My Little Slice of Heaven

Over the past week, I've managed to think of several ideas for blog posts, but haven't had the time to write them.  Such is the life of the ambitious, gardening, homeschooling mom... some weeks - especially during planting season - are so much busier than you would think.

Last week was a doozy.  A pleasant set of tasks, to be sure, but, boy, did I have a lot to do!


Two days were consumed with lesson plans for our next units in homeschool: We're trying more unschooling techniques for the next two weeks and have some seriously fun activities planned.  We'll be learning Buys Ballot's Law and creating a weather log using traditional techniques for weather prediction, playing with flour and measuring spoons to get a handle on fractions, and going on an alliteration scavenger hunt. Having fun planned into each day through the next two weeks is as motivating to me as it is to the J-Rex - there is nothing like looking forward to numerous opportunities for enchanting moments!  

In the garden, my place of sanctuary and joy, I had a slew of tasks that the whole family pitched in to help me complete: We had tomatoes, radishes, spinach, lettuce, chard, and marigolds to thin...  We had some post-rain re-arranging of the garden to do...  We also planted our indoor herb garden (the hubby's pet project) and finished planting the summer squash, cucumbers, strawberries, dill, chives, savory, chamomile, parsley, cilantro, and aloe vera.  The porch has now become a dream of urban farming, with enough food and herbs to actually make a dent in our grocery bill this summer! It's hard work, but oh so satisfying.

Today, I get to sit on a porch engulfed in the beginnings of life as I drink my morning tea.  I walk slowly and deliberately through my garden, checking each plant, talking to them, and wishing them strength for a good growing season.  I breathe in the smell of wet dirt and herbs and I think to myself that, if heaven is what we make it, mine looks just like this life and this garden.