My love of trying things
I live in a place that has four seasons and I love every one of the seasons. I look forward to Spring and Summer as I can start working in the yard. I am no master gardener but it gives me immense pleasure to work in the dirt, plat new annuals, perennials, vegetables and trees. I think I have developed this love for gardening from my mother. She grew up in a village in India and had the pleasure of watching her father plant roses all around their rented house. They had a Jackfruit tree, a couple of Mango trees, a Kokum tree and also a few cows. They got fresh milk every morning by milking the cows by traditional hand method. I had the pleasure of visiting the village only a few times as my parents lived in a city and most of all, I was not too happy to go there when I was very young as there was no electrcity in the village.
While growing up in the city, I saw my mother plant roses and jasmines in a pot. She grew some vegetables in a pots as well since we lived in an apartment and had a balcony that could be used more as a "garden". The other big balcony was attached to the living room and was useful for entertaining. Over the years of my growing up, we moved to a town where we rented a house and had fun gardening. I realized that the soil in some parts was sticky clay and I let my imagination run wild as I entertained myself in the afternoon making little vessels, plates, bowls etc. under the mango tree shade.
When I was 17, we moved back to Mumbai but were lucky yo have a huge apartment and an equally huge terrace. We mostly grew roses and jasmines in big pots. When I got married and moved to the US, I was in an apartment with a small patio and the thought of not having any plants was not acceptable. So I dragged my sweet husband to a nursery and bought a few plants. In 9 months we moved to Utah and since we sold everything except whatever fit in our pickup truck, I had to donate my pots to our friends.
Our first residence in Utah was a rented town house and I continued to grow plants in pots. I ventured into growing tomatoes and peppers in pots and was thrilled to get produce from a patio garden. Once we bought our first home, I had plenty of space to grow whatever I pleased. Did I go crazy planting more than just tomatoes and peppers? You bet. I grew everything from corn, okra, beans, eggplant, peas and strawberries. I planted tons of flowering plants as well and ended up with fresh flowers in every room of the house as my plants flourished. I had so mant tomatoes, even after sharing a ton, that I made a huge batch of spaghetti sauce by following a recipe that I found in the newspaper. I gave away some and froze a bunch.
I realized that I genuinely loved being a homemaker and never felt the need to go looking for a career outside my home. I was aware that I was lucky to have that choice but I also hung out with women who were happy to be homemakers. Taking care of kids and having nutritious meals regularly is a job in itself. I was super busy taking care of a child with disabilities which required me to go for physical & occupational therapy as well as some early intervention programs. Rest of the time I enjoyed gardening during Spring, Summer and Fall as well as entertaining and traveling.
Every day, I realize that I have a blessed life and I feel happy to be me.
While growing up in the city, I saw my mother plant roses and jasmines in a pot. She grew some vegetables in a pots as well since we lived in an apartment and had a balcony that could be used more as a "garden". The other big balcony was attached to the living room and was useful for entertaining. Over the years of my growing up, we moved to a town where we rented a house and had fun gardening. I realized that the soil in some parts was sticky clay and I let my imagination run wild as I entertained myself in the afternoon making little vessels, plates, bowls etc. under the mango tree shade.
When I was 17, we moved back to Mumbai but were lucky yo have a huge apartment and an equally huge terrace. We mostly grew roses and jasmines in big pots. When I got married and moved to the US, I was in an apartment with a small patio and the thought of not having any plants was not acceptable. So I dragged my sweet husband to a nursery and bought a few plants. In 9 months we moved to Utah and since we sold everything except whatever fit in our pickup truck, I had to donate my pots to our friends.
Our first residence in Utah was a rented town house and I continued to grow plants in pots. I ventured into growing tomatoes and peppers in pots and was thrilled to get produce from a patio garden. Once we bought our first home, I had plenty of space to grow whatever I pleased. Did I go crazy planting more than just tomatoes and peppers? You bet. I grew everything from corn, okra, beans, eggplant, peas and strawberries. I planted tons of flowering plants as well and ended up with fresh flowers in every room of the house as my plants flourished. I had so mant tomatoes, even after sharing a ton, that I made a huge batch of spaghetti sauce by following a recipe that I found in the newspaper. I gave away some and froze a bunch.
I realized that I genuinely loved being a homemaker and never felt the need to go looking for a career outside my home. I was aware that I was lucky to have that choice but I also hung out with women who were happy to be homemakers. Taking care of kids and having nutritious meals regularly is a job in itself. I was super busy taking care of a child with disabilities which required me to go for physical & occupational therapy as well as some early intervention programs. Rest of the time I enjoyed gardening during Spring, Summer and Fall as well as entertaining and traveling.
Every day, I realize that I have a blessed life and I feel happy to be me.
Comments
Post a Comment