March 25, 2026

Getting My Hands Dirty

I was never the type of little girl to play in the dirt or the mud and would often cry if I went down a slide and got dirty. True story! I blame it all on my older sister who was a tomboy. Slept with a truck and wore holy t-shirts and torn jeans instead of the dresses our mother preferred. Our mother was horrified that she had a girl who would whoop anyone in the neighborhood who crossed her instead of a dainty daughter that she always envisioned she would have. So when I was born a few years later, my mother instilled in me from the beginning how to be a lady. No fighting or cussing. No t-shirts and jeans. The first few ten years or so of my life I wore nothing but dresses (winter and summer) with matching shoes and when we went to church – always a pair of gloves. The kids in the neighborhood would call me “Miss Priss” because I never would play outside for the fear of getting dirty. Mommy enrolled me in Cotillion classes to learn proper etiquette and how to dance the waltz, fox trot…all that fun stuff. She had big dreams for me. While my sister was battling the bullies in the neighborhood and getting soap in her mouth on a continual basis, I was busy being a lady while having tea parties with my friends and as we all went to Catholic school during that era…I dreamt of being a nun and being married to Jesus. That all went to the wayside when I discovered boys and realized I didn’t want to be married to Jesus after all.

I think of my mom often. Especially when I have my hands and feet in the dirt. You see, I love to garden and plant things. There is nothing as beautiful and magical as planting, nurturing and watching them grow. Same as being a mother – but to plants. Last Saturday I was on the porch, dirt all over my legs and feet. Dirt under my nails and even had it on my face and in my hair. I laughed to myself because I know my mother would be totally shocked to see me enjoying dirt so much. I could hear her say “where is my little girl who hated to get dirty?” but there I was. Enjoying every single second of being dirty. Now…I just hope everything grows successfully! Fingers crossed 🙂

March 17, 2026

Spring is Coming…Eventually!

As the flowers are trying to bloom and we get blasted with more cold weather in Virginia, it reminds me of of the throes of life and the hope of renewal. Like many, I sorta shut down in the winter season because I don’t enjoy the cold and darkness. The thoughts of sunshine on my face and walking in the grass in my bare feet, getting my hands filled with dirt while I toil in the garden…THAT makes my heart happy. Spring is coming. At least that’s what it says on the calendar anyway! And there is hope on the horizon and a feeling of the sense of renewal. I am so excited to see the flowers blooming …smell fresh cut roses…so cheers to the Spring! I promise you…the darkness is fading and lots of good things are on the horizon 🙂