March 20, 2011. Jackson, MS. The Work Place.

The phone rang and we were summoned.   "We are en route with the load of top soil.  Would you both like to come to supervise?", asked Andrew.  It was too tempting to ignore, so we jumped into the truck and headed to their home.  By the time we arrived, the work was already underway.  Both Kate and Mary Frances had been recruited to shovel, so along with John and Andrew, the load from the trailer was being pitched over the garden, at least over the garden in waiting.  Of course, Ken immediately picked up a shovel to help while I gave encouragement and quickly retreated to the safety of the house, along with Christina and Molly.

Andrew has dug up a section of their backyard so he can grow vegetables.  He used a shovel but today, John brought over a Gravelly tractor to till the soil, so after the addition of the top soil and ash brought from the farm in Madison, the garden seem right ready to be planted.  It is impressive to see what can be accomplished with a massive amount of effort.  But of course, the idea is the most important part.  John and Andrew decided to have a garden in their backyards, so now it is happening.  John's garden is next.  Andrew has been raising seeds but I am sure Ken will not wait for the seeds to germinate and grow.  Probably by the end of the day, part of the garden will be planted with plants purchased at the garden stores.  Ken is not patient.

The girls were willing workers.  They just wished they had not just completed their showers before being called into the yard for their labors.   John and Andrew are tired too.