What a long long time!

I nearly forgot about my blog or perhaps I am just avoiding the truth!

Gardening has been harder than I thought. There are great disappointments but of course there are some joys! It has been puzzling why some of our vegetables are not growing as quickly or at the same rate as my friends! Finally I discovered the truth! They added fertilisers! How silly of me not thinking it through! We were told because we have organic soil and therefore we do not need any fertilisers - how wrong we were!

Anyway despite the disappointment, I am pulling myself up. Over the bank holidays, the rockets are growing wildly, the mint is prospering, strawberries are still growing, tomatoes are growing, chillies are growing - I guess they are a comfort. Slow burner but still growing. Herbs perhaps in some ways are unrewarding as it took them a long time to grow.

Looking at my garden now, I look at myself as a parent. I am anxious for my son to have the best in life, ensure he learns as quickly as he can and everything the best - perhaps in doing so I might neglect the joy I have with him and the special bond I have with him. Perhaps I should take a step back and learn the blessings in my life.

O well, that is it for now.

A Possibility!

Yesterday as usual, the family took our usual visit to our veggie and herb patch.

I was watering the patch leisurely while Jonathan was busy walking our little one on his car en route to collect water. Alas and behold...I let out a scream! Yes is kind of silly of me but I could not help. I saw a tiny strawberry! Yes strawberry strawberry! My excitement was like fire. Jonathan was excited too. I am sure he ran to the patch to check it out.

Yes, there was a few strawberries after counting. They are rather small but it brought so much joy to us. All we have to do now is to wait and to reap the harvest. The strawberries reminded me about my little one. Every time he manages to do something new or share his insight on things, I leaped for joy.

Sometimes I tend to get upset when things did not go as planned. In the process of being upset, I forget the simple blessings in life. Gardening has thrown me a little - it has become a journey of learning, unlearning and relearning about myself.

That's it for now.

Hung!

Two weeks have passed since the general election. No parties has a majority and now we have a hung parliament - a coalition between the Lib Dem and the Conservatives. Whether it is a good thing or not, we just have to wait and see.

Last two weeks, it was not just the political climate was difficult, the gardening scene has been rather tough. I must admit I was rather despondent. When I first transplanted my seedlings on the bed, they were thriving. Few days after the transplant, the weather took a turn - it became extremely cold and frosty. I was still hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed. Eventually on 13th May, I have to give courgette a final send off. It didn't survive! It was sad, really sad.

I could not help but wonder what really went wrong - was it me or was it the weather? Of course it was easy to blame the weather and I still do! It did make me reflect upon myself. I gave the vegetables and herbs my love and attention but the results are not what I had expected. Again I likened this experience to parenting. I am showering my son with lots of care and love - what do I expect from him in return? Perhaps I also need to learn to manage my expectations. Also I cannot help but wondered have I been weak? I was so despondent that I was not keen at visiting my veggi and herb patch. Can you imagine if God has given up on us? I am thankful God didn't give up on me and continue to search for me until I have my salvation.

Despite the downs in the gardening scene, there are some positive news too. My hubby has begin to show some interest in gardening. He ensured he watered them when the soil was too dry or pull out the weeds. I think secretly he loves gardening! Gardening has now become a family affair. My little one will have a watering can to water the plants and he simply loves it! The sight of family togetherness is really lovely.

Last week, we also replanted courgette and am praying they will survive this time round. O before I forgot, I also planted new veggi - pak choi, chad, marrow and tomato. Just yesterday, I have also transplanted my broad beans. Photos will follow soon. Kind of slack in photography. Jonathan and I have new plans for the garden. We wanted to create a herb path near the patio where it would be easily accessed by me.

Ah..artichoke excites me! They are growing well. I cannot wait to cook them. *Sign* I am rambling here, aren't I! I just need to let my gardening emotions flow out otherwise...

That's all for now before anyone complains I rambled too much. I better run to give my love and attention to the veggies and herbs!

A Family Affair!

O my...I cannot believe what my eyes are seeing. The seedlings have grown! I screeched with joy while Stuart is looking at me with amusement. You cannot imagine what is racing in my mind. I started to get panic - wondering what I should do as the soil has not been completely transferred to the bed. I make a decisive decision to make sure I finished transferring the soil by 30th April and making plans how to involve my husband!

In my anxiety of transferring the soil to the bed, I hurt my back and my ankle. Not a good start is it! Anyway due to my failings, my lovely husband decided to help me. To tell the truth, he is actually fairly proud the seeds are growing so well. So I think secretly he wants to be involved! By 29th April, we finally transferred all the soil to the bed and decided to buy some strawberry plants! Off we go to Mill Hill Garden Centre and bought some strawberry plants.

Finally on 30th April, we finally transplanted all the seedlings to the bed. It look rather accomplished but we do not follow any instructions at all. Soon after we transferred the seedlings, we decided to water them. Alas and behold, few hours later, it rained - heavily! I am rather worried by that time what will happen to them.

Ah...my husband actually admits he does enjoy some aspects of gardening. Fingers crossed - hopefully he will be more involved!

What really excites me is the involvement of everyone in the family - hubby, myself and of course our little son. For some reason, our little one seems to know what to do! The sight of the family doing things together is so beautiful. It brings us together - with an aim, working hard together to achieve a goal. I am blessed to have a family united together and able to enjoy the blessings of being in a family. There is no way I can imagine how those people who have to bring up their children as single parent - how hard that would be. Sometimes we do take things for granted. Thank God for every blessings.

Well, I have to run as I have to keep abreast with the election results. Going to be a long night.

How is it now?

I am missing my seedlings - Big Time.

My kind neighbour, Stuart has been looking after them for the last week as I am away for holidays. Without fail, I keep asking my husband what he thinks how the seeds are growing. It is interesting as I feel I am the mother of my plants. This feeling is so "mum". With a son, I constantly wonder how he is growing, is he alright especially when he is in nursery. I have the urge to check, an urge to ensure he is well, an urge to want to protect him from all things that are bad. As a new gardener, I am constantly entangle with emotions of confusion - a mother or a gardener. I cannot help but to say both roles entwined together in a sort of complementary role.

Though I am still away, I cannot help but wonder how my seeds are. In some ways, I have the urge to return to care for them, feeling I am mean to leave them alone. Interestingly, it also make me realise these seedlings, they will grow. One day, they will have to handle the harsh reality of the weather. Perhaps I should let go of this protecting sentiments - trusting my plant will know how to grow with the right care. Again this thought pushes me to realise my son is growing day by day. He just turn two but he has already develops a mind of his own, pushing boundaries and wanting more independence. Many people has warned me about terrible two but I just do not believe there is such thing as terrible two! My mixed emotions about my seedlings - give me another insight into parenting - yet again. Personally I think if my son is able to communicate - he might just be telling me "mummy I am growing up. I need to learn things by myself, I push boundaries but I need help to know what my boundaries are. I do not need you telling me what is right or wrong. I need to find out myself and learn by myself! I have fail at times as a mother to put myself into the shoes of my son. Just because I am a mother, I want to protect him and yet this instinct of mine but not be entirely right.

So for now, I just have to let my seedlings have the freedom to "learn" by themselves while in my kind neighbour house!

First Trimester!

The sun has been glorious for the last few days. Unfortunately I missed my opportunities as I was too caught up with Joshua's birthday and our upcoming holidays. I cannot believe my boy is two now.

As I was checking my seedlings this morning, I felt as if I am pregnant! It is weird because each day, I make sure the soil wasn't too dry, take note of which seeds has grown, how much they have grown and when will I be able to transplant them to the bed! The excitement in me was overwhelming. Today I was thinking to myself the mint was kind of a disappointment as I have not seen any growth. Most of the seeds have grown apart from the spinach. I didn't expect the spinach to grow as it was just planted on 9th April.

Well back to the mint - I thought the mint was a a great disappointment. I was also beginning to show some form of favouritism towards certain vegetables and/or herbs. For a moment, I was taken aback at the thoughts I have! In my earlier blog, I likened my role of a mum to that of a gardener. Right now I have just one son but we are planning to have more children. I asked myself how can I not show favouritism to any of my children. The problem I have is I start comparing how each different seeds grow and how proud they make me feel. But this is wrong and also a dangerous line to tread upon. I know they are just seeds or vegetables but imagine, if I start comparing my children's abilities, I might indirectly hinder my children's confidence in themselves. As a parent, I should be nurturing my children and not hindering their potential. I have never expected gardening to show me a different insight to parenting.

While I toggle with those thoughts, I began to thank God for loving me for who I am. I began to appreciate God even more and am thankful I am serving an amazing God. There is so much I have to learn - to let go of things I cannot control, to love things as it is and appreciate what I have. Right now, I shall wait patiently for my mint to grow, loving it as it is now, nurturing the mint as much as I can so that it can develop its full potential.

As i promised, there will be photos. Ah...I forgot to share I got my laptop back so there will be plenty of photos! For now, happy gardening.

Signs of Life!

The sun is shinning gloriously today!

No I didn't manage to transfer any soil today. With my little helper - that is my two year old son, I can hardly get any things done! We venture out to the garden this morning. I was anxious to check out the grow house. Alas and behold - I saw signs of life! Raddish, brussel sprouts, artichoke, chilli, salad leaf and possibly carrots are showing signs of life! I was so thrilled. Of course I have taken lots of photos but unfortunately I cannot download any of them till I got my mac back.

Joshua took some seed trays, a hand spade, some seeds and a watering can to the raised bed. I was wondering what he was doing. He was doing exactly what I had done before! He took some soil from the raised bed to the seeds tray, water the soil and was trying to plant some seeds. It amused me and come to realisation my son is growing up fast. In a few days time, Joshua is turning two. I likened the role of a mum to that of a gardener - sowing seeds and nurturing them. Today it made me reflect whether have I done enough to nurture my son to his full potential. As a parent, I feel I am constantly implanting seeds to nurture my son, helping him to grow strong and to develop his potential. I have never seen parenting in role of a gardener. Gosh am I getting too mushy now!

Though we didn't do very much today. We managed to sow four different types of spinach. I am imploring my lovely husband to divide my raised beds into a 30cm x 30cm segment so that I can transplant the individula seedlings! There seem to be an endless list of things to do and yet so little time to do it.

This whole world of horticulure is so intriguing. I am keeping my fingers crossed to see what potential have I developed!

Till then, have a great weekend.

Another rainy day!

All my hopes are dashed - yet again! I was hoping to carry on transferring the soil from the drive to the garden but the rain came pouring down! The window of opporuntity for any gardening is so small.

Yesterday I discovered my neighbour is also going to have a veggie patch! I was so excited. You might have guessed it! The nosey me asked whether I could have a look at what they were doing. What was impressive was my neighbours actually took a week off to do their gardening. I prayed the weather would be glorious for them! Anyway I have a peek at what they were planning to do! Cheekily my neighbour gave me a pack of spinach. Yes, I am having another vegetable to put my hands onto! How exciting!

Got to dash as my lovely son is not allowing me to do anything except giving him my full attention!

I am so slow!

On 31st March 2010, the Apprentice Gardnerer is born!

Surely it has taken me quite a while to write this blog. It was such a daunting experience for me to start sowing seeds onto the seed trays. To complicate mater, I have a one ton organic vegetable and fruit soil sitting on my drive! The delivery man wasn't able to put the bag into the garden as the crane wasn't long enough. So here I am, scratching my head what shoud I do? I decided to use two buckets to transfer the soil from my drive to the garden. The thought of it shivered me! How many trips do I need to make? Fortunately my husband suggested using the big blue Ikea bags! For the first time, I was glad to have the Ikea bags.

I don't know how many trips I have made but the soil is now half full or half empty in my drive, two and a half raised beds have been filled! Gosh I am bad aren't I - just complaining!

The fun actually began on Mothering Sunday - 14th March 2010. Yes you might have guessed it! We went to the garden centre to choose the seeds. We spend about £60 on seeds. Am crazy! I am not going to tell you what I am planting till I revealed them in my photos in a few weeks time. Keep guessing what I am planning to do.

Got to stop now as I am just borrowing my husband's computer. I might have to wait for 21 days before my Mac returns. Just can't wait for the photos to be up!

Be patient and stay blessed!