Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Silent War...

I flick the switch back on. It is the life blood of the first round of seeds I am starting for our spring vegetable garden, the "herb" section. Rosemary, cilantro, oregano, chives, a few others. They are in the kitchen window, the south side of our home, so they only get about half a days worth of actual sun light... On a not-so-cloudy day, mind you. So the light over the kitchen sink makes up for those days and nights when nature isn't actually helping anything...

A few hours later, someone will have turned the light back to the "off" position. (Is he not a fan of chives?) I casually lean back over and flick the light back on. I inspect the seeds: of the sixteen cups, eight have now produced a few shoots. I sprinkle the cups with some more water (moisture is key, I might add...) and walk away.

It could be any day--I leave for work, on. I come home from work, off. I go to the bathroom, on. I come back out, off. (Is our electric bill that high this month?)

Neither of us say a word. No eye contact is made as we pass back and forth in front of each other in the hall, as we sit side-by-side on the couch, as a casual call from the kitchen queries, "Do you need anything?"

Of course, what I need is for the light to stay on: after all, like moisture, light is essential. Vegetables don't grow in dark places (unlike mold, mice, and three-eyed monsters).

I've already won the war over the spare bedroom door--it stays open. That is where the cacti and bamboo reside until spring graces us with warm days and nights and they can take their rightful place on the deck. I've also won the laundry war: we do separate whites from colors. On the other hand, I've never won the Christmas card war: we don't send those, even though he's the Jesus-believer and I am not...

Of course, the herb seeds will soon be joined by corn, radish, lettuce, spinach, beets, pumpkin, watermelon, cucumber, and squash--oh, and tomatoes. And the established herb seeds will be nestled between the cacti and bamboo while the vegetables take advantage of all day/all night light (whether sun or artificial), but only if I win this one.

Only if I win.

I know as soon as I hit "Publish This Post," I will have to go out to the kitchen and flick the light back on. After all, I've been in front of the computer for what... Fifteen minutes? In that time, Rich has come and gone from the kitchen in his nightly scavenge for chips and dip...

Yes, that's one more war I haven't won... Snacky stuff in the house...

That must be it, actually... I can't grow potato chips in a vegetable garden...

Well, at least not in "chip" form...

4 comments:

Pete Deichmann said...

Fresh veggies rule; tape the light switch on or something. They MUST not be deprived!

Kel said...

I always thought it was too bad you never won the xmas card war, although I guess you have to pick your battles carefully.

One question: Does Rich understand that you NEED the light to stay on? Is he just some sort of deranged herb killer or does he think you keep forgetting to turn it off? I'm sure I know the answer...you live with a killer.

Are you planting rosemary? I love it, but I've already managed to kill a topiary Dan bought me.

Anonymous said...

hello jason! your new look looks like spring! the other look looked winter like but i did like it. maybe in the fall you can make it look more fall like since by that time i will be tired of the look of spring. :) and when winter rolls around put the snowmen look up. it just goes on doesn't it now. :) you know maybe if you get a timer light it would be a good idea than you don't have to remember to turn it off and on on your plants. you can tell rich it saves big time on the electric bills. i still think its is easier just to go to a farmers stand to buy the vegetables but you have a green thumb and you come from some garden people. :) are you planting any beets? i am glad you are winning some wars. i hate to send christmas cards also. i already keep in touch with most all of them all year and it should go without sending anything i wish them a merry christmas. its a big waste of money but your DAD wants this to keep up. maybe by the time we are married 50 years i will win this war and not send any! i use the cards i get for gift tags if they don't write on the back so thats one good thing i have not had to buy any gift tags for awhile now. :) i don't know what to say with you men living together that don't talk much. its sounds like a dream for your dad. i talked his ear off ever since i met him and have not stopped. :) how do you men do this not talking? that would drive me up the wall and down again to do it all over again! i think you should try to talk a bit and maybe you would win that christmas card war. :) love and prayers

mom said...

hello jason! your new look looks like spring! the other look looked winter like but i did like it. maybe in the fall you can make it look more fall like since by that time i will be tired of the look of spring. :) and when winter rolls around put the snowmen look up. it just goes on doesn't it now. :) you know maybe if you get a timer light it would be a good idea than you don't have to remember to turn it off and on on your plants. you can tell rich it saves big time on the electric bills. i still think its is easier just to go to a farmers stand to buy the vegetables but you have a green thumb and you come from some garden people. :) are you planting any beets? i am glad you are winning some wars. i hate to send christmas cards also. i already keep in touch with most all of them all year and it should go without sending anything i wish them a merry christmas. its a big waste of money but your DAD wants this to keep up. maybe by the time we are married 50 years i will win this war and not send any! i use the cards i get for gift tags if they don't write on the back so thats one good thing i have not had to buy any gift tags for awhile now. :) i don't know what to say with you men living together that don't talk much. its sounds like a dream for your dad. i talked his ear off ever since i met him and have not stopped. :) how do you men do this not talking? that would drive me up the wall and down again to do it all over again! i think you should try to talk a bit and maybe you would win that christmas card war. :) love and prayers