It’s the beginning of February in Phoenix, Arizona and the weather this weekend has been amazing with high’s in the high 60’s/low 70’s. The perfect time to embark on a dream that I’ve had for many many years - growing my own food/starting a garden.
Over the years, we just haven’t felt quite ready to accomplish this for one reason or another. Plus, over the years my husband and I have had different ideas and goals on the topic. So it just hadn’t ever come to fruition. On Friday, I was at work when I realized my husband got home early. And to be completely honest a teeny weeny bit annoyed as my mind got negative and I was thinking ‘ugh, he’s probably just relaxing and enjoying his Friday afternoon to himself’. (I know, very lame of me. But hear me out) While our amazing daughter was giving a very short presentation/speech in front of her entire school at an assembly. Mind you, she is not a public speaker. She has never been the one to enjoy being the center of attention with large groups of people (she has not problem being the center of attention at all times in a more intimate setting - haha). So this was kind of a big deal. And she volunteered to do the part at that. So I was and am very proud of her for this and was super bummed I’d be working instead of sitting front and center to cheer her on. So when I found out my wonderful husband was home instead of being at the school supporting our daughter I was a bit annoyed. I chose to wait until I was home to say anything about it as I knew how bitchy it could come across if I sent a text ‘why aren’t you at the school?’ Well, I got home to find out he had been out and about gathering all things needed to build my dream raised garden bed. Which is something I obviously had no idea he was doing or even thinking of doing on this particular day. And this is only one of millions of reason my husband is the most amazing.
So, now that I’ve digressed a bit, yesterday we built this garden bed of my dreams. And today we are getting the irrigation set up and filling it with all the good things needed for a flourishing edible garden. I’ve always been a bit overwhelmed and paralyzed by the over analysis when thinking about gardening as I don’t have a green thumb and don’t really know the first thing about growing food. But with a little practice on indoor plants and some research I am so excited!! I’m excited to plant the seeds in the nutrient dense soil. I’m excited to feel that souls in between my fingers. I’m excited to see those little seeds blossom into little tiny plants. I’m excited to spend more time outside nurturing these little plants while my kiddos play in the yard. Being outside in the Arizona sun is one of the best things in life.
Which is one reason I went on a hike this morning. So I’ve been going on these little mini hikes lately. Like a mile. Usually takes me about 20 minutes to get up the mountain and back down again. The first couple of times I had an issue with my blood sugar crashing as soon as I got back down the mountain. Thankfully I had some lemonade in the car and my family with me in case I needed help with anything. But all was good as soon as my sugar came up. I’m still in the very early stages of figuring out my new body and how it reacts to any sort of exercise. But it feels so good to be getting back to being active and enjoying the outdoors the way I’m used to. Which is why I was super stoked that I completed a 4 mile hike today. I had diluted Gatorade in my water bottle to prevent the sugar drop. And I ate a good meal right before going with a good ratio of protein, fat, and carbs.
So here we are, 2 weeks shy of a year post prophylactic total gastrectomy and Life. Is. Good.
