Our Backyard Gardener

Moving last November has brought so many good things - it was worth the growing pains that came with the transition for the boys ... and the grown ups. There are still things to do before we are truly settled, but the list is much smaller and there are just better ways of spending our time together. So I'm trying to let go of the nits and embrace the joys.

After the snow melted and we cleared our yard for the great swing-set project of 2010 we met our neighbors behind us, Mr. & Mrs. G. They have lived in this neighborhood for a very long time ... and Mrs. G. ... I'm pretty sure I remember this right ... this house is her 4th house in the same 2 mile radius in 70ish years! If you want to know what's happened in this neighborhood ... or this crazy city, she is your source.

Mr. G. is a wonderful gardener and works in his garden every day. And since the boys met him this past spring, there have only been a handful of days when they haven't gone looking for Mr. G., and looking for some work in the garden. They planted string beans, cucumbers and "hot peppers for daddy" which mingle with what Mr. G. had already planted ... spaghetti squash, zucchini, tomatoes and lots more that I can't remember. They've also done some good dirty work ... digging, working the rotor tiller, watering, setting friendly traps for critters that are eating all of their hard work ... and LOTS of picking these days. Today is not unusual - they brought home a 1/2 bucket full of string beans and a full bucket of cucumbers. My Grandma Betty's cucumbers in brine recipe has never seen such use! Mr. & Mrs. G. make a family recipe with their cucumbers, too. They have wonderful dill pickles (check out that pickle jar in the picture!) and bread & butter pickles ... PERFECT for the pregnant, pickle-loving, momma that lives next door. Not to worry though, I haven't ever considered them with ice cream.

Mr. Right and I both grew up with life-changing relationships like the one the boys have formed with Mr. & Mrs. G. It has been bittersweet for us to remember and relive some of our memories, as they are making their own.