Hurry Up and Wait
I love rain. I love the spring thunder storms, the rainbows, and warm winds from the south that often accompany rain this time of year. The deeply watered green grass and new lilac blooms against a gray, stormy sky is spectacular. Add a double rainbow and for me, the scene is just about perfect. All I need now is a couple of grandkids sloshing about in their raincoats and boots to complete the scene. However much I love the rain, it also is a time of waiting.
This is wonderful display of nature, with all the brokenness and imperfection, is still among my favorites probably because it is constantly changing. The rainbows come and go so quickly, just long enough for me to think about God’s Promises to me. Then, it is gone. And when the sun comes out it is time to get back to work.
It is now early June and despite the random rainstorm I finally accomplished most of my spring list. The horse is grazing the grass planted last year. The hummingbird feeders are up now with the help of my grand daughter who laments what a sticky job it is. The door is on the play house and will soon have a framed in window. And the livestock tank raised beds are in the garden, a new project for me this season.
We had a lot of family in over the last week. While I continued to work on the list I also made room for plenty of fun. Now, it is time to get back into the swing of things and get finished with the garden because in one week I have baby chicks coming!
Also new to me this year is composting chicken manure. I had moved a couple wheel barrows of the hen house cleanings into the orchard and forgot to manage it. Sure enough, it killed a patch of grass. So this next two weeks will be setting up the compost bins for better control.
I already have potatoes peeking through the straw as I plant above ground on compost and place about 8” of straw , or barn hay leavings over top. When watered well, and fluffed to stop any mold growth, the return has been affective over the years.
The brooder will be emptied of plants and organized for both summer in general and baby chicks in specific. The grand kids are very excited about the chicks and have already been playing with the new kittens. We don’t have as many this year, which means I am getting control of the female part of my rodent control force. Mittens, my very friendly orange tiger, is my best hunter. He loves to be in the hen house.
So, it seems I am almost always in a hurry up and wait phase. That is the nature of getting ready for anything, I think. But isn’t it better to be prepared than not? My brother often says “If you are on time, you are already late.” I will concede that being prepared for any eventuality definitely reduces the day to day stress of farming and gardening. It also leaves room for fun things while I am in the waiting room of life, like reading to the grand kids in the orchard and tea parties in the farm kitchen.
Until next time, Happy Gardening!