We have finally been blessed with 60 degree weather. This means I’ve been getting outside and starting on the yard and gardening chores. As is usual for me in the Spring, I’ve been making many mental resolutions to keep my yard looking beautiful. If I can’t manage that, I’d just like to keep it under control rather than letting the weeds run rampant in the late summer. I’ve been reviewing life and my schedule and figuring that I should probably plan to spend an hour a day outside in the yard.
Today I spent my hour cutting down the row of rosebushes in our back yard. Roses have to be cut back every year. There are about 10 rosebushes in the row and my mandatory hour was up about the time I was half done. I took a break to wander around the yard to see what else needed doing. There was honeysuckle to be cut back, strawberries that need to be unburied from the layer of grass that is smothering them, flower beds that need weeding, and garden beds that need to be turned over and planted with peas. Then in the front yard I have to weed one big bed, weed three tree rings, weed out the grape row, plant flowers in the grape row, and construct an arbor for the grapes to grow up. All of these tasks are March tasks. April will bring a whole new set of tasks for me to do.
I looked at it all and realized that it is going to take more than an hour per day. Unfortunately I don’t know that I have more than an hour per day to give. I love having a beautiful yard filled with flowers and plants that grow food, but there are other things which are more important. If I don’t do the business tasks, we won’t have enough money. I have to take care of the kids and the housework. I don’t want to give up the writing, not even for gardening. I particularly don’t want to give up the writing right now when I feel poised to fly a little.
I was mulling over this dilemma while wearing my rose gloves and holding my big clippers. Kiki came bouncing up to me and asked if she could do some cutting. I looked at her and the half row of rosebushes left. Then I handed her the clippers and told her I’d pay her to finish the row. She did an excellent job. Then I set her loose on the honeysuckle. She finished that too. I think I may have found my solution. We don’t have much extra money, but I don’t mind throwing some of it at the kids if they’ll do some yard work for me. Getting them to weed probably won’t be as easy as getting them to clip things back, but at least I won’t be in this alone. I don’t have to do it all by myself. This is good because there’s only so much time in the day.
…wow, your current avatar is really really good
Vorn
…wow, your current avatar is really really good
Vorn
Thanks! It was one of the amazing pictures taken for me by Kristyan of Kristyan Williams photography.
Thanks! It was one of the amazing pictures taken for me by Kristyan of Kristyan Williams photography.
Right as I read about you needing more time a day, I was thinking you could ask your kids! That’s so cool that she came up and offered to help without asking, even! 🙂 I’m impressed.
Right as I read about you needing more time a day, I was thinking you could ask your kids! That’s so cool that she came up and offered to help without asking, even! 🙂 I’m impressed.
I grew up as one of six kids in a two-bedroom house. We did not have extra money, I think I was 8 or so when I realized that not everyone got holiday meals delivered in a box by the church at least one big holiday per year.
Still and all, Mom gave us a nickel a piece for snails and tomato worms. We’d bring them inside in a jar, then we’d dump the tomato worms down the front storm drain, but we really liked the snails, so we’d have snail races on the naughahyde sofa (she was a pretty cool mom), then take them down to the woods by the creek to release them.
I grew up as one of six kids in a two-bedroom house. We did not have extra money, I think I was 8 or so when I realized that not everyone got holiday meals delivered in a box by the church at least one big holiday per year.
Still and all, Mom gave us a nickel a piece for snails and tomato worms. We’d bring them inside in a jar, then we’d dump the tomato worms down the front storm drain, but we really liked the snails, so we’d have snail races on the naughahyde sofa (she was a pretty cool mom), then take them down to the woods by the creek to release them.
Yay gardening! At least that’s one of those things where if you put in the work, you actually get to see tangible results in a reasonable amount of time. Unlike laundry, and dishes, where labor never seems to catch up to need.
I’m rethinking my vegetable garden. Basically, I’m rethinking ANYTHING that costs me money this week, having just let go of all that money for something I don’t need. Once I have the thing in my hands, I’ll be fine, but until then, I’m going to be scared of not having that money anymore. Maybe by May I’ll be feeling more ready to spend money on a planter box and some tomato plants.
Yay gardening! At least that’s one of those things where if you put in the work, you actually get to see tangible results in a reasonable amount of time. Unlike laundry, and dishes, where labor never seems to catch up to need.
I’m rethinking my vegetable garden. Basically, I’m rethinking ANYTHING that costs me money this week, having just let go of all that money for something I don’t need. Once I have the thing in my hands, I’ll be fine, but until then, I’m going to be scared of not having that money anymore. Maybe by May I’ll be feeling more ready to spend money on a planter box and some tomato plants.
That was going to be my suggestion… ask the kids to help. That way you get to spend the time with them and working on the yard.
That was going to be my suggestion… ask the kids to help. That way you get to spend the time with them and working on the yard.
That’s a fantastic icon.
Also, both hands and my left leg are still semi-functional as a result of five hours of chainsawing out privet and dead bottle-brush. Yay spring. 😉
That’s a fantastic icon.
Also, both hands and my left leg are still semi-functional as a result of five hours of chainsawing out privet and dead bottle-brush. Yay spring. 😉
If it is just a matter of money, I have some big pots in my garage that are currently empty. You can use them if you want. Since tomatos come in packs of 4 I am almost always left with a stray tomato plant or two which I shove in an odd location because the row was already full.
Another option would be for you to come to my house once a week and trade gardening work for fresh produce. That wouldn’t give you green things growing at your house, but it would give you garden veggies.
Both is also an option.
If it is just a matter of money, I have some big pots in my garage that are currently empty. You can use them if you want. Since tomatos come in packs of 4 I am almost always left with a stray tomato plant or two which I shove in an odd location because the row was already full.
Another option would be for you to come to my house once a week and trade gardening work for fresh produce. That wouldn’t give you green things growing at your house, but it would give you garden veggies.
Both is also an option.
I’m personally ready to have a clone or two made.
One for housework.
One for fabulous baking and cooking.
One for outside work.
One for kids and callings.
Oh, maybe one just for leveling up characters on World of Warcraft!
Oh yeah! maybe one more for book reading and crocheting and resting?
Okay… so maybe I need 6 clones.
Or if I can’t get clones, can I get two more arms?
Gardening as a family is a pretty cool thing.
Family time, stuff gets done… win! win!
I’m personally ready to have a clone or two made.
One for housework.
One for fabulous baking and cooking.
One for outside work.
One for kids and callings.
Oh, maybe one just for leveling up characters on World of Warcraft!
Oh yeah! maybe one more for book reading and crocheting and resting?
Okay… so maybe I need 6 clones.
Or if I can’t get clones, can I get two more arms?
Gardening as a family is a pretty cool thing.
Family time, stuff gets done… win! win!
There is a book by David Brin which explores that exact idea. It is called Kiln People. There is a device which allows you to make clay golems of yourself to take care of various tasks. Then at the end of the day you absorb the memories of the clay people and become one whole person again. Very tempting idea.
There is a book by David Brin which explores that exact idea. It is called Kiln People. There is a device which allows you to make clay golems of yourself to take care of various tasks. Then at the end of the day you absorb the memories of the clay people and become one whole person again. Very tempting idea.
Hey! I’m half-way through that book…yes, fascinating idea.
Hey! I’m half-way through that book…yes, fascinating idea.
Actually both those ideas sound like distinct possibilities.
Actually both those ideas sound like distinct possibilities.