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Saturday, February 16, 2008

But THIS time it will be different.

I feel all homeownery and grown-up. Not only do I have a veritable novel-length projects-to-do list, divided by priority and subdivided by expense and whether it's something I can do on my own with the kids* or whether it's something that requires a Man, but I am actually planning a vegetable garden. It is so much fun. I love planning, and I love vegetables, so yay! a garden! Maybe even a homemade greenhouse! This particular project was initially more T's idea than mine, but once he presented it to me, I kind of took the idea and ran with it, with a typically excited New Project attitude**.

Please note that now, in the height of my enthusiasm, is not the time to remind me that All Green Things I Touch Must Die. And anyway, maybe my record will improve. To adapt a quotation from Philippa Gordon (is that her last name?) in Anne of the Island, "when I begin in good earnest to learn to cook [garden], don't you think the brains that enable me to win a mathematical scholarship [um, keep a blog sporadically? get good grades as long as I only take six units at a time? read lots of novels?] will also enable me to learn [gardening] just as well?"

I can hope, anyway. And hey, if I fail, I will probably do it in a spectacular and possibly humorous fashion, which always makes for good blog fodder. So stay tuned.







*LT is oh my gosh such a helper. Everyone should have an eleven-year-old son to help with outdoor projects. And C makes up in enthusiasm for what she hasn't quite yet gained in skill, especially if she picks her own projects -- she loves cleaning the lawn, for example. Which, with a dog*** on the property, becomes very important.

**See also: Why I get halfway through a knitting project and then let it linger all lonesome on the needles while I giddily start a new project, at which I work doggedly until I get halfway through and let it linger all lonesome on the needles... and so on ad infinitum.

***She's doing a lot better but I'm still not sure she was a good idea. She still has a tendency to poop indoors if she isn't taken outside at pretty much precisely the right moment, and now that she sees the kids and me as Her People and the house as Her House, she barks and pseudo-growls at T whenever he enters a room where she is. She settles down when he gets close and touches her, but it is annoying and a little unnerving. OK, OK, dog, maybe a good-sized guy with a beard abused you in your past or something, I dunno, but how long exactly is it going to take you to differentiate between that bad man and this very good one, who, hello, built you a doghouse for when you're outside, and funded your vet visits and all the other VERY EXPENSIVE THINGS you have needed, and just wants to be your friend? T has started to carry treats in his pockets to give to her every time he sees her. He figures it works for the crooks in all the mystery stories, so why not.

Posted by Rachel on February 16, 2008 01:23 AM in house stuff

Comments

Yes, I think Gordon is her last name. Good luck!

Posted by: Kat with a K at February 16, 2008 04:42 AM

We had a garden several years ago and it was SOOOOO SOOOOOO much fun! By the way, deer can eat through deer net. =) fun! We have been talking about having one this year again. But then we have been talking about that for the last 3 years. =) Maybe this year!

Posted by: Anonymous at February 16, 2008 02:30 PM

My husband gave me permission to have a veggie garden this year, too! I'm SO excited. Even though I'm the same as you when it comes to killing green things. Please don't mention bonsai trees near my husband.
Anyway, please post all the details of your gardening endeavor. I'm going to try the Square Food Gardening method, because we live in TX where there is one inch of dirt and then rock. And even we had good soil, my husband wouldn't let me dig up his beloved backyard!
I'm thinking of planting tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers (the only veggie besides corn my dh will eat), squash, and maybe lettuce? Some herbs? What are you planting?

Posted by: Denise at February 17, 2008 06:19 PM

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