Checking my weather app early, I noticed that the next two weeks are going to be chilly and rainy, so it was imperative to get our family outside for as much sunshine as we could. It was spectacular- the girls swinging on the swingset (which I've realized they may be outgrowing, as it now shakes when they go too high), birds twittering in the trees, and even fuzzy yellow and black bees buzzing around the forsythia bushes.
Jeff got out the chainsaw, and started cutting up the tree branch he brought down with our riding mower a few days ago. Years ago, we were walking along one of the many paths in Central Park when we came upon rustic architecture made out of branches and twigs. We were both enthralled with the idea of creating something like that in our backyard, but put it on the back burner while we had two kids, moved around a bit, and then had more pressing issues with our house that required more immediate attention. However, on Day 26 of being home, we decided it was time to attempt a fence made out of found materials, and with a giant piece of a tree taking up valuable real estate in the back yard, we got to work.
While he handled the cutting, I got started on the garden, marking out the spaces for the two three foot by eight food raised beds, and clearing out mulch. When we first moved into our house four years ago, we had to have a tree taken down because it was dead and leaning towards the roof (at the time, we wanted to just remove a large branch, but as they were taking it down, they realized the tree was hollow, and it was a matter of time before a strong wind would heave it towards the master bathroom. Having just gone through two VERY large oaks falling at our old house during Hurricane Sandy, we erred on the side of caution, and then had the tree chopped up, and the wood chips deposited on the garden. Unfortunately, we failed to realize just how much mulch there would be, and when it was spread out, it was a solid six to twelve inches deep, and we never got around to gardening.
Lucky for us, over the last few years, it has deteriorated and made a very rich soil, perfect for
The girls were our helpers, holding up the pieces while Jeff screwed them into place. I changed out of my pajama bottoms and into shorts, something I haven't done in months. We were supposed to be in South Carolina this week, embracing the sun and warmth, so it's a consolation to be able to at least be soaking up some rays.
Jeff turned his phone to a Pandora station with classic standards by Etta James, Duke Ellington, and Frank Sinatra. When "It Had To Be You" came on, I was transported back to watching When Harry Met Sally, my absolute favorite movie. No matter what is going on in the world, that film makes me think everything will be okay, and today was no different. I could picture Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby doing the wave at Shea Stadium, Carrie Fisher and Kirby running off after she quotes him during a botched double date, and of course, Meg Ryan's face when Billy Crystal runs into a New Year's Eve party and proclaims "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
It's amazing how, even stuck at home, our minds and imaginations can remain untethered, shooting ahead or back years, to moments in our lives, to goals and aspirations, and to films and songs that become a part of who we are. I'm grateful to have that kind of freedom, and to be able to embrace it with my writing.
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