seeking sanctuary

Spring is totally here in Pasadena: it’s misty or foggy in the mornings, and cool enough to wear a shell when I jog around the neighborhood. Then it burns off around noon and we enjoy cool breezes and temperatures in the mid 70s until the sun goes down. It’s perfect planting, barbequing, and sitting-on-the-patio-with-a-nice-cigar weather. The thing is, our patio (and all of our yard, actually) has really gone to hell over Winter, so Ryan and Nolan and I gave Anne a landscaped and cleaned up yard for Mother’s Day.

I spent the entire day yesterday up to my knees in turned soil and roly poly bugs while my dogs did their best to help me out by digging holes where I’d recently stuck some new plants into the ground. The kids helped clean out overgrown grasses and piles of leaves we’d allowed to collect in the corners of the yard, and Anne and I transplanted some huge lavender bushes from the front yard to the planter beneath our kitchen window (boy, the fragrance of lavender drifting through that window can almost make washing dishes not completely suck.)

The smell of wet grass and freshly turned earth is everywhere: when I sit in my office, it comes up from the back yard; when I take my Powerbook into my living room and sit on the couch (where I am right now,) it comes in from the patio . . . and there are birds everywhere! I hung bird feeders with songbird mix and socks filled with Nyjer seed all around my yard, and filled up the birdbath on the patio as the sun was setting last night, and this morning there are close to thirty birds, from gold finches to blue jays to white tufted titmouses (titmice?) singing and chirping and making my yard the peaceful sanctuary I’ve always wanted it to be.

The best part? I spent $139 dollars on plants and soil and fertilizer and crap, and the looks and feels more like a thousand bucks. In about a month, if these plants take off the way we think they will, Anne and I are going to have several flowerbeds filled with beautiful native plants.

There’s still work to be done: the elm needs to be thinned, the palm tree needs to be cleaned up before it can dump sixty pounds of seeds and junk into my grass, and I have an entirely overgrown side yard that needs to be totally cleaned out and landscaped (it’s been the "let’s do that next" project since we moved in six years ago), but the work we did this weekend — as a family, no less — is just awesome. I have lately felt like I’m working very hard without a whole lot to show for it, and it gives me a much-needed sense of accomplishment to walk into my back yard and see the results of the work we did. I wish I’d taken before and after photos, because it’s pretty incredible.

I’ve been writing all morning, and now I can go out into the back and enjoy its growing sense of peace and sanctuary. I may even take a cigar with me, just because I can.

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36 thoughts on “seeking sanctuary”

  1. Yes, there is something about working with the earth… and you are making memories for your family.
    I heard about: E! Entertainment’s “Child Star Confidential” will air in May Geeks, Freaks & Sidekicks premieres on Saturday, May 20 at 5PM ET/PT.
    Featuring:
    Charlie Korsmo
    ◊Will Wheaton ◊
    Dustin Diamond
    Jaleel White
    Amy Linker
    Rain Pryor
    Tannis Vallely
    Kellie Martin
    Wilson Cruz
    ◊Shavar Ross ◊

  2. Sounds like the perfect mothers day. Being outside doing something with the family. If we had room at my parents house I would so try and do some thing like that for my mom.

  3. It’s a Monday afternoon, as you’re relaxing in the living room, on the couch entering your thoughts… Describing how perfect the weather is in Pasadena as you breath in the invigorating smells of a freshly planted garden in your front yard.. I don’t like you anymore, Wil. 🙂

  4. Mike (my guy) was looking to get a picture of you for me, but he didn’t have any luck finding you. Luckily for him, he got lots of other autographs to make up for it. I probably would have been jealous if he got to meet you, anyways. =)

  6. ::Looks evily at the computer screen where Wil talks about how wonderful the weather is, glances outside to the lakes formed in my back yard::
    Damn you Wil!
    Well at least I got out of school today due to flooding.
    Anne is way lucky to have such a kick butt family. Props to you guys 🙂

  7. As a kid I always openly despised yard work. I was under the misconception that the more I protested the quicker I could go run amok around the neighborhood. Of coarse my parents saw through my protests. And only got let loose on the world when the work was done.
    Despite all my exhibits of disdain, I secretly looked back on the end result with a bit of pride.
    Don’t tell my parents.

  8. My back yard is just about the same size of my two-bedroom apartment. I have two struggling peach trees, a plum tree desperate for pruning, roses, azaleas, grape vines, hydrangeas, roses of sharon threatening to take over, and poison ivy. Yes, poison ivy. I live in Woodside, Queens. (Yes, Queens!)
    When my ex-boyfriend and I split and he moved out of this aparment I knew I couldn’t afford it, and I knew I couldn’t leave it. I’ve found a way. This back yard takes up most of my free time, and the rent takes up all of my free money, and as long as I can manage it I’m not leaving. A space in nature you tame and plant and care for yourself is satisfying beyond all other niches we carve out for ourselves. All the sky I can see when I lie on my back in my yard is mine, and so is the grass I smell, and every tiny plum pit budding on the tree above me.

  9. An awesome Mother’s Day Present. I got burned toast and yogurt with a glass of OJ- the best breakfast a mom could get! I also had my bed made, dishes done, windows washed, and all by my awesome six year old 🙂
    We also watched “First Duty” together today, Wil. He was telling me during commercials how much a lie would get Wesley in trouble and that lying on top of a lie only makes it worse. He was really enthralled with the episode– it’s one of those moments you realize your kids are gonna be OK.

  12. I love the feeling when I get the yard work done. It is time to redo the patio gardening. (Don’t have a real backyard) but I so enjoy the tired productive feeling I get when done gardening. I do have some tulips that are blooming again this year. It is nice when thins that were planted as seed or bulbs return. While as a kid I hated it, now it is my favorite therapy.

  13. Wil,
    Ummm, cause I’m not only a geek, but also a smartass, and a former park ranger, so I seize the interpretive moment….. we don’t have blue jays west of the Rockies. You probably saw scrub jays, with the sort of dull blue and white coloring. “Blue jay” is what jays get commonly called because people don’t know better, and in general, they are pretty much jays, that happen to be blue. So part of my life’s mission is to educate the masses on this issue. Obviously I don’t have much of a social life. Anyway, we have lots of different jays in North America, and the one in your backyard is probably a scrub jay. You seem like the type of person who appreciates being slightly more knowledgeable when the opportunity arises.

  15. Sounds absolutely lovely. Not to violate any code of privacy you have, but any chance at a pic or two of the loveliness? My husband and I just moved from a flat that had a garden to a flat that has a communal garden maintained by others. I’m doing my best to have flowers and plants indoors now. :-/

  16. As some other people, on some other site might say…
    … this thead is useless without pics. 🙂
    I’m sure we’d all love to see the results, and it’s not your street front, so the weirdos would be at a minimum right?
    As for the birdlife, being someone who works at home, right next to a window… not a fan of the chirping. Of course I have issues with wind-chimes too, so maybe it’s just a ‘focus’ issue on my part?

  17. I love to do the very same thing. Working in the soil can be a very theraputic activity. Restful for the mind and soul. We began to also feed/watch the birds several years ago when a hawk appeared in a neighbors tree. Now we have all the nerdy accessories;binoculors, bird books,different feeds and seeds and suets. Oh my! 🙂 It is also a restful activity and one that you can do while having a nice glass of wine, or as my husband prefers, a nice cigar. Kudos for sharing that time with your family as well.

  18. I heard about: E! Entertainment’s “Child Star Confidential” will air in May Geeks, Freaks & Sidekicks premieres on Saturday, May 20 at 5PM ET/PT. —
    In my area (I’m in Kentucky, with nashville local programming) the times and days are slightly different for me. Dunno why. I am central and there are episodes coming on E! tonight Tues. May 16th at 7 and 7:30 pm central and then again on the 20th at 9 and 9:30 pm central.
    Just for anyone else who wanted to watch. I love my cable DVR!.
    I would’ve missed The final 2 grey’s anatomy if it weren’t for my DVR. and yay I got back surgery to look forward to 🙂

  19. Spring is totally here in Pasadena: it’s misty or foggy in the mornings,
    —
    heh you typed my name again wil 🙂 Yea yea i know.. I still get a kick out of it though, I am the only person I know whos name is an adjective describing some nouns.. if my last name didn’t have an ‘e’ in it. Misty Barnes
    – the barn(e)s are misty lol. I have no life forgive me lol.

  20. We’re in the later half of autumn (or “fall” as you guys call it there) and everything looks just beautiful. I love how all the oranges and yellows mix will all the greens and browns. The only problem is that there are leaves all over the place. I’m one of the worst gardeners in the world but somehow the place always looks alright. And there are very few things in the world that smell as good as freshly cut grass. 🙂

  25. Step back, take another look, remind yourself

    Yesterday Wil Wheaton, fourth Earl of Pasadena, posted this message about Spring here in Pasadena. His cheerful disposition reminded me that I should probably have more of a cheerful disposition; sometimes Im so wrapped up in the shit Im …

  26. You had sun in CA yesterday? It’s been rainy for about 5 days straight here…not so fun. But I agree with everyone, that’s a great mother’s day gift. My fam finally planted a garden recently too, one that’s been asking to be planted for five to six years.

  27. I log a lot of hours washing dishes, so I would definitely benefit from a window box full of jasmine or honeysuckle.
    I genuinely feel sorry for people that don’t know what roly poly bugs are. What would childhood have been like without them?

  28. I know it’s already been said by almost everyone else here, but that’s seems like one awesome Mother’s Day gift there, now you just need to figure out how to top it next year, lol.
    Also, it sounds like y’all are getting some pretty perfect weather there. Here in the Houston area the weather’s been kind of nasty, particularly Sunday’s weather. The sky was so dark and threatening when I left work that afternoon I could have sworn a tornado was going appear out of no where. I literally had to fight with my car to keep it from being blown off the road. Not fun at all, lol.
    Anyway, I hope the weather stays lovely there so you can keep on enjoying the payoff from all your hard work.

  29. I spent $139 dollars on plants and soil and fertilizer and crap
    Fertilizer and crap? Isn’t that redundant?

  32. I love to garden. I live in a new place with my family, they have only just been here nearly a year and the garden needs a lot of work. So many bare spots. So my niece (she’s 6 and lives here, and me and her are best friends now) picked out some butterfly garden seeds, and hummingbird garden seeds. We planted them almost 2 weeks ago and all the little plants are growing. So we go out and water them and make them grow and look at beetles and rescue them when they fall in the swimming pool. It has always been a sanctuary to me, and having her to share it with makes it all that more serene. Today we swam in the pool for the first time, I’m burnt, but it was a perfect day.

  33. Hi Wil, Good to good to hear you are doing a bit of gardening. I’ve been doing the same here in SE England. It’s spring here as well, about 21 degrees C. You mentioned Gold Finches, I wonder if they are the same as our Gold Finches, with the little red marks on their heads.
    Just one thing Wil, What’s happened to your Podcasts? I miss them!

  34. You could take after shots of your yard. Even with no before shots, we’d like to see what you’ve done! (And don’t forget the before/after shots when you do that side yard!)

  35. Hi Wil,
    I haven’t been around much lately as my Granny passed away last week. Just wanted to say I’m back and reading strong! Glad you had a nice Mother’s Day surprise for your wife and am enjoying the lovely weather in Pasadena. I loved living there.
    In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada today it’s 87F here or +31ºC in the shade. It’s a hot one.
    I need a long soak in a cool tub.
    Enjoy your day.
    Rosemary Wilson

  36. I’m so jealous. I would have loved the gift of a yard makeover! (I always love reading your family stories. They make it worth wading through all the poker stories!)
    I’m a single mom of a 14-yr-old teengirl — so no gift for Mother’s Day. This was followed by no celebration of my birthday, Monday. *Sigh* I am trying not to dwell on it, and counting my blessings.
    I need to get my little yard into shape. Maybe if I dig into my soil this Saturday, I will find similar satisfaction in a clean and planted yard.

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