Gardening Mice

[lydamorehouse]

I skipped working out today in order to continue working on the gardens. We have this nasty tangle at the side of our house which I spent much of this morning taming. I discovered a couple of volunteer bleeding hearts (not the showy old-fashioned ones, but the other fern-like ones) that I moved around. I also added more of my mother's day lillies here and there, filling in the empty spots made when I removed several ginormous trees that I some how never noticed growing right next to the house's foundation.

Today I realized why I suck at gardening (for the most part). I don't like to pull ANYTHING, especially if it's, well, green and growing. And, really, to have a half decent-looking garden you have to be fairly merciless, even with "good" plants (as opposed to obvious weeds) when they jump their assigned areas. I sublimated by uprooting plants and moving them around, like the volunteer bleeding hearts and a couple of hostas (which are, at least, fairly indestructable.)

I'm also watering the beejeezus out of the yard, which was a bit like working in dust, despite the bit of spit we got from the sky yesterday.

Now I plan to work on Mouse. I should probably be starting on Tate's new YA project, except I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to be writing that in first person or third. I've got an e-mail into my editor, but she's on vacation until next week. I figured that was a sign that I should work on the prequel.

Ms. Ball is sitting on my lap, purring. I think she's worried about me, and figures when I come in from gardening I might be sad. I'm okay, puss. Today was a GOOD day. The sun is shining, and, despite the dryness, it's hard not to appreciate that. I could easily have spent the day puttering about in the garden (and god/dess knows it could use the work!) But I figured it was time for lunch and some writing.

Speaking of which, I just signed and sent back the contract to the Biblical horror anthology that bought "Jawbone of an Ass," my re-telling of the Samson story from the point of view of his first wife (not Delilah.) The anthology is currently being called She Nailed a Stake Throug His Head, which I think is very nicely evocative, though I always liked the line in the Bible where "he tied his ass to a tree and fell on his face." But I guess I just like the word ass.

Hope you all are well. I'm planning on finally heading out tonight to see "Star Trek" with Shawn. I've hired the babysitter and everything.

Comments

[silverwaterfall.livejournal.com]

I absolutely relate to the problem of not being able to pull out plants. I even feel sorry for the weeds. And then after all the care of raising seedlings, I'm supposed to cull the "weaklings?" Awful.

I call it 'editing the garden'

[tabor330.livejournal.com]

I used to be so sentimental about plants. I hated to pull anything that grew and was even remotely useful/pretty. No longer. A weed is anything that is not where I want it. It's just like editing writing. Some things are wonderful, BUT, they don't belong right 'there.'

And then, there is that Jack in the Pulpit that I just can't either move or pull. So, I'm a big marshmallow after all.