April 27, 2006
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I am shocked at how sedentary I became over the winter. I’m taking a break from gardening, out of semi-exhuastion. How could gardening make me this tired? I shopped all day yesterday, first for my daughter’s trip, then for mine. Oh, and I got a good book, too: “A Year of Magical Thinking.” I took it to dinner because I didn’t want to drive home in rush hour and just by chance I chose Embassy Suites. Say what you will, I like the place. I used to go there when I had little ones because I could go in the lobby looking like I had just been on a run or something.
Sipping coffee (decaf) and reading after dinner, I was pretending I was already on vacation. That’s because what awaited me were the loads of laundry, planting a ridiculous amount of pansies, ranuncleous, violets, African daisies, snapdragons, that white trailing stuff I can’t remember the name of, — Shit, I’m too tired to go through the list. Five giant pots are stuffed to the gills, along with the ground around them. It seems like every year I am getting things planted so they won’t die while I’m gone.
The other thing I do is cook everything I bought but never got around to making. Like the strawberry rhubarb compote I made today. I don’t know why I let that intimidate me. Instead of throwing the rhubarb away after letting it sit in my refrigerator for a month, I threw a little tapioca and sugar in and added some vanilla and cinnamon. That’s good stuff.
I must go water all those beautiful plants. It’s a study in purple, that’s one theme. I love dark, nasty looking flowers. And then the other thing I like are those snapdragons that have pink and yellow, moving to salmon and gold. I pair those with English daisies and sweet yellow pansies, some white trailing stuff, and this new flower I discovered last year that has all the same hues as the snapdragons. It’s slightly upright but trailing and grows like mad.
I ought to leave town more often. So far I’ve found all the missing pieces to my summer wardrobe, lost 6 pounds, got everything planted and started reading again. Tonight I’m even painting my toenails. It’s been a loooong winter.
Comments (17)
I got lazy over the winter and did not pay attention to my diet and to exercise so now I am paying but back at the exercise not so good about the diet yet. Judi
Gardening is work…I used to love it but can’t do it anymore…its a good kind of tired? I loved the smell of the dirt more then anything..that and the feel of moist soil between my fingers…I always built big gardens and then…gave them up in the brutal heat of summer….happened every summer and every spring I was full of new resolve,
I dig for awhile, come into the house to cool off, stretch the legs and back out again. I seem to be getting stiffer in the joints this year, well more MSM should take care of that. Spring is really my favorite season, all the pretty flowers and growing things, I do love growing things..marilyn
i’m not a gardener and i tend to resent the time it takes from my life and i find it exhausting to try to remember plants name and expected care of such. i am totally on board with time spent at dinner alone in a nice place w/a book. it’s nice once in a while, but i find after 4 days on the road, it gets old!
Aaack. I’m sitting here with sore thighs and back from my weekend’s weeding, planting, and mulch spreading. I love it though–love taking the garbage outside to my trash can and seeing my (currently) neat and orderly garden. The dog dug up one of the tomato plants though. Not sure why. Perhaps she had something else buried there? I did find a few rawhides and toys buried in the raised beds when I was working them. I must have missed something. I love the pre-vacation feeling of being on vacation. Enjoy!
I want some strawberry rhubarb compote . . . . . would hit the spot right now. Funny, I hate getting ready for a vacation and my son said to me yesterday that he is like me, “Dad, I hate getting ready for a vacation, but once I get there . . . . . Cheers
mmmm rhubarb! Ours is peeking up after its winter’s nap.
Sigh, no man, Pru. The figure in the poem seems to be an amalgam of the men I’ve loved longest, including my ex. Sometimes the imaginary ones are best, oh guffaw, she laughs. There are enough loving men around me, I can’t complain, but no-one that I’m involved with. Sigh. Hope that changes soon! (Courage, courage.)
I love hearing from your garden goddess self – seems aligned with your sensual belly dancing self… yummy food, losing a bit of Winter weight, and gorgeous flowerings in a multitude of rich colours… and rhythm, oh the rhythm!
xo
RYC: Everything’s great–just busy. And I decided I needed to focus my evening writing time and get some of my other sites fleshed out.
I wore sandals yesterday…I didn’t get my toenails painted, but I did wear my new nose stud, beautiful sparkly light blue. Maybe a pedicure this weekend?
You sound so productive…I have one plant, a house warming present, Druceilla, it is enough to try and keep her watered. Have a great day.
I wish I had a garden to get tired in. I’m thinking of gtting these planted that will attach to the iron railing of my balcony. I bet yours will look lovely once all done. Yay purple.
It’s not quite warm enough to plant here – except for a few hardy plants. Until the middle of May, there is still a risk of frost. I have a window full of lovely seedlings waiting to be planted – I wish that gardening was a bit easier on my body.
so… is the book any good? my brother has read to me over the phone from a book titled “magical thinking,” a hilarious collection of stories. not the same book, i don’t think.
RYC Actually I just love sneaking faces into them….I do suppose they might suggest a certain level of conflict/ I am torn like so many women between an instinct to nurture and take care of people and a desire to focus on things not related to mothering or family concerns …
I felt like I walked past your gardens. Such imagery and energy for spring. It has been a long ass winter and I am glad to see your ready to take on things. I am too. The dish sounds amazing and I have yet to eat today, where am I going to find something so delicious!? You’ve been sedentary but you’ve done a ton of writing and other work. Painting toenails does seem to be that thing that signifies an attitude. Like taking time for yourself, and giving yourself a luxury, it’s something you and we all deserve. And it makes the feet look darned sexy too!
I have been walking and thinking about joining the spa again though I have a treadmill at home. I am really out of shape this Spring. Well back working on it. Judi
that’s how it goes with me, leave town and suddenly a million things get done… enjoy your time.