Clipped Wings

I have a to-do list at least several pages long....the garage needs organizing, the garden needs tending to (well, okay...the "tending" is actually the fact that I need to PLANT the veggie garden), I have several painting projects lined up, and there's always my Sunday morning walks along the beach with my best childhood friend.  With all of these tasks awaiting my attention, injuring my lower back was certainly NOT on my to-do list. I've been out-of-commission since March 3rd and let me tell you...when your life is suddenly limited to sitting, laying down and moving very carefully...mingled with trips to the doctors and various procedures to set things right again...that to-do list ends up mocking you. (I can hear it chuckling and sneering from my desk).

On the bright side, the income taxes are done and filed, I'm now working on reading book #5 from the pile on my nightstand and I've had more time to do the things I never seem to have time to do (like contemplating paint colors for the master bedroom), so it hasn't been a total waste of time. It's also given me time to slow down a bit....think about things...and realize that this little blip on life's radar has really been a blessing in some ways. I've spent more time with my parents, my husband and the kids...I'm not rushing off here or there...and I've had time to watch the flowers in the front yard grow...time to keep a better eye on the herbs in the old washtub on the back patio...more time to chit chat with the neighbors (on the few occasions when I've managed to hobble out for some fresh air and sunshine). The good thing is that to-do list will be there when my back has mended itself, and in the meantime I've had a little respite from life's hamster wheel. It's all in how you choose to look at tings. Life's challenges are what you choose to make of them - and I'm making good use of the time I've been given to slow down and smell the flowers. - S.

A Dandelion Perspective

What do YOU see?

Last weekend I received another lesson on Perspective. It's one of those skills that really needs to be presented to us over and over again so that we don't forget how to use it. Luckily, I have a 5 year old who keeps my Perspective skills up to her standards.

We're in a drought here, so we haven't really paid much attention to the back lawn lately (truth be told, I'd love to rip OUT the lawn and put in raised vegetable beds, or a lovely patio area, but that's a subject for another conversation). Instead of a well-trimmed lawn, the dandelions have taken over. Now most of us would be embarrassed at letting our lawn "go to weeds," but apparently having several dozen dandelions scattered around is actually cause for great joy and excitement! The Princess was in the back yard with her two little friends when I heard an exclamation! "Look!.....dandelions!.....everywhere!" I watched as three little girls ran joyfully around the backyard...picking dandelions and blowing them (which, no doubt, will lead to even MORE dandelions). I stood and watched their delightful discovery play out. It made me think: Life is all about perspective - how you choose to look at a weed. It can either bring you a sense of embarrassment and exasperation or it can lift your spirits and bring you pure joy and delight.

Luckily, the dandelions in our backyard are "joy and delight" dandelions.....not plain 'ol weeds, as I had previously thought. Who knew? The Princess knew....and she, once again, patiently taught me - It's all in how you choose to look at things. This weekend I've decided to "throw in the trowel" and leave the weeds to sit a bit longer. Instead, I think I'll give blowing dandelions a try - I'm sure THAT skill needs a little sharpening, too.

-S.

Gardening in an "Endless Summer"

It's been challenging to know what to put in the garden this year. The weatherman keeps promising "El Nino" weather and that we'll have lot's of rain, but so far it's just been an Endless Summer....and we're in February! Luckily, I decided a while back to start planting drought-tolerant landscape plants. If you're unsure of what to plant, I always recommend looking around at what's planted along the side of the road or highway. If it's surviving there (with all of that carbon-monoxide exhaust blowing at it every day) than it's definitely something that might have a fighting chance in the garden. One of my favorite plants is Plumbago auriculata. Aside from the fact that it's one of my favorite colors (Blue), it's very versatile. You can let it grow in to it's usual wispy bush, you can hedge it (it's particularly great at disguising chain-link fences, which is what I'm doing with it) or you can even keep it trimmed close to the ground for a low ground cover. It's drought tolerant and tough as nails. This weekend I'll be heading off to my local nursery to find some more "Endless Summer tolerant" plants to add to the Sandcastle Cottage garden. I'd love to hear what the weather's like in YOUR garden? What are you planting?