Preparing for change of seasons

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October 19, 2012

Preparing for change of seasons

By Ray Day For the Kokomo Tribune The Kokomo Tribune Fri Oct 19, 2012, 11:39 PM EDT

It is getting to be that time of the year when the air is just a little cool. Some will have to put on an extra layer of clothing to keep warm.

We older ones seem to feel that change earlier than the young folk; the blood doesn’t run as fast, and the bones are weakened by all those years of working for a living and doing some of those yard and garden chores that make your home a little prettier.

In my case, the garden is my favorite pastime. I enjoy seeing things grow in the soil of the earth that God gave us to use. And yes, the years of doing that have put a lot of strain on my joints. But what a great feeling to just go out there in that one place that you have all to yourself.

You can hear and feel the wind blowing. And seeing the progress of the plants feeding off the soil into sizes that you want them puts a lot of pride in your heart and soul.

It is a great place to be, knowing that all this is because of our Lord doing for his people. What a wonderful way of having that one-on-one meeting with him each day.

I know that many feel that since we had a very hot summer, we will have a very cold winter. But I don’t think so. I feel that our winter will come earlier than the season is supposed to, and we will have a cold winter with a lot of snow, but not so severe that we need worry about it.

It is my thought that every once in a while, the Father above will test us. He wants us to know that we don’t control the weather, he does. So this old man with worn out legs, sore hands and very weak knees will be ready to do whatever I need to do to get my garden out next year.

It might take a few falls – with the fence so far away to have to crawl to to pull myself back up – but gardening is and has been my yearly goal and, mark my words, I will be out there ready to go.

I did not order onion plants from Walla Walla land in Washington state last year due to having so many that could be transplanted from the year before. So we had plenty of shallots and onions to eat and fill the freezer with. This next year, I might order some but not as much as years before.

The old tasty tomatoes will get some special attention, as will my pepper plants and cucumber plants. We had tomatoes this year, but the great taste was not there as in previous years due to the lack of rain and the extreme heat. I will work on a new system of automatic watering and some shade. You don’t want too much shade, as tomatoes like the sunlight and the heat it gives.

So, folks, just because we had an unusual spring and summer, that doesn’t mean that we need to stop doing what we love to do: the planting, the maintenance and the other care you might want to give a garden. While I am out in mine, I try to praise the plants for their growth, but I never try to get mad at them.

Hey, they are living things just like we are, and we like to hear the praises, at least I do.

So, folks, let’s have a great time sitting inside the home, watching some television without all the profanity this fall and winter. Come spring, this old man is going to go full blast toward having the garden that we had in previous years. So much for garden talk for now.

Ray “Uncle Ray” Day is a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune. Contact him at uncleray@earthlink.net.

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