🌷🪣 Cleaning the Garden Beds (A Spring Story) - The Slow Life Stories - Bedtime Stories for Adults - Calming Stories for Grownups and All Ages

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Welcome to The Slow Life, a
village filled with cozy stories

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for everyone.
I'll read this story 2 times to

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00:00:12,870 --> 00:00:17,580
help you zone out or even fall
asleep during the second

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00:00:17,590 --> 00:00:23,720
reading.
This story is called Cleaning

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the Garden Beds, and it's about
an expected pleasant surprise

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work that's really play and
things showing up in their own

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00:00:35,180 --> 00:00:42,270
time.
The only sounds to be heard when

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00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:47,150
I step out into the backyard.
Are there birds saying their

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00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:51,600
good mornings to each other and
I imagine to me?

10
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:58,170
I tap my feet against the
underside of the patio, knocking

11
00:00:58,180 --> 00:01:04,290
yesterday's mud off my boots.
My gloves are a bit stiff from

12
00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:08,840
last spring, but they loosen up
as I shake them out.

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00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:14,240
The sky is scattered with
clouds, which will help keep the

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00:01:14,250 --> 00:01:18,780
sun hidden at intervals that
will keep me from getting too

15
00:01:18,790 --> 00:01:21,970
hot out here in the gardens as I
work.

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00:01:23,420 --> 00:01:28,810
The daffodils and crocuses were
a pleasant surprise as always,

17
00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:35,320
blooming at their regular time a
number of weeks ago, some of

18
00:01:35,330 --> 00:01:40,090
their petals crumpling a bit
like paper now that their season

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00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:45,350
is reaching its end.
It seems short, but it's ever so

20
00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:50,770
sweet to have the early bloomers
pop up one day as I walk by

21
00:01:50,780 --> 00:01:53,650
someone else's place through the
village.

22
00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:00,310
The yellows and purples never
fail to offer a cheerful touch

23
00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:07,210
to late winter and early spring.
Lots of them still Bob hello as

24
00:02:07,220 --> 00:02:13,890
I make a loop around my yard.
After making a full circle, I

25
00:02:13,900 --> 00:02:18,900
kneel beside a group of them,
brushing away dry leaves that

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00:02:18,910 --> 00:02:24,390
have blown in from the hedge,
and I tug at a handful of weeds.

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00:02:25,500 --> 00:02:28,660
The soil is soft and a little
damp.

28
00:02:29,930 --> 00:02:35,120
I'm getting ahead of myself here
and stand up to gather the rest

29
00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:38,700
of my supplies for cleaning out
the garden beds.

30
00:02:40,140 --> 00:02:44,830
I get shears and Clippers
depending on what needs to be

31
00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,750
trimmed back.
I dig out a bucket that's easy

32
00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:55,370
to throw sticks and other things
that don't belong into, and I

33
00:02:55,380 --> 00:03:00,330
opened my new knee pads, which
were a great gift from my sister

34
00:03:00,700 --> 00:03:05,020
to keep me dry and cushioned on
the grass and the dirt.

35
00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:11,650
The warmth has made itself known
for enough days and even weeks

36
00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:17,030
that the bugs and critters who
use the old fallen leaves as

37
00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,500
cover will be OK if they're
gathered up.

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00:03:22,010 --> 00:03:27,320
I'll be reusing most of it as
mulch or mixing it down into the

39
00:03:27,330 --> 00:03:33,570
soil to feed from below.
To say the beds are a mess is

40
00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:38,850
too strong a word, but stray
twigs and the spindly remains of

41
00:03:38,860 --> 00:03:42,980
things that don't survive the
cold cover the surface.

42
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:49,790
I work slowly, pulling away the
debris, cutting back brittle

43
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,930
stems and teasing out the weeds
that have already made

44
00:03:53,940 --> 00:04:00,340
themselves a spot.
I settle into a rhythm, pull,

45
00:04:00,430 --> 00:04:06,170
toss, snip and dig.
I do make sure to stand and

46
00:04:06,180 --> 00:04:11,770
stretch on occasion, and I soon
shed my coat, then my sweater.

47
00:04:13,150 --> 00:04:17,940
Frequent sips from my water
bottle keep me going without the

48
00:04:17,950 --> 00:04:23,520
need to step inside.
A bird calls from the fence,

49
00:04:23,860 --> 00:04:29,150
asking me what I'm up to.
I pause, hands resting on my

50
00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,640
knees, and listen.
Of course it's talking to

51
00:04:33,650 --> 00:04:37,560
someone else.
As another call answers farther

52
00:04:37,570 --> 00:04:42,210
off, it sounds like a good
conversation.

53
00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,030
Maybe they're building a new
home.

54
00:04:45,420 --> 00:04:48,360
Maybe they're discussing their
meal options?

55
00:04:49,230 --> 00:04:54,460
Either way, it's music to my
ears, and I wonder if it's music

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00:04:54,470 --> 00:04:59,940
to theirs as well.
Under the Bramble along the back

57
00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:06,330
fence, something catches my eye.
Tucked low in the undergrowth,

58
00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:11,550
nearly hidden beneath a scatter
of broken twigs and dark leaves,

59
00:05:11,860 --> 00:05:16,890
is a bird's nest.
I reach under and ease it free

60
00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:21,420
with careful hands.
It's small and tightly woven

61
00:05:21,430 --> 00:05:26,870
with admirable skill.
Bits of grass and Moss are mixed

62
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,410
in.
A work of instinct and patience

63
00:05:30,420 --> 00:05:34,690
for sure.
It's old and empty now.

64
00:05:34,820 --> 00:05:41,250
No eggs, no hints of recent use.
I cradle it for a while,

65
00:05:41,460 --> 00:05:46,460
kneeling and swaying to the bird
songs going on all around.

66
00:05:47,780 --> 00:05:52,290
I don't want to throw the nest
away as so much work was put

67
00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:56,550
into it and it's too perfect for
the compost bin.

68
00:05:57,900 --> 00:06:02,930
I carry it with me, setting it
down close by as I work on

69
00:06:02,940 --> 00:06:08,160
clearing the other gardens.
By the time I reached the

70
00:06:08,170 --> 00:06:12,860
evergreens near the back gate,
the sun has fully broken

71
00:06:12,870 --> 00:06:17,610
through.
It dapples the yard, shining on

72
00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:21,870
the stones and still wet
branches of the trees and

73
00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:26,770
bushes.
I decide to tuck the nest into

74
00:06:26,780 --> 00:06:31,830
one of the trees, nestled safely
between two strong limbs.

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00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:38,150
Maybe a bird will find it.
Maybe it will remain just as it

76
00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:45,300
is, untouched and unnoticed, or
used as a place to land and hide

77
00:06:45,370 --> 00:06:47,940
for a few minutes between
flights.

78
00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:54,350
I returned to my task.
The patch of herbs is overgrown

79
00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,480
and the mint will take over if I
don't stay on top of it.

80
00:07:00,170 --> 00:07:05,140
I trim the old stocks back to
find tiny green sprouts and I

81
00:07:05,150 --> 00:07:09,210
smile.
Such a beautiful sight to see.

82
00:07:10,690 --> 00:07:15,520
The lavender, which is another
favorite, is bear still, but its

83
00:07:15,530 --> 00:07:19,770
wood is alive.
I leave it knowing it will bloom

84
00:07:19,780 --> 00:07:25,310
again soon.
My body still feels good, but

85
00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,810
I've learned not to push for too
many hours at once.

86
00:07:29,620 --> 00:07:32,460
It's soon time to wrap it up for
the day.

87
00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,650
The gardens are starting to
resemble the shapes I remember

88
00:07:37,660 --> 00:07:43,770
from last year, the borders
curving against the grass, some

89
00:07:43,780 --> 00:07:46,900
with a divider of Beech rocks in
between.

90
00:07:47,710 --> 00:07:52,620
The stepping stones reappear
from beneath layers of vines and

91
00:07:52,630 --> 00:07:57,020
dirt.
The wind has picked up, stirring

92
00:07:57,030 --> 00:08:00,540
the tall grasses on the other
side of the fence.

93
00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,520
The nest sways gently in its new
home.

94
00:08:05,250 --> 00:08:09,380
I watch it for a moment,
wondering if anything will come

95
00:08:09,390 --> 00:08:14,020
of it.
I turn where I stand and survey

96
00:08:14,030 --> 00:08:18,680
the work that's been done.
Although playtime seems a better

97
00:08:18,690 --> 00:08:24,040
word for it.
Clean beds, trimmed edges, ready

98
00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:29,170
for what's to come.
Tulips are rising at the side of

99
00:08:29,180 --> 00:08:32,510
the house.
Then peonies and others will

100
00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:37,860
follow in their own time as I
gather my tools.

101
00:08:38,030 --> 00:08:42,870
I decide that tomorrow I'll sow
some seeds in the spots that are

102
00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,220
ready.
Not much, maybe some marigolds

103
00:08:47,230 --> 00:08:51,630
to keep the bugs away.
There is still some cleaning

104
00:08:51,640 --> 00:09:02,340
left to do, but for today it is
enough cleaning the garden beds

105
00:09:05,810 --> 00:09:11,090
the only sounds to be heard when
I step out into the backyard.

106
00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,020
Are there birds saying their
good mornings to each other and

107
00:09:16,030 --> 00:09:21,160
I imagine to me?
I tapped my feet against the

108
00:09:21,170 --> 00:09:26,910
underside of the patio, knocking
yesterday's mud off my boots.

109
00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:33,570
My gloves are a bit stiff from
last spring, but they loosen up

110
00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,860
as I shake them out.
The sky is scattered with

111
00:09:37,870 --> 00:09:43,080
clouds, which will help keep the
sun hidden at intervals that

112
00:09:43,090 --> 00:09:47,560
will keep me from getting too
hot out here in the gardens as I

113
00:09:47,570 --> 00:09:52,140
work.
The daffodils and crocuses were

114
00:09:52,150 --> 00:09:57,880
a pleasant surprise as always,
blooming at their regular time a

115
00:09:57,890 --> 00:10:03,530
number of weeks ago, some of
their petals crumpling a bit

116
00:10:03,540 --> 00:10:07,680
like paper now that their season
is reaching its end.

117
00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:13,910
It seems short, but it's ever so
sweet to have the early bloomers

118
00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:19,170
pop up one day as I walk by
someone else's place through the

119
00:10:19,180 --> 00:10:23,710
village.
The yellows and purples never

120
00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:28,990
fail to offer a cheerful touch
to late winter and early spring.

121
00:10:30,340 --> 00:10:35,800
Lots of them still Bob hello as
I make a loop around my yard.

122
00:10:37,220 --> 00:10:42,290
After making a full circle, I
kneel beside a group of them,

123
00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:47,390
brushing away dry leaves that
have blown in from the hedge,

124
00:10:47,580 --> 00:10:54,210
and I tug at a handful of weeds.
The soil is soft and a little

125
00:10:54,220 --> 00:10:58,730
damp.
I'm getting ahead of myself here

126
00:10:58,780 --> 00:11:03,650
and stand up to gather the rest
of my supplies for cleaning out

127
00:11:03,660 --> 00:11:08,770
the garden beds.
I get shears and Clippers

128
00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,080
depending on what needs to be
trimmed back.

129
00:11:13,620 --> 00:11:18,370
I dig out a bucket that's easy
to throw sticks and other things

130
00:11:18,380 --> 00:11:23,820
that don't belong into, and I
opened my new knee pads, which

131
00:11:23,830 --> 00:11:29,450
were a great gift from my sister
to keep me dry and cushioned on

132
00:11:29,460 --> 00:11:35,030
the grass and the dirt.
The warmth has made itself known

133
00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:40,610
for enough days and even weeks
that the bugs and critters who

134
00:11:40,620 --> 00:11:45,780
use the old fallen leaves as
cover will be OK if they're

135
00:11:45,790 --> 00:11:50,800
gathered up.
I'll be reusing most of it as

136
00:11:50,810 --> 00:11:55,800
mulch or mixing it down into the
soil to feed from below.

137
00:11:57,260 --> 00:12:02,330
To say the beds are a mess is
too strong a word, but stray

138
00:12:02,340 --> 00:12:06,820
twigs and the spindly remains of
things that don't survive the

139
00:12:06,830 --> 00:12:13,350
cold cover the surface.
I work slowly, pulling away the

140
00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:18,890
debris, cutting back brittle
stems and teasing out the weeds

141
00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:21,670
that have already made
themselves a spot.

142
00:12:23,180 --> 00:12:29,150
I settle into a rhythm, pull,
toss, snip and dig.

143
00:12:30,020 --> 00:12:35,190
I do make sure to stand and
stretch on occasion, and I soon

144
00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:41,480
shed my coat, then my sweater.
Frequent sips from my water

145
00:12:41,490 --> 00:12:45,990
bottle keep me going without the
need to step inside.

146
00:12:47,390 --> 00:12:51,950
A bird calls from the fence,
asking me what I'm up to.

147
00:12:52,740 --> 00:12:56,990
I pause, hands resting on my
knees, and listen.

148
00:12:58,170 --> 00:13:00,960
Of course it's talking to
someone else.

149
00:13:01,070 --> 00:13:06,930
As another call answers farther
off, it sounds like a good

150
00:13:06,940 --> 00:13:10,450
conversation.
Maybe they're building a new

151
00:13:10,460 --> 00:13:13,370
home.
Maybe they're discussing their

152
00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:17,800
meal options?
Either way, it's music to my

153
00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:22,070
ears, and I wonder if it's music
to theirs as well.

154
00:13:23,620 --> 00:13:28,990
Under the Bramble along the back
fence, something catches my eye.

155
00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:34,990
Tucked low in the undergrowth,
nearly hidden beneath a scatter

156
00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,450
of broken twigs and dark leaves,
is a bird's nest.

157
00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:44,500
I reach under and ease it free
with careful hands.

158
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,450
It's small and tightly woven
with admirable skill.

159
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,440
Bits of grass and Moss are mixed
in.

160
00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,290
A work of instinct and patience
for sure.

161
00:13:58,620 --> 00:14:03,930
It's old and empty now.
No eggs, no hints of recent use.

162
00:14:05,420 --> 00:14:09,910
I cradle it for a while,
kneeling and swaying to the bird

163
00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:15,790
songs going on all around.
I don't want to throw the nest

164
00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:21,330
away as so much work was put
into it and it's too perfect for

165
00:14:21,340 --> 00:14:26,270
the compost bin.
I carry it with me, setting it

166
00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:31,020
down close by as I work on
clearing the other gardens.

167
00:14:32,710 --> 00:14:36,840
By the time I reached the
evergreens near the back gate,

168
00:14:36,990 --> 00:14:39,560
the sun has fully broken
through.

169
00:14:41,020 --> 00:14:45,790
It dapples the yard, shining on
the stones and still wet

170
00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,700
branches of the trees and
bushes.

171
00:14:50,420 --> 00:14:55,810
I decide to tuck the nest into
one of the trees, nestled safely

172
00:14:55,820 --> 00:15:01,190
between two strong limbs.
Maybe a bird will find it.

173
00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:08,530
Maybe it will remain just as it
is, untouched and unnoticed, or

174
00:15:08,540 --> 00:15:13,330
used as a place to land and hide
for a few minutes between

175
00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:17,830
flights.
I returned to my task.

176
00:15:18,020 --> 00:15:23,030
The patch of herbs is overgrown
and the mint will take over if I

177
00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:28,580
don't stay on top of it.
I trim the old stocks back to

178
00:15:28,590 --> 00:15:31,940
find tiny green sprouts and I
smile.

179
00:15:33,170 --> 00:15:38,740
Such a beautiful sight to see.
The lavender, which is another

180
00:15:38,750 --> 00:15:42,970
favorite, is bear still, but its
wood is alive.

181
00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:47,040
I leave it knowing it will bloom
again soon.

182
00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:53,350
My body still feels good, but
I've learned not to push for too

183
00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:58,070
many hours at once.
It's soon time to wrap it up for

184
00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,520
the day.
The gardens are starting to

185
00:16:01,530 --> 00:16:07,090
resemble the shapes I remember
from last year, the borders

186
00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:12,350
curving against the grass, some
with a divider of Beech rocks in

187
00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,040
between.
The stepping stones reappear

188
00:16:16,050 --> 00:16:19,230
from beneath layers of vines and
dirt.

189
00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:25,210
The wind has picked up, stirring
the tall grasses on the other

190
00:16:25,220 --> 00:16:30,220
side of the fence.
The nest sways gently in its new

191
00:16:30,230 --> 00:16:33,370
home.
I watch it for a moment,

192
00:16:33,420 --> 00:16:35,930
wondering if anything will come
of it.

193
00:16:37,390 --> 00:16:42,100
I turn where I stand and survey
the work that's been done.

194
00:16:42,430 --> 00:16:45,770
Although playtime seems a better
word for it.

195
00:16:46,790 --> 00:16:51,420
Clean beds, trimmed edges, ready
for what's to come.

196
00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:56,320
Tulips are rising at the side of
the house.

197
00:16:56,500 --> 00:17:02,540
Then peonies and others will
follow in their own time as I

198
00:17:02,550 --> 00:17:06,619
gather my tools.
I decide that tomorrow I'll sow

199
00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:09,440
some seeds in the spots that are
ready.

200
00:17:10,430 --> 00:17:14,960
Not much, maybe some marigolds
to keep the bugs away.

201
00:17:15,930 --> 00:17:21,319
There is still some cleaning
left to do, but for today it is

202
00:17:21,390 --> 00:17:26,760
enough.
I wish you sweet dreams.