ok, so I have this teeny tiny garden in the back yard. It is literally 5 ft long and maybe 3 feet wide. It basically looks like "that's where we put the body".
"Garden" is an awfully generous term. It's actually some dirt, lovingly tilled by my father, briefly cared for by me (long enough to tuck some seeds in the ground) and then NEGLECTED. What does this look like? I'm not putting a picture up (I do have some pride) but it's pretty much 3 feet high weeds with 3 carrots and a teeny "lettuce bush" somewhere in the bottom. It's horrible. I haven't gone near it in 8 weeks.
So there's that.
Then there's the lawn - overgrown in some spots, bare and brown in others. The front is brown as hell, while my Lawn Is King neighbors all have luxurious green (people, it is OCTOBER, let it GO) Haven't watered it. At. All. This. Summer.
Then, (oh you thought I was done?) there is a front flower bed. My pride and joy, crafted with tremendous help from my mom and dad (member when we went and pulled rocks to bring home and my Farm Boy Dad was horrified he was bringing rocks rather than getting rid of rocks). Anyway, it has been beautiful in the past. This year the damn lawn (despite lack of water and fertilizer) has crept over the rocks. Grrr.
He doesn't come RIGHT OUT and say it, but I know my Dad is horrified. When I grew up I actually wasn't allowed to mow the lawn. That was a privilege I never quite earned (I'm serious - I did it once and was promptly fired). My dad is that guy who owns an edger. True story. Growing up we always had a country garden AND another garden in our yard (which was 1/3 if not 1/2 of our back lawn) My dad grew everything. Amazing corn, cauliflower (you can grow that??) and beautiful gladiolas.
Apparently these skills are not strictly genetic.
So, I says to my dad, "Dad, the reason I can't garden is b/c I'm so busy. I work".
To which he pointed out: He worked, he coached T Ball (although that was brief b/c let's face it, the only thing harder for me then gardening is team sports), he was on 17 committees/boards/church groups. Oh, and then he decided to further remind me that my mom also worked (full time), was on 17 17 committees/boards/church groups, and was a Brownie/Girl Guide Leader. AND not only did they have a kick ass garden, they also canned basically EVERYTHING in it. They even made their own feather pillows one year after goose hunting was over. (now that I think of it....my parents are the original Hipsters. I think my mom even had the glasses)
Which makes me think: "Why can't I do that?"
Then it hit me. The reason my parents could do it all:
They didn't have Pinterest. Or Facebook. Or Etsy. Let's face it: these people had Free Time.
"Garden" is an awfully generous term. It's actually some dirt, lovingly tilled by my father, briefly cared for by me (long enough to tuck some seeds in the ground) and then NEGLECTED. What does this look like? I'm not putting a picture up (I do have some pride) but it's pretty much 3 feet high weeds with 3 carrots and a teeny "lettuce bush" somewhere in the bottom. It's horrible. I haven't gone near it in 8 weeks.
So there's that.
Then there's the lawn - overgrown in some spots, bare and brown in others. The front is brown as hell, while my Lawn Is King neighbors all have luxurious green (people, it is OCTOBER, let it GO) Haven't watered it. At. All. This. Summer.
Then, (oh you thought I was done?) there is a front flower bed. My pride and joy, crafted with tremendous help from my mom and dad (member when we went and pulled rocks to bring home and my Farm Boy Dad was horrified he was bringing rocks rather than getting rid of rocks). Anyway, it has been beautiful in the past. This year the damn lawn (despite lack of water and fertilizer) has crept over the rocks. Grrr.
He doesn't come RIGHT OUT and say it, but I know my Dad is horrified. When I grew up I actually wasn't allowed to mow the lawn. That was a privilege I never quite earned (I'm serious - I did it once and was promptly fired). My dad is that guy who owns an edger. True story. Growing up we always had a country garden AND another garden in our yard (which was 1/3 if not 1/2 of our back lawn) My dad grew everything. Amazing corn, cauliflower (you can grow that??) and beautiful gladiolas.
Apparently these skills are not strictly genetic.
So, I says to my dad, "Dad, the reason I can't garden is b/c I'm so busy. I work".
To which he pointed out: He worked, he coached T Ball (although that was brief b/c let's face it, the only thing harder for me then gardening is team sports), he was on 17 committees/boards/church groups. Oh, and then he decided to further remind me that my mom also worked (full time), was on 17 17 committees/boards/church groups, and was a Brownie/Girl Guide Leader. AND not only did they have a kick ass garden, they also canned basically EVERYTHING in it. They even made their own feather pillows one year after goose hunting was over. (now that I think of it....my parents are the original Hipsters. I think my mom even had the glasses)
Which makes me think: "Why can't I do that?"
Then it hit me. The reason my parents could do it all:
They didn't have Pinterest. Or Facebook. Or Etsy. Let's face it: these people had Free Time.
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