If weeding is one of the keys to a garden that will thrive then we have a very good chance of one day being a success story. I take the removal of unwanted species very seriously. It gives me such deep satisfaction to clean out debris and give my little plants some breathing room. Isn't it just like life? We can go such a long way to thriving when we take time to clear out the things that get in our way and threaten to choke off our growth, steal our sunlight and rob us of nourishment. Ah, but even that process can present us with unanticipated obstacles...Before we left for vacation last week I spent some intense quality time culling the newest neighbors of my pepper plants (the buggers had THORNS). These peppers were destined for a quiche sometime soon and I was not about to let any weeds get in their way. So, I put my little foam kneeling pad down and got to work. I was totally in the "ZONE." So invigorating was the exertion. So productive was the work. So peaceful was the environment. So interesting that I hadn't noticed that my pants were turning black because I had inadvertently perched myself upon an ANT HILL. Oh, it was far too late. I was absolutely covered up to my hips in tiny black ants running pell mell ever higher at about 200 miles an hour. So, I did what any self-respecting, mature woman would do... I stripped and danced like I was possessed. My arms were flailing, my legs were shaking violently to try to rid myself of these savages. I spun around and around after I flung my t-shirt into the cucumbers. I batted my pants which were now wrapped around my ankles. I was a maniac. And it was hilarious. I don't know how long it took for the whole thing to end. It reminded me of a car accident I was once in where a two minute event felt like thirty minutes in the moment. When I thought the last of them were off of me I collected my garments with as much dignity as I could muster. Then I considered that perhaps I should pay more attention to where I am when I take on the problems in my garden. Isn't it just like life?
