On Sunday and Monday Camron and I expanded the vegetable bed and created a new flower bed on the fence line to the East of that. I say (Flower?) Bed because Bill isn't really fond of ornamental things. He was very pleased with the end result of the vegegtable bed and has a lot of plans for it this year and although he probably wouldn't object to my building this one, might insist on planting vegetables in it. So he has forced me to not talk about it until it is finished.
On Sunday, I marked the outline and started clearing the Bermuda grass. In the early afternoon Camron appeared and said that his Grandparents wanted to take naps and told him he could come out and help me. I find him to be a remarkable child and I spend a lot of time laughing when he is around, but I can also understand why both of his Grandparents would be needing naps right then. In between what digging and cleaning up of the soil that a five-year old can accomplish, he talked non-stop about the most odd things. He was born here, and has seen me nearly every day, but has never been in my yard, or my house because my dog won't allow it. He also knows the story of how she lived in an apartment in Dallas and the kids next door tortured her through the patio fence, causing her to not like kids. (I never feel obligated to explain anything so I didn't tell him the story, but his Grandmother or Mother must have.) Kilo has always barked when he comes close to her yard and since this new bed is right on the boundary she watched him closely through the fence and would get upset if he got too close to me with a shovel or rake. Although she does have friends she is not generally friendly and won't allow people to come into her yard or house unchallenged. Then, she will either let them proceed or tell them to leave. She grew up in a police environment and was trained to be territorial, inquisitive and assertive, and was allowed to be free to voice her opinion, but was never trained to or allowed to attack. She is loud and opinionated but has never bitten anyone, and Camron is not in danger but the noise is impressive. After a (loud) while he got tired of shoveling and sat down and started watching her. When I looked up he said that he was going to build a time machine when he learned how, and would go back in time to Dallas and make those kids be good to my dog (he calls her Kujo). Then he would come back to the present and she would like him and he could come over all the time and visit. He said he watched Jimmy Neutrino build a time machine, and it would be easy to do. What a sweet and innocent dream.
I am torn. He has always tried to come over to my house and I have always been glad that he can't. That makes me appear to be sort of a jerk, but I do feel bad about it, sometimes, briefly. Then my natural selfishness regains control.
On Monday, we finished the bed and planted the flower seeds. All of the seeds were from a canister that I recently found that had belonged to my Mom. I don't even know if they are still growable or not. They have been in storage for over ten years and there is no telling how long she had them before that. Camron planted Sunflowers, and one large red and white bean that was in an unmarked envelope. He also planted several varieties of Marigolds. I can't remember what the rest were, but she had a note in most of the packages with names and instructions. I think I prefer to be surprised. The rest of the day I made minor adjustments and he waited for the seeds to start growing. His mother said that he continues to expect something at any second.
On Tuesday I left for work just as he walked to the road to wait for the bus. He flagged me over and yelled "Don't forget to come and get me every Sunday".
It has rained and snowed since yesterday and should continue through tomorrow night. I love this season.