Rain, Rain, Go Away On Election Day

Well, now we're back to our regular time and I'm surprised by how dark it is—seems like all the time now—dark, dark, dark. Of course the last few days have been so rainy—which makes it even darker. I have a full-spectrum light that I sit by when I write. This is during the low light season, so it is time to start. That and Vit D for mental health.

So today is the big day. I'm sure you don't need to be reminded to vote—it is everywhere you turn. And the TV ads have upped their intensity. I know one thing for sure, being a political candidate would be impossible for me. Too highly stressed of a job. I think the attack ads should be banned.

Plenty of sleep is the answer to stress, and exercise and fresh air. And eating right and doing the work (art, writing, etc). I've been putting together a book on marriage and divorce and if I rattle on about it, it is because I'm constantly trying to figure out how I really feel about the whole thing. I recorded the deed to the condo in my name yesterday. The 11^th is supposed to be the final recorded date of the divorce (if he signs the divorce decree, that is). All these transitions bring up new levels of pain. This one, the completing one, means I'm alone completely now—of course I was before too. At least it looked like I wasn't. Alone is not something I like. Therefore, community garden, community writing classes, etc. etc. Community. I believe this is something we need more of--community. If we all had to stick around our villages and towns, that would happen. We've sprawled and that has disconnected us. I love the town I live in because it is relatively small.

In the picture above, my friend has mulched much of her garden with burlap bags. This is something I need to start doing, keeping the rows between the plants weed-free with burlap or cardboard. It works, except the slugs congregate beneath all that covering. I'll try it next year. I think the beautifully weeded gardens attract more deer. Mine, with it's weeds, hides the plants from their munching. Okay, I'm short on words today. So much going on in the collective.

Best in life, Flower

Garden Decor

I fetched from my old home a sundial, a purple glass garden globe, a rusty grate I found on the beach, and a potted fern (a gift from my gardening friend.) These items are in my garden room, (my community plot) the room without a water view--I'm not bitter.

I told you about garden rooms before; you can make them out of patios, in conjunction with outbuildings, in groves of greesn, in different parts of the yard, and around porches. I now will attempt to make my plot into a garden room--have no idea how I'll do that yet, but I carted a couple of things over there today--so soon, I'll upload a picture of what I'm attempting to create. I imagine myself sitting there in my garden, watching the foot long beans grow.

Now this is an amazing thing, the zucchini plants are acutally growing, as are the beans. I saw the sweet little spinach double leafs have popped through the soil--huh, maybe that was the kale. In any event, things are up and growing. Guess the garden just needed some heat.

At the old house (not really old, just nearly no longer mine) raspberries are taking over the garden plot. And fruit trees that the arborist suggested we pull out and plant tiny trees instead, are huge. Don't be fooled by semi-dwarf--what you want for a small space is dwarf. Whether or not those big trees will be replaced with smaller trees is no longer my choice. Oh well. What's the saying, ke sura sura.

Did I say the ivy is overgrown again. Another item to not encourage, that and butterfly bush.

What I learned this weekend: let go. Life is short. It will change whether you're willing to change with it, so might as well get on the band wagon; create what you want. If you stay stuck in what is not working, it will continue to not work. Create something new. Gardens know all about this. Create something, anything, even if it is a weed.

Oh, those are more pictures of old growth forests. They are creating new by growing ferns along their mossy surfaces--and other plants. They are giants, so awesome I'm still breathing in their essense.

More later. Flower!