A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Some Sunday Thoughts in November





, "November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."
- Elizabeth Coatsworth







I have planned to go out and finish up the gardens, cutting asters and mums down, covering my side garden with pine needles, and finally putting away the last of the lawn ornaments...bird baths etc. Here I sit at my computer, watching time fly by on the clock and no movement in the direction of the garden. Why is is so hard to finish up? Is it that we are tired and don't want to do the work, or is it that we don't want to say goodbye? The weather is nice today, I have the time, it won't take more than a couple of hours, but here I sit. I think that, for me, it is the latter...I just don't want the gardening year to end. I could get maudlin and say that maybe I won't be able to do what I did this year....next year. Every year I have done a little less. This year was no exception. I didn't plant anything in the ground...just containers and a few seeds around the mailbox. Joe did the tomatoes. I decided to end my volunteer work at the Church garden at the end of this year. I know what I can handle and I really don't like to volunteer and not be able to do my share. I hate to have a gardening project come up, for the Church, and not have the energy to participate that morning...after I've made a promise to help out. I'm going to continue to do the decorating on the Arts and Environment committee and the funeral lunch committee, however. Making this decision was hard for me, a gardener. I'm thinking that maybe ending that... I can keep up a little better here at home. This is the work that I have always loved, and I would like to continue doing a little only not having such a rigid schedule. We loved the taste of our own tomatoes this year. We are still enjoying them...after bringing in the green ones to ripen in the basement. That's something that I hope we can continue. My herbs were a success. I have parsley,thyme and sage to bring in to dry. I love using my own sage for turkey and pork chops. I'm keeping all my Dipladenia plants in the house...They are already in pots and hanging baskets. Maybe I'll just freshen the soil and put them out as is....or add a few annuals to fill the containers out. I saved my Zinnia seeds...they are easy to plant. So, with the good Lord's help, I will probably be back in the garden next year. I wish he'd give me the boot out the back door about now...to get my work done :)



Balisha


Addition...

Here I am, back in the house. It took me about an hour and a half. I'm finished except for the front garden. It still looks so pretty...I'll leave it a while longer. Snow is predicted this week...I may change my mind. After all the procrastinating I did this morning...just a little push from Mother Nature. She said, "Get out there Balisha, I'm about to send you snow!!!"

14 comments:

Judy said...

One of my most depressing moments--when I realized 2 years ago that I could no longer work in my gardens. A few years ago I had a 95 x 45 feet vegetable garden and spent much money on 12 flats of annuals to put out. Just the spring before, I had planted 5 flats of Impatiens in one area--the mass of color was wonderful--the spring of 2009, I could barely walk, let alone bend over or sit on my little stool and then get back up. Now--I plant two tub planters with annuals--that's all I can manage to do from my lawn chair. This whole aging process sure takes a toll on my mental well being.

Barbee' said...

Good for you, Balisha! You did it! No telling what this winter will bring us in the way of weather. At least now you will know that (almost) all of yours is ready for it. I understand what you are feeling and thinking about the church garden work. I think you did the right thing to take that bit of pressure off of yourself. I was on our church courtyard committee for a few years, until I realized I wasn't carrying my share of the load.

Sissy said...

I think your gardens look lovely...I am sure they appreciate you for what you are able to do, both home and church.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I think the most difficult thing is to not realize when you can't do it all anymore. I know many people who have these huge properties and they are not planning for a time when they can no longer keep up with it.

I constantly think about this and am trying to plan my garden accordingly.

Eileen

Margie's Musings said...

Ah Balisha, I know exactly what you mean. I'm having a hard time trying to work up energy to do my yard work.

I admire that you are able to talk yourself into getting yours done.

Balisha said...

Hi Judy,
I use my plastic lawn chair too. I sit on it and weed or plant. Too hard on my knees to do it any other way. Gardening is my favorite thing to do...I hope that I draw my last breath while doing something outside. Houseplants fill the void, in the cold months, but that first breath of spring makes me want to get out and get my hands in the soil.
As for the aging process getting you down.... There are so many interesting things we still can do.So what, if you can't get down on your knees...Just say, "Well, it seems I can't do that anymore...let's see what I can do." I have learned so much from reading blogs written by people of our age. Also reading gardening books written by elderly gardeners, and following their tips and hints.We all get older...it's just a new phase that we have to deal with...the best we can.
Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Barbee,
I did get quite a bit done. Not like I used to, but enough for me today. I know that the ladies on the committee don't feel that I don't share the load. They always find something that I can do.It's just me.
Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Sissy...
Thanks for your nice comment. I have my plants so close together to save me having to weed much. Also I have staggered the plants so that something is blooming all through the gardening year.Sometimes it is pretty sparce...not lush like some gardens I envy. It took some planning and it turned out pretty good. I see things that I would like to add, but always think of the work involved in dividing my big plants...then I change my mind. Our landscaping is done with our age in mind. I'm not about to dig a new garden anymore. Just have to be happy with what I have.
Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Eileen,
I have cut down considerably in the last few years. My gardens are close to the house and something is blooming most of the time. When I want to see a beautiful garden, I just go to your blog and sit back and enjoy.You have brought me so much pleasure and at the same time, I have learned so much from your posts. Thanks for visiting...Balisha

Balisha said...

Hi Margie,
I read your posts everyday and wonder how you do it all. I know that you must be in the same shoes as I am with your gardening. We can't do everything...and what you do for your friends and family is a treasure to them. Balisha

Barbee' said...

Balisha, I know this is going back to a year ago, but today I Googled Belgian Mums, and your name and blog came up twice about fifth and sixth in the hit list.

Margie's Musings said...

And wouldn't you know, Balisha, I got myself appointed to the library board too. However, my term on MC3's board will be up the end of the year. So I guess it all balances out.

Diana LaMarre said...

Your post hits home today, Balisha. I have found that my energy the past two years has really gone down and I just hate that I cannot do as much garden work as I used to. I have to accept the fact that each year I need to cut back to plan for my senior years.

I think you made a good decision to focus on your home garden next year.

Loved the November poem.

Barbara said...

Hard to clear the garden away when so much still in flower yet the snow would do it otherwise which might not be so good. Wonder if you did get the snow.