100 Word Challenge: Garden

This past weekend, I put the final touches on my books. Not writing them, painting them.

It’s spring and I’m in the gardening mood. My front yard needed some color and a little character – characters like The Scarlet Pimpernel, Bill Forrester, Walt Whitman and Ravi Kapoor.

Not typically an artsy-crafty sort of person, I couldn’t resist trying my hand at making stone books for my garden. Using solid pavers (they are the perfect faux book size) you can find at any home improvement store (typically less than $1 each), outdoor patio paint, some letter decals (because I can’t hand letter for shit), a tub of Hodge-Podge, paint brushes and sponge brushes. I went to work.

I think the cashier at Lowe’s was a little concerned with my purchases – four pavers and a can of masonry sealer. Not enough for a Poe-esque Cask of Amontillado, but I did have that wild-eyed, cooped-up-inside-too-long look.

Since I wanted these for garden decor, I also wanted the titles to be Spring or plante related. Hence the titles:

• The Scarlet Pimpernel
• Dandelion Wine
• Leaves of Grass
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I had stuff strewn all over my driveway and yard. Paint-stained paper towels and flattened cardboard boxes, paper plates used as paint palettes, bottles of paint, and paint brushes were everywhere. I had paint under my fingernails, on my clothes and arms, probably in my hair too. I’m not the neatest person when focused on a project.

The worst part, aside from the ever-growing mess, was having to wait for the paint to dry in-between coats.

On Monday, I bought some new plants, then on Tuesday I began clearing out my front flower beds… then it rained… and rained… and rained. In-between downpours I tore out weeds. Hopefully, I can shelve my new books when the weather clears on Wednesday.

I already know that I will be adding books to my outdoor library, and a few more flowers.

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” ~ Marcus Tulles Cicero

This week’s word is:

Garden

Using “garden” for inspiration, write 100 Words – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link back here from your post, and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow wordsters.