Sunday Letter: 01.16.22

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Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Have you missed me? I’ve missed myself. Ha. I’ve been a little lost for the past two weeks, but now a fresh new battery lives in my MacBook and all is calm in my world again. It’s crazy how discombobulated I felt without my computer. Oh, I managed to be semi-productive, but things felt out of sync. Like everything these days, the Mac store was running behind on work orders because employees were out sick with Covid.

But here we are again.

This is only my second post in 2022! Craziness.

A Fresh New Year

A new year always brings the possibility of a fresh start and a clean slate. I set a few resolutions—nothing too earth-shattering—and I begin cleaning and organizing. Cleaning and organizing helps me breathe.  Seriously, opening my junk drawer and seeing it neatly arranged is like a soothing tonic for my blood pressure.

It may sound ridiculous, but putting junk in order helps me tackle bigger tasks. Like writing a book.

When I posted a picture of my straightened junk drawer, so many doubted I could keep it that way. Oh, ye of little faith. I’ve managed to keep it organized for over three weeks now. So, ha!

I know, I know, the very fact that I organize my junk drawer every year obviously means it never lasts. But where would we be without hope? It springs eternal, you know.

I really feel this time it might stick.

I’ve also purged my bedroom closet and dresser drawers. I rearranged my kitchen pots and pans and moved rarely used items into the corner cabinet which as far as I’m concerned is the most annoying space in a kitchen.

I should have taken a before picture, but as I said, I’ve been discombobulated. Here’s the tidy after pic, anyway.

Planting Bulbs

I bought three Allium giganteum bulbs at Westwood Gardens a couple of months ago but never got around to planting them. In fact, I sorta forgot they were in the garage. (See? I need to organize my gardening things next!)

On a sixty-three degree afternoon last week, I decided the time was perfect for planting.

A while back we bought a bulb-planting auger on sale at Lowe’s, but we’d not tried it out. John attached it to his drill and WOW— it made quick work of digging three 8-inch holes for our Allium bulbs!

Gracie was intrigued.

She kept a safe distance while the auger was roaring but once each hold was dug, she investigated each, checking the depth for us.

I suspect we will be using this auger more in the future not only for bulb planting but also for digging holes for bedding plants. (The exact one we purchased at Lowe’s is no longer available, but THIS ONE is similar and includes two different sized augers for $20.)

What a game changer. Especially when the ground is cold.

Yesterday, we woke to snow and it snowed all day. I imagined my allium bulbs were warm, tucked deep into the earth, not yet thinking about stirring for spring.

The Thrill of a Snow Day

Even though I no longer get up at the crack of dawn to drive through Dallas traffic to work, I no longer ride the school bus on frigid Mississippi County mornings, the excitement of a snow day still lives in me.

The other day, Rivercrest schools posted an announcement regarding inclement weather on Facebook. Even though it has been over forty years since my student-self walked those halls, the news gave me a little charge.

One thing’s certain—kids today don’t have to wake before sunrise and stare at the television, praying to see their school name scroll along the bottom of the tube. They don’t have to listen to the local radio station as the morning disc jockey reads school and business cancellations.

Man alive, there was some bated breath in our den on those cold mornings.

Sometimes Momma found out about school closings before we woke. On those snow days, we slept late, waking to the quiet magic of a winter wonderland. It didn’t much matter what else happened once school was cancelled for snow. The day started with a thrill and everything else was simply the cherry on top of the snow cream.

Things Momma Says:

The whole world has gone crazy. I’m glad I don’t get out much anymore.

***

I think Momma’s right.

Sunday Letter friends—I hope in this new year, we humans can all be kinder and show a bit more empathy to one another.

You know, as much as I enjoy Facebook for keeping up with friends and Instagram for sharing nature pictures, lately I’ve wondered if social media hasn’t done more harm than good for society. And I wonder if waiting and watching and listening and hoping for news of a school closing wasn’t a lesson in patience that was good for us?

Coming soon to the blog—my Word for 2022. (Yes, I’m a little behind.)

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.