I lost my little Maxi and this home and my soul feels empty without her here. She was never more than a foot away from me anywhere in the house or yard – preferable touching me somehow. At my office desk, she would sleep on the pillow that we kept on top of the file drawer — and often rest her chin on my thigh. When I’d watch TV she had a “pillow pile” at my feet where she would eventually stretch out. If there was a bed [-illow on top with a case, she would get inside the case, — a little Chihuahua burrito……. We would be connected until out bedtime ritual which was ours alone. When I can describe that ritual without sobbing, I might add it here on the site…..

Well since that last post in 2016, life and death has happened. About halfway through those years from 2016-2022, I lost my son, my Matthew — too soon, too sadly. He left us all behind: wife, 2 daughters and a son and a wee baby girl who would be born 3 months after he died. We get through our days now, better than 2 years or 1 year ago, – but most days, along with joyful memories, there are moments when it is hard to breathe when the reality surfaces and we crumble. I will write more when I have better wits about me.

I am blessed with exuberance. Not sure why it is easy for me to be enthusiastic, but it seems to be part of my nature. Of course I am also good at doom and gloom when things get crazy…… I am enjoying the yard and the 2 community gardens so much this spring. With the help of my son and his wife, the (4) 5×10 raised beds became a reality in the yard,  and now they are full of veggies…Another new bed (about 13X19) is planted with potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes and the newly turned of triangle behind the shed holds peppers and tomatoes. The beds are plain pine and are made from 2x8s.

This is what the beds looked ike around February.  We kept existing peppers alive through freezes by stringing Christmas lights all over inside of tunnels of row cover and tarps……

The beds have grown nicely and we’ve been gradually pulling the cool weather crops and replacing them with summer stuff. Today, I harvested the last of the broccoli and pulled the plants.  The challenge in this yard is all the big trees and their shadows.  In order to get these beds here, I had to first transplant years of perennials elsewhere…..and give some away.

Well, not sure where all the time has gone — but y’know living can get in the way of life sometimes.  Many gardens have come and gone. Many family dramas have angsted their way through and over the best intentions of having a creative blog outlet, crafted with joy and personal satisfaction.  Oh well. today is a new day and the verge of a new year. It is the evening before New Years eve 2014.  Already.  zoom.   The only other post I have in this blog is the unfortunate “First Post” — from Baguio, Philippines..  A long chugging haul up the 3rd world hills, past washouts and poverty to the cool mountain city with kids dreaming about riding horses and eating fresh strawberries.

Well that didn’t happen.  In actuality, on day one there, a sister-in-law was robbed of her cash, the family’s passports and her handbag and most of the visit found the kids and I in the car in a parking garage while the victims got lip service from the local corrupt police. The good news was that we drove home in daylight and could navigate the washed out mountains much better than in the foggy night time.  Just another day in paradise. Christmas 2009 – almost 5 years ago to the day.