Digging in the dirt

One of the hardest adjustments to being a home owner has been the outside. For 28 years, someone else has been in charge of the great outdoors. While I've done lots to help - mowing lawn, pulling weeds, planting peas, picking endless buckets of berries - someone else decided what to plant, when to harvest, how much punishment, I mean weeding was needed.

But now we're all grown up and stuff, and Hubby and I have to do that.

What's up with that growing up thing anyway?

The previous owners had a service for the yard. Not something we're willing to shell out much money for. Fortunately, they also had landscaping with little maintenance.

And we've done even less.

We're great at mowing the lawn. Someday, we'll get a weed whacker and no longer be able to mimic the Asian jungles around the edges.

Regular weeding . . . let's just be happy that most of the flower beds are covered with weed barriers and lava rocks.

In all my redoing (and doing and doing and doing), we've mostly just left the outside be. The whole 2 flowerbeds that actually need cultivating . . . . Ahem. Well, some of those ground cover weeds don't look to bad.

Today Buddy and I spent 2 hours in the dirt. We pulled weeds. We broke up dirt clods.

And then we dug really big holes and planted tulips.

I love the idea of planting in the fall for beauty in the spring. My actions now will change my yard for years to come. I have always been a "preparer". I love to get things done so I don't need to worry about them later. Especially when it's small little actions that make such big changes later.

Others in my family (which shall go nameless), are much more of the "I'll take care of it later" mindset. This works for them (except for when it doesn't and they are scrambling last minute. But that's another story.)

Bulbs are a wonder. The idea that such a small, funny looking clump can produce such beauty year after year after year - that with one tiny plop in the dirt I can bring life and color into the world. My actions for this were so small - the actual time to plant measured in just minutes. But the results are so large.

What actions can you do today to bring more beauty into your life? Playing with your children, Singing a song, Dusting that really tall annoying light fixture, Building a memory. Find time to bring joy. Don't put it off. Find time today to do one small act that will bring joy later.

You can thank me later when your harvest comes back to you, even better than you thought it could.

Here's to waiting for my flowers next spring.