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Moon Garden: 7/13/2015

It was a difficult week last week. Lion the Chicken became very sick and listless – like, very suddenly. I noticed it right before bedtime, and just thought perhaps she was tired and overheated, so I made sure they had plenty of water – even giving her a little by hand to be sure she was still drinking. She sipped from my hands, and then helped herself to a bit of water and then…just stood there. But when I put her in the coop, I was encouraged by the fact that the other chicks cuddled her close and didn’t shun her.

Wood Ash Bathing

When she wasn’t better in the morning, I was a little worried. I separated her from the rest of the flock and put her in the dogloo tractor. I put some nutritious snacks in with her, as well as some starter feed and ice water. She seemed to perk up a bit mid-day, so I kept my eye on her…but tried to remain optimistic.

Lulu and the herd of Danes

Late afternoon, it really started to seem like she was doing much worse. When I picked her up to examine her, I noticed that her crop was enlarged and squishy, so I called around to a number of different vets until I found one who was willing (actually, they even seemed eager) to squeeze me in as an emergency patient. By then she was very dehydrated, and all of the blood had drained from her comb. The vet didn’t know what it was that caused the blockage, but liquid was accumulating in her crop and she was not able to pass it – or anything else – through.

The vet and all of the staff there were so sweet. They made a little plaster footprint for me. They gave me “as much time as needed” to hold my rapidly deteriorating bird. They very gently and sensitively put sweet Lion to sleep while I rubbed her pretty buff feathers.

Almond Verbena Over Lion’s Grave

Guys – I have to admit, the first few years of my life as a parent – and I think even stretching before that. Like not out of any sort of blame, but just due to living conditions, I feel like I stopped being able to afford the energy to give a fuck about pets. I had them. I took good, basic care of them…but I did not revere them. So, it’s interesting to be at a point in my life that I’m still mourning the death of a 2-month old chick a week after the fact. But, there you have it.

The remaining and the remains.

A lot of things are coming together right now. A confluence of energies. I’m in line for my new fence…which likely means it will take 6-8 weeks. I don’t even care. I’m just so happy to be in line. And now I know about how much time I have to clean up the fenceline – so it’s no rush, but it’s also not too too far off that I can procrastinate much longer.

Morning Glory and Milkweed

Lately, I spend a lot of time sitting out in my yard, thinking about all of the little clean up projects that need to happen out there. I kind of need to start actually DOING those projects in earnest, but I’m slowly taking care of some of them.

Toilet Garden – Bottle Border

I’m about a quarter of the way done with the bottle border, for instance – and I might actually do more bottle borders – maybe just bits of border here and there as a general guideline. And I’ve mulched from the patio to the big oak. And I whacked weeds. But there’s a lot more work, and I know it will be awesome when I get it done…but, still…I’m lingering. hahaha.

Lulu and the Gate

The umpteenth iteration of that gate that’s been concocted in my life with this stupid fucking fence is currently in the process of falling apart. Just having a gate that closes and latches properly will be a very nice thing. And I figure having a bullpanel fence, rather than privacy, will encourage me to be creative with natural walls and such. It will be interesting to evolve the design of the yard to provide for privacy while also sharing my gardening journey with the neighborhood. Because I know I’m not the only person who admires a good garden…particularly the barely-contained bursting with chaos ones that I’m hoping I can nurture.

Moon Flower

Currently blooming: Lots and lots of these babies, and morning glories.

This is my “before” shot to encourage myself to clean this area this weekend.

P.S. I’m not sure this is going to happen this weekend – but possibly during the week. I have this new thing that I do when I feel unmotivated to do something because it feels too too huge to possibly accomplish. I focus on 45 things. So I either toss or put away 45 things. Once I’ve committed to doing that, it doesn’t feel so huge. When I get 45 done, I might take a break and do 45 more. Until I’m all 45’ed out.

Mulched Path

I’m already dreaming of things to put on the clothesline side of the border here – to shield the clothesline and arc over to shield the seating area by the big oak. Perhaps things I can grow in pots. Perhaps trees – like small citrus trees…or even a pomegranate…or fig…or artichokes. Or a combination…I haven’t fully decided, but the shape of it is coming to me.

Morning Glories

I totally forgive this monster plant for killing all of the other plants in its path to complete domination over the north end of the moon garden. A) It puts on a beautiful show every morning and B) it’s sheltering a volunteer tomato plant that must have sprung from last year’s pitiful attempts and tomato gardens. The tomatoes I planted have already succumbed to heat (and, let’s face it, my neglect) but that little scrapper is loving life in the shade of my morning glories.

I’m not counting on it to ever produce any fruit, though. Because it’s a fucking tomato plant and I fucking suck at tomato plants. Fucking prima donna plants. hehehe.

The Day The World Turned Day-Glo

The younger child is at his dad’s, and the older is at a special event at his college. I’ve been kidless since Wednesday. My intention was to clean Buddha The Grouch’s room, in spite of his protestations…but I haven’t exactly accomplished that yet.

Moon Garden – 7/18/2015

*Sigh* – I guess I better start counting to 45.