I am still battling weeds here, which is how it goes. I decided that although wild asparagus does just grow wherever, cultivated asparagus must be weed free (I decided that by reading about it on the internets), and that requires me to just go out and weed the bed.
Do you ever think that other people's neat homes and gardens just come that way? I do. But then I remind myself that they are probably straightening up and weeding in the times I'm not around. Hence, I don't see them doing it, but I do see the results.
So maybe that asparagus bed I have in mind, the one I saw in a community garden where my poor plot was languishing, was weeded by someone, at some time, unbeknownst to me. Granted, the place was established with nice beds (other than mine) in mowed lawns, landscaping as far as the eye could see, literally to the edges of the city block (it was actually in a large town, but you know what I mean — there wasn't a jungle on the periphery, there were sidewalks and curbs). Still.
So I weeded yet again (Bindweed! The Curse!) and mulched my STRAWberries with STRAW (get it?? Some of us are slow learners).
Now, this straw was leftover from insulating the Chief's hives over the winter and furthermore had been rained on with that mighty rain we had a couple of weeks ago. Days and days of rain the drops of which were by no means separate entities but which joined together in sheets.
But you know me, Use What You Have, and hopefully I'm not spreading mold and grossness all over. And that explains the temporary messiness of its appearance. Just so gloppy.
So far so good, seems to have dried out okay since then.
Even if, in the coming days of summer, despite my best efforts, the weeds overtake again, I will have gained a little ground, I think. Anyway, it's worth trying.
I think that is some sort of metaphor for life. Today, a day I have long been dreading in the area of events and decisions in the big, wide world, I hope so.
In any case, it's worth seeing the beauty even in the small amount of order we can bring to our own little corners. Doing little things, even with not much promise of what the world calls success, is all most of us can do.
Doing little things with love, as best we can.
MJROFL says
My house has a name! It's “L'Orangerie” – the orange grove, in French. So named because we live in southwest Florida, surrounded by orange groves, and I'm always growing citrus in our tiny yard. Also, because I love all things French. My eldest sister's place is the “Briar Patch” and my middle sister's is 'the Lily Pad' (she's by a pond). Mum and Dad's new place has to get a name now, but it's on a lake, so that's much easier.
Thanks for the post…you're so right, we just do what we can – weed here, weed there. God doesn't call us to be successful, isn't that right? Just faithful. That's all we can be.
_Leila says
I like L'Orangerie.Elegant. I like Briar Patch — that would be suitably prickly for my family! I like the Lily Pad too!
Breanna says
Bindweed is evil. I've heard you can get rid of it two ways: 1) by squirting the leaves with Roundup (on a non-windy day, so the Roundup doesn't kill your other plants) and waiting for it to die or 2) by putting pigs on the area where the bindweed is, and letting them eat it for a year, rooting it out with their snouts. The Roundup seems simpler.
Suzette says
Lovely reflection. Faithful, steadfast, orderly, whew…sainthood is no wide path.
Anastasia says
Thank you Auntie Leila. I needed this today, especially the “Doing little things, even with not much promise of what the world calls success, is all most of us can do.”
Mary says
As much yuck there is in the decisions in the big, wide world today; it is a comfort and encouragement to see your beautiful photos, read your posts, see others through phfr and know there are many others doing with love. Thank you!
Marcia says
May I totally agree to all of Mary's points 🙂
Kate says
We've been trying to think of an apt name for our place in the ten years we've been here. We're surrounded by ranches and farms which already have names or families associates with them – the Bee Man's place, the Totem Pole house. We have some persistent mockingbirds, so we thought “Mockingbird Hill”, but our place is more on a slope than an actually hill. So it remains unnamed.
My husband is the vegetable gardener and he has our 10yo weed the asparagus. This child has been around gardens enough (having been born literally in this house) to know his weeds well. He's also is in charge of cutting the asparagus before it gets too tall, tough and woody to eat. He likes this better than weeding since he gets to wield a sharp knife. I have to remind my kids how expensive asparagus is in the store and what a luxury it is to have because by this time they are getting tired of eating it. One of the drawbacks of gardening.
_Leila says
Kate, if you wait long enough to name your house, your children will mock you whatever you do 🙂
So go with Mockingbird something 🙂
I am sadly deficient in 10 yo weeders.
DeirdreLMLD says
I was thinking that Mockingbird Slope could work…
Briana says
I am so with you on what a day it is. And you're right
Briana says
Eeek, I think that only went in half way. Anyhow, I have bindweed growing up my front porch and I need to go attack it.
BethanneB says
Take heart! There are lots of little holy corners and pockets and hills and if later today we find that things like marriage and children are being choked out, there are lots of us who will REMEMBER and will weed as we are able–because it is important to maintain the collective memory.
Amy says
Today is a discouraging day for sure. Good reminder that we can and should continue to do what we can to bring order and God's love to our own little corners of the world!
Kim F. says
I came here today looking for some solace. What would Auntie Leila think about recent events? I needed some reassurance, and received it in a different way than expected. I'm trying to put trust in God and not man, because man will disappoint (again, and again, and again). I just mulched my vegetable garden beds with straw too. Also, from a big, wet pile of straw that was lying around. It does help to bring some order to my little bit of earth. To teach my children about order and God's laws. I do hope they have the strength to go out there and do battle some day. I hope their father and I have taught them well enough. God bless you Auntie Leila!
elizabethroosje says
that last picture of the kitchen to me speaks of all that has been accomplished and that is no small thing. Beautiful.
Laura says
Holy cow — are those solar panels?!
_Leila says
Yes, solar panels. We lease them and so far so good!
Jennifer says
Can you tell us more about them sometime?
Lisa G. says
“Massacre Hillside”? So, your area figures in the Revolution? That's exciting (except to all the poor folks massacred)
_Leila says
Not exactly the Revolution…
Jennifer says
Bindweed is bad! Roundup is good. A few years ago I came to an epiphany after battling our 5 acres: Roundup is a girls best friend.
Also: tell us about the solar panels!!!!
_Leila says
Jennifer, we lease the solar panels from a company that installs and maintains and owns them. Anyone interested can email me about it!
Nancy says
The weed metaphor fits nicely with the news of the day. It is sad. Here in Northern Florida, we marched for religious freedom with Bishop Felipe Estevez today around the federal courthouse.
Mother B says
Your gardens are absolutely gorgeous!!
sibyl says
Well, the bad happened, with worse to come. I'm going to remember the small things with love today, because boy do I need to. I wish I had bindweed to pull up. We've mainly got mud. My tomatoes are the size of #2 pencils.
monica says
To continue avoiding the chore I promised I'd do today, I decide to take a minute to check out LMLD. Yippee! A new post is up. This should be good for about twenty minutes. But, no! I can't enjoy reading today's post. Why? Well, the chore I've been avoiding is WEEDING! How ever did you know? Thanks for nudging me to get my work done. I'm on my way out the door right now. monica
_Leila says
Monica, ha! You can always interrupt your weeding to visit us 🙂 xo
Caitlin says
Thank you for this today. I keep reminding myself that I just need to focus on my own little corner, but sometimes I need confirmation from others that's what I should be doing. Consequently we're moving into a new home this weekend, and I'm more determined than ever to make it into our own little haven. This collective memory stuff is serious, and I thank you so much for having the foresight to see that……
Esther says
give them an inch, they'll take a mile. kyrie eleison christe eleison kyrie eleison. thank you for your faithfulness and your teaching auntie leila. i really appreciate the way that you keep up your life — it reminds me to keep on keeping on in this battle we wage. (of course not of flesh and blood but darker forces afoot). but as my son (who is not quite 5 years old) says “i hate the devil. Jesus died and He won!” how true.
RubberChickenGirl says
We are so blessed to have Antonin Scalia. What a fearless man of God. May God honor him as he has sought to honor Him.
RCG
Claire says
Thank you Leila. Bless you and yours. You are such a blessing to us and ours.
Amy M. says
I pulled two buckets of weeds (my worst offenders are Creeping Charlie and crabgrass) out of my garden last night . . . so satisfying! And, from a fairly inexperienced gardener, your straw shouldn't do any harm, and may even help with weed control as long as it is actually straw and not hay. I am experimenting with straw bale gardening this year (for more info check out http://strawbalegardens.com/) and have learned from my agriculturally-informed boyfriend the difference between straw and hay. There's always something to learn!
Patty says
I was on a name-my-house kick a while back. I just love the idea. It was The Corner Pocket that inspired me. 🙂 I mentioned it to my husband though and he thought it was silly. Sigh. Still trying to think of one. I like ship/boat words and metaphors (Crow's Nest), not that it fits the house. We are in a second floor apt on a kind if blah Chicago street. Ah well. I fear I haven't read enough to know any good names. Well, that's why I'm homeschooling, right? To fix all the holes in my own education!