We’ve been celebrating Will’s recovery from his heart attack last week. He’s been doing very well and today we went to Duluth for his check-up with the cardiologist and he came through with flying colors. There’s very little damage to his heart and they expect it to heal up well. He’s scheduled for the second stent on March 21st and after that, he should go home the same day and be in much better shape. All set for spring garden and field work! Ha ha. Hey, he could have had the heart attack in the middle of a busy work period, so we’re really glad it happened when it did and was taken care of so well.

Luckily, Will, hard at work is just sitting in his easy chair, entering new seed orders! Not bucking square bales on the hay wagon.

Yesterday, our friends, Mike and Dara, came to help pack seeds and stamp seed packs. One of our Theron’s Winter squashes was getting soft and another just needed to be seeded to reduce the “pile” in the entryway. We got some nice seeds and were awed by the wonderful, thick orange flesh and fragrance. I gave our friends the squash as I would be busy today. Dara was already planning on how she would be cooking it.

Isn’t this Theron’s Winter squash beautiful? It made me want to eat it up, raw.

We’ve still got a Big Max and Howden pumpkin, plus a few Hopi Pale Grey and Sweet Fall squash in the pile, probably hiding a few renegades that have been hidden and I haven’t used yet. What a happy surprise that always is! — Jackie

32 COMMENTS

  2. Thanks for such a positive update on Will, how encouraging with spring just around the corner. Christmas came early yesterday with the prompt delivery of our seed order in veiw of all you have been through since we only mailed it around the 1st. You guys are really organized even under the worst conditions. We can hardly wait to get started with the spring planting!!! Blessings, Bev and Vicki Cothren

    • We know how much our friends (customers) love their seeds and do our best to get them out the day after we receive the order. Also, we sure don’t want to get behind! We’re kind of perfectionists that way. Ha ha!

  3. Beautiful squash! A Thing of Beauty has a new definition in my book now. I grew your Hopi squash last summer and had a pie from it. WOW!! I still have one left that I covet. I saved the seeds from it and having never before grown squash it will now be a favorite discovery. Thank you Jackie :)

    • We sure love our squash! It’s easy to see why Native Peoples grew the Three Sisters; corn, beans and squash. These three are our favorites in the garden but tomatoes come on right behind!

  4. Those squash look amazing! I love squash it is so versatile and tastes so good! Thankful for the good report at Wills checkup. He will be all ready to go when spring arrives. Continued prayers for you both.

    • Yep, we sure love our squash too. Will’s ready to go now. But our weather has been cold and windy so he’s not spending as much time outside as he’d like. Thank you for your prayers!

  5. The snow is off of the garden which makes the yard birds happy. They get to go out and start the process of tilling up the weeds and reducing the number of bugs that I’ll have to deal with this summer. It is a muddy mess though. This morning was below freezing again, but that is only supposed to last a couple days and then it’s back to the mud.
    I’m glad to hear that Will is doing so well. It is important to take it a little easier right now, while things are slow. Later, after the other stent “settles”. he will be busy enough. You’all have a blessed week.

    • Thanks Rita. I love watching the birds in a resting garden. I wonder just how many weed seeds and bugs they eat? I’m thinking millions!!! That’s why we feed them all year around and put up dozens of bird houses. They’re our little winged army!

  6. Great to hear of Will’s good report from the dr. It seems it fit right into your low season if there is such a thing. Take it easy and rest both of you as your busy season is right around the corner. You will be able to get those gardens planted in no time. We don’t have as much snow as you do – it snows then melts. We had a snow storm in lower southern Michigan yesterday. My son found an older garden tractor for $45. Hope it lasts for a few years. He is good at repair if needed. Blessings to you both

    Ruth Ann Martin

    • Thanks Ruth! $45!!! What a buy. Luckily, the physical work right now is less so we’re resting. Kind of. But we’ll both be really glad to get to working outside after our 3′ of snow finally goes away.

  7. Just delighted with your updates
    Glad you’re on the Recovery end
    Of your journey. Will is the patient,
    But you’re such a Team, this is
    Prayers for Both of you.
    Got my “extra” seed order delivered
    Already. Just feels like Food Security
    In this changing world we live in.
    Seeing various empty shelves at
    The grocery doesn’t feel so
    Unsettling when Seed Treasures
    Has my back. Thanks again

    • Seriously, that’s one of our “missions in life”, trying to help folks provide food for their families and save seeds so they are more independent. No matter what comes down the pike. Thank you for your prayers!

  8. Glad to hear the checkup went well and that things are progressing as planned. Good luck with cardiac rehab..Hope the weather cooperates and you can go to wherever it is.

    • We were really happy with the checkup. Will’s not enthusiastic with cardiac rehab as he still is active; carrying in firewood, hauling hay, feeding and watering livestock, etc. But he’s going to go along and perhaps it will help him in the long run.

      • I think Dad felt the same way re: rehab. Husband rode along with him to rehab (ability to drive was really important to Dad but in the event he wasn’t up to the drive home, husband was there). Except for hydration (which Dad got the message the hard way a few years later), I think rehab reinforced good habits. Not that Dad (or Will likely) needed/need it. If nothing else, the realization that others are in much less better shape.
        So I see Mittens is doing her job – what is new with Buffy?

  9. I’m just so grateful that his heart attack caused so minimal damage and that his blockages could be remedied so he will go on in even better shape. Not everyone is so lucky, we well know.

  10. Great news!!! Get Will back in shape before planting starts. Spring is right around the corner. I think you can predict spring by the skunks. They are out in full force here in southeast Ohio.

    • Yep, he’s scheduled for some cardiac rehab next week but, truthfully, I think he gets enough cardio around here. Wow, you have skunks?? Ours are still hibernating under 3′ of snow! (Who’d think I would be jealous about skunks?)

      • Well I guess mating season in N. MN isn’t quite what it is farther south. So far (fingers crossed) we haven’t been the beneficiary of the aromatic smell of “love” in the air. I must admit the coyotes have been quite vocal and out in full force. *Perhaps* the coyotes have taken one (or two) for the team?

        • Our wolves are breeding. All of a sudden, you start to see LOTS of wolf tracks on the driveway and a yellow pee spot every few feet. Yep, love is in the air.

  11. So glad Will is better. You are both in my prayers. Tell Will to “milk” this heart thing for all it is worth. Ha, ha.

    • Yeah, sure. Just what I want; a couch potato that feels sorry for himself. Truthfully, I’m so glad he’s doing better.

  13. Soo happy to hear that Will is doing well .yes the timing was good if there is such a thing .spring would have been not so good..I am in the Phoenix area and just put in some of my garden..the weather is crazy again this year hot and cold and no rain ..

    • I sure hope your weather straightens out. It’s so nice to hear you’re starting to garden. It makes our spring seem so much closer despite the near-blizzard we’re getting today.

  14. Very happy for Will. Each day is a gift. You did all the right things. Slow and steady wins the race. I’m looking forward to spring and new beginnings.

    • We are too, Everett. And boy do we appreciate every day even more today than, say, a month ago! Come on spring!

  15. Glad to hear all went well with the follow up visit. Second stent surgery should go well – I know Dad’s did. He had to wait a bit longer than Will for his second stent surgery but Will is younger. Will’s “round one” event was also less intensive than Dad’s.
    Yes, “off season” timing of said cardiac event is nice and hoping good weather during your travels to the hospital/check-ups. Situation is stressful enough with Mother Nature adding her two cents.
    While I don’t mind 4 seasons, I’ll be happy to get out in the garden/woods again.

    • We will also be very happy to get outside again. This below zero business is getting old. Will is feeling fine and itching to get doing.

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