The Upswing
January 18, 2011 After some TLC, herbal remedies, decongestants, and lots of sleep, I'm happy to report that I'm getting back to my old, ornery self. And since I was the tail end of our entire family being sick, our household in general is feeling much more back to normal.
On Sunday I still wasn't feeling all too energetic, so after church, I curled up on the couch with these...
Seed catalogues. Is there anything better in the world?
(Yes, there is. But in that moment, these were pure bliss. Sometimes you just get what you need.)
I would dare say that looking at all of the vibrant pictures of fresh veggies, flowers and trees helped to heal me. It was almost overwhelming to my eyes... The stark contrast of their bold, exuberant colors against the stark whiteness of our current world. At first I thought it might be a bit early to begin plotting my spring/summer planting plans, but after I began perusing the catalogues, I realized that it really is best that I start now.
Get the overwhelm-ed-ness overwith.
Regain my rationale.
So that I don't launch myself into a seed planting frenzy, the implications of which I am ill-prepared to deal with. (Think: weeding and hoeing myself into delirium.)
Don't get me wrong, I'm going to plant a lot of stuff. But this early strategizing gives me time to convince myself that planting kumquats and figs maybe isn't the best usage of my limited time.
That said, I'm thinking that I want to delve into planting a few fruit trees this year. We already have a couple of apple trees, but they are getting older and haven't produced as well the last couple years, so I thought it might be time to introduce a couple of new ones. I'd also really like to try my hand at a couple of plum trees and apricot trees.
Maybe it's all just a pipe dream, but a gal has to find some sort of inspiration when in the middle of a January cold snap. And I don't mean, "Oh, it's a bit chilly." It is seriously cold. And seriously white. Seriously beautiful in its own way, but a time comes when you just can't help but long for the lush green foliage of summer.
So dream of fruit trees I shall. What about you? What's keeping you going through the winter?
Gardening
Reader Comments (6)
I have been thinking about my garden too, Laura! I am ready to start planting and canning! I am so glad you are feeling better. I've missed reading your posts.
Glad to hear that you're feeling better!
Somehow, when I'm back at home in the country, I can handle the winter much better than when I'm in the city. Chicago is just so dreary in the winter- everything is gray. And close together. I start getting claustrophobic. So I have a picture of a quiet lake with a sunset overhead (or a picture of a cornfield- both pictures work) on my computer desktop, and that usually helps. A little.
To me seed catalogs mean that there is hope.
That under all those millions of inches of snow there is dirt, waiting to be dug in and uhmmmmm, I love that earthy smell!
Glad you are feeling better.
Glad that you are getting better too - and I need to do a "here at home" post for you to cheer you up and remind you that sumer will come again :-)
I'm embarrassed to say, this farm girl has never planted her own garden. I have great intentions every year, but I just don't seem to get it done. Maybe this will be the year...I hope!
After the recent deep freeze, I'm finally ready to start looking at those seed catalogs too...it reminds me that this will all end and life will spring outdoors once again. Glad you and the family are feeling better!