This is a guest post by Mrs. Hillbilly. She’s a bit of a nutter. But you already knew that.

This morning I checked Facebook and a “memory picture” popped up. It was from five years ago. My precious little Hillbilly boy was about to turn ten. That earlier that spring, he had been seduced my Ms. Mavis Butterfield from across the street with her delectable garden of fruits and veggies {as he had been for several years}. He came to me with a seemingly simple and oh so sweet question. “Momma can we make a garden like Ms. Mavis’?“

Panic did come over me for a bit. Hillbilly Hubby said “No! We don’t need to spend the money and he really won’t keep up with it! We just don’t have the time.”

Honestly, I was thinking the same thing but then if you knew my PRECIOUS HB Boy, NO ONE and I mean no one can say no to him. I just have the best son in the world and don’t try to convince me otherwise… And yes I know I will need to go to therapy when he spreads his wings. But for now I am soaking it all up!!!!!

Got off track sorry.

Anyway, pining for my dear old friend, I sent her the picture, ”Do you remember when?” …. I will send pics of this years garden when I get home.” Her reply, ”Yes, we would love an update for the blog!” My response; “I wasn’t thinking about that but for you, anything.”  I am such a good friend!

How could she abandon me????? {I am still holding a little resentment about her move to the “lesser “NE, lol. Leaving the “greater” NW and me! No offense NE, its personal.

Soooooooooo……it all started with that innocent question from HB boy. And here is what we did…

First so with all that Ms. Mavis knowledge just across the street, I still had no idea what I was doing. So I opted for a small, simple, manageable, minimal expense garden. I look at it now and giggle but you know what, metaphorically {not literally} it blossomed.

We had some onions, a little potato tower, lettuce, broccoli that didn’t do so well and a few herbs but I was hooked. HB boy was too. So much so that he wanted a bigger and better garden the following year.

Well, we had this playground set that the HB grandparents had bought them when we first moved it. It was wonderful, for that chapter, but now the kids rarely used it and it was in the PERFECT place for a bigger and better garden. Of course!!!

We could move the thing, but honestly, I didn’t want to get rid of it.

Memories you know, I have a hard time letting go. Anyway we decided to plant around it. A wonderful idea and we did just that for three years.

HB Boy even made planter boxes the second year through the Boy Scouts.

Year three would be last growing season in the converted play ground gone veggie patch. I got wise and utilized our local “Buy Sell Trade Facebook page“ to list the play thing. LOW AND BEHOLD, If that play thing didn’t sell!!! Someone came, deconstructed and hauled off with out me ever lifting a finger! Can I get a Hallelujah?

Yes, it was bittersweet but by this point HB Boy and I had bigger goals. We had a friend help us build a beautiful natural fence and we installed a deer proof ribbon line around the perimeter.

I don’t know if you can tell by the picture but we have not had one deer jump over yet, so it must work? Time will tell. We bought it through the same Buy Sell Trade facebook site, composting bins. In our minds, the garden in perfect. Still much smaller than Ms. Mavis’ old garden, but then we are not Ms. Mavis.

It’s been an evolution.

I had apprehensions. But if I had not had given in to my precious little HB boy all those years ago ……. as I tear up….. we would not have had these memories or yummy produce.

Not to get preachy, but sometimes, we need to say yes to things, even though we have know idea what we are doing or how it will work out. God Bless children and their desire to try new things!

I could say the same thing about our chicken keeping adventures and their evolution as well. All spurred from my little precious HB Boy and his big ideas, but that’s another story.

I miss Ms. Mavis. And I do read her little blog. Though not every day, it has helped me stay connected. You know, if you know Mavis, she is not one for remorse nor too many sentimental words. I guess as much as I hate all this tech and social media stuff, it has helped us stayed connected.

God speed Ms. Mavis … You are missed!!!!! With tears in my eyes.

~Mrs. Hillbilly

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