Theotokos Garden - The Well-Spring of Life

"You make the grass grow for the cattle and plants for people’s work to bring forth food from the earth, wine to gladden their hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread to sustain the human heart." (Psalm 104).

Every spring I have the urge to plant.  This spring is no different.  I have begun this garden for Blessed Theotokos.  We are selling Marian Garden seed-packets for a fundraiser for my Mom's group.  So I wanted to plant these seed packets.  But, first I had to dig up sod in my back yard and prepare the soil.  I dug up this 4x9 bed by myself and tilled it.

It took weeks because I have been waiting for my husband to bring me soil and a tiller to complete it.  Finally, I dragged the rambunctious kiddie crew to the garden store by myself and picked up the supplies.  I was very frustrated and annoyed herding the chicks, running everywhere, and so were other garden shoppers.  But, the people who worked there professed having three and four kids themselves and they knew what it was like.  They could laugh with me.

Now the planting has begun.  I planted three banana pepper plants and two tomato plants, because I always think that good soil ought render food.  I am also planting flowers from my Marian seed packets: marigolds, blue forget-me-nots, and white shasta daisies.

I have asked my husband to build me a shrine box for the icon below as a Mother's Day gift.  I don't think it will happen.  We don't have wood-working tools.  But, I will find someway to put the icon in my garden. ;-) I'll post pictures as my garden grows.

I had Alex take a picture of me working on my bed.

For some reason Alex took a couple pictures of my belly.  Yeah, flattering--not, and I post it on the internet. It's a baby-belly update--36 weeks. Not much longer now.

I should mention that stranger's comments have changed from shock that I have so much time left to "You look awesome for 36 weeks."  
I do not know what the difference is in their heads, but I will take it.