Hey... wha' happened?
A month? It's been a MONTH since my last post? Geez, what happened? Something terrible?
Well, actually, yes. Right after I started this blog and got the garden fully growing, with all the life and potential just waiting to burst forth... my dad, Sam Sr., suffered a heart attack, his first ever at almost 80. He's doing well now, but for a while we had to deal with a lot of uncertainty, some of which is still lingering. It was a scary couple of weeks for my family, and I had to take time to help sort things out, which meant leaving little time for frivolous things, like blogs ;)
I am humbled to give a big "thanks" to everyone who knew what was going on at the time and helped my dad, myself and my family cope with what was happening. Prayers... a LOT of prayers, went up for my Pa over the last month, and were swiftly answered. I couldn't be making it through this the way I have if it weren't for your open ears and shoulders to help offset the burden. Dad's not out of the woods yet, but he's got some logger blood in him from his growing-up years, so I think he can manage. Love you, Dad. Now go be retired! For real this time!
On a happier note, the Backyard is... magical. We had rain, and rain, and rain, and rain (get the point?) and more rain, which was pretty different than what we've seen in the last several transitions from spring to summer. Then it got hot, not crazy hot like usually, but much hotter than it had been a short time prior. The lawn bit the dust because I didn't feel like watering it once the heavens stopped doing it for me. The garden, however, thrived. Tomatoes blossomed and sent bees buzzing, leaving behind beautiful Early Girls that are already starting to ripen. The "pea bed" and "peas pole" new additions to the vegetable patch this year (more later), began sprouting more peas and beans than our neighbors will know what to do with. And, perhaps best of all, the green growth and rapid expansion of every little thing I've planted thus far has brought me closer to feeling that I am doing what I'm meant to be doing, reinforcing that my green thumbs, gifts that they are, really shouldn't be wasted.
As time allows, I will do my best to keep this going. It's an outlet for my passion, and it feels wonderful to get it out and (hopefully) spread it around for a little inspiration to others. Remember to ask questions! I'm no genius, I don't even play one on TV (yet), but I do know a thing or two about plants, and if I don't know what you're looking for, I'll find the answer somewhere, because it all fascinates me, and I want to learn it too.
Here are a few photos to tide you over for now. Happy (belated) summer!
Sam
