My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I planted grapes about two years ago (I think) when I was sort of toying with the idea of channeling my Hungarian roots and making my very own, you know, homemade wine.
Until, last summer, when the grapes died, along with most of our tomatoes, cucumbers and whatever else the stupid ground hog missed, before the rains came and washed his furry little butt away (out to sea, I hope) along with half our neighbor's yard and, well, I would have been happy with a small jar of jelly, really.
Then, the birds ate the rest and, well, got to love nature, right?
Still. I refuse to give up, DAMMIT. So, last weekend, my husband Garth (not his real name) unlocked the tool shed and not because he's afraid of the kids hurting themselves, or anything.
Seriously, even my almost-ten-year-old knows that giant, ferocious, probably child-eating sort of bees live in our shed and, well, she may, or may not, have heard it from a somewhat reliable source, in an effort to keep kids from touching MY stuff, don't judge!
Aaaaand, there was this one time, during summer vacation, when I nearly electrocuted myself so, well, oh, look…up there…is that REAL raspberries?!?
Okay, not yet…but, soon (I hope) along with a crop of blackberries we planted, last weekend, on the other side of the shed (not shown, because, you know, bees live there) and look what else Garth (NHRN) helped me build.
Like it? It's my first. What do you mean, what is it? Why, it's a…uh…well, not quite a shed…um…more like a peaceful place to pot things in.
Not to mention, hide the stuff we've recycled, from other people's yards.
YES, with their permission, of course, sheesh.
SHEESH!
It took us all day, last Sunday, but, you know what?
It felt, really, really good, too.
Okay, so maybe not in a, "Oh, look, I'm saving the world, ya'll" sort of way, I admit.
But, dang it to h-e-double-hockey-sticks if we can't, at the very least, teach our kids to help make the world, look just a wee bit prettier, right from our very own backyard, either.
"Wow, YOU made this, mom?!?!"
Yes, yes, it's my first, and I did it recycling a couple of grape vines, dead as they are.
"Ewwwwwwwww!"
[eyes go wide]
"Oh come on, it's not THAT bad, is it?"
Seriously, seeing as she is the only one, of all four of my kids, who likes to be outside, on purpose, I thought that at least my almost-ten-year-old would appreciate the effort.
"No, look, you're bleeding!"
So, yeah, I'm NOT the greenest mom on the planet.
"Ewwwww, and what's that on your nose?"
Aaaand, I seemed to have misplaced my gardening gloves (AGAIN!) good thing I also happen to look better in red, anyway.
[blank stare]
I know, still, you'll never be able to convince me there's a global benefit to allowing poison ivy to grow, all over the danged place, EVER, either.
[sound of crickets, chirping]
Oh, look, up there, is that a REAL grape vine wreath!?!?
[SLAM!]
Happy Mother's Day weekend, everyone and don't forget to lock up your power tools…oh, and for heaven sakes, wear gloves…I hear poison ivy is quite the mood killer, trust me…also, will someone PLEASE tell Garth (NHRN) we need more wine, thanks!
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Comments
77 responses to “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Poison ivy?! That is the worst! I’m with you, there is no redemptive use for poison ivy, vindictive maybe…
The wreath is lovely, and I’m envious of your shed.
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
Thanks, Tara! Would you believe, our 104-year-old neighbor helped up put it up? What?!? She WAS oh, I dunno, like 89 at the time 🙂
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
The wreath is beautiful. I love it!
I’m so sorry to hear about the poison ivy! I live in the city and don’t know if I’d recognize poison ivy unless I got the rash. 🙂
The Mister would be very envious if he saw your shed. He needs a place like that because he loves puttering in the garden, if you consider a million pots and two raised flower beds in the front of the house a garden.
Have a very happy Mother’s Day!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
Sending a box of wine over! 🙂
I LIKE the wreath very much. They sell those at craft stores for, like $30!
Hope you don’t spend the whole weekend scratching. 🙁
And Happy Mother’s Day! Love you!
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I think the wreath came out just fine! I’ve been toying with the idea of grabbing some of the wild grape vines off my MIL’s property and making my own wreaths. . . it’s on my list of “things to do someday & write a post about”.
come to think of it, that’s a pretty long list.
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
I'm sure yours would be fabulous, as most crafts and projects you write about…okay, ALL the stuff you make looks good…Jenn…dangit 🙂
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Love you, Melisa!!!
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
Surprised Mom,
Yes, a million pots is definitely gardening — hence, my cool new place to pot things in 🙂
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
tenacity – it’s a good thing.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I totally need to start some planting. I know it’s May but the weather here feels more like Seattle.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.
I hear you — feels like Seattle here, too and, from the sounds of the weather report, we'll be here all week.