Getting Lost in the Garden

What a joy to finally get out in my yard yesterday and work in the garden.  Because of the abundance of rain over the past month, the grass in my flower beds, as well as other various weeds, had taken over.  Yesterday was my chance to tackle the grass.

I feel like I get involved in a task such as weed pulling, and time stands still.  I get lost in my task, take time to let my mind wander, and it is such a wonderful experience.  Not to mention the benefits of just being outside and watching life go on around me.

We have had some cowbirds chirping around the yard for a few weeks, and taunting the cats.  I believe they have nest around here, and, on Friday, PKR saw a baby bird in one of the trees that the other birds were protecting.  Unfortunately, they didn't protect the baby enough from Toby, the mighty three-legged hunter.  Yes, our cat Toby (who is missing one of his front legs) hunted down and captured the poor baby bird in our backyard.  It felt as if I was watching an episode of Wild Kingdom.  Of course, he felt so proud.  Poor bird.

My veggies are coming up, and I love to watch their progress.  The tomatoes are looking much better, now that they are in soil.  The radishes are bursting forth, and I see signs of peas and carrots.  Various types of lettuce are also emerging.  I'm waiting to see signs of beets, zucchini, and cilantro.

I finally got my pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds planted yesterday.  I got one little pumpkin last year, so we'll see how they do this year.

Later today I have some roses I need to plant.  I've been scouting out my yard, trying to find the best location to grow them.  I think I have found the place, but I need to get the ground ready for planting.

As I look out at the yard this morning, Toby is again being taunted by the cowbirds.  I think he is also digging up some flower seeds I planted yesterday out by the raspberries.  That cat can be so destructive in my yard.  That is why my raised beds have fencing on top of them, so he doesn't use them as one big little box.

T.C., one of our other cats, just came up to say good morning, rubbing her head on the side of the laptop. 

Off to make breakfast before we go to church this morning.  It is amazing how sunshine boosts the spirits, and energizes me for the day.

"This is the day that the Lord hath made.   I will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

G is for Garden

I love having a yard where I can plant beautiful plants and flowers and enjoy them year round.

There is something so real about getting your hands plunged into the earth, and planting seeds or bulbs.



And the accomplishment when those seeds sprout and become plants, and provide food, or beautful flowers to enjoy.

I am so thankful for my garden.

Gardening for me is one of my creative outlets. It is fun to see how I can arrange plants and flowers to be appealing to the eyes.

It is also therapy. I love spending time alone in the garden, planting, weeding, harvesting, and letting my mind wander and thinking of all kinds of things.


Gardening allows me to pray. There is an old hymn titled "In the Garden". It was actually one of my Grandma West's favorite hymns. (I was fortunate to inheritate the "gardening gene" from both of my wonderful grandmothers).

The words of the hymn go like this:

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

I found a video of Brad Paisley singing this song. It is a beautiful rendition. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Warming Walls O' Water

So my newly planted tomato plants, basil and cilantro plants don't freeze, I surround them in the warmth of a wonderful invention called Wall 'O Water Plant Protectors. You can find more about them here.


These plastic round, tubular "mini-greenhouses" protect plants and keep them warm until chance of frost has passed.


Today I planted my two Early Girl, two Roma, one Early Goliath and one Sweet Million tomato plants and surrounded them with these little water-filled enclosures. As the water in the tubes warms up, they create a small, warm area for the plants to thrive.


I also covered my Basil and Cilantro plants.


Checking my other beds, it looks like I have some pea seeds sprouting, and also some radishes coming up.

I know spring weather must be close with the arrival of my red geraniums from an annual fund-raiser I am involved in every year, where we sell geranium baskets and geraniums in pots. There is something so cheery about a geranium hanging basket.


Then I cleaned out my flower bed next to the house, raked the leaves out, trimmed the Clematis, and pulled some weeds. Does anyone want to come over and clean this mess up for me, please?


Peaches said she would if she could.


I'm hoping to get more done on Sunday, if the weather is right. Yes, I know, it is Mother's Day and I should be pampered. But, after being holed up all winter, spending time outside is being pampered.

I Remember Grandma West

I remember her sitting by the window in her rocking chair with the fan swaying to and fro

I remember her quietly greeting our family as we arrive for another summer vacation in August
I remember her asking how we were doing, and not knowing any other way to answer , I would say “fine”

I remember smelling the dark, rich earth of her garden that she planted faithfully each spring and I would see the results each August

I remember enjoying the bounty of that garden, including green beans, tomatoes and corn on the cob

I remember showering off in her bathroom after spending a day at the Clearwater River

I remember getting to play the piano that was in her living room in the mornings when she was outside working in her garden

I remember attending her 80th birthday when I was 12, and thinking she had lived a long, wonderful life. Who knew she had almost 17 more years to go.

I remember never hearing her raise her voice, or say a swear word.

I remember knowing she was a “no smoking” zone for her children and grandchildren

I remember she was a lady of high standards and principles

I remember I always knew she prayed for me

I remember that other people spoke fondly of my grandmother, just like people do my own mother

I remember thinking she was strong and courageous to have raised her family all by herself

I remember she was kind

I remember she was gentle

I remember she had a good sense of humor

I remember being with Mom and my new baby Molly when we got the phone call that Grandma West had died. It was the same weekend as Molly’s baby dedication. I think having her baby granddaughter there helped Mom through her initial grieving process.

I remember being sad that I couldn’t attend her funeral.

I miss her. I often wish I wasn’t so young when we went to Orofino, so I could have known her better.

But her memory lives on in her children and grandchildren through their baking, sewing, crafting, gardening, praying and their kindness to others.

Nona Walker West
Born December 27, 1894
Died November 24, 1990

Her final gift she left us was her gift of longevity. She was about one month shy of turning 97 years old when she died.

She lived a long, wonderful life.

I just wish I could have shared more of it with her.