Slow living: Gardening

We've been deluged with 
rain this spring.  My front yard is a virtual swamp, and I'm about ready to go find a little flat-bottomed boat to get in and out of here.  The mud-boots I bought last year have been a Godsend.

I've started a little garden. Everything is in pots: some small, some larger and some that will be in grow-boxes made from storage tubs, with a special watering system.  (not an affiliate link: http://www.gardenanywherebox.com/) 

I'm absolutely delighted that the beans, peas and carrots I planted in two inches of soil have taken root and begun to sprout. I purchased larger tomatoes, squash and zucchini that will go in the grow boxes along with the seedlings.The rain barrel is finally set up, and the boxes are ready for soil and plants, as soon as my weather-related asthma lets met get busy.



 

The only things of my porch-garden that survived the winter were a pot of chrysanthemums (about to bloom!) and a thyme. So I replaced the herbs: basil, oregano, English Thyme, sage, lavender, flat-leaf parsley, dianthus (Odessa Pierrot), rosemary (not doing well) and some sedge that is drought tolerant.  I plan to put that in a border along the front of the house, along with some yarrow.


    


There is something deeply spiritual, calming, rejuvenating about digging in the dirt. Tending a garden takes us right out of the hectic man-made-time, and brings us back to Earth, back to the rhythm of Nature herself.
This is the basis of my simple and charmed life: getting out of the rat-race, and embracing a slower pace; breathing and taking as much time as is needed.

A simple and charmed life

Welcome to my simple and charmed life, a blog where I share my crazy adventures of life in the country, and my attempt at a creative life, away from Corporate America.

I grew up in the country, and left at the first opportunity. Now I've come full circle to the country, to escape the madness of city life and embrace the solitude, calm, and spirituality in nature.

My mother and her mother (and a long line before them) were seamstresses, and I do not remember a time without a stash of fabrics somewhere in the house. The stacks of cloth were carefully folded, colors and patterns running together in a visual smorgasbord. I love the feel of cloth in my hands, its weight and texture, the weave and even the smell of the dyes. I see things in a bolt of cloth: a special dress, a suit for work, curtains or pillows, table linens or baby clothes.  Or perhaps a scrap of cloth, brightly colored, that becomes a comforting doll, a Charmer, that helps someone calm fidgeting fingers and anxious nerves.

I'm all about simplicity with charm, sustainability and re-purposing what you have to create what you need (or want).  Reducing my footprint. Recycling everything.

You'll hear more about all of this in the days to come.  You might even hear about my antics with the critters that live under the house - the skunks that come and go, Clyde the rat-snake, Hippity & Hoppity (bunnies), Doodlebug and Baby Donkey (you guessed it), and the wonderful and spectacular Gypsy Reno, who keeps me company, and offers the best desktop support.  

  Goodnight for now.  Let's meet here about once or twice a week, okay?  See you then.