Waiting for Spring - In Memoriam of Pierre

 his was not a cold winter, but it wad definitely a snowy one. I am happy that starting in January my garden could rest beautifully protected by the a thick carpet of snow. It took a while, but the s now came. Snow is the healthy insulation that protects northern gardens from the damaging winds and harsh temperatures of winter. I celebrate snow.

 

 

 

2020 was a bountiful year and we were able to preserve a lot of food. As of today we still have stored, canned, dehydrated or frozen: peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, onion, greens, pesto, green beans, cucumbers. Basically I need to tweak just a few items to have the perfect pantry. I need more carrots, beets and potatoes (it is NEVER enough) and I want to start celleri and corn because... why not?

And I garden in just 329 square feet of raised beds and pot! Anyone can have a beautiful harvest.

 

I guess I can say in five years I learned what we need and how much to plant. That is probably the best lesson you can take from your garden. Learn what are your micro-climates, the best sunny spots, the best shady spots, what goes out when, etc. I, for example learned that spring carrots and beets just don't work on my area. Too warm too soon. But boy, do we get glorious, huge, perfect root crops in the fall!

But winter had a different kind of pleasure as 2020 turned into 2021. A bittersweet one. It was good to not have much to do garden or otherwise, because January was the very last month of my most favorite pet ever. My black cat named Pierre.

 

Pierre was constantly in the yard making a fuss as I was gardening. Such a curious and energetic cat till the end. And at this point in time, March, when seedlings take over the house, he was always a pain in the ass. I had to make sure the seedlings were all protected, because that cat loved to eat anything green. Real or fake plants!

I got that cat one month old. He was ugly and had worms. He was not docile, in fact, he scratched and was nasty until his final two or three years, once his kidneys were really shutting down. Pierre was beautiful 15 year old short-haired, no-breed cat. He travelled far in the world with me. He disliked snow and loved to bake in the sun.

He lived a great life, with backyard fun and couch resting time. He is and will always be extremely missed. My life was made better because of that furry thing.

As now the house fills up with the new baby plants for the season, every day is a day to remember Pierre. All the plants he is not eating. And soon I will revisit all the little corners where he could be spotted munching in the yard. Every flower that will bloom will be smiling in memory of him.

I am waiting for spring, but this year for more than just gardening.

"Life is a balance between holding on and letting go"