Outside of my “Normal”-Actual Accomplishments

Dear Readers:
Have you ever had one of those rare occasions when everything you planned for actually went according to plan?

My “To-Do” list has been completely crossed off (for the time being), my chest is puffed out and I know I deserve a treat.

My garden-along with winter’s compost and the load of poop-has been tilled under-ready to receive this year’s plantings.

It’s beautiful dirt and it’s mine.

The broccoli seeds have been started and are already beginning to sprout.

The carrot seeds are just below the surface of this beautiful dirt. (I should probably add, “label the label holders” to my list…).

The lawn has been mowed…

…and fertilized.

The bird bath is filled-ready for Mr. Robin Redbreast and his friends to show it a little action.

The Parsley is sprouting, reminding me to buy some red potatoes and have a yummy meal for Biceps.

The landscaping has been planted. This tiny nubbin’ is hardy lavender.

And the “trees” have been stuck in the earth, fertilized, mulched…

…and laughed at. I mean, they are ridiculously unimpressive. Let’s be real-they are sticks. Geesh-what have I done?…

Except for the disappointment with my “tree-sticks”, it’s been a great past couple of days. The list has been defeated. Time to put my feet up and enjoy a glass of wine.

So, what have you been up to?

It’s a Rainy Day-Garden Prep

Today was the day for planting my garden. But, mother nature has been in a bad mood-crying all over the place. It has rained for the last three days-with tiny spurts of dryness in between monsoons.

So instead of donning mud boots yesterday, the best friend and I had a day trip planned for Arkansas. But, I’ll tell you more about that soon.

In the meantime, I know that my two DIY Rain Barrels are filling to capacity.

And my empty DIY Composter is getting a good cleansing.

But, I am ready to attack my garden with shovels, seeds and stakes. So mother nature-you’d better dry those tears up soon. No one likes a cry baby.

Spring is Here! Winter is gone. But which is better?

Biceps and I have argued for years about what season of year is the best. He’s partial to the Fall-light jackets are necessary, trees are turning yellows/reds/oranges and the beverage of choice is coffee.

I personally love the Spring time.

But, I’ll be honest-the biggest reason that I love the Spring is that it means my birthday is right around the corner.

I will be making my case as to why Spring is the “Superior Season”. I would like for you to judge the facts, and see if you don’t come to the same awesome conclusion.

Besides my birthday (which I may need to remind you that you only have 59 shopping days left),I love the reminder that we once were dead and now we are alive in Him-seen as the naked trees bud, the brown and prickly grass turns green and soft, and the dormant flowers are in bloom.

But, on a less philosophical note, I also know this time of year means the lovely and delicious Cadbury Easter Eggs will be placed strategically at every cash register in America. Yum.

But, I digress.

When the weather starts getting warmer, the neighbors venture outside, shielding their eyes from something we haven’t seen in months-the sun.

One of my favorite neighbors will sit out back with her precious little white dogs and read for hours.

I know that there is always some out there to talk to, share gardening tips with or chat over Bicep’s latest adventure in firefighting.

Doors and windows are left open, giving the breeze full reign. Shorts are dusted off and legs are shaved. The garden will be planted soon-which promises a harvest and a physical measure of hard work.
The neighborhood is alive with strollers, bikes, dog walkers and runners. There is life, shared life, as we smile at each other, catch up on the other and enjoy the sun.

I think I have made my case. In my opinion-Spring wins the “Superior Season Contest”. But Biceps says the jury is still out.

Garden & Landscaping Preparations

It’s almost time to begin sowing those seeds, ladies! Weeks before the planting season, I request my favorite seed catalogue from “Gurney’s” and pore over it as some women do shoe advertisements.

Visions of green beans, spinach and tomatoes are dancing in my head.

I even make an excel spreadsheet of what I hope to buy, determine the planting date, harvest date and if it’s better to buy the full plant or the seeds.
It gets pretty technical, but I love a good excel spreadsheet-reminds me of my accounting days….awe…

I narrow down my needs vs. wants using a system of highlighting, page marking and price comparison shopping. Tomatoes are the most difficult thing for me to narrow down. I could plant every variety that Oklahoma allows and still not have enough.

The tabs at the top are rearranged and my poor Biceps has to hear about the latest string bean that sounds interesting over and over.

This year, I’m going to plant a cover crop. I thought I would use a winter rye-but have decided to go with a clover. A cover crop is helpful to prevent erosion over the winter/spring season and also provides green manure for next year’s garden.

Also, this year we are going to finally landscape the naked front of our house. I would love to have an almond tree, several types of grasses, lavender, and two large oak trees out front.

It would look something like this if a second grader got ahold of markers and my computer screen.
Now, to just get Biceps on board with all of this. I think a romantic dinner, a massage and a discussion of seedlings, plants and trees are in his future….