Thursday, May 21, 2015

Sunshine and Sore Muscles

We've been blessed with sunshine the last couple of days.  The temperature during the day is still staying only in the high 40s or low 50s, but the wonderful sunshine makes all the difference in the world.

Today we prepared the Upper Garden for some of the new strawberry plants.  The Upper Garden was formerly known as the Pumpkin Patch, but had to be renamed as it is now going to be permanently planted in asparagus and strawberries.  I wanted to call it the Asparaberry Patch or maybe the Strawagus Patch, but my better half decided it would be the Upper Garden.  (Sometimes he's just no fun at all.)

For a long time now, I've been studiously trying to avoid a rather large rock in the Upper Garden which lurks not far under the soil.  Today Papa Pea decided it had to go, and he was going to dig it out.


It turned out to be too big to dig out (unless we rented a good-sized backhoe), so he broke it up with a sledge and special chisel-type tool for . . . well, busting up big rocks.  As of this afternoon, that rock will haunt us no more.  (Methinks the man just searches for hard jobs.)

Got 50 of the strawberry plants settled in their new home, roots tucked in, a good drink of water applied and given instructions to (pretty please) grow into healthy, lush plants.  Now only 150 more to go.  (Would this be a good time for me to go on a trip?  Away from home?  Maybe until the strawberry plants have magically planted themselves?)  If my back and knees recover, we'll return to the planting tomorrow.  The rest of them will go in three long rows within the Field Garden.

Sunshine is forecast through this coming Sunday so I'll be spending as much time in the garden as I can.

A great way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend as far as I'm concerned.  Hope your holiday is great however you choose to spend it!

6 comments:

Sue said...

Wow-it's a shame that rock had to be broken up to get it out--that would have made a humdinger of a fancy address marker for your driveway.

Hubby and I plan to "HIDE" all weekend--though how do you hide from an endless procession of 4-wheelers and dirtbikes heading to the trails. Sigh. I hate summer. Ninety days of non-stop NOISE and PEOPLE. ARGH.

Wish I could help with the strawberry planting, but I'm a fussy helper. I need to be fed FRESH pie at least every couple hours. LOL!

DFW said...

Good luck with the strawberry planting! Busting up big rocks can . not . be fun, but when a man (or woman) sets their mind on something, well I guess they just HAVE to get it done. We've got mowing on our brains this weekend, along with some fishing.

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

It's about time y'all had some sun and beautiful weather!!!

50 slips done, and 150 more to go. I say, invite your adult children over this weekend. Have them finish planting the 150 slips for you, then have a BBQ. Use the BBQ as a disguise to get all the planting done :-)
(sneaky grin on my face). This way you don't have to worry about your knee's or back for the rest of the weekend.

Expected to rain all weekend. Monday we will pay our respects at the national cemetery and pay our respects to our fallen soldiers.

tpals said...

Looks like another big rock just waiting for you to want to expand the Upper Garden. What a job!

Mark said...

An interesting tidbit - My parents bought the house I grew up in from my grandparents on my father's side. Grampa was apparently one of the 'go to' guys when the rocks that were too big to be dug up and hauled out by the horse or mule teams worked there way to the surface. About the time I started to be able to walk, they decided the last of his 'toolkit' need to be taken out of the basement. Besides, I was told a number of years later, some of those boxes of dynamite were start to 'sweat' some.

I'm not sure about the 'sweaty' stuff, but every time I have to deal with big rock I wish just a little but of Grampa's stash. That would be LOTS more fun than swinging that sledge hammer.

Lisa said...

First of all, no offense to your husband, but I liked your creative labeling of the Upper Garden! But then 'round here I'm surrounded by two lamesters so maybe it's finally rubbing off, as I'm usually the 'serious' one. :) Glad you are finally getting a little sunshine and wow, that rock was one big rock! You are making me drool for strawberries! Hope you reap buckets and buckets of goodness next year for all your hard work this year!