Well that's that. I've decided against planting a vegetable garden this year.
I love having a garden. I especially love walking out there in the afternoon and picking a handful of green beans for that evening's dinner or grabbing a zucchini to grate for fresh zucchini bread. And I love the physical work it takes to keep the garden at its best. But the time and attention it needs are more than I am willing to give it this year.
Last year I had a pretty successful garden. Not the best garden ever, but my best garden ever. So the decision to not plant this year is bittersweet.
I'm being realistic. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
Sometimes reality bites.
I don't expect to be around much this summer as the kids and I will be visiting Steve as much as possible, wherever he is working. So it's either mourn for the gardenless summer now and get it over with, or kick myself later for taking it on when I knew I shouldn't have.
I do plan to have my own little salsa garden on the deck - a tomato plant or two, a couple of jalapeno plants, and a cilantro plant, all in pots (I'll buy the onions and limes and Corona and chips) - and that will give my green thumb something to fidget with.
(Yeah, I don't really have a green thumb, but it sounded right.)
As I have in other areas of my life, I am making a choice to pare things down in the extracurricular activities department. Eliminating the garden for this one year allows me to focus on other things that need my attention right now. Next spring when planting time comes around I will reevaluate and see how things look. Perhaps our circumstances will be different and I can look forward to spending the summer a little closer to home. Maybe not. Nobody knows.
So goodbye for now, garden. I feel liberated knowing you won't be hogging my attention and sapping my energy, but I will miss you all the same.
Aww that is sad! I was looking forward to hearing about all of the lovely food you were growing!
ReplyDeleteI had the same thought as the poster above - how sad until I saw you will have a small "salsa garden". That should satisfy your desire to grow your own fresh vegetables. I think the trade off though is definitely worth it in that you'll be able to travel and see your hubby. Have a great and safe summer!
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to writing about it, Andrea! But Cathy is right, I will appreciate having at least a little something growing, and also not having to worry about what's happening or not happening in the garden while we are traveling.
ReplyDeletec'est la vie!
Good for you knowing your limitations! At least you didn't plant it, tend it and then come home to find it overgrown or dead. As a college friend was fond of saying, this too shall pass. I remind myself often when I can't do X or Y because my kids are little that this is just a stage and soon enough I'll be back to "normal" (whatever that is!).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Camille. :) It's so hard to "limit" ourselves sometimes, though! I hate admitting I can't do it all.
ReplyDelete