The Westering Hills

So Barrett and I spent Sunday and today banishing spring malaise and finally planted starts: 4 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of basil, 2 kinds of peppers, and thyme. We also bought radish, kale, and sugar snap pea seeds but only had the time/soil to plant the kale. Everything is in containers since we are still too malaise-ish to dig up any of our enormous back and side yards this year to create actual garden beds.

I also succumbed to a strong longing to buy a rugosa rose plant so I did, and planted that near the back deck, hoping to smell the roses when sitting outside later this summer. Our other roses are already being attacked by aphids; we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the rugosa will survive!

The banishment of malaise led also to transplating the ugly boxwoods and other shrubs (planted in the backyard border garden to “look nice” when the house was being sold) to different places around the yard, thus making room for the vegetable seeds. This is something we agreed we should have done a couple of years ago. We dislike these shrubs but would not feel right in just pulling them out, so I hope they find a happy existence next to the garage.

After we were done with the planting, Barrett wondered aloud if we should plant the pea seeds and decided against it, as time was running short. I began to put away all the gardening stuff in the garage while Barrett wandered to the little-visited back part of the backyard to add to the compost pile we started two summers ago but have never yet used. I suddenly heard him shout, “Peas! Peas!” and sprint merrily across the grass. I was puzzled as to why he was so excited about planting the peas right now and with such enthusiasm! Turns out, it was not a merry sprint towards the future pea patch–BEES had made a nest in our compost pile and he was being attacked! I’m still giggling over that (my mishearing, not his attack!).

So that is done. The long weekend is over. And I, dear readers, start a four day temp job t’mrow! It feels strange to being going back to work after 7 months of being a stay-at-home kitten mom. But I’m glad; the income, it is sorely needed.