Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

garden

Feeding Time

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Pear Tree in Bloom
Pear Tree in Bloom

This is the time of year when garden tasks are more of the geeky variety. I’m testing soils and making up batches of fertilizer for each of my garden beds. Some need a lot, some just a little. It’s feeding time. It’s a time of listening…to what the garden needs, to Mother Nature’s whims of rain or sun, and to my own energy levels as I reconnect with “spring muscles.”

I didn’t always understand the importance of this time. A relatively new gardener, I wanted the showy plants but didn’t like taking the time to feed the ground.

Yet when the ground is properly fed and composted, the plants grow better, it’s easier for the beds to retain moisture in the dry season, and the food I harvest is healthier. By taking time to test the soil and give each bed the foundation it needs, I will have greater abundance in the end.

Beds waiting for food!
Beds waiting for food!

I’m taking the same approach to my writing. Today is the official release date for What She Knew (though I had to make it live sooner to do a Goodreads giveaway). For months I have worked behind the scenes, getting industry reviews, setting up advertising, etc. Soon the blog tour will begin. I didn’t do this with the last novel. Hopefully with this one I will find a way above the noise and find some readers…but in any event, I have fed the soil, and the results are starting to bear fruit.

Hyacinths: blink and you miss the flowers.
Hyacinths: blink and you miss the flowers.

Here’s to spring and to feeding time!

The Goodreads giveaway for What She Knew goes on until April 1, so it’s not too late to sign up! Also, to celebrate the paperback release of What She Knew, I’m offering the Kindle version FREE through April 1!

A to Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal!

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Good morning, everyone! This year I venture into new territory: my first-ever Blogging from A to Z. Thanks to all the great folks over at the Insecure Writers Support Group for their guidance as I navigate these new waters.

Today’s the day we reveal our themes for the month! And mine is…drumroll, please…

atoz-theme-reveal-2015 Dishing the Dirt: My Gardening Life

After all, it’s springtime, so that means I’m outside. We live on a double lot that is almost entirely garden space. We dug up most of the grass a few years ago so I wouldn’t have to nag my husband to mow. Last week we installed a new front yard fence so I can continue working on my “food forest” concept without having the local deer munch everything to ruins before it can grow.

Gardening makes me more peaceful (no small feat) and reflective of the rest of my life. I’ve only gardened for five years now, so I still have a lot to learn, but the garden teaches me…and it’s fun!

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge begins Wednesday, April 1. You’re welcome to join us, too! It’s not too late.

All of these blogs will be participating in the Challenge, too! I’m still getting to know a lot of these blogs, but there’s some great material in this group, and I’m looking forward to reading what everyone has to say.

See you April 1!

 

The Autumn Garden

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We returned home from New York in the dark Sunday night, so I couldn’t see my yard. From the streetlight I could tell that my fruit trees still had leaves, but that was all I knew. Monday morning I started my grocery shopping list, so I took a tour of the back yard to see what food I could gather there. Only the hardy kale volunteered, though some cold-weather lettuces are getting close to ready. The strawberry plants are full and lush, though few berries remain. The zucchini has finished its run, and a single delicata squash provided a feast for a slug because we weren’t here to harvest it first. My first attempt at growing pumpkins was a failure. I make a note to take some soil samples to see if I can learn why. The rest is mostly cover crop, planted to nourish the soil and prevent erosion in the coming winter months.

Our massive fig tree went from a full crop of leaves to nothing in the two weeks we were gone, and the strong autumn maritime winds make it seem to shiver in its nakedness.

I find myself feeling startled. When I left, autumn was teasing us, but now she has taken over. I guess spending 18 days away will do that.

Inside, I shift gears to indoor projects. I have surrounded myself with stacks of manuscripts that need my attention. On the floor to my right is a pile of books about writing and permaculture. My iPad is stacked with novels waiting for me to explore them. In front of me are knitted pieces of a future bedspread, and I’m digging through the house in search of a cutting mat for a quilt kit that has gathered dust for too long. I hand hubby a pile of papers that need to be sorted through and scanned. You know there’s too much clutter when the stack of paper covers up a big chocolate bar!

After 30 years of living in Houston, where the seasons were hot, hotter, and a few days of bitter cold where the leaves just fell off all at once without changing color, I still feel a sense of wonder about being in a place where each season has its distinct flavor. I settle in. I plan my projects. I grab a comforter and a cup of tea.

Random 5 Friday: Farms, Fiber, Food!

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Spider Condos!
Spider Condos!

Thanks to Nancy at A Rural Journal, I’m connecting up with some great bloggers for the Random 5 Friday!

Here’s my list for the week:

  1. At last, my roma tomatoes arrive on Saturday morning, so Monday is designated canning day! Though I’ve had a banner year growing tomatoes on my deck, we eat them like candy no matter how many I pick, so I need a little help from a nearby farm to keep me in pasta sauce for the winter.
  2. This weekend is the annual Fiber & Farm Tour. Last year we had visitors, so we just saw a few farms, but this year we’re making the rounds! I’m hoping to get some garden ideas, compost, and great food. Hubby plans to buy an Icelandic sheep fleece so that he can sit comfortably out on the deck in the cold weather…last year he saw one but didn’t buy it, and this year he refuses to miss out! We love our local farms and are excited about immersing ourselves in them this weekend.
  3. I make my own shampoo and other personal care products. This morning I made a new batch as well as some moisturizer. I get my recipes from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles. This is another great way to re-use containers and avoid some of the many toxic ingredients in the store-bought stuff.
  4. The spiders have been busy again, as you can see by the photograph. Looks like a spider condo to me!
  5. My stepdaughter is now a Dog Mom courtesy of a recent animal rescue effort. Like all new moms, she’s sleep-deprived, as little Mason has kennel cough. I guess that makes me a grandma! I’ll take whatever I can get. Many thanks to all of those in the Staten Island area who rescued and are caring for these animals.

As you can see below, hubby is happy to deliver produce by bicycle. Yesterday he came home with two giant zucchinis.

Have a great weekend!

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Who Knew? The Joys of Post-50 Life

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When I was a kid, many of the adults told me that I was living the best years of my life. My response was, “I sincerely hope not.” Fortunately, I was right. In my experience, my teens and twenties were the low spot, with each subsequent decade more interesting and enjoyable than the last. The 50s, so far, are the best. I say that in spite of hot flashes and the Second Coming of Zits. Yes, every now and then I feel a little creaky, and some nights I don’t sleep so well. Still, here are some of the ways life has changed in the past four or so years:

  1. Surprise, Surprise! Those of you who read my blog and my endless blathering about my garden may not realize that I never got my hands in the dirt until I was 51. I had no idea how much I would fall in love with my garden. Knowing that new passions are always available, no matter what the age, is priceless.
  2. Self-Acceptance Trumps Self-Improvement. The funny thing is, when I stopped pressuring myself to do and be more, it just started to happen. Improvement is fine, but it’s not the goal. I wish I had learned this lesson when I was younger. I would have saved a lot of money on personal growth workshops. Of course, sometimes I still lapse into old habits! I am learning to accept that, too.
  3. Better Yin and Yang Balance. We live in a great little town with lots of nice people that I’m enjoying getting to know better. Friendships are developing, and I’m feeling less “rusty” with my social skills. I’m even starting to give parties, something I never thought I would do. Still, I keep an eye on my schedule to make sure I have enough alone time. August has been a people-filled month, so we’ve scheduled some time away in a few weeks. I’m going to the spa!
  4. Giving Back is Fun. In my younger years, financial problems made it difficult for me to make ends meet, let alone share with others. Without that burden, I am more involved in the community, sharing both funds and time. I’ve learned skills over the years that are needed and appreciated, and it’s a joy to have the freedom to share them.
  5. Process, Not Product. While I’m still a Type A personality, my edges are softening. While I still would like to earn at least a modest living as a writer, I’m content to enjoy the process of writing and honing my skills. I’m not pushing myself to finish books quickly anymore…I go at my own pace, and I’m just happy when I solve a plot problem or come up with a better way to bring what’s in my head to the page.

What’s your favorite decade so far?

Friday Random 5

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How did it get to be Friday already? Specifically, mid-afternoon on a Friday here in the Pacific Northwest (later for many of you). Thanks to Nancy at A Rural Journal, though, I can offer my Random 5. I’m hoping to be back to a regular blogging routine by September. Have a great weekend!

  1. I have a superpower. It’s the incredible ability to ignore commercials. Hubby will look at me, incensed about some advertisement, and my response is usually, “Huh?” I have no idea what he’s talking about because I shut off my attention. What’s your superpower?
  2. The last few weeks, I’ve been tied up working on the programs for two different theatrical productions. Normally I volunteer on Tuesdays, but I’ve had to put in some long hours lately. Writing material, I can do. Layouts, not so much, though I’m giving it the old college try. Fortunately, this is temporary, as a new person starts September 1, so I get my regular routine back starting…now.
  3. This week I took an exciting next step in my gardening career: I had enough produce to give some away. It wasn’t much, just some plums and tomatoes, but it felt really good.
  4. We’ve had gloom and mist in the mornings all week long. Last night the top of the ferry glided through a cloud, and it looked like a submarine. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it in time to get a good photo, but it was way cool. Trust me. The locals call this month Fogust, and rightly so.
  5. We had our first real party on our deck this past week. Some folks from the neighborhood came over, and we had a great time. Next up: the cast party for Much Ado About Nothing on August 18! I’ve never done much entertaining before, so this is a new adventure for me.