Stranger in my Own Home…
I feel like the last few years of my life have been consumed with virtually nothing else other than completing my book, The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey. Now that the book has arrived and the actual inventory is in my exercise room, I thought maybe I would venture out of my office/cave where I have been buried and found out I am a stranger in my own home. It seems that life had continued on around me as I was glued to my computer all that time.
Most things that move on in time are easy enough to ignore – black roots in your hair – that’s why rubber bands are made for pony tails. Cat hair on the furniture – that is easy enough to ignore – serious vacuuming is really only necessary when company comes to visit, which is usually only a few times a year. My muscle tone (or lack thereof) is something I attribute conveniently to my age, and the cats, well, they were more than happy to sleep in the office with me for hours on end, so there lives were not affected negatively at all.
The cats sharing the office with me - you see the full Zee/Zoey family - the others, Harley and Jazz, are also in the office, they are just out of the range of the camera!
The backyard, however, is entirely a different story and one that I am not too thrilled about. Time does not stand still in the tropical climate of Florida and my plants cared not one wit that I was a budding author. Once I adjusted my eyes to the sunlight and covered my translucent white skin in long sleeves and jeans, lest I get any color, I immediately saw that my once lovely, breathtaking, and manageable garden had become a hostile jungle, completely taking over all sense of reason. Now, mind you, I love a garden that has no real design sense and is filled with glorious bursts of color and flowers with delightful meandering minds of their own. But, there does come a point when this freedom and independence is actually hostile and menacing.
Current times - obvious signs of neglect...
All the bamboo shedding has caused plants that were once healthy and in bloom, to be struggling for sunlight and survival
Case in point, we planted the most darling bamboo shoots several years ago, yearning for the tall and proud plants to encircle our backyard where they would lazily sway to and fro in the wind with the unmistakable sound of a creaking rocking chair. Guess what? Bamboo grows at an alarming speed and sheds more that a cat does. They also block out precious sunlight, forcing much less dominant foliage to either fight for a random ray of light, or they cause these fragile plants to die. Kind of a survival of the fitness in the jungle. The bamboo shedding also clogs the pool and litters in such profuse display, that it causes neighbors to politely mention “what are you going to do about your plant droppings that are trespassing in our yard?”
Starting the cleaning and pruning process...
Several sore muscles and many bags of refuse later...
Back when our garden was our loving and well cared for showcase
This beautiful plant is aptly called "Cat Whiskers" and I am hoping it has 9-lives. Right now we are trying to revive this plant to its once majestic state
We used to have this all under control – you can actually have controlled chaos when you take the time to tend to your outdoor friends on a weekly basis. With a green thumb and some tender loving care, our backyard garden used to be both a relaxing refuse to Dan and I and a stunning plethora of every color of the rainbow you could imagine in full and stunning bloom year round. Well, lessons learned indeed – it seems that I need to re-introduce myself to my home and my yard. While writing the book has been an unbelievably rewarding experience, it cannot be the only thing that defines me. I found out, despite the mountains of refuse, that I miss my flora and fauna and my “me” time to just relax in the glory and beauty of our blessed paradise. I want to bring my garden back to the proud state it once was, not the neglected, tangled, overgrown and weed infested world that has almost nearly become our permanent occupant!!
Zee is always happy to enjoy an early morning garden stroll and is happy to hear that his backyard will be back up to snuff soon!
Deb, one thing I’ve learnt from reading the book is that you are not afraid of hard work! You throw yourself into major projects and I admire you for that. I wish I had the energy, but alas, no more 🙁 Your yard (what a prosaic name for such an exotic space) will look amazing again and Zee et al will oversee the renovation or removal of every leaf and twig. xox
Well… thank you for Carolyn – I’m not always a fan of hard work, but you’re right, I’m not afraid of it! Poor Dan has to bear the brunt of most of the yard work – we have massive hedges that have to be trimmed (city law) and lots of grass to mow… poor guy – not only did he sign up to spend the rest of his life with the quintessential cat woman, but he inherited a massive yard as well!! But thank you, you are right – we will get it back to its once proper state soon…. xoxo
That book is quite the accomplishment, and you must be proud, from what I can tell it’s darn good!!! Love the pics! Y’all have a great weekend!!!
Thank you so much Brian – I really am proud and hope that it gives felines more of a voice and the respect that they deserve!!
Wow, you had your work cut out for you! Emerging from writing a book is quite an experience, isn’t it? I’m so excited for you – and I’m hoping that now that your yard is in top shape again, you’ll allow yourself to relax and enjoy it for the rest of the weekend!
Yes Ingrid, as you can well relate, emerging from the book writing experience is quite a task!! I am all set to relax… now if only the rain would go away!!
That photo of the garden in all its splendor is really breathtaking. I can relate to being so busy that everything else gets pushed to the back of your mind. And it is quite a shock when you emerge from the computer room cave to see what has happened elsewhere.
Yes Julia, you really can relate – I stopped by your Pet Diary blog and saw just how busy you are…. even though it is a very difficult piece of advice to follow, sometimes we really do have to let go of some of our responsibility for our own sanity!
My friend, “To every thing, there is a season”….a time to write, and a time to garden 🙂
Sometimes rules of “purrfection” have to take a back seat in certain areas so that other parts of your intellectual “garden” thrive xoxoxoxo
Ahh… yes indeed Caren, you are so right… I believe that would be the Byrds – “To everything – turn, turn, turn. There is a season – turn, turn, turn. And a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap…” Thank you for your thoughtful comment, I really enjoyed the sentiment! xoxo
Wow! That garden was gorgeous! I’m sure it will be again in no time.
Thanks Rumpy, I sure to hope so!!