This will be the year of the garden. Oh yes. It will.

When we first looked at this house, I was overjoyed to find the owners had put in a little garden out back. Coming from a back yard that boasted very large and very shady trees, I was desperate to get my mits on a bit of sunny soil. I had tried the whole container gardening but it just didn’t do it for me. I wanted my own plot of land baby! I immediately had dreams of red tomato vines, green snap beans, bright orange pumpkins, and chickens. (Don’t ask.)

Unfortunately, we moved in over the July 4th weekend which was just a scoosh past the growing season so my little plot lay fallow that year. I had plans for the spring of ’05 but I failed to factor in a little thing called “pregnancy”. My last trimester fell during the months of March thru June so as much as I longed to get down on my knees to dig and plant, I realized that once down, I wouldn’t be getting up with my massive belly. And so, another spring pasted without a single seed sown.

Last year, I made a valient attempt and actually got a few things in the ground but it was pretty scatterbrained. No real planning, no real dedication. Lets just say my spare moments between running after a 12 month old and a 2 yr old were few and far between and most likely spend passed out in a deep deep exhausted sleep.

But this year. Oh baby. This year it is on! The girls are old enough that I can turn them lose in the backyard and ignore them. I just wait for the screams before I even deign to raise my head. No pregnant belly and the exhaustion level has fallen from drop-on-the-bed-and-sleep-fully-clothed to something closer to normal. I’ve already started beans and strawberries. I’ve pulled out all the weeds and laid down a protective layer of hazelnut shells to deter slugs. This week I’m breaking out my seed starting kit and sowing carrots. Carrots people! Are you as excited as I am?

Ok, don’t answer that.

Of course, the gorgeous spring weather is only feeding my garden lust. Blue skies one minute and warm spring rain the next. I’m telling you, this will be the year of the garden!

Now all I have to do is train Artie not to pee on my veggies. Nothing breaks the mood more than seeing your dog raise his leg on your nice fresh veggies still on the plant. Drat that dog.