Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

Every summer I have a garden. Now I have a dog....who eats gardens. Thus begins my project how-to's:

1) Have a dog.

2) Have a handy-man-rock-star-too-good-to-be-true-DAD. Ask lots of questions and listen to his advice.

3) Till out a portion of the yard to expand the garden.

4) Dig 14" deep post holes (or at least pretend that they are once you're exhausted)

5) Purchase 550lbs of concrete. Carry to backyard.

6) Pour concrete into post holes. Inscribe a sentimental message - "Me and Dad".

7) Purchase 4x4' posts. Cut themand place in the holes.

8) REMINDER: Wear a back brace because you have to haul left-over concrete back to the store since you didn't dig deep enough holes.

9) Prepare to put picket fence up. With help.

10) Cut 2x4's, assemble a gate, nail chicken wire to it and be sure to hammer your thumb in the process.

11) Go get about 400 lbs of cobblestone rock (the dog WILL dig under your new fence). Place at the foot of the fence.

12) Dig trenches. Also place landscaping edging throughout the garden hill to prevent water "wash-out" (that's my technical term I made up).

13) Recruit newly toothless laborers to write out garden labels. This is extremely important, since it's been known that a gardener can plant lettuce in her flower bed and Lupines next to her pumpkins. Lesson learned: use labels.

14) Pretend to plant seeds but really just collect worms.

15) Plant.

16) Wait. Meanwhile, plant a flower garden.

To be continued. . .

our song.

There’s a routine…mastered over the years with the kids, with myself. We dance in the melody of our home. The sound of a cereal box in the morning, a slamming sliding glass door. . . pattering feet. It’s in the air. It’s in every moment. A cry over a scratched knee, the she-saids and the he-won’ts, the ping from a text message and the hum from the microwave.

It’s possible that someone else’s life is more exciting. Someone else’s kids eat all their veggies and someone else’s home doesn’t have piles of laundry or cluttered dresser drawers. I have my neatly maintained list of dreams but I'll have to pick them up at the grocery store while I'm there.

It’s easy to wonder what my life “should” be or “could” be….what melody might be next on the playlist….but those questions get drowned out. I hear the giggles while the dog’s barking and I see the books on the shelf I plan to read. . . the mountains I plan to climb. My walls are filled with snapshot memories and my days are full of song. I hear it and am glad to sing along.