Country Mouse Monday: what (not) to wear

the usual garb (more detail end of post)I mucked up my freshly-laundered bathrobe (again) this morning, so impatient to be outside that I didn't change into my usual gardening garb.

From the sidewalk, I'm sure I was a sight: bed-head, flannel robe and tevas, gloves and clippers -- but probably all the passers-by are used to it, expect to see us in various states of (un)dress, happily playing in the dirt.  I like to think they give us the Eccentric Green-Thumbed Neighbor pass, in return for the glory of this plot of land, cultivated and shared year after year.

Truth is I was feeling a little glum this morning.  Since I worked a 10-hour day in the office yesterday, I didn't get my restorative garden time, side by side with my sweetheart or at opposite ends of the yard, individually absorbed, periodically saying, "hey, look at this amazing thing I found."  Engaged in that activity we refer to as "beetling," named after a time that Joe realized he'd been moving around the garden for hours, task to task, raking leaves one minute, entranced by a beetle the next, and he was lost to time, totally engaged. That thing that guys with unpronounceable names refer to as Flow, we call Beetling.  I swear, it's the best thing ever.

California straw into goldAnyway, I was feeling glum, missing the Beetling, until I stepped outside, presumably just to handwater a couple of things I noticed the irrigation system was neglecting. And then I thinned the potimarron. And then I pulled some poppies past their prime that were blocking the path. And then I clipped them into the compost. So I got my spin around the garden, my mini little Beetle sesh, perfect start to a Country Mouse Monday. 

And I feel so much better now. Restored, truly. Inspired. Eager for the day.  Of course, wishing I could ditch everything and stay here, while it's still cool, and keep at it, beetling from one thing to the next without a plan, clearing the dead, planting seeds, making simple magic.

Before he left for work this morning, my husband said, "hey, we should do this once a week before work, just come out here and work til 8am, and then go."  Perfect, I said.  Let's do that always on Mondays, please.

Here's to starting the week the Country Mouse way, with a Monday morning clippered saunter. Next time I promise I'll change my clothes first. ;>

XX 

A note on my usual garb: I would be lost without an apron, since generally any pants I wear in the garden are slight in the pocket department. My new favorite is the McGuire-Nicholas C7 14-Pocket Nail Tool Apron which my husband uses in his cabinet shop and which you can buy for all of $8.95 from Amazon. TONS of pockets, which is essential.  I am also wild about my Digz stretch knit latex-dipped gloves, available at Sears, for the modest price of $4.99 -- I have them in size Small and they fit, which feels like a bonus after years of too-big.  Finally, I can't do without Dramm 18006 ColorStorm Premium Garden Scissors, Berry.  They fit my hand, are small enough to stow in a pocket, and are up to just about any task I undertake unless it's a big job requiring bigger blades.  Add to all that a hat, generally a long sleeved white blouse, and my phone -- outfit complete! Let's go Beetle. :)