There’s something about working in the fresh air and sunshine, tending the garden. The repetitiveness and physical exertion soothe the frayed edges of my nerves and makes the pressures of time and household tasks go away. As much as I lament not having a fresh can of Killex to get rid of the dandelions and creeping charlie  flourishing in the lawn, the hours spent ripping them up are not wasted. I marvel at how the birds have returned in droves. There are some I’ve never seen before, with tan backs and reddish bellies, goldfinches and tiny blue-winged creatures that fly as fast as mosquitoes. Great honking arrows of Canada geese fly low overhead and the squawks of blue jays and cardinals fighting over the…

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