Tiffany Painter

I took the spring cleaning outside this week. Fortunately, I had help from my son who didn’t realize what he had signed up for when I asked. We spent two long days planting new shrubs, clearing out years of leaves that had built up around the plants, and cutting back the dogwoods that needed a good trimming. It was when I brought out the leaf blower that I quickly realized I could not tackle the outdoor cleaning the same way I do the indoor. Whereas the vacuum cleaner can get all the dirt and leave the carpet with nice marks to show off the hard work, a leaf blower just sends leaves flying in all directions. You can imagine my surprise when I was often attacked by the very leaves I was trying to send in a different direction. After many attempts to leave not a trace of these old, decaying leaves, I realized how futile my desire at reaching indoor completion was. I was never going to get rid of all the debris. I could spend all day chasing those leaves around with that blowing machine, but there would always be some lurking behind a rock or under a low lying branch. After a very long afternoon of leaf-cleaning, I had to accept that sometimes good enough is good enough. My son was much quicker at reaching that conclusion, but he hung in there with me. The next day a friend came over and gave me the kudos I needed on my lovely yard. I will hold onto that one day of feeling like I completed my yard spring cleaning. At the end of that day a hail storm swept through and a yard full of leaves knocked from the trees greeted me when I went out to inspect the damage. I guess I’ll be getting to know that leave blower again.

5/26

secret escape hatch
inviting door left ajar
to accept or not

5/29

favorite helper
assisted with all the chores
ready for some rest

5/30

newly in the ground
small and unsure of future
much growth expected

5/31

some days can’t just pick
one color isn’t enough
need a splash of pink

6/1

passage meant for me
promise of light at the end
pass the long shadows