What a beautiful day it's been today? Like summer has returned. How many more of these days will we get before winter sets in? It was a beautiful day to plant bulbs and plan for spring. So I spent some time picking out tulips and narcissus from the huge selection at the garden centre and returned home to plant them, digging up wet clods of earth and putting the bulbs to bed in the damp, cool soil. I visualised them blooming, I could almost hear their contented sigh as the chilled earth embraced them like a blanket and switched off the light. Perhaps my age is catching up with me? Not that long ago I'd have had no interest whatsoever in being in the garden, let alone find it relaxing. Oh dear!
However I have gained much pleasure in my small patch of earth this year, it has been a place to relax and reflect and I have needed both in equal measure. For sometimes I feel that I can't keep pace with life and it's not just a feeling, it's my whole being knowing that living life at this pace is not sustainable, at the moment I am swimming as fast as I can.
Of course work is demanding, promotion last month meant stepping up a gear and I have enjoyed the challenge, be it ever so frustrating at times. However I guess the main pressure is sustaining a house, garden and 2 kids single handed. A colleague at work mentioned that her husband had been away working for a week and what a relief it was that he was home again to share the jobs and the childcare - mostly the childcare! I sighed inwardly. There are no colour coded jobs in this house, no pink for dish washing and blue for taking out the bins, nope, not here. And to be honest I'm not complaining, I like the independence- a lot, but that doesn't mean it's not exhausting. Perhaps I just need a wife!
Reminds me of a comment from a young professional woman (married with young children) to my wife, after J had conducted a funeral. "What our family really needs is a wife." Yes, pastors hear it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd some things don't change.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Yes, my nan used to say that all husbands do is make more work...
ReplyDeleteAs I read this the rain is battering the skylights and there's a torrent of water rushing down the hill! I'm not yet into gardening, but I do find the more destructive elements appealing, when I'm stressed. Exterminating the dandelions in the patio with boiling water gives me particular pleasure!
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful werather seems to have passed and its really cold!
ReplyDeleteI also have enjoyed pottering in the garden over the years. Wish I could do more heavy work though.
I look forward to the Spring bulbs next year!
I don't know about a wife..... but I think it'd be useful to have a live in handyman!
Maggie x
Nuts in May
Or another pair of hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate that largely despite my involvement in the marriage rather than because of it my wide and I are still together after 28 years! We actually work well as a team and whilst we may have some blue and pink stickers do share things around and we do work pretty well as a team when building flat pack furniture etc. I am reminded through your openness here to be ever grateful for that, thank you
ReplyDeleteYes, I used to wish for a wife many days, too:) Even though I'm married, my husband was never much help with housework or cooking, so most of the lot fell to me. To be fair, I will give him credit for helping with childcare and chauffering the kids around most of the time, though.
ReplyDeleteGardening does take a lot of work and time, but I find it's a great stress reliever. And there's nothing more hopeful than planting bulbs for the spring--I haven't even started that job yet!