16 Comments
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Kelsey Andrews's avatar

I love the mixture of old ways and new ways in this piece. What a lovely way for your mum to be remembered!

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Kristine's avatar

Thanks Kelsey. We do live in a bit of an old/new mix here, rather like a cinnamon swirl😊

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Susan Kennard's avatar

Kristine, what a journey! I was at work in a fairly boring meeting when I started reading this post....sneak reading to be honest. Then I started tearing up and realised that my cover was about to be blown. My next order of business is to google no dig gardening.

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Kristine's avatar

Oooops, disrupting work meetings! Let me know what you think of ‘no dig’!

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Shirley Weese's avatar

Thanks for this Kristine, a lovely story and a wonderful tribute to your mom. I don't feel so bad about the mess of my garden, and that it's not cleaned up....yet!!!

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Kristine's avatar

I think you and my Mom would have had some fantastic conversations!

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A.W. Firestone's avatar

Your writing is soo amazing. I love this. Your mom would be so proud of you, the fruit did not fall far from the tree.

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Kristine's avatar

Ahhh, thank you Ann.

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Lisa's avatar

Your mum was amazing - thanks for this insight into a part of her I didn't really know :)

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Kristine's avatar

She was a force!

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B.A. Lampman's avatar

You've done it again, Kristine. Always such an enjoyable read.

You described me and my yard—every...........damn...........Autumn. Such good intentions I always have! (minus the burlap). And mine's nowhere near farm-size, though it might as well be, to me.

Also, what a lovely tribute to your Mom. I, too, talk to the plants—just a little. I find myself apologizing if I accidently step on something or knock something over 😂

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Kristine's avatar

I can absolutely see you encouraging your plants to do their thing! And no matter the size, those fall things are somehow hard to achieve. I remember the same issues when I had a tiny garden in the city! Old habits….

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Kristine Weese's avatar

What a lovely story Kristine!

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Kristine's avatar

Thank you. I reckon your Mom and my Mom could have been good friends!

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Joanne's avatar

Just found this in the bottom of my in box and am so glad I didn't miss it. Girl, your writing grows stronger every day - you made me see Tad in all her blue-eyed glory, hunched over, gnarled hands in the dirt, whispering the hard-won secrets of a lifetime of hard work and deep love. Thank you <3

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Heather's avatar

Here's to your lovely, in tune with the earth Mom and a beautiful, messy garden! The timing of me reading this is kinda fun, as I've been doing a little 'Lasagne' gardening this week and we are having veggie lasagne for lunch today.. yum!

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