Karen & Jeffrey 2023
Garden Secrets
Hello all!
My new name is “Karen’s Farm” (see photo above). I have been upgraded, not only in name, but also in appearance, so it’s my “thyme” to tell the news!
Do you know why you should never tell secrets in a garden?
Because the potatoes have eyes, the corn has ears, and the beanstalk!
Karen, after seeing the devastation the deer created in me with the old deer fencing, decided to put a permanent fence around me so I am much better protected and Jeffrey, bless his heart, gave me my new name and sign this fall! Karen can’t wait to come back in the winter to see how my new fencing is holding up!
What do you call an angry carrot? A steamed veggie.
Karen spent the winter in MD, teaching Ageless Grace® in Greenbelt and having a blast. She loved being back in-person teaching. Her classes continued all year long; in-person & virtually for the winter; virtually the rest of the year. For spring and fall, students participated in-person at the Greenbelt Recreation Department and Karen taught over Zoom since she was with me in Rensselaerville. The summer’s classes were exclusively on Zoom.
Karen came up for a week in February and was able to go to Dance Flurry for one day. She was going to go for the whole weekend in 2024 but Erin Haseley is getting married that weekend, so she’ll find another thyme to come visit me.
I personally love to put parsley in my soups. It’s soup herb!
In April/May my new fencing and gate got installed. Karen had a great thyme prepping the garden, putting in compost (Thanks Jim and Dianna!) and planning what was to be planted. She started tomatoes, squash, kale, and some herbs in the house but waited until end of May to direct sew some seeds and transplant the ones that had germinated indoors.
Unfortunately, she learned in May she had cancer under her tongue. She had to go back and forth to MD many times for treatment and follow ups. The cancer was completely removed and all is good now, though part of her tongue is still a bit numb, but it is improving.
What did the black pepper say after coming out of the grinder?
Don’t worry. I’m fine.
Karen loves drinking her coffee on the porch each morning and keeping an eye out for me and the flower garden. The hummingbirds love visiting me, as well as the butterflies and bees, particularly thanks to the pollinator gardens Karen planted in my corners! (Thanks Annie for the seeds!)
What flowers can be found between the nose and chin? Tulips (two lips)
Marghi visited twice this summer, in June and in October. Marghi loves coming to visit me too; I think kale is her favorite! And celery (first thyme growing this year). The weather was not very cooperative for me this year – June was very dry and the rest of the summer, very wet, so my plants were not as bountiful as in the past. Tomatoes had a difficult thyme!
I used to have a job cutting vegetables all day. It was hard but the celery was good.
Why are all the other vegetables afraid of celery? Because celery stalks!
A cabbage and a tomato were in a race, who won?
Well, the cabbage was a head, but the tomato did ketchup and then win!
Many visitors came to Rensselaerville this year including about 150 people for MillerFest. Lynne came four times bringing different New Bern friends three times. Sue and Stuart came often; and put on the the church luncheon and helped and participated in the Hilltown Hoedown Community Dance. The dance was held in Janet’s memory and benefitted the Rensselaerville Historical Society. About 200 people attended this dance and a great time was had by all.
Every Wednesday, when she’s here, Karen goes to the Grist Mill to volunteer at the Historical Society. She helps with their fund raisers, the website, and anything else that needs doing. She’s made great friends with the other volunteers.
Karen got baptized in September at the Presbyterian Church. She’s always loved the church and its community and now she’s an official member. Sue, as the session clerk, was part of the ceremony.
Other 2023 trips included volunteering at the Craven Cancer Classic in October; Thanksgiving & Christmas in New Bern, NC; going to Great Falls, MD; Poughkeepsie, NY with Marghi; and New Hartford, NY for Easter.
Mo did get the chance to come visit me, too, but before all the plants had germinated. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of me! Hopefully she’ll come visit more in 2024.
What do you call a pea that rolls off your plate and under the table?
An escape-pea for Mo to play with!
That just about sums up the news for Karen, Mo and Karen’s Farm. We all wish you the happiest of holidays and a blessed New Year. Please remember to water, prune and feed all your plants, pets and people to keep them happy and healthy for the next 12 months!
