Finding some calm in the Zucchini patch...

There is one thing I have always been very good at and that is self diagnosing myself.  When I am down I can recognize my "funk" and pull myself out of it.  When I am angry I need to rant, sometimes for a few days (to my family's dismay) to get it out and figure out a situation and fix it.  When I am stressed I tell myself to step back and chill. (it doesn't always work but I do tell myself that)  One thing I have recognized is that my life has gotten way too busy.  Mom and I have created a successful business quite by wonderful accident.  In 2010 Mom asked me if I thought anyone in the area would like to learn how to rug hook.  So, she had me draw up some beginner patterns and a business was born.  I think you all know our story by now....it not, check out my website, www.theoldtatteredflag.com and you'll see what we're all about.  For the past 2-3 years I have felt like it was becoming a bit of a monster.  Don't get me wrong, I love every minute of what I do, however, when you look forward to getting away to fold that mountain of laundry that has been piled in your room for days you realize that you may need to shift gears.  

I need to STOP and literally smell the roses....or flowers in my own yard.....

Life had become so busy that I wasn't taking pictures anymore, or writing on my blog like I use to.

I use to stop dead in my tracks when I saw a busy little bee tucked in the flowers and snap a photo.

And I had forgotten just how magnificent that plain white flower actually was on it's own.

Before I knew it it was mid-August and the bittersweet berries were popping...

The black eyed susan's were starting to look a little tired....yet still beautiful.

Even Max knows how to take the time to stop and smell the "roses".

Mom and I decided to make some small changes to our business hours....changes that most won't even notice but that will allow us to get creative again, not just in our business but with our personal lives.  Changes that will allow us to maybe knock off work a little early so we can enjoy the beauty in our own yard.

We always say that in our next life we want to come back as one of our dogs.

Baxter certainly knows how to relax.

So, you may ask how I got to "finding some calm in the zucchini patch"?  I was in my office the other day, at the end of the day, and my husband was doing yard work.  I asked him if he'd like some help....sure I'll mow.  I love to mow...I love the smell of fresh cut grass and I get some of my best thinking done on the lawn mower.  So, I was mowing and lo and behold, 2 giant zucchini peeked out at me.  Little did I know that Mom had plunked a zucchini plant along the fence line.  So, I picked them and planned my Sunday.  I love Sunday!  I've talked about it before.  It's the day of the week I can take my time with a soup, baked good or a well thought out meal for my family, instead of a quick throw together.  I can "putter around" the house, re-arrange things, fold that mountain of laundry and actually take the time to put things away and even write on my blog.  

When I was a teenager, my friend Kelley's mother made the most delicious Cream of Zucchini soup so that was first on my list.

I don't really use recipes for soups.....though I did briefly glance at one.  I sautéed some onions, added 6 cups of shredded zucchini, water, parsley, S&P, chicken stock, boiled it down, then pureed it.  Made a roux with butter and flower, added 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of half and half. It was a bit thick so I added more chicken stock, about another cup.  

Usually with soup it's better the second day, but this one was so good right away that we had it for lunch.  Thankfully I made a double batch so there is plenty left over.
 

Then it was on to Zucchini bread.  Plain old Zucchini bread!  No chocolate chips, no banana.....ok, maybe a little cinnamon sugar in between the layers.

So, I am a big believer in signs.  To me those zucchini's were telling me what I already knew.  Stop working so much and enjoy life.  If I had not hopped on that lawn mower I would not have seen those zucchini's and they may have rotted away.  Sometimes as women I think we take on so much....we don't say "no"......we are all about pleasing others so much that it can be a detriment to our own well being.  I know myself well, and I know when I need to stop and smell the zucchini bread.  Have a wonderful Sunday everyone and as usual,

Until next time......