A House Of My Own

Soil

I looked sadly at my list. I hadn't managed to check of as much as I have liked yesterday. With Dorian around yesterday I didn't feel comfortable with leaving him alone on the property so I didn't get the seedlings I wanted. Nor did my couch and mattress arrive. Today I'd make sure to cross off a few more things.

Getting dressed into my brown slacks and a ratty old shirt, I hopped into dear Greta, I hadn't used her in a few days and figures I'd go into town to check my mail and stock some groceries. I have to turn around as I'd left the list of plumbing replacements on the fridge but luckily I remembered before I got too far down the road.

In town I picked up lettuce, green bell peppers, radishes and sunflower seedlings and a couple small envelopes of tomato seeds and some herbs: Basil, thyme, sage and oreganum. They didn't have rosemary but they said to come back next week. I wrote it down on my list. Next was the hardware store. An attendant helped me with the list of things and I happily ticked that stop off my list. Finally I went past the grocery store and my post box where I had a few bills and a collection notice inside. it seems my mattress had arrived early yesterday but they didn't have the 4 wheel drive to bring it to my door. It was a tight fit but the vacuum packed mattress sat snuggly between my boxes of plants and my groceries. I was so excited to sleep soundly tonight.

***

Getting home I unwrapped my mattress, letting it unfold before I slept on it, and got ready to do some gardening. Marking out a patch of land that got a good lot of sun during the day I began to dig out and turn the soil, feeling accomplished when I had soft airated dirt sifting through my fingers. I filled a bucket with water and wet the ground, making the roots easier to bury. Placing each one and sprinkling them with fertilizer before packing the soil back around the roots. I did a few trips back and forth with the water bucket making sure each plant was hydrated before going inside to wash my hands and feet.

Garden, check.
Matress, check.
Plumbing parts, check.

I ticked items off my list slowly, grinning at how much I'd managed to do. I just had to call Dorian to finish off the plumbing job and I could have hot running water for a bath tonight. I knew id be stiff from the gardening without one. But it was already late afternoon and I didnt know if he would be free, or how long the job would take. My list called to me, wiling me to finish off my tasks. So I decided, he would come and finish the plumbing tonight and if it took too long he would just have to accept supper and a lift home. That was that and I could tick it off my list.

Nodding to myself I copied his number into my contacts, saving it before pressing dial.

"Fisk here," he answered after the 4th ring

"Oh, hi, Dorian. It's Day, I've got those parts you needed. I was wondering if you could come round this afternoon, if you're free?"

"hm, sure, should do" He seemed tired

"I'd be round in a bit"

He cut the call.

***

It had been 45 minutes and he wasn't here yet. I'd started dinner 15 minutes ago, it was only 4.30 but I decided soup and bread was good and the veggies could boil forever really so I wasn't stressed. I assumed he was walking but I also didn't know how far his house really was. I was just thinking that in the next 10 minutes it have to go out and look for him when I saw blue from my window, dashing out towards my little cottage. Smiling with relief I opened the door for her, waiting outside for Dorian.

"Thank goodness you made it, I thought you might be lost" I said, teasingly.

Dorian didn't seem to find funny, simply humming in return, gesturing with his head for us to get inside.