As summer comes to a close, so does a chapter in my life. My childhood home will be empty for the first time since we moved in forty seven years ago.
Though my Mom and Dad passed away some time ago, my little brother continued to live in the house where he raised his two daughters who are now adults.
Cancer took his life at the young age of 52 in July.
So many memories. A house full of life now stands silent and waiting.
Waiting for the next chapter.
Meanwhile, life has a way of pressing forward.
Life resumes for us that are left behind here on earth.
I’ve been happy in our garden. It is thriving with life and has been very therapeutic.
Because life this summer has been seemingly chaotic, I opted to make a low maintenance “chaos” garden this year where I planted various left over seeds, herbs, and flowers.
I’m pleased with the results!
Chaos Gardening: a hands off method of gardening that involves planting a mix of seeds and plants allowing them to grow randomly without precise planning. Chaos gardening embraces the wild and untamed look by letting plants find their own space and let nature take the lead.
I “hid” some left over sunflower seeds from our resident squirrel next to our fence.
So far so good!
Our garden was gifted two cherry tomato plants and one pumpkin plant from our resident squirrel! I was not intending to plant tomatoes this year because resident squirrel decimated our tomato crop last year. I’m guessing squirrel thought we needed tomatoes this year. And they are yummy!
The pumpkin was a huge surprise. I have never been able to grow pumpkins from seed. Apparently our resident squirrel can grow pumpkin from seed. Squirrel enjoyed our jack-o-lanterns so much last year and wanted to spread the joy this year!
“To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Back Porch Studio 
Absolutely love your garden!
I understand about the bittersweet moment of leaving childhood homes behind. Hopefully a new family will put down roots and flourish there like you did. 💟
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It seems the hands off approach to gardening is better. 😆
It certainly is bittersweet. ❤️ Thank you.
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Your garden is lovely and I love how you talk about the resident squirrel ( you know this has been quite interesting for me). Apparently the squirrel sounds like a better gardener than me 😂
May the Lord grant you comfort and strength as you press on with this new chapter of your life.
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I’m beginning to think resident squirrel knows a thing or two about gardening! 😄
Thank you for your prayers. ❤️
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Your garden is beautiful and I’m glad it’s given you some comfort during this difficult time. x
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Thank you Sharon.
Nature has a way of being therapeutic.
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I can understand what you are going through with the house. My childhood home we hope to put on the market sometime soon. My father passed away in January. My mother has dementia and is now in assisted living. But my mother is a hoarder. So there is a lot of stuff to purge. Still, I am sorry for all you are going through. And especially regarding your brother. Since my father lost his battle to cancer, I was so hopeful your brother would win the fight. I am praying for you.
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Oh, wow, Bridget. I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom so soon after your Dad passed away.
I keep thinking it will get easier. For some days it is easy; for other days it is difficult. I’m sure it is the same for you.
Thinking of you and will keep you in my prayers.
❤️
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