Flower Essence, LLC and Blue Barn Farm Market

04/08/2024

Under the new federal Biden administration policy, all meat products (and eggs) sold with the "Product of USA" label must now come from animals born, raised, slaughtered, AND processed in the United States.

Ex-President Donald Trump’s administration sided with multinational meatpacking companies over local, family-owned farms. But under President Joe Biden’s administration, those federal policies are changing. MICHIGAN—Farmers know...

03/14/2024

It's a Floyd kind of day.

03/08/2024

Hellebores are in bloom and daffodils are getting ready to bloom!
It's not even the middle of March yet!

02/19/2024

On Sunday, while out for a drive, we saw another Bald Eagle. It was south of Morrice on Morrice Road. I wasn't fast enough to get its picture before it flew off.
🦅

02/14/2024

Today was my 6 week post surgery checkup.

X-rays show that the cage is staying in place.
The cage is a hollow cylinder made of titanium. It is a space holder between affected vertebrae. It holds bone graft (some of my bone and some cadaver bone) that will fuse together and through the cage, eventually becoming part of my spine. It takes 8 months to a year for the fusion to heal completely.

I don't have pain, only pangs of discomfort and soreness. When I lie down for a while it usually relieves most discomfort.

Now I can lift up to 10 pounds, I can do non-extreme bending, and I can ride my tractor avoiding rough terrain. 😁
I won't be able to ride Odie for a few months yet. ☹️
I only need to wear the brace if I'm going to be in crowded situations.
Starting tomorrow I can do most of my routine barn chores and I will start going to physical therapy.

Another checkup in 6 weeks.

01/12/2024

This morning there was a Bald Eagle in the trees behind the house. It flew down and landed on the pond and stayed there long enough to give me plenty of time to watch it through the binoculars.
🦅😁

01/09/2024

Went to surgeon appointment today.
1. I can drive if I feel that my legs are dependable.
2. The incisions are healing really well and the bandages are off.
3. Lifting, bending, twisting restrictions stay in place for 4 more weeks and then start to increase activity gradually but stop whenever it starts to feel uncomfortable.
4. Wear the brace most of the time when standing and active and always when in public for 10-12 more weeks!!!
5. My next appointment is in 4 weeks.

I'm a tough ole girl! By May I plan to be back riding Odie, harnessing and driving Cedar and Willow, seeding flowers and produce, and floristing.

Thank you my friend, Kamie Grant, for being my chauffeur and helper today.

01/05/2024

Update re my spinal surgery.
It was a week ago today. I spent 2 nights in hospital and came home late Saturday afternoon. My daughter and son-in-law, (Holly and Mark) were here and were wonderful help for Leo and me.
During all the Marlene drama, Leo was dealing with a severe Rhuematoid episode for which he finally got some relief yesterday. Thank you to our friend Brian for spending yesterday taking Leo to medical appointments.

The nurse was here today and removed the dressing that covered my lower back - thankfully because it was itchy. She said the 4 incisions across my back are healing well and the new bandages only had to be placed over the incisions.

Pain meds are Oxycodone and Extra Strength Tylenol. I spend a considerable amount of time laying on an ice machine pad. When I'm up I have to wear a brace and walk as much as possible, so I do laps around the kitchen island and around the staircase.
So far I have 2 exercises I have to do for 5 minutes twice a day.
So, that's about it for now.
In comparison to the shoulder replacement surgery I had 3 years ago, the shoulder surgery was a walk in the park. To eliminate the description of my spine as "unstable" will have made this all worth it .
Thank all of you for your concern and support.

12/30/2023

I'm home, lying on the ice machine pad and reviewing the list of a billion restrictions. 👍

12/30/2023

Yesterday I had spinal surgery. The surgery took 4 hours. It was a laminectomy, a spinal fusion, and a third procedure, the name of which I can't remember because I seem to have oxycontin brain fog. If the drain is ready to be removed, I might go home tomorrow wearing a brace and using a walker. Recovery is predicted to be 70% in four months and 100% in a year.

11/14/2023

Eucalyptus growing in my garden.
My Eucalyptus harvest today.

11/11/2023

On this day, honoring all veterans and my dad.
Harold Newman Epley
1919-1984
Army Air Corp: 9 July 1941- 22 October 1945
European Theater including
Normandy and the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp

09/14/2023

They're starting to grow combs.

09/05/2023

I have mosquito bites on top of mosquito bites. This MSU article says the mosquitos I am encouraging are Gallinippers.

Has anybody noticed that there are more than a few mosquitoes out right now?

09/04/2023

09/03/2023

They've been relocated from boxes in the house to the brooder coop.

08/29/2023

To everyone who had flower orders with me this week, the majority of my crop was damaged by the recent tornado winds. I have a lot of lisianthus in the cooler but their longevity has been significantly compromised because the cooler was off for so long.
I tried to call each of you but several voicemail boxes were full so I couldn't leave a message. I will try calling again or please feel free to call me.
Thank you for supporting my small local business.

08/28/2023

Our electricity is on! 😁

08/22/2023

My flower harvesting helper.

08/21/2023

I found this on NewsBreak: Amber Alert issued for missing 2-week-old twin babies abducted by 2 women in Michigan

LIVONIA, MI -- An Amber Alert has been issued after two twin boys were abducted Monday morning by a pair of unidentified Black women. Michigan State...

08/21/2023

Floyd.

08/19/2023

Their growing wings. 🐥

08/17/2023

Here they are in their new box, ravenously eating and drinking, and one is chasing a fly.

08/17/2023

Off to the post office to get a box of baby chicks. 🐣🐤🐥

08/14/2023

This is a basil plant. I am selling these to individuals for $6 each.
The variety is Red Cardinal.
This is the variety that I sell to restaurants. It makes wonderful Peato and works in all kinds of ethnic dishes.

08/13/2023

I think this is a Northern Crescent Butterfly. They are sharing the Echinasia with the Bumblebees.

08/13/2023

I believe this to be a Common Eastern Bumblebee. They are hard at work on my Ecinasha.

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Common-Eastern-Bumblebee

08/13/2023

Hibiscus

08/11/2023

Garden fresh stir fry with a little bit of bacon thrown in.