Sunday, April 25, 2010
Update: My Tree
Sadly, my gardenia did not survive the tractor mauling. The leaves are all brown and it leans painfully sideways now matter how many times I adjust the stake which is supposed to support it upright. Thanks, daughter!
I Need More Sleep
I just put a nasty trash bag inside the laundry room and threw away a load of laundry needing to be washed. It didn't even dawn on me till I went into the utility room to put the clothes in the washer and saw the garbage bag in the place where the clothes would have been. So I had to go out to the big cans and dig out our clothes, yuck! The neighbors already think I'm a few cards short of a deck so I'm not worried what they were thinking. It's official: I am NOT getting enough rest. haha! I'm getting tired of making these mistakes; putting milk in the oven and the coffee in the fridge...sigh.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Ahhh...Springtime!
It's so nice outside. This is the three weeks of the year here in Florida before the real heat arrives that we can air the house and survive leaving the AC off...butterflies flutter from azalea to wisteria...children are able to sprint through the sprinklers and blow bubbles in the backyard. It's truly God showing off; giving us just enough beauty to make up for the harsh cold weather we recently endured.
And did I mention the pollen? The boogie noses and yellow cars, the pool we painstakingly clean in preparation for the upcoming months just to watch helplessly as pollen clogs the filter...ah, yes-Spring is here.
We recently went to Home Depot and picked out some potted plants to put in the yard (we have tried seeds and tiny flowers in the past, but they just don't hold up well between the cats, kids, and my neglect). Whilst we were debating which plants were prettiest a gardenia tree caught my eye. It was beautiful-still a baby, but I saw it in the future-tall and strong and in full bloom; there is no comparison to the sweet smell of gardenia...I was intimidated by it youthfulness, you have to understand-I can kill artificial plants. Rick was intimidated by the 30 dollar price sticker, but I got my way and we came home with a cute gardenia tree for the front yard.
We planted it that evening-I carefully chose the perfect spot where I could see it from my kitchen window, since I spend so much time there. I felt a little silly, being so excited about a tree...Then I realized I don't care if it's silly: it's a little baby tree that I get to take care of and it's beautiful, and it's mine. So there.
Each night for the next week I went outside just after dusk after the kids were sleeping soundly and the dishes had been cleaned up and the laundry had..well, had been crammed into the utility room where I could continue to ignore it...I turned the hose on and diligently watered my very own tree, taking care to make sure all the leaves got a drink and saturating the ground all around the fragile little trunk. It made me happy for some reason I really don't know. I'm not exactly a nature girl. I hate bugs, I don't like sweat, all that, but this little tree brought me happiness.
A few afternoons ago I had the doors opened as usual so I could listen to the kids playing. I keep a close eye on them since we live in a subdivision where there are cars driving by. I heard the battery-powered ride-on tractor going and Luke was playing with Tupperware contentedly at my feet. It was a very peaceful day. Imagine my dismay when I glanced out the kitchen window and watched as my daughter plowed over my helpless, innocent tree with her tractor. I yelled out the window, "SARAH-STOP!", but it was too late. And I stood there for a moment too long-in shock-as she swerved around and took aim again, flattening the pitiful plant for a second time.
I flew outside and used every ounce of willpower that I had to NOT pick her up by her hair and throttle her. The smug, satisfied expression on her face just added insult to injury. I promptly gave Patrick a turn on the tractor (with strict instructions to stay the heck away from my tree!) and brought Sarah into the carport for a swat on the backside, which didn't phase her one bit.
It is uncertain whether the gardenia will live or die at press time. Say a prayer.
And did I mention the pollen? The boogie noses and yellow cars, the pool we painstakingly clean in preparation for the upcoming months just to watch helplessly as pollen clogs the filter...ah, yes-Spring is here.
We recently went to Home Depot and picked out some potted plants to put in the yard (we have tried seeds and tiny flowers in the past, but they just don't hold up well between the cats, kids, and my neglect). Whilst we were debating which plants were prettiest a gardenia tree caught my eye. It was beautiful-still a baby, but I saw it in the future-tall and strong and in full bloom; there is no comparison to the sweet smell of gardenia...I was intimidated by it youthfulness, you have to understand-I can kill artificial plants. Rick was intimidated by the 30 dollar price sticker, but I got my way and we came home with a cute gardenia tree for the front yard.
We planted it that evening-I carefully chose the perfect spot where I could see it from my kitchen window, since I spend so much time there. I felt a little silly, being so excited about a tree...Then I realized I don't care if it's silly: it's a little baby tree that I get to take care of and it's beautiful, and it's mine. So there.
Each night for the next week I went outside just after dusk after the kids were sleeping soundly and the dishes had been cleaned up and the laundry had..well, had been crammed into the utility room where I could continue to ignore it...I turned the hose on and diligently watered my very own tree, taking care to make sure all the leaves got a drink and saturating the ground all around the fragile little trunk. It made me happy for some reason I really don't know. I'm not exactly a nature girl. I hate bugs, I don't like sweat, all that, but this little tree brought me happiness.
A few afternoons ago I had the doors opened as usual so I could listen to the kids playing. I keep a close eye on them since we live in a subdivision where there are cars driving by. I heard the battery-powered ride-on tractor going and Luke was playing with Tupperware contentedly at my feet. It was a very peaceful day. Imagine my dismay when I glanced out the kitchen window and watched as my daughter plowed over my helpless, innocent tree with her tractor. I yelled out the window, "SARAH-STOP!", but it was too late. And I stood there for a moment too long-in shock-as she swerved around and took aim again, flattening the pitiful plant for a second time.
I flew outside and used every ounce of willpower that I had to NOT pick her up by her hair and throttle her. The smug, satisfied expression on her face just added insult to injury. I promptly gave Patrick a turn on the tractor (with strict instructions to stay the heck away from my tree!) and brought Sarah into the carport for a swat on the backside, which didn't phase her one bit.
It is uncertain whether the gardenia will live or die at press time. Say a prayer.
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