all in a day's work...

I am exhausted, but in a feeling-rewarded-rested-productive type of way. Every muscle in my body is silently protesting, just enough to let me know they worked hard....but not so bad that i am in agony. . . I know that I will sleep exceptionally well tonight...and my bath was pure bliss as I lay and soaked off the day.

You see today I decided that I didn't like the look of my one flower bed anymore...time for a make-over. This might not sound like backbreaking work...but please note that me, myself and I did the following.

• Dug up an entire garden bed...removing every plant, big and small in it. [it was an easy way to deweed too.]
• moved the small rocks from the water feature.
• moved and bedded in 3 half sized wooden railway sleepers.
• push the cement sitting area of a bench off its cement legs.
• moved both cement legs to new location
• moved a potted tree
• moved 4 potted rose bushes.
• moved 3 other big pots [full]
• replanted entire bed.

I did have a friend help me move the top part of the cement bench. once before i had moved it onto a wheel barrow by myself and managed to manipulate it to its new location. But i knew the one guy staying on premise wouldn't mind giving me a hand this time.

I worked hard. . . for hours...it was fantastic and therapeutic - gardening always is for me. and i feel so productive. What was an added bonus is that some of the seedlings i planted today, i had grown from seeds. Now lets hope the plants stop sulking from being transplanted and go back to thriving.I kind of understand how God could look at his handiwork, at creation, and say "It is good." I do believe He enjoyed His own creativity. But I also believe He enjoyed the productivity and the thrill of a finished project. If He didn't enjoy it, then why would we...considering we are made in His image/likeness.

I also do not know when last I was this dirty. . . I enjoy dirt. truthfully. I love to dig in the sand without gloves on, and walk in my garden barefoot. . . its part of the joy of gardening for me, to get dirty. But today I took it to a whole new level of dirty.

It was so bad that my cat even tried to clean me....true story....my cat is not one who usually licks a person. Today when I sat for a breather after work, before going to bath. My cat jumped up, and started sniffing me....then tried to rub his scent on my jeans...then started licking my arm. When I pushed him away, he swatted me with his paw and silently meowed at me and tried to lick again. He would not stop till i physically got up and walked away. Yup...first time i have ever been so dirty that even my cat thought it wasnt acceptable.

but mission accomplished....and now, tomorrow, i can rest and be a bit slothful...for as good for my soul as today was....the muscles will need a go slow day tomorrow, for sure. Especially with the work week looming in the distance.

BEFORE

AFTER