… and the mouse has played all week.  For several days, I’ve had the house and kitchen and garden all to myself while mister gardener becomes mister golfer in New England with our son.  Not having the mister here takes the hands off the clock for me. He is so scheduled that I always know what time of day it is by the particular activity he is performing.  Coffee: 6:45 a.m. Mail: 10:30 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. and so forth.

This week I awoke when the sun hit my eyes. Breakfast could be a piece of cake or a bowl of Reese’s Puffs (both leftovers from grandchildren a week ago). I puttered around the yard every morning weeding, edging, and simply sitting for long periods enjoying the Zen of the pond, connecting with the gardens, the birds, the blooms, the stars, being a part of something much larger than me. I did not feel idle and unproductive. Quite the contrary. I was recharging my inner being, my essence, my thoughts and ideas, all that is easy to lose in the distractions of daily life.

When it was too dark to see, it was time for the dogs and me to come inside for the night but then again I could find myself back outside before bedtime, sitting or walking on across the dew laden grass, enjoying life in the nighttime garden.  Very late suppers could be sauteed squash and tomatoes from mister gardener’s abundant crops or cheese and crackers or it could be another bowl of Reese’s Puffs.

I cherish these few days I had with the dogs, the cats, the flora and fauna of the gardens, and the cosmos. But I do look forward to mister gardener’s return and the hands returning to the clock. We both should feel refreshed and revitalized with our batteries fully charged.

Ann Hohenberger, The Garden Club of Gloucester