This morning, I woke up feeling a bit cranky, probably because my to-do list feels like a whole overgrown garden, with weeds sprouting faster than I can pull them. I wish I could just pause time, sit on the bench by my flowers, and breathe in the quiet green of the yard. One thing I regret this summer is not spending more time reading out here. Reading is like pruning my mind—trimming back all the wild, tangled thoughts so I can see clearly. I’m going to make a real push to read outside every day now. Just as my students benefit from silent, sustained reading, I think I need that same stillness—a few pages among the flowers to settle my roots.
Yesterday was mostly spent in my yard, my favorite kind of day. I cleared space around the evergreens, and now they can breathe. Today, I’m eyeing that bush near Joel’s window; it needs pruning to let in more light. This morning, I spotted a young tree sprouting up, like a gift I didn’t know I had. I’ll transplant it in the fall, once it’s strong enough. I already know the perfect sunny spot for it along the south fence, where it can stretch out and grow tall.
