Nature's Generous Reprieve

Late last fall, when I should have been diligently cleaning out the garden, we were busy with Stephen and Becca's move.  Not to mention by that time in the gardening year I have totally lost my ambition and it's easy to put the whole issue off until spring.  Some early snows and freezing temps put the nail in the coffin of my resolve to leave the garden tidy for the winter.  

But some very mild temperatures and lovely sunshine (plus the arrival of the first seed catalogs of the year) got my gardener's blood stirring once again.  It really bugged me to look out the sunroom windows and see the messiness in the garden.  So today I went out and cleaned out the dead vegetation from the rest of the garden boxes, cut down all the dried tomato vines still tied to the trellises and swept out the paths between the boxes.  Pete came and helped with a rake for the heavy stuff.  Two trips with the wagon to the burn pile and things are tidy out there again.  Mother Nature doesn't often give us second chances to right our wrongs but I'm very thankful we were able to finish the job!

As always, My Hero.

The field north of the barn is tidy and resting, too.

Now when I look out the sunroom window I see the garden peacefully sleeping instead of reproaching me for not finishing the job.  The sun is very low and even at noon the shadows are long.  

We had a lovely and quiet Christmas.  It was special to have this little guy with us this year.

When you are worn out from opening presents and playing with toys, there's no place like Opa's lap in a comfy chair.

Oma's lap is also a pretty good place, especially at church when there are lots of people around.