Fallow

For the past five years, areas of my property have lain fallow.  My heart breaks when I look at these areas.  Every time I have tried to get in the yard, I am detoured to some crisis or pain and have only succeeded in making a bigger mess.  Day after day I have looked out my writing window at three gardens in shambles.  I hate that with a passion!

In 2015, my life imploded with a lot of family illness.  The last thing I could think of was working outside.  We added a huge anniversary party for my parents this year as well.  Between the two I was left me exhausted for months.  Sounds stupid, but it was my truth. 

In 2016, my dad became sick.  I spent many days traveling back and forth to the north country to visit him and then take care of his funeral.  Not a good summer.  In 2017, I couldn't face the yard.  I still mourned my dad.  He was my gardening buddy.  I couldn't call him.  I had no desire to be in the garden though the tears might have helped the dirt. 

I can't remember the summer of 2018.  I could look back in my morning pages, but I might find I was just lazy that year.  I do know that I had no outside water for a couple of months.  How do you garden without water?  The same thing happened in 2019.  Thank goodness they finally fixed the pipes for good and I have had water this year.  Also added to 2019, I had no hip.  Moving hurt like hell.

With a new hip, I thought gardening would go super well this year.  Nope.  I am still healing.  Damn.  I really had hoped the doctor was being dramatic saying I needed four to six months to heal.  Six months puts me into September.  I was a bit depressed when I realized that.  I couldn't handle another year with no gardening and all the messes.  So what does a stubborn Norwegian Redneck do?  I learned digging is pretty much out for the time being, but trimming is something I can do.  I can also pull weeds.  I can lift small amounts of garden waste.  I can make dump runs.  I can rake.  I have also found that if I do 20 minutes of work and rest, all is well.  I am not going to get everything I want done this year, but I will have my yard looking better.  I have also hired a couple of people to help with projects that we have been putting off because we travel so much.  With all of our trips canceled that we planned, the money from them will go into some fun additions.

Years ago, Jerry and the boys built a wall that bordered the driveway and wrapped around the front sidewalk.  The next year, I wanted the wall to continue along the front and wrap around the side of the house.  Jerry learned he hated building walls.  The project was put on permanent hold.  Well, one of our dear friends offered to do the wall.  He started the project last night.  I am so excited.  This section is also my steampunk garden that I want to create.

Our next project we have only put off for two years.  The friend who does deck building was deployed for a year.  The next year we were busy with so many other things we just didn't coordinate to have him get to work.  A couple of weeks ago, Jerry and tore up sod with a machine and last week our contractor came by to take measurements.  I am excited for this one as well.  The deck will double in size with a section that will be shaded by our huge poplar.  I am dancing with joy for this to be finished.

This will be my views from the deck when it is finished.

Here is the progress of the vegetable garden area so far.  I want to get it tilled and covered so it is ready for next spring.  I might make the area smaller.  Plus, I want to add some of my dad's rhubarb.  I envision some trees, bushes, and maybe some flowers in the area to help it pop with texture.

Of course, I have all my old and new gardens to work on.  I had hoped to put in a partial vegetable garden this year.  Instead of planting over Memorial Day Weekend, I was in Libby with my mother.  I went the next weekend.  With her passing, I will be traveling up there often for the funeral and prepping the house to sale.  This will take me from the gardens, but life continues onward.  Here are some of the cleaning I have yet to do.  Hopefully throughout the summer, I will post the progress I make.  In October, I can take the pictures again to show the end of the season results.  So, stay tuned.