No, this isn't a Gilbert Blythe post. I've been planting carrots for I don't know how many years, mostly because the kids always want to. They never come up. I planted this year's carrots about the same time I planted my peas, and the peas came up. The carrots didn't. So, I planted poppies in the same area.
A few months later, I read THE CARROT SEED
, by Ruth Krause, to my preschool classes and had them plant peas (carrot seeds don't come up). Later that day, as I was pulling weeds around my little poppy plants, I found wispy carrot tops.
Look at what I pulled, today.
Some things take longer for us to get the hang of than others, and sometimes you need a bit of luck. However, carrots that aren't planted will never come up.
What are your carrots?
, by Ruth Krause, to my preschool classes and had them plant peas (carrot seeds don't come up). Later that day, as I was pulling weeds around my little poppy plants, I found wispy carrot tops.Look at what I pulled, today.
What are your carrots?
I love poppies. I kept trying to plant them around my house and they kept not coming up (that or overeager weeders pulled them out as seedlings).
ReplyDeleteThey do look like weeds. But then they start blooming.
ReplyDeleteMyrna, I was just about to say that we've never had any success with carrots, either, but then the last couple of lines completely turned this post around.
ReplyDeleteLately, I've been feeling like a carrot writer, like it's taking me FOR-EV-ER to figure out what most writers learn in a couple of months. I hope my determination pays off as well as your carrot seeds:)
Thanks for this.
You're welcome, Krista, and I hope it does, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful surprise to find a carrot! "The Carrot Seed" is a classic.
ReplyDeleteTime management is my carrot. Couldn't figure it out for the life of me. I finally thought I had my time management woes solved, and then my life became much fuller, and subsequently busier. My carrot withered.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorite picture books, Holly. And I have more carrots out there. I just haven't pulled them yet.
ReplyDeleteRyan, education and fatherhood do take time, lots of it. Your last line made me laugh.
Consistently eating right is a carrot I can't quite seem to harvest.
ReplyDelete=)
Great post, Myrna. Your kids are so cute. :) (And are those purple poppies? Gorgeous!)
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely apply your analogy to my writing. I have to keep reminding myself to submit, even though I'm scared of rejection. But you're right -- if you never plant the carrot, it will never have a chance to grow. :)
Amy
You guys are awesome. I asked a personal question, not really expecting anyone to answer, just to make people think, and your answers are things most of us can relate to.
ReplyDeleteSue, I'm with you on that one. I did pretty well until Gwen's birthday, earlier this week.
Amy, those ARE purple poppies. We have lots of colors, but purple is Gwen's favorite color. And I totally have that fear of rejection.
Time management is my carrot also. I don't have enough to do everything I need to get done. Three kids, housework, writing, me time, everything else. It gets crazy sometimes. But, it's all worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteYour kids are adorable. :)
Thanks, Chantele! I understand the craziness, especially this time of year.
ReplyDeleteLove the analogy! (And the pictures of those cute kids.) I'm going to need a whole lotta planting luck this year--we put in a huge veggie garden and I rarely can get anything to grow from seed. (Especially carrots, so you give me hope, my master gardener friend.)
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Jackee! My climate is different, but if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. Disclaimer: I haven't met the requirements to be a master gardener, but I'd like to. Someday.
ReplyDeleteClever post, Myrna! I can sympathize with everyone's comments here. Time management? Oh yeah. Fear of rejection? Oh yeah. But especially, I feel like I'm still learning the basics of character development and plot (plot is my biggest carrot!), even though I've been writing for years.
ReplyDeleteTime management is my carrot.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I love poppies. And that carrot was a nice surprise.
My carrotts are tomatoes, ha ha! I have bushy green plants, every time, year after year,but they don't make any actual tomatoes! I've gotten a few, here and there, or I wouldn't keep planting them, I'm not THAT hopefull, but never what you would expect from the lush vine thriving in my garden. Bonnnie's husband just told me tonight to quit watering them, and they will sense and immenant end and decide to reproduce. We'll try it and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just barely read your answer to my question! Lexi is in 7th, so they are close!
Thanks, Joanne! I can, too. And my writing weakness is pacing, but I'm working on it.
ReplyDeleteMedeia, time management is HARD.
Cinnamon, are you planting your tomatoes before March 15th? I've had the same problem when I've planted them later.
And would Lexi want to be part of a writing group? I've been thinking about starting a small one for girls around their age that meets in the summer (rest of the year's too busy). Does she draw?
Oh, fun, especially the Bugs Bunny moment in the last picture :) ...and then your post became so wise and serious: "carrots that aren't planted will never come up." My non-serious answer to your question is that I don't garden--although I hear all about my mom's gardening ups and downs--so I don't have any equivalent for your carrots :) My serious answer is that I'll be keeping your carrot quote in mind for the month of June. I'm taking Painting IV this summer in an effort to motivate myself to finish plenty of paintings for my senior show, which is next spring. ...and if I don't go to the studio regularly and "plant carrots," nothing will happen.
ReplyDeleteI hope your painting goes well, this summer, Sarah. I've loved the paintings you've shared.
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