Apologies to the Squirrel

Tags

garden, garden fence, gardening, nature, outdoors, small space gardening

Ok, so I’m going to have to say something here that I am particularly not fond of saying. Hold on to your knickers, folks! I was wrong. Yes, when I comfortably cast aspersions on my furry, four legged neighbor, I cast them on the wrong rodent. We came home from a few errands in the early evening yesterday to find the real culprit crouching in my garden. He quickly scampered his little thieving butt right under the fence and out of the yard. I had no idea that we had these kinds of neighbors or that one could fit so easily under our gate, and thus, I wrongly accused the neighbor that I knew could hop over it.

Now, the garden grabber moved way too swiftly to catch on camera; however, we did make use of our resident sketch artist and 15-year-old son, Bryan, to create a portrait of the culprit. My husband got the best look at the fuzzy suspect and sat down with the sketch artist to come up with this:

Yes, it was the bunny. That foul, little garden thief of old who stole from Mr. McGregor and many other food growers throughout the centuries. I am one of many, and now I have this:

a garden fence. Add that to the fishing line, the ribbon, the pinwheels, and my scare-thing, and my garden is a veritable fortress against garden thievery! I’m just hoping it’s not the Garden Alamo – worthy, but doomed. Wish me luck!

Blooming Zucchini, Batman!

Tags

garden, gardening, outdoors, small space gardening, trash can potatoes

Isn’t that pretty? My zucchini plants are huge and they have these beautiful flowers all over them. I just love squash flowers. I didn’t know they had such beautiful flowers until I accidentally grew a pumpkin patch. One year, we threw all of the pumpkin seeds from our jack o’lantern into the front flower bed. That flower bed was a bird magnet, so I figured they’d all get eaten up. The following spring, some nasty little caterpillar attacked the bushes and they had to be all torn out. Not having the cash to dole out for new bushes, I planted some seasonal flowers instead. When they died off in the fall, suddenly a whole patch of pumpkin plants grew in. It was so cool! We never got pumpkins out of it because of a freak early freeze, but the flowers were stunning!

The zucchini flowers are neat. They open up in the morning and close up in the evening. I’m not sure how long before they die off into actual zucchini. Good thing I’m mad for the little green squash or I would seriously mourn the loss of those flowers!

My strawberries, on the other hand, my poor little strawberries… We went camping last weekend in Fort Mountain State Park, GA, and while we were gone, something ran amuck in my berries! I don’t know if it was a bird, but I’m thinking maybe a squirrel made the breakthrough because the fishing line was snapped. Birds hate fishing line, but have you ever watched squirrels break through all those “squirrel proof” bird feeders? Squirrels are a lot like honey badger, squirrel don’t care! I may be casting aspersions on my little furry-tailed rodent neighbors, but I feel pretty comfortable in my assessment.

Guess what? The tomato rallied! I’m so glad I didn’t give up on the little guy. I have cute jelly bean shaped Roma tomatoes starting to grow.

The plant still isn’t very large, but I’m growing actual maters. Yay me!

I added dirt to the trash can potatoes before we left to go camping and in the three short days we were gone, they grew so much I had to add more!

It’s really neat how you keep adding dirt, and the plants keep adding potatoes. But, it’s also kind of odd too. You don’t just cover up stalk, you have to cover up the leaves and branches that are lower down too. It makes me feel kind of like the bad dude in a Hitchcock film. Seriously, I’m burying something alive in order to make it grow into what I want it to be. A little creepy! The plant responds very quickly and starts growing back up out of the dirt. I’m trying to decide if it’s happily growing upward or trying to escape a premature grave!

And this is why I write. Can you imagine if I kept all that craziness locked up in my skull? Screaming potato plant leaves struggling to escape the suffocating dirt? Nope, it’s much better to let it out in a good, entertaining story!

Take the left lane to Clarksville

Tags

Clarksville, road trips

Clarksville is the town just outside of Ft. Campbell on the Tennessee side. Every time we pass this sign on I-24, I start singing. You know you would too!

A Poem and a Confession

Tags

abuse survival, abuse survivor, domestic abuse, domestic violence, poem, poetry

My husband and a few select friends know; most people who know me do not. But, it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. Nine years ago, I took back control of my life and left an abusive relationship. No one, least of all me, ever expected that I, a feisty redhead with a quick tongue, could be caught up and controlled that way. It doesn’t happen all at once. I wasn’t courted with, “Hi, I’m an abusive drunk. Want to give marriage a whirl?” No, he was an absolute prince at first. Abuse creeps up on you, slowly, until in a Tsunami like wave you are caught up and washed away into the abyss of absolute control. You are drowning in it with no way out in sight. I drifted for a while, just keeping my head above water. Just surviving. Then, one day, someone tossed me a life ring. That someone reached into my very soul, found the fight that was left and challenged me to use it. I grabbed hold and swam.

This poem is about the moment I ended it. It wasn’t some big forceful yell of GET OUT. It was quiet, a whisper. But every bit of who I am finally came rushing back to me with those quiet words. I guess he was unconvinced because we had to go through this twice. I worked both instances into one poem because, though the attempts were twice, the process of recovering myself was one long work that took years beyond his leaving. Both attempts were very similar, save one difference. The first time I crouched; the last time I stood.

I chose to merge my poem with this picture that I took of a fortress because I believe it exemplifies quiet strength. The print appears tiny, but if you click on the picture, it will open up large enough to read.

My Strange Little Scarecrow

Tags

garden, gardening, outdoors, small space gardening, trash can potatoes

Do you see what is missing in this picture?

The strawberry! I walked out to check on my garden this morning and scared the poo out of several feathered friends feasting on my strawberries! Doggone birds really did a number on my two little plants. I’m not too worried about the strawberries because I was never going to get enough fruit to do much with out of my two little plants. Those were just for my strawberry loving four-year-old to enjoy growing. We’ll go picking at a local farm to fill his berry needs. But, my zucchini have grown by leaps and bounds and I will pluck a bird who touches my zucchini!

Simon and I took action! We looked up on the Old Farmer’s Almanac for ideas. Who knows more about gardening than an old farmer? Umm, nobody! The old farmer said to string some fishing line around the bed and to put up stuff like balloons to scare them away. Ok, fishing line – check!

Scary stuff? Hmm… I’m out of balloons and a storm is coming, so we’re staying home this morning. How about a scarecrow? I figured we could dress up an old stuffed animal and asked Simon for one he didn’t want. He told me he had a scary stuffed animal and brought me this thing.

Yeah, that is a strange one! He got that at Busch Gardens and I’ve always thought it was pretty weird. We attached it to an old spring-loaded drapery rod and now it’s out there just a-bobbin and a-weavin away, waving it’s crazy, rubber hair all in the breeze! And so far, so good. I watched one little birdie bump into to the wire, fall back and curse like a sailor before he flew away. I think he might of even flipped me off! Then another little bird hopped up from the ground and sat courageously on the box, until Mr. Strange Scarecrow moved in the breeze. You could almost hear him yell, “Holy *@$%! What is that thing?!” It was awesome.

I don’t know how long or how well this will work, but we will try to stay one step ahead of those flying thieves. One thing we don’t have to worry about the birds stealing is the potatoes. They grow under the dirt – yeah! Of course, there are all kinds of little bugs we have to watch out for. This growing stuff is not easy, I tell ya. But it’s fun! My trash can potatoes are growing like wild fire.

It will be time to add my next layer of dirt soon, maybe even next week. I’ll let you know! My tomatoes look like they might rally and come back. I was all ready to go replace the plant, and then this morning he started looking pretty spry. Giving up on him just doesn’t seem quite right. Man, am I a sucker for the underdog. Of course, when it comes to gardening, I am the underdog. Ok, tomato plant, we’re in this together. I’ve got your back with the water, the feeding and the weeding. It’s up to you to grow and I know you can do it. Now, get out there and fight like the confusing really-a-fruit-and-not-a-vegetable you are!

The Bravest Little Soldier in the Army

Tags

military brat, military child, Month of the Military Child, National Poetry Month, poem, poetry

I wrote this poem in April to celebrate the Month of the Military Child, National Poetry Month, and, of course, my two awesome little military brats!

The Bravest Little Soldier in the Army

He waits by the phone
For his chance to talk
He waits by the door
To hear boots up the walk
He waits to find out where
We will move next
And each time we do
He does his best
To make new friends
At each new home
To make each new room
His very own
To wait for dad
Be brave and not cry
It’s not always easy
But he’ll always try
He’s the bravest little soldier
In the Army

Hey, Buddy!

Tags

gardening, outdoors, small space gardening, trash can potatoes

Remember those trash can potatoes I planted a week ago? They’re starting to pop up out of the dirt! Check it out:

Do you see that? They’re teeny, but mighty, and there are several of them. I’m so excited! My summer strawberries are going well too. I had more space for them than I realized, so I think I will plant a couple more. According to the zone planting guide, I still have a little time to get them in the ground.

Now for the other plants, things are going a little differently since I released them from their earth plant prison. The zucchini are starting to take off rather well. Although one of the plants is stumbling along quite a bit slower than the others, all four plants have sprouted new leaves and have these pretty little buds in the middle.

I love how vibrantly golden and green they are. My peppers are very slowly starting to respond like a petulant teenager bent on proving that although you can make him do it, you can’t make him do it quickly. I’m holding out hope. But the tomato plant… oh the tomato plant.

Poor guy looks completely tuckered out and I’m not sure he’s up to the task of bouncing back. He’s not getting any bigger and I’m not sure he will be able to support the tomatoes that might grow from those two sad little buds he sporting. I’m giving him just a little more time, and then if he doesn’t make it, I fully intend on cheating. The Amish garden store has some lovely tomato plants that are quite a bit further along and ready for purchase. I just really want to grow an actual tomato and then slice it up on a toasted BLT. I have big dreams!

Instagramming Spring

Tags

nature, outdoors, photography, spring

When you grow up in Florida, Spring means something completely different than what you see on TV. Oh, sure, it’s the next season after Winter, you get baskets full of sugar on Easter, and you get that weeklong break from school, but that’s where the similarities end. On TV, the snow melted and the earth came alive in tones of yellow and green that were at once soft and brilliant. In Florida, it’s always green and only M&M’s come in pastels. On TV, all the birds came back and people began to go outside and enjoy themselves in earnest anticipation of long summer days and warm summer nights. In Florida, all the birds, snowbirds included, leave to go back up north and hoards of insects return. People scramble outside desperately soaking up every not-so-hot moment in anticipation of the impending brutal heat and humidity of summer that lasts throughout the day and night. Some people love the barely changing seasons and wraps-around-you-like-a-stifling-hot-wet-blanket heat of Florida. Obviously, I am not one of those!

So, when we moved to Fort Campbell, I got very excited about the idea of actual “as seen on TV” seasons.  We moved in December, and while many of the locals complained about the occasional snow, I reveled in it. Heck, I rolled in it! Next came Spring. I have been in complete shock and awe over the loveliness of it. I finally understand why Spring colors are what they are. The weather warmed up and everywhere I looked fairly exploded in soft, and yet somehow brilliant, colors. I was also blessed with a particularly awesome gift. A little robin made her home on our fencepost and our family has been able to watch Spring come alive in our backyard. We watched as Robin built up her little nest layer by layer. Then we witnessed her lay four beautifully blue eggs, one by one, over the course of four days. She sat patiently through cold Spring rains and windy days until her little baby birds made their appearance.

Then, we learned how brutal Spring can be too. One little egg just won’t hatch, so we’re waiting to see what happens with that. And one baby bird didn’t make it. He ended up in a tiny little pile on the ground. It was pretty sad. However, having boys meant that they were more interested in the circle of life and how the ants immediately began feasting on the ex-bird. Now they are waiting to see what happens to the unhatched egg, and more importantly, what eats it. Yeesh! Boys!

Anyway, I took four different pictures of the egg laying process and uploaded them into Instagram to give them a cool look. I’m pretty happy with how the experiment turned out and I’m thinking about printing it out and framing it for my wall – ant ridden bird excluded!

My Voice

Tags

gender studies, poem, poetry, voting, women

I wrote this poem while reflecting on what it meant, as a woman, to be a part of a “voting block.” I didn’t like it. I don’t like the idea that people should be grouped together by virtue of some basic commonality such as gender, race, or religion, and condescended to as if having that commonality means that I should think and vote a certain way. In fact, I wholly reject the notion. I’m an individual and I will think, vote, and express myself as such.

My Voice

I have a voice
It was given to me by
My mother
And her mother
And every mother’s mother
Before her
I heard it whispered to me
With the first I love you
I felt it passed down to me,
Through the generations,
A voice that says
You were meant to be
You were meant to be here
You have a purpose

I have a voice
It was given to me by
Every woman who came
To this great land
Whether by
Land bridge
Boat
Force
She, whose every effort,
Took us down varying paths
Toward the same freedom
She struggled to be
She struggled to be here
She knew she had purpose

I have a voice
It was given to me
By brave suffragettes
Who stood up and said
No
My voice is not a mere
Reflection of my
Husband
Brother
Father
My voice is that of an individual
I am
I am here
I have purpose

I have a voice
It was given to me
It is my
Gift
Birthright
Own
You may not agree with me
You may not like me
But you will hear me
I am here
By design
With a purpose
I have a voice
And I will be heard

Trash Can Potatoes

Tags

garden, outdoors, potatoes, small space gardening, trash can potatoes

“Do you like potatoes?” Heck yeah, I do!

“Do you have a limited garden space?” What a nice way to say I have a small backyard!

“Well, then, why haven’t you tried trash can potatoes?” Um, say what?

Apparently, you can grow potatoes, a lot of potatoes, in a trash can. Ok, let’s give it a shot! I looked through several sites and YouTube videos, and this is a collection of the information I found. For the most part, everybody said pretty much the same thing.

First, I needed to locate seed potatoes. Ordinary supermarket potatoes have been sprayed with something called “stop bud” to keep them from becoming potato plants before they get bought. You can find seed potatoes at some garden centers, or you can use organic potatoes that haven’t been sprayed. Now that we are at Fort Campbell, I can drive a short distance away to the Amish stores, and since I love any excuse to go to the Amish stores, that’s where I bought my potatoes. Check out these blooming beauties! Fifty cents a pop and they came with a sidecar of charming conversation with a lovely Amish grandma, as well as a fun time getting lost in the country with a good friend.

The next thing I needed was a 30 gallon garbage can and a bag of potting soil. Potatoes are particular about water; too little and they get all misshapen, too much and they quickly rot. So, I used a moisture control potting soil that had been premixed with compost. It’s slightly more expensive than regular potting soil, but given that I am such a growing stuff novice, I felt it was a good investment. I also drilled out holes in the bottom of the garbage can and about six inches up the sides to ensure good drainage.

Now, it’s time to plant! I chose two small potatoes and two large ones to conduct my potato experiment. With the large ones, you are supposed to cut the buds off with a big chunk of the potato rather than burying the whole potato, like you do with the small ones. So, I have two cut potatoes, and two whole ones. I buried them in six inches of dirt and put the can out on the patio where it will get at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Pretty impressive can o’ dirt, don’t ya think? And yes, that’s my A/C unit. Now, when the potato plants grow up six inches, I add three inches of dirt. When they grow six more, I add three more inches dirt, and so on and so forth. When the can is full, I continue to water like I have been (so that the soil is moist, but not soaked), and when the plants grow yellow and die, it’s time to harvest! Just turn the can over and pull out the potatoes. That’s supposed to happen sometime around mid to late summer. I think I can do this!

 

UPDATES:  Hey, Buddy!  My Strange Little Scarecrow  Blooming Zucchini, Batman!  Teenage Potatoes  Split Tomatoes and Growing Tomatoes