“Beauty is a form of genius – is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon.”

–Oscar Wilde

I’ve been in nesting mode all spring, and it doesn’t look like it’s letting up any time soon. I’m a pretty organized person, but now I’m downright OCD. Unfortunately, I had to replace my heating and air conditioning system up in the attic. Fortunately, when I went up there to inspect the job, I was finally in the mood to sort through and throw out old documents and financial files. Over the following weeks, I went on to clean out the bookcases, cabinets and closets. Now I have more than enough for a major tag sale.

Then I started organizing the yard. I planned 3 raised bed vegetable gardens. Transplanted 15 Heuchera kindly given to me by my neighbor Elizabeth. Created a rock-lined path in the front yard next to the citrus trees so they’re easier to get to and pick the fruit. Weedwacked the back hillside. Hand-pulled the weeds all around the house. Then–God help me–I bought a chainsaw with an Amazon gift card my sister gave me last year and ran amok pruning, slicing and dicing..until the chain fell off. It was a temporary setback–I ordered extra set screws and they should be waiting in my mailbox by the time I get home.

Whew! I live on an acre and a half, and there’s never any shortage of maintenance to do. And in California, there is no rest for the weary, no gardening down time. Before I left for vacation, the weeds were still popping up everywhere. They’ll probably be waist-high when I return. But, so will my tomatoes. Gazpacho, anyone?

Now there’s a feeling of anticipation. Nesting is all about getting ready for something new, something about to be born, and I can’t wait to see what will happen!

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