My Magical Rubber Boots

There is something about gardening that cheers a person up. Last year Mike and I started a little vegetable garden. Mike thought it would be "fun" (his words, not mine). Do I know a thing about vegetable gardening? Nope, I don't. I can't give you advice on soil quality, when to plant, how to get the most growth, etc. Here is my method of gardening: Go to the greenhouse, purchase some random veggies that look interesting, shove em' in the dirt, and hope for the best. (Oh, yes, I do know you have to water your garden). It's actually quite rewarding. Lately I have been seen in my garden hoeing. It is tremendously satisfying. I get my rubber boots on (something magical happens when I put my rubber boots on - suddenly I am transformed from housewife extraordinaire to a rugged, weathered, country bumpkin), head on to the shed and get my hoe. As I make my trek across our yard, I lay the hoe on my shoulders and picture myself as a hardworking farmer's wife. Then I start hoeing like crazy. Weeds fly through the air and after half an hour, I gaze with satisfaction at the freshly turned dirt. Then I roll up my sleeves and check to see if I have any newly-made muscles. You might catch me running dirt through my fingers with a contemplative look on my face - that's just an act though. Then I picture the massive rewards that await me. I imagine how long my vegetable garden would be able to sustain our family. With my record, probably not more than a week. Last year I planted a bunch of different kinds of peppers - with success! When I was ready to cook a meal and didn't have a veggie, I would make my way to the garden, hope something was ripe, and tadaa - a fresh pepper or two. Throw some olive oil, a little salt and pepper on em' and toss them on the grill beside the steak. It made a lovely accompiament to steak in particular. I thought about canning, but first of all, I didn't have a big enough harvest for that, and secondly, once I read about having to boil jars and having to do so at certain temperatures, I was completely turned off from it. Maybe this year. But I don't think so. So if you want to feel a "little closer to the earth" (if that doesn't sound to hokey to you), by all means, start a little vegetable garden. The rewards are ENDLESS!