Do Overs

I love gardening!  I love getting my hands dirty, I love the feel of the sun on my face, I love the smell of the dirt, I love planting seeds and I especially love when the seeds sprout! But, sometimes gardens don't cooperate.  They, for lots of reasons, don't behave the way I would like them too.  I must admit though, a lot of it is gardener error.  I forget to fertilize, or I plant too much, or in the wrong place or forget to harvest on time.  Lots of the time, I wish I could have a do over -- you know, go back to the beginning of spring and start over, instead of waiting until next year.  That's what is so great about fall.  I get a mini-do over.  So, last week, I planted a row of radishes, spinach, lettuce and arugula.  And, within two days, little arugula leaves sprouted and it's just the best feeling ever.  I'm filled with hope again for my garden.  Maybe, just maybe, these four little rows will be just the do over I need to last me until spring!

Composting

I'm a newbie in the world of gardening.  Sure, I'm an old pro when it comes to pulling weeds--that's easy.  However, when it comes to understanding how to grow healthy plants (organically) I'm really out of my league.  

Our vegetable garden was originally my husband's baby.  He is a "Master Gardener" and I was only the hired help (a.k.a. weed picker).  Yet, this last year, I took a more active role in the garden.  Actually, I just started calling it my garden, which he may or may not of liked.  I planted seeds, watered, fed AND pulled weeds.  

"My" garden just didn't seem like it was excelling.  The tomatoes were anything but spectacular and I had a case of powdery mildew that wiped on my entire zucchini bed. A couple of things dawned on me - one of which was compost.  I needed good compost to put in my beds.  I told my husband - who gave me the "of course you do" look.  

Well, of course, I did.  He knew it, I kind of knew it (not really).  Now, I'll be honest, we'd planned on building bins for a while, but the realization of how important compost could be to "my" garden made this project a priority. 

So, one incredibly hot weekend this July, my husband bought all the materials to build a three bin compost center.  

Today, I we are well on our way to rich compost to enhance my our garden.  It's such a satisfying feeling turned the compost pile and feeling the heat of the pile working.  I am just continually amazed at how nature works.  

football

you know it's fall once you attend the first high school football game of the season.

when you arrive at the stadium it's summer and warm and by time it's the 4th quarter the wind is blowing and it's chilly and then you wonder - why didn't i bring a blanket? well, at least, that's what goes through my head.

this years first football game was odd though.  we officially don't have a student at the high school.  we have two in college this year.  next year, the last child will be in high school.  time just goes by too fast.

games are still fun though.  there are so many things to look at - the band warming up, the cheerleaders, the actual game (however, i always seem to lose the ball).  next week i'll bring a blanket (watch, it will be 90 degrees) and some extra snacks in my purse.  

summer

where did summer go?

i had all of these plans - sitting at the beach, going to concerts on the lawn, vacation.....

yet, here i am, just a couple of weeks before all the craziness starts again,

and i haven't done any of it.


Oh, we did do some things.
There was the big graduation party.

that was a lot of work and a lot of fun!

there was the trip to greenfield village - where i mostly took pictures of gardens.

there was strawberry picking -- but that seems like a billion years ago.

there was gardening -- a whole lot of gardening (but a really little carrot!)

there were other adventures as well.  it just went too fast!

  i have been pondering the purpose of this entry and this is what i have decided.  

time continues to march on whether i want it to or not.  i need to make the most of my days, be it summer (my favorite time of year) or winter (my least favorite). 

so, i'm coming up with a list each month of things that i will do and enjoy.  not a to do list of chores, but of personally enriching and satisfying projects designed to give me joy.

september 2010

take more pictures - learn more about photo editing
work on my fall crops
read at least 1 book
ride the trail and take pictures of fall colors
try new recipes
blog more


it's not a great list -- i have trouble with putting ideas on paper--but it's a start.