Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska

Wanda's Diary Entries

Sunday, May 10, 2009

In planning for my celebration this evening of Mother’s Day with my own mother, I have spent most of the day in domestic pursuits. This morning I worked in the garden, transplanting a sizable eggplant to my main garden plot, and moving three newly sprouted watermelon plants to the plot created for them. (Somehow, I’d confused these watermelons with the sunflowers also growing from seed in similar plastic containers outside. Yesterday, I accidentally planted these along the fence.) Of the six I’d transplanted, only three remained living today, so fingers crossed that these three survivors will survive their latest upheaval.

Having home-grown watermelons is Henry’s fondest desire, and I hate to disappoint. A week or so ago, finding a packet full of watermelon seeds packed for the 2008 growing season, I planted them directly into the ground. I’m hoping that at least one or two will emerge to back up the three puny seeds that have emerged from this year’s packet. (I must confess that the thought has crossed my mind of going to the garden center to pick up one or two watermelons of a larger size to cover myself.)

I’d planted a number of tomato plants in mid-April. The sad fact is they’re looking pretty puny these days with their lower leaves yellowing. My neighbor down the street, the gardener Joe Lamp’l, happened by today. He commented that his own tomatoes were in the same sad state, due to all the rain we’ve had lately. So come on out, sunshine, and let our ‘maters thrive.

My sister Jane, who lives in the DC, area asked me to pick up some flowers for her to give to Mother. I had thought about picking up a bouquet at the grocery store (cheaper than the florists) but decided at the last minute to make up a couple of planters of begonias that Mother can enjoy all summer and into the fall on her deck. Because her deck is covered and doesn’t get full sun, this seemed the ideal solution. I’ve also made up a smaller planter with three teeny tomato plants for Mom, grown from seed saved from my Brandywine tomatoes from last summer.

Finally, in preparing for my consignment appointment next Tuesday, I pulled out the ironing board and went at it. Ironing all the clothes I hope to sell (I counted them; it came to 18). Then, even though I’d tired of it, I forced myself to continue ironing until several of my own garments that have been out of commission since last summer were ready to meet the public once again.

Next task: going to work chopping veggies to make Mother a vegetable lasagna for dinner tonight.