If you build it... it will be completed, eventually I Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups. -- UrbanDictionary.com. can't wait to spend hours digging up dirt and grass in the stifling heat. Said no one ever. But that's what my husband and I endeavoured to do over the past two weekends as the sun beat down on our necks and sweat soaked through our clothes. It needed to get done. We had procrastinated enough. The raised vegetable garden wasn't going to build itself and the plants gifted from a friend's well-established garden desperately needed to establish roots in their new home. So, we set out to complete the first task during the May long weekend. Sunday was dedicated to constructing and completing the vegetable box, but the deadline was quickly extended to Monday when a trip to Home Depot took longer than expected. We hummed and hawed over the different types of cedar available. We meticulously checked each piece of wood for imperfections. If we were going to do this, we were going to do it right. We also didn't account for the unpredictable #adulting 25 | Thursday, June 2, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Julia Le Oakville Beaver news reporter nature of a toddler, and indeed, our son was as capricious as it gets. While I distracted him with bubbles and other outdoor games Saturday afternoon, Jay snuck off to the garage to cut the wood on the new table saw we purchased on sale in anticipation of our upcoming DIY projects. With Monday afternoon suddenly upon us, we were finally able to put shovel to ground, nail to wood during Hayden's two-hour nap (we at least knew completing the task while my son was awake would be futile). Finishing it in just the nick of time, Hayden awoke, refreshed from his nap to explore what he probably thought was a sandbox in our backyard. Slow your roll, Hayden. Mommy and daddy aren't there yet. We were, however, proud as we paused to admire our first DIY project this season. Jay also took to Facebook to share a photo and our excitement that the vegetable bed was 80 per cent complete. Of course, we knew we still had to shave the stakes down, add in two more stakes for better support and then the fill it with dirt and plants. Babysteps right? Our friends were quick to An allium harvested from the remind us of Oakville hospital legacy site the running list and blooming in a local garden we still have to this year. | photo by Julia Le - complete before Oakville Beaver we can officially celebrate. "You may find you reassess the 80 per cent estimate after you've filled it with dirt...," was the first cheeky comment. Bubble burst, we were back to the reality that indeed, there was so much more to do. How do you adults do it? How do you find the time? The money? The patience? How do you not feel defeated when you catch that rabbit red-handed, chomping away at your tulip tops or the raccoon that stares you straight in the eye as he pulls up your grass after emerging from underneath your deck in the evening? We still look at our yard every day, overwhelmed at its vastness and how we will manage to maintain it. As if sensing my anxiety, and my aching wallet from shelling out the cash for materials and tools, a friend dropped off a trunk-load of plants just before last weekend. He labelled each pot then sent a follow-up email on the special delivery with tidbits on each item and website links to where I could go for more information. Thank you for recognizing how hopeless we are. I'll take all the help I can get. This is also the same friend who has supplied me with old magazines and books. My go-to when I need to identify whatever weird weed or plant has suddenly popped up in my garden. When I see photos of the beautiful items blooming in his yard, I can only hope that one day we'll get there. An allium bulb harvested from Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital's legacy site at Reynolds Street last year just blossomed over the weekend. It's incredibly breathtaking. There's hope for me yet. Also, there's plenty of summer of left. We'll finish that vegetable garden. Eventually. Camp 2016 25+ Sports & Activities Multimedia, Arts & Science REGISTER NOW! Summer Spots Still Available in All Sessions ! First-Class Independent Living and Assisted Living. Residents enjoy a premium all-inclusive lifestyle with convenient on-site amenities and services right at home. We offer three options: · Independent Living · Assisted Living · Respite Stay Choose to relax or join in activities! Professional care and support is available if needed 24/7. 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