Blessed Samhain (pronounced saa-ween). Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Year, marking the end of last year’s spiritual journey and the beginning of a new one. It is a time to reflect on the bounty received, accomplishments and dreams filled and unfilled, and goals for the coming seasons.

One of my accomplishments over the summer was installing a new garden. Here’s how it played out:

• April – Delivery of three yards of loam onto grass at end of driveway.
• May – Spread loam in established gardens and use some to enlarge hummingbird garden.

Original hummingbird garden, built spring 2013.

Improved hummingbird garden, spring 2014.

• June – Continue spreading loam. (Damn, three yards is a lot of dirt!).
• July – Still some loam leftover and the grass it’s sitting on is dead. Ducks dabble in the mud after their afternoon shower.

Giving the ducks a bath alongside the remaining loam.

• August – Brainstorm! Build a new garden around the leftover loam. Lowe’s delivers 130 cement blocks (Buy two pallets and save, save, save!) and wood (seemed like a good time to tackle some other projects).

• August – Build new garden around the remaining loam. (Chris asked why I didn’t map out the garden first? “Getting kind of big, don’t ya think Mom?”)

Ducks using new garden as feeding pen.

• Order three more yards of loam to fill new garden.

Salt Box Nursery delivering more loam.

• Edge hummingbird garden with remaining cement blocks. Decide to enlarge it a tad bit more.

New and improved hummingbird garden, circa 2014.

• Short by five cement blocks (sigh).

Another project that grew and grew and grew (which Chris quickly pointed out was due to my lack of focus and planning) was my new workbench. I envisioned a modest bench on which to tinker. What I built was a table tennis table!

Anyone for a game of ping-pong?

No problem, I can use it to build an ark when the river starts to flood.

Last major project of the summer was the deck. Replacing the stair runs (or floors, for you non-handy people) was only the beginning. The balusters also needed repair. So, off with the old and on with the new. Thanks to my table saw and jigsaw, the project was a piece of cake and all my fingers are still present.

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To round off things, there was small electrical project.

Removed old, non-working backdoor light.

Installed new, sensor backdoor light.

All in all, the spring and summer were very productive. My goals for the coming year include painting the house and deck, finishing the repair of the retaining wall, and creating an herb garden. (Throw in meeting Clive Owen and traveling to Umbria and the list is complete.) Alas, these plans will have to wait for as a recently arrived junco told me, winter is coming.

Heralders of winter, slat-colored juncos.

Samhain is also a time to honor those who have passed onto another journey. This is the day when the veil between the living world and the world of the deceased is at its thinnest, when we speak to those we have lost and hear their replies with clarity.

So, I will light a candle, say goodbye to light of the summer and embrace the darkness of the winter; I will call to my parents and thank them for teaching me how to be strong and courageous; and I will thank the goddess for all she has bestowed upon me these past 12 months.

Double rainbow over Burlington, MA on October 25.

Blessed Samhain to everyone. :}