mind

Hey, I want to introduce you to another sister of mine; her name is Stephanie. She is a really dynamite individual, and has touched a lot of people's lives, mine included. She is a very loving person, despite all of the tumult and strife she endured for a large portion of her life. Her faith in God has been at the center of her life for as long as I can remember. She does well living out the "fruit of the Spirit." She is also very funny and witty.

Stephanie is asleep right now, in a diprovan-induced sleep, and is being made to breathe with a ventilator. She is a very sick girl, but she looks very peaceful and restful. Her skin is as beautiful as ever, smooth, radiant and milky. She has been asleep June 9th. I was able to spend five days with her before the doctors decided to induce sleep. She was in a great deal of pain and discomfort all of those days, barely slept, and when she did, it was restless.

I hope and pray for her to recover from her maladies, but it is thought to be a long, long road. Please keep Stephanie in your thoughts and prayers, or when you are looking up, smelling flowers or whatever you do to generate positivity.

This bracelet belongs to Stephanie. She doesn't know I have it. I put it on the day she had her last surgery (when they decided to put her under). I was going to wear it until I see her healthy, or she asks me to return it.

Here is a picture of some of the things she is growing. While I was visiting, I was able to use some of her fresh basil in some beet salad and some parsley in a Lima bean salad I made.

Stephanie's mind is often set on "things above." Her mind is also often on the needs, desires and feelings of others. Even while she lay in a hospital bed, grimacing in pain, she managed to remain polite and thoughtful.

CSA # 3 5/28/2009

Wow, the CSA haul was very substantial this week. I think we have a green for every day of the week, if you count radish and beet greens, and of course you do. I tested the strawberries and all the greens, including the two leaves coming off the broccoli. They were all ding dang delicious. The greens taste so robust and savory. I can't get over it.

Here are Mariko and Owen. We walk together to pick up our csa's each week. Owen is a really interesting guy.

Here is the haul.

You will find the following items in your share: 1 head broccoli – certified organic – Farmdale Organics 1 bunch baby beets – certified organic – Pleasant Valley Farm 1 bunch purple radishes – certified organic – Country Boy Farm 1 bunch Lacinato (or dinosaur) Kale– certified organic – Goshen View Organics 1 bunch tatsoi – certified organic – Hillside Organics 1 bag wildfire lettuce mix – certified organic – Farmdale Organics – 1 lb 1 bag young rainbow chard – certified organic – Elm Tree Organics – ¼ lb 1 head red leaf lettuce – certified organic – Farmdale Organics 1 box Chandler strawberries – certified organic – Goshen View Organics

Those are purple radishes in the middle of this picture; dinosaur kale to the left, rainbow chard to the right.

Pretty.

Here are the baby beets. Notice those spots of red on the table; that is some beet juice that emerged when I pinched of a leaf of the greens, mmmmmm, succulent.

The Future is Now

Can you dig it? My sister Stanette took these pictures of me in the garden, probably on the 25th of April.

This is me, pondering the significance.

This picture was taken on May 15th! Is that crazy or what? That is the bathtub pictured above. In the above pictures, there are only tiny little sprouts.


This is a picture of some Chinese mustard and ruby chard that is growing in the grey square planter pictured above. This photo, and the one below, were taken about three and a half weeks after the pictures Stanette took.


























That is mint (three varieties-one came back as a volunteer from last year) growing in the upper left of this photo. It is the same bed that I am kneeling next to, pondering the significance. Wowee Zowee!

If you are not growing some of your own food, start today. It is fun, exciting and pretty easy! Start small, ask questions and expand every season. Hurry! Well, don't hurry, relax.

I Can Talk to a Goat!

Meet my sister Stanette. She is a lot of fun to be around, as well as very loving and talented. One of her many talents is being able to sleep anywhere. Notice with what ease and grace she catches some z's at Miel patisserie in Philadelphia. She can also talk to a goat!