You know that I don't get much time when I am 'alone' in that there is no one else here with me. I have my 'alone' time in the mornings, yes, but that isn't the type of 'alone' time I am referring to. But, come to think of it, I think I have referred to being alone.... ok, I'll get to where I'm going....
My daughter had to put her little poodle, Buttercup, down yesterday. Buttercup has been going downhill for some time, but yesterday it was time to make the decision and put her out of her misery. Buttercup is now with Tacco, who died before Christmas, and the cat Simon, who died also before Christmas. It's been a tough six months or so for her. And since yesterday was Tuesday, we were still thinking about meeting up, in spite of the sorrow she was feeling. I text'd her once more before I got ready to leave to head over to her house for our 'girls night out' and we decided not to meet up. Her hubby was being attentive to her and sensitive to what shewas feeling - and I certainly wasn't going to interfere with that. I loved Buttercup and she was my favorite of the pets. Probably becaues she was a pretty white poodle, small, and just content to lay next to you. I'm getting there....
My hubby still had his men's group so that meant I was going to stay home alone. Usually I would curl up with my crochet and watch one of 'my' movies, or grab a book. But last night I didn't. I told hubby that I was going to Walmart to look at plants. I had decided instead of planting seeds and dealing with the beginning growth of plants, that I was going to buy small plants and put in my elevated garden. I was actually VERY surprised he didn't tell me to wait until he could go with me. I grabbed my keys and told him I'd see him when he got home. And off to Walmart I went!
They had very little in the plants I wanted. No herbs at all. A few tomato plants and then flowers. I bought a couple, disappointed, and then decided to go to Home Depot. I 'may' have gotten a little carried away. But it was so much fun. I bought basil, cilantro, rosemary, and mint herbs. I bought slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and roma tomatoes. I bought romaine lettuce and spinach. I didn't want the viney type or the very bushy type of plants (other than tomatoes) cause I really don't have that much room. I'd love to have gotten a green or red pepper, but talked myself out of it. So I brought everything home and put everything on the front courtyard.
I started planting... I started with the garden bed and planted the herbs, spinach, and romaine lettuce. Then I remembered some gallon pots I had bought plants in last year that died so dumped that dirt out and put in fresh soil, and started putting my tomato plants in them. They are small enough that I can put them in between my rose bushes; it helps fill in the gaps and they get the full sun. I decided that we can move all six of the big pots I have bought to the back of the house, and I bought six small fir bushes to put back there. Yes, they are small, but they will grow. I also bought bouganvilla (sp) plants to put at the side of the house, and I need pots for those. The regular plants will be planted tonight - or whenever I can get hubby to help move the big pots.
And it felt so good to be alone, in my thoughts, in my planting and dreaming. I was rushing to get done what I wanted done before it got too dark, and had asked God to hold back the darkness until I was finished. And He did. I was able to get everything planted that I wanted to, plus the area cleaned up, before it was too dark to work outside. It was so nice to not have any interruptions, God and I were carrying on a conversation, and it just felt good. By the time hubby got home from his meeting, I had heated up 'stuff' for dinner and had had a bowl of ice cream, and was reading a book. I was content. And it felt good.
Have you ever had something that you just wanted to do by yourself and not have anyone interrupt you, or invade your thoughts with questions? If so, then you know what I was going through last night. It was such a peaceful, calm feeling. A joyful quiet. When you don't get those often, when you do get it, it revives the soul.
When God created the heavens and the earth, when He supplied the earth with all it is, with animals, and with a man and a woman, He said 'It is good'. And as I looked upon what I was able to get accomplished last night, I, too, could look at what God enabled me to do, and say "it is good". I can't wait for the plants to grow. Granted, I didn't plant that much and we will go through it quickly, I'm sure, but I'm a beginner at this and need to start small.
I tell you what - having an elevated garden bed or pots to put the plants in is the way to go! You aren't toiling the ground and having to dig through hard soil with rocks. I can garden like this! If all goes well this year with what I have, I may have to invest in another elevated garden bed next year. But for now, I am content with what I have.
The country in me is coming out, I think. I can remember my granny's garden back in Tennessee. I can remember walking behind the plow that tilled up potatoes and we walked behind it and picked them up and put in bags. Blackberries grown on the vine were so yummy. Tomatoes right off the vine. My heart will always be country, I think. It was a lot of work, of course, but I got to enjoy it when we visited. I am so blessed to have those memories.
God may own it all, the plants, the animals, the world.... but He allowed me to experience His joy in 'creation' some last night. And it felt so good.
Do something today that brings you joy. And thank God for the joy He gives.
Blessings!
No comments:
Post a Comment