Made it to the north corner, about a foot wide swath, after work. Came home tired and strained, a cup of tea and a nibble, then dug in the late sun. Further to go, but all feeling very doable although certainly not done.
Using the excess soil, sifted, for the close planter box. The phrase "sons of toil covered in tons of soil" circling my brain as I worked. It's all laborious, but the point is thoroughness, not speed. I love efficiency, but this is not that kind of job. This is picking through every bit, caring for the tree roots, expunging the invading weeds, caring for this little spot of earth, and it's ability to give a home to the bees and spiders, bacteria and nematodes, birds and cats, as well as whatever other creatures may find solace here. Do it right now, and not have to do it again. Keep watch, maintain, but the bulk of the job done for as long as I need it done.
Neighbor with her babby stopped to chat and give us cookies* for a few minor kindnesses. She's fine with me taking said cookies into work, expected it really, with just the two of us. We try to be good people, nothing much really. She's looking so much better, recovering from pregnancy and premature delivery. Babby is a bright and lovely child, starting to find physiological stability from a too-early start.
My poor old back is dealing rather well, reassuring me that it really is largely healed. Normal sorts of aches, nothing electric, nothing persistent. After so long, this is so reassuring. Five years of constant pain, then the long, slow diminishment, leaves me here. Nine years on, and although I have to take care, use the roller, do my exercises, most days, I'm pretty good. Even when I've been digging and shoveling and pulling, after a solid day at work.
It's been a number of years since the last real migraine.
Incremental progress, only visible from a certain angle, after a stretch of time or distance.
*Store bought chocolate chip. Nice, but not our thing these days. OR people will demolish them with pleasure.
6 comments:
Thank you for your nice comment on my Flamboyant tree.
I saw this a bit ago, and thought of you and the transformations in your life, those without and those within.
http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/03/06/iterations-hitrecord/
You are making an Eden for yourself and your family. Luckily, your neighborhood gets the benefits, as well.
You've inspired me to try to do a thorough job of deweeding my raised beds this spring. I'll just need to have at the ready whatever I'll be planting as soon after the weeds are out, they'll come back again.
I'm going to research shade tolerant perennials to see what I can do and I'll let you know what I find when I post about it.
sonia,
You visited here years ago, I came across you comment, so I belatedly returned the call. And it is magnificent.
Crow,
Oh, wow. Read that at work, along with the other posts nearby. I will link it formally on the main post soon.
Phil,
Glad to be inspiration. It's good to dig in the mud. If yours ever deigns to melt.
i think most progress is only seen from a certain angle. just be glad it's seen - to pay attention, to look for such movement, is a sign of maturity? awareness? loveliness? all of the above!
pc,
It feels like patience to me. An underrated virtue.
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