Greenjeans Farm

“Happiness isn’t having what you want, but wanting what you have.” This is our family motto.These words are in a frame in my kitchen above my stove and have been since my children were toddlers reminding me and them to be happy every day for the people and things that bless and add to our lives.

In the summer months it seems like I spend my days in the kitchen.Cutting, Chopping, Canning, freezing, drying, sweating, more canning.My husband Jeff harvests and drops baskets in the kitchen and putting it up is my responsibility.There are times when I wilt to the floor when a new basket hits the door, but I have that farmer mentality; “do it now, it’s ripe, it’s at it’s peak, what else could I possibly do with a tomato, basil, corn, a cabbage?”Later on in December and January I thank myself for doing something with that tomato, basil, corn, cabbage.We make the best Marinara on the west coast! And Jeff makes the best spaghetti ever!And then he makes Chicken with the sauce!And there is nothing like homemade red or green tomato catsup or relish. And then I have my friend Barbara call me to let me know that her sourdough starter is ready and she wants to share!Good I’m doing spaghetti on Sunday!Another neighbor has a bottle of wine, and another wants to do sausage! Another has Abolone that she wants to trade for beets!(go figure)I am famous for cherry and peach wine!Tastes great on a January night in front of a fire!These are the things your life is made of.It’s the cookies at Christmas and the caramel apples at Halloween.These are the things you take to your grave!

Some of the happiest moments come in the most odd times and carry you through your day if you open yourself up to the world around you.It can be as simple as getting up before sunrise, grabbing a cup of coffee and listening to the frogs and crickets and then as the sun starts to come over the hills the birds and roosters and cow symphony.A flash of a smile from a teenager that “used to be your baby”.How rare!Having a real baby wave at you in the grocery store, then turning down another aisle and having an old woman wave at you from the motorized cart and ask for some help grabbing some garlic! How could a life be better?

All I’m saying is live in the moment you are in.It is a whole lot better than regrets or what if’s.No worries about what you want because it will happen if you live in your moment.