APR’ 20

11

 What a glorious week of weather we've had!

Willa and I have been out every morning to prune the spirea bushes along our south fence. My arms are covered in scabbed-over scratches that itch quite a bit, but, when I look out at my work from inside the house, I feel an immense satisfaction at all the light shining through what was formerly dense, dark, and brambly.

If you've got some bushes to take care of too, I recommend, first, cutting down all the canes that are growing across the plant instead of up and outward. Then, I would look for the oldest, woodiest canes that have little potential for foliage and cut those out. They are usually a different color from younger canes and less supple. Once you've made those cuts, you can make shaping cuts and/or grab a trimmer. If you live in Boulder, you can bundle up your slash with twine and leave it out with your compost bin for pick-up.

It sure does a body good to be out, working in the sunshine. 

That's all about to change though. Snow, rain, and freezing temps are predicted for this coming week, starting tomorrow night. So later today, I'll be outside cranking out soil blocks so that I can start tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, okra, bush beans, and tomatillos indoors.

I've been wondering about what life will be like when we transition back to something resembling "normalcy." At a time when we are forced to drastically simplify our lives to save lives, I am thinking about what elements of our life now do I wish to preserve. (Am I crazy?) I have been working toward a minimalist lifestyle for a while now. But, lately, I've noticed how much more spacious our daily rhythm feels without daily commutes, school, work travel, a busy social calendar, and kids' activities. It seems to me that I have some more work to do.