Satisfying Work

I'm getting excited by the slow evolution of spring, which I think is clearly here, despite forecasts of snow for next week. (They were forecasting it for today, so I think we're ahead - for now.) The grackles and robins are insanely active, and are all over the lawn, the trees, and the bird feeder, singing and stabbing and swooping. I'm particularly enraptured by the metal gate creak and burble of the former in the trees, and the tip-and-run, tip-up motions of the latter on the lawn.

Today I went by the hardward store and came home with two shop lights, some grow light bulbs to put in them, and some chain to hang them with, and set up a small plant growing station in the garage. The lettuce seeds I planted last weekend have become little sprouts, with the seed-leaves just starting to turn green; they are now growing tall under the lamps. (Would you believe that the hardware store had no good gutter/roof-reaching ladders? They were all those shorter triangular ones that you use when painting indoors. Grumble, grumble.)

Since the afternoon was surprisingly mild, I took the opportunity to wander around the yard, seeing what was what. I raked up some old leaves into a pile I hope will evolve into compost over time, and picked up sticks shed by the maples over the winter. Every time I made a crackling sound the new neighbor's dog barked at me. (It's an old golden retriever, and I think it's partially blind. I can be right in its line of sight, and it does nothing, but step on a stick or rustle some leaves... bark! bark! bark!) I also eyed the apple/crabapple (it's either two trees that have grown too close together or a weird graft gone wrong); it's got all kinds of crazy twigs and branches growing in all directions. I suspect that this is the inevitable result of this being a rental property - who has time to look after a gnarled old tree in the backyard? This is not the season for pruning, but it's something to think about for next fall.

There was physical activity to a degree that made me feel like I was using my muscles and stir my appetite, but without causing strain or exhaustion. Putting the lamps together was a nice challenge both mentally and in terms of hand-eye coordination. (Plus I just like hardware stores -- good thing, since I ended up going twice.) Being outdoors was good too; the sounds of the birds and the streamlet in the back, the smell of the soil and the raked plants, the softness of the warming air, the color of the deepening light in the clouds and along the horizon... I liked picking up the sticks, I liked looking at my hands doing useful things, I like my new yellow-and-black gardening gloves (already christened with a layer of soil and decayed bark)...

All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Comments

[Claire]

Sounds like an excellent day! I wish I had more of an outdoor space attached to my apartment.

We're getting snow now in Chicago (though it was supposed to hit us last night), so if you're east of us, it might still be on its way...

[jo(e)]

Just reading this makes me start thinking about spring.

Oh, and about the long-enough ladder -- since it is something you would not use very often, I would borrow one from a neighbor. One ladder per neighborhood is really all you need ....

[Beth]

I love getting out in the spring . . . it's so exciting to see things sprout. And I envy you your lettuce. :) All I had the courage for this year were some tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.