הַיֹּם

Sitting here at my desk, I feel so peaceful, watching the rain fall outside and water my veggies, including my recently planted Black Cherry tomatoes and Dill (planted those seeds only an hour ago). A friend recently said to me that it was amazing that I was growing enough food to feed myself regularly.

    On a certain level, that is true. It doesn't take much to keep my tummy satisfied. I told her I mostly eat leaves. I make a base pasta or potatoes and add garden greens and onions, garlic, tomato etc. to the dish. I grow carrots (mostly for their greens), as well as red and green chard. There are other things in my edible garden, of course. For instance, my 2 plums are currently ripening nicely. My potatoes, cucumbers, Chayamansa, fennel, Yacon, Borage and Calendulas are all producing very well. Some are still in the early stages of growth though, so not everything is available to put on the table all at once.

    I am very blessed that HaShem has allowed me to develop green fingers in my later years. I counted 32 edible plants in my garden jus the other day.

My main source of protein is eggs and cheese, with fish added on Shabbat. I drink herbal tea daily from my garden subjects. Mainly Thistle. And Borage, when I can find flowers. Although Thistle is considered a weed, it has marvelous medicinal properties, actually repairing the liver.

    

    Another blessing is my mom. She has recovered enough to have been moved from hospital to a step-down facility where she will practice using her legs again after such a long time of inactivity. Hopefully it will only be a week or two before she is back home at Fairlands. She is very eager to return.

    When I saw her this afternoon, she was doing well, and even grabbed her lipstick and put some on - without a mirror - and it was perfect. I guess by the age of 83, a lady has had enough practice!

    

    In our Rambam's Mishneh Torah classes, we've now reached the 1st book of the 14 he wrote - and it is much more intense than the introduction and the listing of the commandments. We only managed one 32-minute video before our minds were saturated. We will keep at it and eventually all the half-hours will add up. With God's help, we will take what we can cope with from the lessons and come back for the rest later - unless Messiah returns before that!

    It was raining so much today that I couldn't even walk to our local Spar to buy my weekly groceries at my pensioner's discount. I managed to get them delivered though, but without the 10% off. Baruch HaShem for the way He meets my needs so completely.

     The cleaners also came today for the once-in-eight-weeks clean. It's so nice to have everything sparkling. My landlady has also very kindly allowed her domestic lady to give my carpets a quick vacuum every Friday afternoon so my floors are always clean for Shabbat. I have no house cleaning equipment and my back and legs no longer allow me to bend or sweep or lift, so I need to rely on others to help me keep my corner clean. I am very grateful that He gave me such affordable cleaners. 

    I saw something on FaceBook the other day where a friend basically said she's at the stage of her life where she doesn't need to go out at night or even go out of the house! It was supposed to be funny, but I can relate. I am very happy in my beautiful little home, up 17 wooden stairs, near the river, surrounded by birds and trees - no-one knows I'm here unless I want them to know, and I feel very safe. It feels as if HaShem has hidden me here - and that makes me very happy and content. My landlord said today that he had had a crazy day - explaining why he hadn't done the repair work he said he would - and I felt so relieved that I don't have to go through those kind of days anymore - unless I want to (which I don't!).

    My beloved grandson experienced his first day of Grade 4 today - Baruch HaShem that he had a good day, Mainly because they did no work and had no homework, he said! May the rest of his year be just as wonderful, even when they start working! His new teacher's name is Mrs Smith - the same name his great-grandmother - my mother - has!

    Some friends and I are joining up to watch a video shortly - and that is how I will end my day.

May your day - and all your days - end as beautifully as mine did today. Layla tov!