funnystrange.com

Another day of lots of yardwork. Not as strenuous as yesterday, but I spent the whole day working outside, so again I was kind of tired by the time I quit. Here's what I got done:

• spread the rest of the compost -- there turned out to be only 2 more wheelbarrows full -- and swept out the truck.

• returned the truck, stopping to fill the tires on the way. Which seemed to solve the steering problem, yay! The truck is still old, beat up, cranky, easy to stall and hard to brake, but at least it wasn't fishtailing all over the road.

• went to Whole Foods in my dirty, worn gardening clothes, and did not care. Went in hungry and got a salad so big I couldn't eat it all in one sitting.

• planted shallots and beets in two of the new beds!

• covered the new beds with straw, which you're not supposed to do at this time of year because it prevents them from warming up, but I'm concerned about the soil washing away.

• found a couple packages of daylilies on the porch that I had bought last fall and forgotten about, and planted them with the other daylilies. Apparently daylilies really are indestructable. Those guys sat in plastic bags with a little sawdust all winter, and every single one sprouted.

• swept up the compost that had fallen out of the truck onto the driveway, and put it on the herb garden.

• removed the big, ugly, Lina-proof fence from the hydrangea beds. Raked leaves off the beds while the fence was down. Moved a couple of hydrangeas that were too far back under the awning & not getting enough rain. Put up a low, unobtrusive fence that's guaranteed to keep out aging dogs who can barely walk.

• used the big, ugly fence to make a leaf compost pile behind the house.

I think that's all. A productive day if I do say so myself! And what a beautiful day to be outside. I think it must have been in the 70s. I know we're supposed to have nasty weather again tomorrow, but this afternoon it felt like it could never be cold again. Thirteen hung out with me for much of the day, but by mid-afternoon she was panting and seemed hot. I couldn't get her to move to the shade so I put her inside. After she cooled down I left the door open for her to come back out if she wanted, but she stayed inside.

I realized yesterday that one of reason I've done so little in the yard the past month (besides the weather of course) was Lina. Every time I thought about gardening, I'd think about how she used to follow me around while I worked on the yard, and that would make me too sad to do anything. Yesterday I was taking a break from shoveling, sitting on the steps drinking a glass of water, watching Thirteen and thinking about how much Lina would have loved such a beautiful day and how much I wished she were there with us. It occurred to me that since I was thinking about her, in a way she was there. It's corny and hokey, but it made me feel better.

On a happier note, perennials from last year are starting to sprout! Down by the road the obedient plant, black eyed Susans, sedum, goblet flower, and bronze fennel are all up. Up near the house all the hydrangeas are sprouting, except for the one that Lina killed by chewing up all the branches. All the daylilies from David's dad look great. And the herbs are starting to show signs of life too. There are also a bunch of things that haven't sprouted, but it's early yet.

I know this isn't anything monumental. Perennials come up every year; that's what they do. But still it's a great thrill for me to see the plants that I put in the ground last fall coming back. It's the first sign that I may not be a total failure at this gardening thing.