Mommy's Garden

Lynne calls it the Chinese Fire Drill, the hustling of the boys back and forth. It is soooo TRUE!

This morning, I completed the drill on my own. So, after 5:45 morning spin (today’s ride was AWESOME), it was one mad, whirling dervish of activity. Swapped cars, swapped Goldens, rushed home, showered, dressed, gobbled some quinoa with yogurt, and grabbed some of the tea my MOMMY got for me. I was on my way. Another work week. Woo-hoo.

Speaking of Mommy (yes, I do still call her Mommy…weird, huh?), the weekend wasn’t as horrible as I was afraid it may turn out to be. It wasn’t one of the highlight weekends of our past, but there were no arguments, no hurt feelings, and no words said and later regretted. Whew. If I had to describe it one word, I’d say it was simply “pleasant”. I got to spend a lot of time with Bobo as well. I'd forgotten how much I love her company. She is such a funny person with an endless cache of great stories.

I remember learning about a person’s “love language” at our Engaged Encounter. My mother’s love language is gifts. So, when I first walked in and was greeted with my favorite spicy lentil dish, fresh baked bread, and okra, I felt like jumping for joy. My mom tries to feed EVERYONE.

Well, she hasn’t tried to feed me since I told her I’m marrying a qufar. Her making food for me is a gift because it is such a big deal in our family. Plus, none of the fare is easy to make, so you have to at least like the person you’re cooking for in order to put that much time into it! I was comforted to know that she at least still likes me.

Throughout the weekend, I purposefully kept the conversation on safe, neutral topics. Although it was hard for me to keep my big mouth shut, I figured she’d bring up the “800 pound GORILLA” in the room when she’s good and ready.

So, we just kind of “hung out” together. I brought my wax and the warming machine, and a good time was had by all waxing away. Middle Eastern women are NOT blessed with fine, barely perceptible hair. Yah, I wish!

There were lots of topics for discussion other than the GORILLA. I got the sense that she was just happy to be able to vent to someone again about things going on in her life. In my family, I’m the one referred to as the “patient” one. Therefore, I’m the one my mother is directed to when she needs an ear because it can go on and on. Everyone else in my family tends to glaze over or fall asleep, which doesn’t make her very happy. So, I just listened and nodded as we traveled about the neighborhood. We hit up $tarbucks, Trader Joe’s, Cold Stone, and we window shopped. I can't stand shopping and just wandering about stores, but remember, I am the "patient" one. *Sigh*

It was also time for the monthly feeding in her garden. It was kind of a melancholy task that we completed together. She and I planted everything in the garden over the past 6 years since my parents bought their home. It was a trip back in time at every plant, tree, or flower.

“Do you remember how you mocked me for planting my apricot pit? Well, look at it now!” (Ok, I can’t tell you how many times she’s taunted me about her apricot tree. A couple of years back we were enjoying some delicious apricots, when all of a sudden my mom and my uncle decided to plant the apricot pit RIGHT there in the front yard with their bare hands, because “that’s how it’s done back home”. I thought they’d lost it, but I’ve had to eat my words since now that pit has become a full blown tree. Hopefully soon I’ll get to eat some apricots. Yum!)


Here's my mama inspecting the newly sprouted apricot fruit. I couldn't get a good pic of the baby apricots though. Sorry. She looks cute standing under her "little" tree, doesn't she? *Sigh* I love her so much.


“I’m still waiting for this tree to give me my Moroccon blood oranges. Remember you said it would fruit within 2 years? Well, it’s been almost 4.” (In my defense, I didn’t realize that the SD climate is a little too dry for the tree, but someday it will bear fruit!)
Yellow rose tree.
“Oh, do you remember this rose? It was on clearance at Armstrong and you used quarters to pay for it. $5 and look how big it is now!” (Ok, I am kind of in awe of this gangbuster of a rose bush. Jeezaloo!!! You wouldn't believe how pitiful it looked when we rescued it from the bin. Look at the sherbet colors and the size of the face!!! Wow.)
"Gangbuster" rose with New Zealand Tea Tree behind it.
Up close and personal. Magnificent colors, no?
Ruffled red rose.
Swan planter my mom and I got on our first trip to Mexico. She loves this planter. I bought it for her because of that cobalt blue glaze, one of my favorite colors.
“You know, this is Bobo’s favorite tree. She loves to sit under it in the evenings.” (Yah, Mom, I know it’s her favorite tree because she had me search the entire county for one. Finally found it in Mira Mesa and trucked it home in my little Honda! She's referring to the potato tree with the purple flowers. What a name for such a pretty tree, no? Weird.)
Hot pink rose.
My favorite, the plumbago bush. First little cluster of flowers saying hello to the world.
You can see the little blue flower cluster on the right side of the bush. Within a couple of weeks the ENTIRE bush will be carpeted in the prettiest periwinkle blue. It's so beautiful, expecially next to that climbing rose. My mom and I have moved the plumbago three times, and it is happiest right in that spot.

“Oh, look here…my first grapes of the season! Here, have a taste?” (Oooooh, still sour! Totally made me pucker. I loved it. :-) By this time I'd run out of space on my camera's memory card.

“We should have bought one more of the lemon tree.” (Why? Isn’t one enough? How many lemons can we possibly eat?)

Anyway, that’s how it went for hours. Kind of a warm weekend for San Diego, but a perfect day for being outside where it was breezy. We both just love, LOVE bold, crazy colors. I like more of a wild, free form garden, but my mom loves roses and other more manicured plants. No matter, we both love gardening. It’s something I haven’t done myself in almost a year. It felt good to get my hands muddy and my knees grass-stained.

So, Mommy sent me on my way with lots of lentils, salad, bread, and a new Ginger Peach Green Tea by Stash. It's made with matcha green tea leaves, delicious! In fact, I’m drinking some right now.

As I was leaving, she asked if I’d see “Edward” this week….ummm, yah, pretty sure I will. She then handed me two Ziploc bags with marinated chicken breasts. For “Edward”.

I grabbed the chicken and ran before she could change her mind and before I started crying. I loved my weekend, for the first time in a long while.