Good Friday, My Style

Yes, I know, it's not yet Good Friday with initial caps. But for areligious me, this is about as good as it gets. My day started out as sweet as I could imagine, and it only got sweeter. As I was leaving the parking garage of the hospital after an early-morning lecture, the attendant said to me, "Be careful not to enjoy all this sunshine too much!" 

We have been deprived of the sun and warmth for far too long.

The weather was fabulous and warm (next week I'm told it's going to be 35F again, ergh). I felt fantastic after my morning meetings and the yoga the night before, and I am still generally just floating on clouds since the ridiculous elbow situation [that I suffered with needlessly for three months] has been cleared up. After the lecture, I headed straight to get boldly caffeinated and then to Gardener's Supply. 

And thus, gardening season has officially begun for me, way up here in the still-mostly-frozen north. As an opener to the season, I bought three bags of the wonderful Intervale compost. The ground is still mostly frozen but for the top two or three inches even in my raised beds, but it's a good time to feed the beds. I also got some germinating mix for starting a few seeds indoors this weekend.

I got a new super-nifty tool belt that I'm head-over-heels in love with. It's the little things, people. It's the little things.

See those pants? They're my gardening Carhartts. Had it not happened a week sooner, yesterday would have been the day that I would have discovered my green sweater rolled up inside these babies. I knew all along that these pants were improperly chucked in the linen closet. I saw them there -- I just didn't know what they were hiding. At least they were clean. Sheesh. 

The most important part of the new tool belt, I feel, is the pocket for my BlackBerry, which is adjustable to actually fit my BlackBerry (so many cell phone pockets are too narrow), AND most importantly, it cinches at the top to keep it in so it won't fall out. I used to bring the phone out in a sweatshirt or pants pocket, and either it would fall out, or when I'd bend down, it would poke into my leg or waist or ribs or something. Very annoying, and I'd be worried that I was constantly pocket-dialing someone, so then I'd be tempted to take it out and put it in my vegetable basket or place it somewhere it shouldn't be. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had, starting to spray the hose and realizing my phone was there. So this will keep it safely ensconced in its own little tool-belt pocket and I can take and make "emergency" phone calls and texts while in the garden, or check my email so I don't go through email withdrawal while I'm out there, or something. 

I top-dressed the three of my grow beds that are most warmly situated --and therefore closer to being thawed out and warmed up -- with the compost,

(The divots are Yorkie paw prints.)

(Awwwwwww.)

 

and I tossed the toy 3,113 times, enough to finally tire out the little guy.

(A tired Yorkie is a good Yorkie.) 

And there was even some knitting on the front porch. 

And a long walk and walking etiquette training session for Mr. Jefferies, and a nap. 

And even a piece of chocolate. 

It was altogether a very good day.

Comments

[Jellidonut]

That is one cute little dog. Jealous of your gardening. We have about eight inches of snow right now, with more on the way. Blahhh!

[Jane]

I think I'd like to have one of those days. So satisfying!

[Carol]

Can't wait to start gardening! My beds are thawing too but I'm holding off on the seedlings. I started mine in April last year. Maybe just a couple this weekend though...

[AnnaMarie]

Must be something in the air. Wes got all the greenhouse plans done yesterday with a cost sheet and it's a go. Then last night he was felled by the dreaded man cold. It's going to be a long weekend.

[Geri]

Yesterday was certainly the day to get out and work in the garden! So hard to resist the temptation to plant! The air was a balmy 72, but the ground is not quite ready yet. Colorado daughter texted that she was driving home in blizzard conditions. Spring time in the foothill of the Rockies!

[Carole]

Sounds like a perfect day in Norma Land. We've got another great one ahead of us and I know you will make the most of it. Then it's back to the realities of March for a while, I guess.

[Manise]

Yahoo! Waiting for my boxes to thaw.

[jill]

I hope the rest the weekend fills your gardening soul enough to get you over the March weather. April is sooooo close!

[Diane]

Yay! I went to our garden center yesterday too and bought this year's supply of garden gloves. And pansies. Came home and planted the pansies and sowed some lettuce seeds in the deck container.

I woke this morning to 3 inches of snow with more on the way. Argh.

[Paula]

Sounds like a perfectly wonderful day. I'm going in to town soon to start acquiring the many, many gardening tools that I am lacking. A good grass rake and a garden fork are high on the list. When I get back I will poke my raised beds and see what's doing. Maybe it will soon be time to sow peas?

[Lindsay]

That belt is FASHION brought to LIFE!:) Looks like a great day!

[Joannah]

Who can remember yesterday when faced with a bird-seed-security breech first thing in the morning? It happened overnight so I probably shouldn't blame squirrels. That won't stop me the next time I see one at the feeder. Am I right, Mr J, or am I right?

[Vicki]

We had the fabulous and warm for a few days and we all knew it was too early to think "this is it"; still, it's hard now to hear "snow" in the forecast.

What a great start for you! Wonderful.

[Patty]

Oh I hope David likes a girl in a tool belt as much as I love a man in a tool belt! That blackberry pocket - brilliant!

[marianne]

Wheeee! love Carhartts and I'm a real sucker for a nifty tool belt. and those purple gloves? yes! :^) Good Friday indeed. just never mind that religious stuff. and their 'days'. they have theirs, we have ours.
Waiting patiently for the snow to commence.

[Annie]

I need to get me one of them toolbelts. I always have the same problem, where to keep the cell phone that is safe and comfortable.

[margene]

Smith and I were talking about gardening this morning. At least as "gardener" as we get...a few pots (he'll try tomatoes) of flowers on the patio will be enough.
I love watching your garden grow.

[gayle]

The only thing that could have made the day better was if you had actually found your sweater on that day.
Compost, tired Yorkies, and purple gloves are pretty near perfection, though.

[aubree]

ahh--a good friday indeed. that reminds me, I gotta get off my ass and compost my own beds...

[Kym]

Yes, Fickle Spring! :-)
My birthday is coming right up. . . and now I know JUST what to ask for! A tool belt Just Like Norma's! :-)

[Elaine]

Days like those... simple, perfect ones.... achieve a certain religious status. I am so looking forward to your gardening posts this year.
And my garlic is sprouting! (Or is that "scaping"?)

[Pamela]

I hardly garden at all, but I just bought those purple gloves for myself. Yesterday it was 70 degrees here, but I am hoping for more rain before summer arrives.

[Cookie]

Manise has more than one box. Who knew?

I'm so glad you had a good Friday. We could use more of those all round, I think.

xo

[Elizabeth in Brookfield]

Work kept me chained to my desk Friday, but it's been SPRING all day over here in central VT. I could've wished for more sun. But that's quibbling! I was so excited about being able to plant the lettuce in my (thanks to you)Grow-Bed.

Guess who forgot to buy lettuce seeds?

I tried to tire out my neighbor's yellow lab. Limited success.

[Judy]

sounds like heaven to me.....

[elizabeth a airhart]

spring here also your soil looks
nice and light so does mr jeffries

your tool belt will be great to put
your knitting stuff in tape measure
cable needles now you need two

florida welcomes spring this year

[Angie]

It sounds like a lovely day, Norma! I love your new tool belt, the cinch is an excellent feature.

Oh and compost and just being in the garden is delicious to me. Thanks for sharing the day.