Learning to make things grow

Grace is Granddad's girl when he is not at work. Given a choice, she would rather be with Granddad than just about anyone, especially if he is going to be outside! With the warm temperatures in Texas this week (it is supposed to be about 75 degrees today), it is a good time to be working in the yard. Granddad built a raised bed this winter and now it is time to get the bed ready for planting.

There is something truly special about watching a toddler as they explore their new world. Today, she may just be playing in the dirt, but as the year progresses, she is going to get to see the planting of seeds and bulbs, followed by the sprouting of new plants and hopefully, the harvest of fresh veggies and herbs! Best of all, she will be able to share all of this with her Granddad. That is something absolutely priceless. I can think back to my childhood, spending weekends and summers with Pa, there were a lot of weekends that we worked really, really hard. Whether it was planting seedling trees, tilling a new garden, digging out the spring to make a new well or clearing the undergrowth, no amount of hard work, srapes or bruises from those weekends was enough to keep me from going back the next weekend.

I learned a lot during those weekends and summers. Many of the practical lessons that I learned then, I have long since forgotten. There have been several occasions where I have wished that I could remember the "how to" lessons Pa taught me. I know that Pa always knew the right way to do just about anything, whether it was mixing concrete, picking the perfect tomato, navigating the Illinois River in a canoe or laying a tile roof. But he also knew the right way do things when it came to making a grandson feel special, needed and most of all loved. One day, Grace may look back and wish she could remember how Granddad built his raised flowerbeds, but I know she will never forget how much she loved spending the day with her Granddad.