Added Value

Many years ago, my Dad helped build a bedroom onto my grandmother's house. She used the extra space to house visitors, to work on sewing and quilting projects, and for storage. Thus, the room added value to her home and improved the quality of her day-to-day life.

I think the same is true of the gardens she planted and maintained. Although they weren't used to house guests or store belongings, they provided her with a joy that only those who garden can understand.

Me and my sister hanging out in my grandmother's spare bedroom.

Coffee and Bacon Grease

Have you ever had an olfactory experience crimp your day? You're going along, minding your own business, when suddenly, a certain smell transports you back to a particular time and place.

It happened to me one day at a Whataburger drive-thru while waiting on an order of sausage and pancakes. As I handed the cashier my money, the strong, savory scent of bacon grease mixed with coffee wafted from the open drive-thru window into my car and piqued my nostrils. For a moment I was a little girl again, sitting in my grandmother's kitchen in a cotton nightgown, watching her move back and forth from the sink to the stove as she made my breakfast.

An eerie silence slowly ushered me back to reality, and I blinked away the memory.With my order in hand and a smile on my face, I headed for home, beholden to Whataburger for brewing coffee, cooking bacon, and evoking a memory.

The White Wooden Duck

From March to September, he sits on the front porch, his long, white neck extended gracefully as he looks at the trees in the front yard and the flowers in bloom. Butterflies flit, bees buzz, and birds dart to and fro. Cars drive by, some slowing down ever so slightly. "Are you looking at me?" A rhetorical question? Maybe, maybe not. After all, white wooden ducks are nothing new.

Before long, he will be removed from his concrete stoop and placed in a dark, slightly damp storage closet with the rest of the Spring and Summer decorations, but do not fear! He will return again when the weather is warm, the flowers commence to blossom, and the cars drive lazily down the street.

Expectations

While working outside over the past few months, I've noticed a multiplicity of butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and dragonflies lingering in my garden, flowerbeds, and surrounding areas.

At the risk of sounding boastful, I'd like to think all of my planting has prompted their temporary visitations. And as summer draws to a close, I anticipate an even bigger turnout next year.

Sour Beans

My father-in-law canned green beans last Friday. The next morning, we noticed standing water on the counter-top and after a short investigation, traced the puddle back to a jar of beans that had not sealed properly. When turned on its side, air bubbles drifted to the top of the jar, and after opening the lid, one quick sniff confirmed the beans had soured. Fortunately, the remainder of what he canned was fine.

Now, my father-in-law has been gardening and canning for years. Even the most experienced gardener, however, loses a jar of beans now and then. The trick is to keep it all in perspective. In other words, don't let a few sour beans ruin your day!

On The Other Hand

Saturday, August 13th, was National Left Handers Day, and although I did not garner any Hallmark cards or expensive gifts in honor of my dominant hand, I did receive an inspiring text message from one of my best friends encouraging me to enjoy my day.

I've been left-handed all of my life, with the exception of my first few days of kindergarten when, in an effort to start me out on the "right foot" (pun intended), the teacher thought it would be a good idea to restrain my left hand and make me use the right one for all in-class activities. Long story short, I'm still writing upside down, and oftentimes with a slight slant. 

The August - September Flower Project

Over the next month and a half, I'll be pulling weeds, prepping soil, and planting seeds and bulbs that will bloom next year. Then, in the spring, after the last frost, I'll sow more flower seeds and bulbs in the same locations. My target spaces? Areas around the back porch, outbuildings, and property boundaries. My goal? Vigorous flower growth that will start earlier in the year. Thus begins my August - September flower project!