Seedlings at the Kitchen Table

I planned, prepared, and sat down to write my blog this week. I was ready to start the post with something along the lines of “Directions on How and When to Plant Indoor Seedlings.” It was designed to impart to my readers my vast (ha!) knowledge of the varying qualities of potting soils, proper moisture for germination, and even a few invaluable tips on window placement and transplanting.

However, as I glanced through my carefully chosen, sequential photos, it was not the much awaited process of planting seeds that pulled at my heart. It was the background, the candid, the unseen messages that put me in this nostalgic, heartfelt, pensive writing mood. So, please pardon my one-time abandonment of all-things-garden, but the “planted seeds” I have found in these pictures are of much greater joy and value than my upcoming (literally) tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.

Priorities.

In gardens and in life, there is not room or energy or time enough for all that we think we want. This picture shows not only that my priority is making salsa this year; it also shows our worn family table, an image of my parents’ priorities in raising us kids.

Around this table is where we all sat for every homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is where my dad drew millions of detailed pictures to explain a math, science, mechanical, or life concept that we just weren’t quite grasping. This table has been the setting of many tears and laughs for many, many people. It is the symbol of the open-heartedness with which my parents have purposefully lived.

People. My mom told me once, “As best as I know, there are three things that last forever: God, His Word, and people. These three are worth investing in.” She is mixing potting soil (which you should always buy by the cubic foot, not weight, since the manufacturer can just add moisture to make it heavier) in the “popcorn bowl,” so named because their house was/is almost always a designated “hang out” spot on Saturday night for high-schoolers and adults alike. Mom would always fill that huge bowl up with home-made popcorn for everyone.

Patience. My mother is commonly acknowledged as one of the world’s best and most patient teachers. In all of my growing-up years, I never remember my mom being too busy to stop whatever she was doing to show me how to make a bed, bake cookies, braid my doll’s hair, or sew on a button. She is still happiest teaching, and here she is, dropping everything to explain the basics of seedlings to her 25 year old daughter.

Start the seedlings in small containers. Get the potting soil damp before you plant, plant two seeds per pot, and set the pots in about an inch of water until the top is moist. Finally, set in a sunny window to germinate.

Enjoy.

There is satisfaction in a job well-done. There is joy in working together. There is contentment in simplicity. Thank you for reading my musings this week. I hope this post inspires you to plant your own seeds, wherever your garden may be.

Comments
14 Responses to “Seedlings at the Kitchen Table”
  1. Annie, what all did you plant? In the pencil picture, are you just making a hole to drop the seeds an inch or so deep?
    The pictures and your writing make me homesick – and make me think about priorities for my own home.

    • Annie says:

      Bell peppers, jalepenos, cilantro, tomatoes, and yellow pear tomatoes. (I promised Drew I was going to do a salsa garden this year!) As for the holes, I wish I could come up with a brilliant answer, but …. I just read the packet! I know…. going into mama-hood makes me want to really re-evaluate what is important to me. What I always run into is…HOW is Mom so patient???

  2. Pat says:

    Ah yes, the table. Just reading about it makes me teary. There was so much life and joy and richness around that table with so many people over the years. If a piece of furniture could talk, it would say “home.” and “welcome.” Kind of like the Lord, I guess.

    And thanks for the tip about potting soil. I did not know that and I am getting ready to get some to transplant the seedlings that I planted too early.

    • Annie says:

      Yeah, actually, I didn’t know that either until Mom told me yesterday! I guess I should have quoted her on that. The two things I have learned by experience about potting soil are: SPEND the money on good stuff, be old fashioned. I tried the “quick and easy” “just add water” “all-in-one” seedling sets, and my seedlings never did as well as if I just go simple and fill my own pots with plain ‘ol potting soil and make holes with a pencil!

      And I know what you mean about “home” and “welcome”. I don’t know how Mom and Dad do that so well, but one time I asked Dad. He said: “you’re going to have to make a decision someday: to live for people and have things get messy sometimes, or live your ‘planned out’ life. You can’t have both.” Sigh…. sounds too close to sacrifice!

  3. mom says:

    Annie, that last paragraph you wrote to Pat was preaching to the choir!

  4. Shelly says:

    Lots of us are smiling about that table…and I’m glad it CAN’T talk 🙂
    Would you like me to bring you a hypertufa pot to plant in? Love~

  5. Julie says:

    Oh, Annie! It’s just not fair. I miss that table so much! I wish I was there with you all. Did you actually read the instructions on the seed packets on your own, or did Mom make you read them?

  6. Emily says:

    I loved reading your reflections and life observations. Your post really touched me and inspired me, too. I’ve been thinking of starting seedlings as well!

    • tim says:

      Hi Emily – Thanks for stopping by, and I enjoyed visiting your blog.

    • mom says:

      Emily, welcome! Seedlings are are just lovely and seem to bring Spring inside a little early. Your blog is just lovely!

    • Annie says:

      Emily! Your blog is so endearing! I got to thinking what kind of character I would be. I’m afraid to say, I think maybe I’m more like Dori (On Nemo)! 🙂 Thank you for reading our blog and I hope you have a great week.

  7. Emily, so nice to see you over here! I’ve been following your blog – refreshing!

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