Nancy & Lilly plant the first seeds of Spring

This year Nancy prepared a calendar dedicated to getting our garden planted on schedule. In years past I have gotten our peas and potatoes in too late because the weather is still blustery and cold in March and April.  I’ve never followed the seasonal guide for our area, but rather what feels right at the time.  Up here at Timber Butte it can be warm and sunny one day and spitting snow with 30 mile an hour winds the next.  On days like that working in the garden doesn’t feel natural.  This year however we have decided not to do what feels good, but what will produce the best outcome. Yesterday was the last day of March; the air was brisk even though the sun periodically peaked through clouds that threatened rain and snow flurries.  It clearly wasn’t one of those days that lures you outside with a beckoning finger that promises the intoxication of spring fever. With determination I put on my old coat and prepared a first row so that Nancy (under the supervision of Lilly) could plant the first seeds of spring.

Whether it felt right or not, it’s done and the garden has been started for another growing season.

Back in the 60′s we used to have the saying, “If it feels good do it” – which got my generation in a world of trouble.  Now that I am in my 60′s I would say, “If you think it’s going to feel good you probably should reconsider at least until you have thought through the consequences.”  My generation promoted free love until they found out it wasn’t in any way free.  In fact the price tag came pretty high when it came to lasting relationships, functional marriages and intact families.

Like putting in those first seeds of spring, sometimes we can’t do something just because it feels good – but instead because it’s simply the right thing to do if we have hopes of having bumper crops or a fruitful harvest later on down the road of life.