A dozen things I learned while gardening today.

Today I tackled the much needed job of weeding the garden, and as I was out there for several hours I learned some things.

1.  Soft soil is easy to work with.  

This made me think of this verse in Ezekiel  36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

A soft pliable heart is teachable and mold-able.  I want to be this way.

2.  Some weeds are easier to pull than others.

Every time I garden I can't help but think on the analogy of weeds to sin.  Weeds (sin) dealt with early are easy to get rid of.  Some weeds (sins) can have deep roots and take effort to dig out.  Some weeds (sins) hide right next to the "good crop" disguising themselves.  

I took a little time to pray and before I knew it, I was completely thinking about something else. 

3.  I am easily distracted by my own millions of thoughts in my head.  

SQUIRREL.

4.  Flies are super annoying.  

They have 5 acres of air space to fly and be free, but they chose the 1" space around my ears instead.  Actually, I think it was just one.  One persistent, pesky fly. 

5.  Lavender smells soooo good.

I'm pretty sure that it is my favorite botanical smell.

6.  Basil smells amazing.  

Just smelling it made me think of all our favorite uses for pesto.

I felt like Anton Ego.

7.  Squashes haven't appreciated the June of 60's' and rain that we've been having.  

It's a Northwest saying that summer never really begins until July 5th.  Not much longer to wait then.

8.  Goats like blueberries - especially if they are behind a fence.  😠

Stinkers!

9.  I love to hear the kids playing. 

Ellie was on the deck playing with toys in a bucket of water - all in her own make-believe world.  I am thankful that she has not been pressured by various influences to grow up.  She is innocent and imaginative without worries of what others think.  

Meanwhile, Maryanne was flitting around the yard like a butterfly - first on the swing set, then petting the goats and bringing them viney maple leaves, then climbing on tree stumps.  Just enjoying a carefree summer day.

10.  If I could do a do-over with the garden - I would use raised beds.  

I think it would make the job feel more manageable.  Like checking boxes off the list.  Plus I could probably just have rocks or wood chips in the walking paths - making for less weeding.

11.  After a couple of hours there is no comfortable position.

"Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.  Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread..."  Thanks Adam and Eve, if only you had obeyed God in the first place!

12. I need to tie a tighter pony tail.

By the end of it all, I was hot and sweaty and sneezy and my pony tail was falling out and I was doing my best "Deb" impersonation. 

I was a bit of a hot mess, but the job is done for now and it looks nice again.  😀

We are growing lettuce, green beans, beets, basil, zucchini, spaghetti squash, and butternut squash.

Hoping to anyway.  

- Carol