Petaluma Gardens

09/21/2026

09/21/2026

🎃 PUMPKINS AVAILABLE! 🎃

I have pumpkins available for $3–$5 each!

They’ve been picked and are stored in the Flower Barn. Just message me to make an appointment, and you can come out and pick your favorites!

Perfect for porches and fall decorating! 🎃🍂

09/17/2026

Just a heads-up — if you haven’t filled up your vehicles lately, you might want to go ahead and do it. Fuel prices are climbing fast, and diesel is especially concerning.

I’m watching more than the price at the pump. Diesel runs our tractors and equipment and moves our food from farms to stores. Fertilizer costs are climbing too, and all of those added expenses eventually work their way down the line.

I’m concerned that over the next several weeks we’re going to feel these increases in a lot more places than the gas station — especially at the grocery store.

I certainly hope I’m wrong, but this could get expensive for all of us pretty quickly.

09/16/2026

I had the best time today!! I was told at PT yesterday that I could start doing more active movements with my arm but just to be careful. So today, Lindsey and I carefully picked a few pumpkins, we will pick more tomorrow morning. I sifted three bags of pro mix seed starting mix, 10 gallons of black cow and starting planting seeds for our spring U-Pick. I was so dang happy all day long!

09/08/2026

Oh yes I did!……🚜🍓💪

Mike and Bo got the strawberry field cleaned out, and of course I just HAD to see if I could drive and operate the tractor with one arm. 🚜

Turns out—I totally can! 😂🙌

And before anybody fusses at me… no rotator cuff was harmed in the plowing of this field! 😂 I actually never even used my right arm at all!

Strawberry Field 2027 is officially underway! 🍓 The field is prepped and ready for the next steps, and 1,800 strawberry plants will go in the ground at the end of October!

It doesn’t look like much right now, but come spring, this will be your U-Pick strawberry field! I cannot wait to see it full of berries, with families coming out to pick, make memories, and enjoy some absolutely delicious strawberries. ❤️🍓

09/05/2026

🎉 I’M OFFICIALLY RELEASED FROM THE ARM SLING!! 🎉

Five weeks of that thing was MORE than enough — especially considering most of those weeks were spent in an Alabama summer when the temperatures were flirting with TRIPLE DIGITS. 😂 There is absolutely nothing pleasant about having your arm strapped to your body when it’s 98 degrees outside. I have never been so happy to retire an article of clothing in my life!

My physical therapist says my range of motion is awesome, which was such good news.

The interesting part is that even though I’m feeling great, the repaired muscles and tendons are still in the early healing/attachment phase. Right now, the repaired tendon is forming stronger scar-tissue connections back to the bone, but that attachment is not mature enough yet to handle much pulling or resistance. So my exercises are still mostly passive — working on movement and flexibility without asking those healing muscles to do the work themselves.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll gradually move from passive motion to active motion, then begin adding gentle strengthening. After that comes rebuilding the strength, endurance and flexibility that were lost along the way. It’s definitely a process, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I’ve also tried to give my body everything I can to help it heal — good nutrition, plenty of protein, rest, and I’ve been taking collagen supplements as part of my routine. Healing takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, even on the days when it feels like you’re doing absolutely nothing.

And here’s my little encouragement for everybody dealing with one of these pesky injuries that seem to start showing up in our 50s and 60s. 😂

Don’t underestimate your body just because you’re getting older. Give it what it needs — good medical care, good nutrition, protein, time, patience, movement, rest and a little determination — and let it do what God designed it to do.

I spent more than 30 years as a nurse watching the human body do some pretty remarkable things, and now I’m getting a firsthand reminder.

Our bodies are capable of doing far more than we sometimes give them credit for — especially when our minds believe they can. 💪❤️

One milestone down. On to the next one!

08/25/2026

I am absolutely heartbroken at the news that Dolly Parton has passed away.

Last fall, my sister, some friends and I had tickets to see her during her Las Vegas residency. It was postponed, and then a few months ago, canceled. I was so disappointed, but always hoped there might be another chance someday.

Dolly was extraordinary—an extraordinary talent, an extraordinary humanitarian, and an absolute national treasure. There will simply never be another Dolly Parton.

It’s not often that the death of someone famous, someone I never personally knew, truly breaks my heart. But this one does.

Rest well, Dolly. You brought so much joy, kindness, laughter and music into this world. What a legacy you leave behind. ❤️

08/25/2026

Shoulder + Farm Update 🌸

Today marks three weeks since shoulder surgery, and I had physical therapy this morning. They are extremely pleased with my progress! I haven’t needed any pain medication since the beginning of week two, and I’ve been faithful about doing my exercises at home every day and going to PT twice a week.

This morning they told me I’m way ahead of schedule. They were able to easily and painlessly get 140° of passive flexion in my right arm, and my therapist said he has no doubt I’ll regain my full range of motion. 🙌

He also had nothing but praise for Dr. Rory Farris, saying his shoulder patients consistently do exceptionally well and that he is truly a master at shoulders. So a big shout-out to Dr. Farris for taking such good care of me and doing such a great job! ❤️

Meanwhile, things are moving right along at Petaluma Gardens. The hoop house is completely cleaned out and ready for planting to begin in September and October. Field One is about 90% cleaned out and should be finished in the next day or two, and next weekend we will tackle Field Two.

And when I say “we,” I really mean Mike and Bo. 😂

They have worked their tails off, and I especially can’t say enough about Mike. He has given so much of his time and energy to keep my dream moving forward while I’m unable to be out there doing it myself. I’m incredibly blessed to have such a selfless husband who believes in this crazy flower-farm dream right along with me. ❤️. I was able to plant a couple of hundred seeds today! I will do what I can, when I can, without jeopardizing my recovery.

Three weeks down. Healing is going beautifully, the farm is getting ready for a new season, and I’m very grateful.