Touch ground
Dig around
Find the sound
Sing what’s found
What was heard
Soul winged bird
Dust devils
Windy revels
Dust in the air
Dirt in the hair
Dig around
Touch ground – S. Bechtold

Whoo I needed that break.

Not everything is complete. I should have realized that the State Tax and Revenue office would be too busy to take my calls around tax season. I will continue to keep reaching out to them until they have time to answer back. My taxes are filed but registering a new business requires their attention. And so, time and tide happen on their terms not mine and I remain persistent and patient.

Have you ever been absolutely tickled that you were wrong? I was wrong about the apricot tree and I am overjoyed at the enormous amount of fruit that is populating its branches. The pomegranate is about to go off and the olive tree is laden with clusters of blooms to be. The weather was so strange this year that the plants appear to be thriving rather than their usual state of struggling. All of that is very good and I hope the harvests are plentiful because it looks like we’re going to need enough to share. Since the current trajectory looks grim, I’ve added pots of spinach, tomatoes, strawberries, and lettuce to my sunny patio next to the Marionberry (which already has a flower bud on it!). Also planned are sunflowers, onions, and garlic.

I forgot how much I loved gardening. For years, I lived in situations where gardening was not really possible. Whether it was due to being homeless, living in a north-facing apartment, or soil that had the drainage of a clay pot minus the drainage hole, it’s been over 20 years since I last had a garden of any sort. Even when I went to Master Gardener training I was working solely to further my mother’s garden dreams. Since finding this bit of joy again I am unwilling to let it go. I can’t do everything I want, there’s neither energy or time for all of it, I will be replacing my Monday blog with time spent in the garden. I’ll make it an extra long weekend and only write twice a week but hopefully with better editing and maybe broaden the scope. We shall see!

Thank you to everyone that’s been reading. All this fresh air and sunshine has got me thinking good thoughts. That’s one of the best things about weeding, it allows the mind to wander and put aside most modern distractions. Anyway. I’ll see y’all soon. I wish you a peaceful day with the warmth of the sun on your shoulders and the shade of the trees for your eyes.

• Susan