I am absolutely sure our Kitchen Talisman wants to run away at this point. Most retired women use their kitchen counters to make up some great cookies or muffins. Well, our kitchen is just a little different.
After a busy week of shopping, yesterday turned into an extreme work day. I’d planned to stay in and shine up Winterpast for the Playoff weekend. The day started out just fine. One bathroom was scrubbed clean, a hall vacuumed, with plans to dust.
For those of you that don’t live on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada, dust may not be a problem. If you don’t have pets, (which would be lonely and sad), you’re not bothered by pet hair. For HHH and I, the hair and dust never stop accumulating, even with two shed-less pooches, which is a joke. All dogs shed something, even the doodle varieties.
While cleaning the kitchen in earnest, HHH came in from his errands. He suggested we go to Lowe’s to price fencing. With two inquisitively rambunctious dogs, fencing them out of our precious garden and bee spaces is absolutely necessary.
The cost of fencing has gone up like everything else in the world. A simple 4′ chain-link fence and gate was once affordable. For two 50′ sections with top rails and gates, we could have gone back to Yellowstone for a few days. Home expenses come before fun.
With e12 cinder blocks intended as a platform for our beloved bee hive, we stopped by Walmart to look for seed potatoes and garlic starts. Of course, it was still too early, however, we did discover the seed section. Like kids in a candy store, we were almost giddy with glee.
The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth,
You’re nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth. In A Garden Poet: Dorothy Frances Gurney
I spent time grabbing packets of flowers, choosing varieties with bees in mind. HHH spent time selecting our food. One of his very favorite finds was “Hearts of Gold” cantaloupe seeds. He wanted to buy two packages, but I convinced him that one package would be more than enough.
Returning home with lots of daylight left, we went straight to work on the greenhouse. It was time to strengthen the panels with silicone. Once upon a time, I applied smooth beads of caulking with the best of them. Yesterday, it became apparent I hadn’t tried silicone. After a few attempts on the back side of the greenhouse, my beads improved. By then, my back reminded me it was time to rest a bit.
But, not before we placed HHH’s brand new repurposed redwood garden boxes. As the TV anchors blabbed on, I got to work planting 11 packages of seeds! Two varieties of lavender (our first greenhouse experiment), Armenian cucumbers, hot pepperoncini’s, marigolds, zinnias, two varieties of large tomatoes, and two varieties of cherry tomatoes, poppies, and snapdragons.
So tiny and delicate, it’s hard to believe they will produce flowers and food. In a couple hours, our first hothouse babies were ready.
With beautiful days ahead, we’re looking forward to organizing the garden. Today, we’ll be moving volunteer shrubs into place along the back fence. Splitting plants is a wonderful way to save money. The Iris’s are finally going to get their new home along our dry “creek bed”. HHH has already ordered fancy garden soil, mixed right here in town. How lucky we are to enjoy the very same hobby just behind the fences here at Winterpast.
Whatever you choose to do this weekend, pace yourself. With a hint of spring, it’s easy to start too many projects at once. Start small, or your back might have something to say about it!
Have a wonderful weekend. More on Monday.