So we moved here In August 2010. My wonderful Sissy spent a week here moving us. Thanks sissy! Anyway, the first time I saw our back yard, it was a perfect oasis of fruits and veggies. It took us a few months before we actually moved in and by the time we got here I walked in to the back yard and almost cried. The owners of this house who had spent countless hours turning this yard in to the oasis that it was had moved and the yard had not been watered, mowed, or weeded in months. So it begins, my battle with the jungle behind my house. After we moved in, the scouts came over and helped as much as they could. It was mostly the Scout leaders working like crazy while the boys, well... ya know, they're boys. With the yard somewhat under control, fall and winter took over the yard work for a while. I've never appreciated the winter more! Spring 2011 hit with a renewed sense of love for my yard. That year we planted more veggies than our family could eat in a year. It was delightful; eggplant, squash, artichoke, potatoes, cantaloupe and about 40 tomato plants of all kinds. Just to name my favorites.
That summer I canned, juiced, jellied, and jammed my way through the fall. I got to feel a glimpse of my Grandmas as I learned their favorite recipes. Grandma George (see we weren't allowed to call adults by there 1st name. So my grandma's were Gm. George, Gm Clarke, Gm ford, Gm. Massey. In my family respect was the name of the game.) Anyway...so Grandma George. She made Jam like nobodies business. She had every possible kind you could think of and she kept it in her dark scary basement. When grandma called for jam we all cried "not it". Sometimes we could form of a group of cousins and it wouldn't be as freaky venturing into the scary darkness. You be the look out, I'll be the back up and we'll make Shane,(baby of the fam) go in and get the jelly! Grandma Sammie(my hubby's family call Grandmas by their 1st name, this shocked me!! Gm. Sammie and Gm Nina. In his family love was the name of the game) Gm Sammie; she canned tomatoes among other things or that's what I hear as my sister-in-law trusted me with her canning gear and taught me how to use it. The phrase "Grandma Sammie used to... " is a daily phrase in this family. I can only hope to leave a quarter of the legacy she did. Gm. Nina; now she was from the South so if it can be done, she could do it!! I made zucchini bread from Gm. Nina's recipe and my little 6year old said "I know this taste...it tastes like...GRANDMA NINA!" Gm. Nina would say "Trin look now, cut those kids a piece of that bread, it's good for 'em" It makes me tear up to type that, I can hear her voice. I miss that woman like crazy. But I digress...see the power of my back yard. It brings memories to life!
Winter gave me another much needed break and at this time, I went back to work. (Outside of the home.) One of the hardest tasks I've ever had to do. So when spring 2012 hit. I was working full time and prego. Mr. Grimes was a full time student/Mr. Mom and the yard fell into disrepair. At 5am as I got ready for work, I would mourn the sad dying jungle behind my house that was once so beautiful. The lawn got mowed(thanks Alan) and the orchard was watered-ish but that was about it. There were no tomatoes or jam in the house that fall, no zucchini bread. Just a void. Winter came and gave my poor heart a much needed break.
Here we are Summer 2013! This morning my yard is still alive and kicking and man does it hate me! The roses fought back as I tried to get them back in shape So I came in bleeding, sweaty, and dirty. It's not the first time this year. The raspberries, blackberries, and most of the trees in the orchard took their vengeance on me. The grapes and I have a truce, I've always loved grapevines, they bring me back to being a kid. I've left the hazel nut and almond trees to their own devices. They seem to be doing fine. The kids picked out some plants for Dads perfect garden this weekend and even they seem to hate me. But I'm determined to make Dad's Garden grow and to have tomatoes, squash, zucchini, jalapenos and some watermelon. I'm hoping to pull out my "Grandmas" cook book this year so I can add a dash of salt or a splash of lemon juice to what ever it is that I'm making.
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| The girlies helping in the yard. |
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| Rose beautiful/painful |
I will never be able to express my graduated for the opportunity to be the care taker of this house and yard. It has taught me so much about life and love.
Off I go to get on with my day, with the words to Natasha Bedingfield's song "Backyard," stuck in my head; "Simple days of hand in hand and drawing our names in the sand. Some how, life just complicates our buried treasure, it just waits...lost in the back yard...."
*note anytime I say "I" it should say "we". For every hour I spend on yard work Mr. Grimes spends 2. With out him this yard would swallow me whole.
