The Gardening Has Begun

I am amazed at how old I feel after two evenings in the garden!

Monday, I had planned to mow at least my backyard as it is now a hay field but it was 100 degrees out when I got home from work. So, I ate some dinner and went out to work in my garden beds instead.

My brand new Texas Tomato Cages had arrived with the mail so I wanted to get them stuck in the ground protecting my week old tomato plants. (Week old meaning they've been in the ground for a week.) My friend Kim had given me two bags, 40 lbs each, of expanded shale. I needed to dig that in before fixing the tomato cages.

By the way, these tomato cages are colossal! They're 6 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter. They have 4 legs that stick in the ground. They are in two parts and fold flat when not in use. Way cool, these tomato cages.

So, I hefted the two bags to the back. Then, hefted two bags of pecan shell mulch to the back. I spread the shale out--dividing the two bags between my four beds. Then it was just me and the hoe. I was only able to get two of the beds (the ones with the tomatoes) dug in the other two would just have to wait till Tuesday.

I spread a good thick layer of pecan shells around each tomato plant. This should help the tomatoes to not dry out and protect the leaves when either God or I water from splashing dirt, etc. I put the cages out and stood back and admired my work--Beautiful!

Yesterday (Tuesday), I stopped by the feed store for dog and chicken food before going to work. I, of course bought plants for the garden and some seeds. I got jalapenos, bell pepper, one more tomato, marigolds, verbena, and squash--those were the plants. The seeds were for green beans and okra.

When I got home last night, I dug the shale into the other two beds then set about planting plants and seeds. If everything produces the way I dream, we'll be rolling in fresh vegetables in just a few weeks--well more like a couple of months but woo hoo! Can't you just taste that fried okra with some pinto beans and cornbread, with sliced tomato and onion? That is a feast worthy of Heaven--and will probably be in Heaven when we get there!

Sunday Sunshine

What a wonderful weekend! I went to Abilene yesterday--to Abilene Christian University to be more precise. My friend Kim and I went to hear Robin Roberts, of Good Morning America fame, speak about "Putting yourself in place for good things to happen." She talked about how she got to where she is. She is very inspiring and quite funny.

I enjoyed being back on campus. I hadn't been back to my alma mater in probably 15 years. Lots has changed. There's more trees, which is a miracle in Abilene to be sure. There's also more buildings. I so want to go back to school and being there just made me want to even more so.

Friday, my tomatoes that I ordered from The Herb Cottage came in. So, today when I got home I made a trip to Rohde's Nursery to get some pecan shell mulch and a few plants. I got a bunch of herbs and a verbena and a Brandywine tomato plant. I planted them all out today. I also ordered some seeds so when they get in I'll plant those out and we should be eating like kings--or queens as the case may be.

Tomorrow it's back to the 9 to 5:30 and I guess that's a good thing--I do need the money.

Monday Reflections

I have been particularly loath to write this past week. I have sat down thinking to write something and nothing particularly interesting pops in to write. Now, the other night while I was in that falling asleep, twilighty place, I composed a poem in my head that at the time I thought was good. However, being in that twilighty place I could not force myself to open my eyes let alone pick up pen and paper to write.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. I got to hold a baby at church. His name is Austin and he's 17 months old. Babies are a wonder--especially when you can hand them back to Mama when they get upset. I visited Granny after lunch and she's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Then, I went home and read.

Pretty much I've been reading all weekend--to the exclusion of anything else. I finished Harry Potter #5 and started and finished Harry Potter #6. I'm all ready now for #7 to come out. I've got to get them written in my book log.

I decided to keep a book log this year. I started one last year but didn't keep up with it. I'm doing better this year, at least so far. I want to get done with the year and look back and see all the books I've read.

Well, that's just about all I can think about to say right at this minute. So, more writing later.