Dickerson Garden 2014

As a biology major, you would think that I would be less than mesmerized by the garden.  Obviously, I've got a pretty good grasp on photosynthesis and respiration.  However, the garden truly amazes me. 

This past spring, my Uncle Tim and Aunt Candy came by to visit on their way to "check the cows".  If you've never lived in the country, that is code for "we are bored so we go look at our cows in various pastures".  Seriously though, we discussed gardens, etc.  Several weeks later, Uncle Tim showed back up with his tractor and offered to "break up the land" for my garden.  Although we have access to my Daddy's tractor in the barn, I'm smart enough to capitalize on free labor by an expert.  So, Uncle Tim broke up the garden.  My cousin Bobby and Chad built a fence to protect the garden from the cows and various other critters. 

Finally, we were able to plant some "ongions" (according to Farmer Blake).  All five of us spent about an hour and lots of laughter planting an onion patch because Blake Dickerson couldn't grasp the concept of rows.  Several weeks after that, we planted squash, watermelon, okra, cantaloupe and various pepper varieties.  I peeked in on my very first garden fairly often.  The plants were growing slowly.  However, in the month of June, the garden has really grown.  We've had what I would consider to be an unusually wet June.  We've picked more jalapeño peppers than I can even begin to eat, freeze, give away, etc.  The tomatoes are in abundance as well.  The onions were either mediocre or terrible.  We really didn't have great luck with large onions this year.  The squash were kind of small initially too; however, with the most recent rain, we've managed to harvest a few grocery store size squash.   My cantaloupe plants died.  I think with our sandy soil and a few 4 year old footprints nearby, the roots may have rotted with the water pooled around them.

The mesmerizing aspect of the garden is the simplicity.  Seriously, we tilled up a small patch of sandy, nothing fancy land and planted less than $50 worth of plants.  We sprinkled a little fertilizer and made sure there was water when God wasn't providing that free of charge.  Other than that, we've done nothing.  In exchange for a few dollars and a couple hours of manual labor, we've been blessed with hundreds of dollars worth of fresh vegetables for ourselves and some to share. 

I tried explaining my fascination with the garden to Kennedy.  I was thinking it was going to be one of those bonding moments. She simply said, "Yes Mom, water and sunshine and chlorophyll make plants grow."  I remember feeling similar amazement when Kennedy was born.  We all know that egg plus sperm and 40 weeks makes baby.  But until you have actually experienced MAKING another human being, it's hard to wrap your brain around God's miracle.  The garden is my newest miracle. 

 I do love fresh tomatoes and bacon wrapped jalapeño peppers. But, I'd be lying if I said they were my favorite part of the garden.  Seriously, who can resist a girl in her panties and boots with the "garden bag" waiting on her big sister's approval to "pick dis one".

Sex Ed and Humor with the Dickerson Girls

As a former biology teacher, I've never really struggled with talking about or teaching sexual reproduction.  Kennedy and Taylor were born so close together that Kennedy didn't really ask questions other than "when will the baby come out" the entire time I was pregnant.  When I was expecting Blake, Kennedy didn't really ask a lot of questions, but one day she informed me that she knew "where the baby was going to come out".  Surprised, I asked where and how she knew.  I don't recall all the details, but ultimately, she knew and had good reasons.

Finally, Blake was born the week after Easter 2010.  Days before Blake was born, Kennedy began asking questions about why Jesus was a miracle.  In good parenting fashion, I told my 7 year old that it was because Mary and Joseph were not married, and that typically babies are born to moms and dads who are married.  She bought it without further question.  We had a healthy baby.  Kennedy knew the "secret" about how Blake came into the world without a scar on my abdomen.

Skip forward another year to summer 2011.  I shared with Kennedy that a family friend was expecting a baby.  She immediately asked when the young girl got married.  I explained that she was not married.  Her brain quickly recalled our former conversation and she asked, "So it might be another baby Jesus?"  Ummmm...not exactly.  So, at a young 8 years old, we had "the conversation" about sexual reproduction.  She took it all in and wrapped it up with "So, you and Daddy had sex to get Blake?"  I smiled and said, "yes".  She said, "So, you and Daddy had sex to get Taylor?"  I smiled again and said, "yes".  She took a deep breath and said, "So...(insert long pause)" and I said, "and, we had sex to get YOU".  She just shook her head.  It was an intense moment, but ultimately, I was glad to begin such an important conversation.

Skip forward three more years to today.  Here we are at Easter four years after Blake's birth.  Taylor is now 8.  We've not really been close to any women expecting children in years.  Taylor hasn't really asked questions other than this doozy in the car last fall.  Honestly, I've just not thought to take the time to open that can of worms.  Within the last week, we've had the "when little girls become young women" conversation.  Today, on the way to school Taylor made a comment about our cat "getting pregnant until she has kittens".  I explained that our cat, Knick Knack is already pregnant.  I didn't get into the details, but told her that girls are either pregnant or not.  There really isn't a process like she was thinking.  She accepted that fact without further question.

Tonight, Chad sent Taylor out to feed the cats (Knick Knack the female and Squeakers the male).  Taylor was outside for a few minutes, and I could hear her calling Squeakers.  Finally she came in and plopped down at the table beside me and asked, "So, will Knick Knack still have the babies if the male ran off?"

Obviously, Chad and I have more explaining to do in terms of sexual reproduction.  But honestly, how different would the world be if the female only had a baby as long as the male stayed by her side?