All I've Got

This morning I let David wake up to get the kids ready for school and drop them off. I laid there, pretending to be asleep, for about an hour. It was glorious. And then he came home and asked me if I would do Pilates with him. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, and in an effort to support his newly obsessive exercise routine he has created to begin training for a marathon next year, I dragged myself out of bed, crawled down the stairs and laid on my yoga mat while he set up the video. I was hoping my disheveled just-got-dragged-out-of-bed-by-my-husband look would inspire some sympathy and prompt him to suggest I return to bed. He smiled at me and pushed "Play". 30 minutes of intense abdominal training is exactly the kind of wake up I look forward to on a Monday morning. What a sweetheart.

Dear Note, thanks for the heads up on the plants. I did as you instructed and planted them in the terra cotta bowl out front. I think they'll be happy there in the sun. Good call.
In the meantime, I've ducktaped my checkcard to prevent any further unauthorized purchases without my prior approval...although not before you went out and bought 2 packets containing seeds for carrots and green beans. I'm not sure where you planned on growing them, seeing as the dirt around here is as hard as baked clay and not conducive to vegetable gardening.
My instinct tells me you had somehow delusionally planned to grow them in raised beds. How you planned on achieving this is beyond me as I have just told you I drastically cut my hours at work, to which you replied, "How wonderful." My impression is that you were sincere. If so, I would greatly appreciate your cooperation by not sabotaging any efforts on my part to save money.

There's no need to remind me of your joy for playing in the dirt. Need I remind you I share your enthusiasm for plants? For the record, I'm not traumatized by the horrific death of my zuchinis, pumpkin, cucumber, corn, or greenbeans. I'm just reluctant to invest the time and money into another garden until I have the adequate resources to provide for it (time and money-wise). Sharing your vision of a winter garden was thoughtful, but highly ambitious and impractical. You'll have to forgive me if I don't jump on board. I've barely begun my time at home and already you're planning away my days. What gives?

Dear Self, how wonderful that you have decided to cut back on work to spend more time at home. I know, I know. You're stressed about money. Who, in this world, isn't stressing about something? Might as well be stressed and enjoy your children and husband than to be working all the time and never having time for them or your homework, right?
I'm glad you think so. In the meantime, I've got a little project that's been turning 'round and 'round in my head and I've been anxiously awaiting to share with you...I want you to plant a winter garden! The thought hit me quite randomly the other day as I was pouting about the fact that I don't get to play in the dirt anymore. So today, in honor of being broke and while you weren't paying attention, I bought a small cherry tomato plant and a strawberry plant.
You're going to plant them in the terra cotta container out front that used to house the basil that you so unecessarily let die. (Remember, the basil you stopped watering for no reason right after the damn plants started to grow - something you had complained they weren't doing all summer - remember that?)
Don't give me that crap about being traumatized by your expereince with the zuccini's.
That was exactly 14 months and 5 days ago. I'm over it and you're over it too. You just don't know it yet. Just because your garden was unexplainably devastated by a mysterious disease does not mean you should never attempt to garden again. I see you're half hearted attempts. You planted jasmine and sweetbroom. Those were two very successful choices and I'm happy that you're happy about that. But please, can we go back to the basics? There is something so very satisfying about the idea of a productive garden giving back to the family. Besides, I miss playing in the dirt.
Here. i found this list on Suite101.com. (just in case you wanted some reference on what to plant:)

A list of wonderful winter / cool season vegetables
Snap peas and snow peas -Frost-hardy peas may be planted whenever the soil temperature is at least 45°F or plant heat-tolerant varieties in midsummer to late summer for a fall crop. Plant peas at least 1 to 1-1/2 inches deep and one inch apart. Approximately 60 days to harvest.

Cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, collards (frost hardy- can tolerate more cold weather in the late fall than other cole crops - 60-75 days to harvest), cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bok choy...

Carrots - Hardy, cool season biennial. Plant about 1/2 deep (no more than two or three seeds per inch). Takes 2 weeks to germinate and approximately 60+ days to mature.

Parsnips - Plant seeds 1/2 to 3/4 " deep. They are slow germinating. You can keep them in the ground over winter and harvest in spring for what most consider to be the best flavor!

Beets - Fairly frost hardy. Thin seedlings to 1-3 inches apart. Start successive plantings at 3 to 4 week intervals until midsummer. Takes approximately 60 days to maturity.

Onions - Winter onions are planted from sets formed at the tops of the plant in place of flowers. You must get a winter variety such as walking onion/Egyptian onion, and these are perennials so give them a permanent home. In August, plant the sets 1 inch deep. Space sets 4 inches apart.

Lettuce - Can be planted early spring or late summer. You may want to start lettuce seedlings in the shade and transplant when temperatures cool. Plant 1/2 inch deep, 12 inches apart.

Mesclun - A mixture of young, leafy greens including lettuce.

Spinach - Seed spinach in late summer for fall and winter harvest. Chill your spinach seeds in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks before planting.

Rutabagas/Turnips - A rutabaga is a cross between a cabbage and turnip. Turnips grow wild in Siberia. Turnips mature in two months and may be planted either in the spring, late summer or fall. You can eat the roots or leaves. Rutabagas mature in 3 months.

Chard - Plant seeds 1/2 to 3/4 inches deepRead more: http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/plant_a_fall_and_winter_garden#ixzz0RFJYzbOp



I do so miss playing in the dirt. It'll be therapuetic. C'mon!
I'll check back with you in a week and see what you have to say.