My allergies have been kicking my butt since about mid-week. Highlights included two hours lying wide awake in the middle of the night last night, just trying to breathe. Good times.
So when I dragged myself outta bed this a.m., thanking the Hungry Toddler repeatedly for sleeping ’til 7:30 a.m. [he regularly rises, loudly, between 5:30 and 6 a.m.], heading outside was not the first thing on my mind. In fact, I decided to can our planned trip to the Perennial Plant Society’s annual sale.
By the time we picked up the 7yo at her dad’s, I had perked up a lot. So even though it was late, we took off for the fairgrounds. Now, if you’ve never been to the PPS’s annual sale, I have always said: If you don’t get there at 9 a.m., there’s no point in going. Housed for years at Ellington Agricultural Center, you would have best described the sale as a mob ascending the hill in South Nashville at 8:45 a.m., and returning triumphant downhill by 9:30, having picked the place clean.
Last year was the first year at the fairgrounds, and the larger building there helps a lot. And the parking is easier. But most of all, I’m convinced what helped today was the early-morning rain. When we arrived at 10:45, there were still plants a-plenty. We zipped through, picked up 7 quarts of various stuff [pink verbena, purple salvia, the most gorgeous, big rosemary plant, couple other things] and zipped out. No crowd, no waiting, nada. The cashier told us it had been steady all morning, but no riots.
We also stopped by the Turnip Truck for a few grocery items, and to shop at the Eaton’s Creek tent in the parking lot: They offered heirloom tomatoes, basil and a few flowers. So we got 8 tomato plants, 4 basil and 4 verbena [purple and white].
We then spent the afternoon re-digging the vegetable garden. Believe it or not, a 7-year-old is a big help at that. And HT even chipped in, picking up all the old plant tags from last year. [The perfect job for him: He loves to pick up trash. L.O.V.E.S. it.]
I kept marveling all afternoon — no achy knees, no tiredness, no allergies. I took the 7yo back to her dad’s at 4 p.m. [Both kids had a bath first. We were all filthy!!] and upon our return back home, I hit the wall.
Allergies. Exhaustion. Cranky. Geez Louise!! It’s a good kinda tired of course, but I’m now reconsidering my Home Depot plans for tomorrow. Of course, time’s a-wastin’ when it comes to the garden….so I bet I end up going.
August 12. East Nashville. Be there.