…just doesn’t get much better than that.

Sitting next to the house in boxes, approximately 60 plants have been waiting on their horticultural transplant for several weeks. I am sure they had decided it was never going to happen. They were destined to live the remainder of their days in their little square temporary containers because the homeowners in this fine small town USA were forgetful or plant haters.

When company decided to leave a day early, however, homeowners Sam and Rhonda determined to make Memorial Day memorable.

• I am grateful to have slept in until 7:30 am.
• I am grateful for breakfast on the porch.
• I am grateful for a long walk in the quiet of a lazy holiday morning, before the cars headed to the cemetery, before the barbecues were fired up, before the class reunions commenced.
• I am grateful our plants didn’t die while waiting.

We decided to quickly get these little guys into the ground so that we could have part of a day to enjoy the beautiful.

The lucky firsts were three rose bushes to be planted at the corner of the yard. Since the ground was so soft from much rain, I didn’t put up too much dissent when Sam insisted he could easily dig the hole with the spade. Surgeon: “No lifting over 10 pounds for 10 weeks post-surgery.”

It wasn’t hard ground, and technically, he wasn’t “lifting.”

We were both enjoying the cool morning and the quietness, when all of a sudden, a car came to a very sudden stop at the stop sign on our corner. We looked over to see a young lady, with window down, nonchalantly look to her right and her left.

Sam is kind of known for his wisecracks, and he didn’t disappoint.

“Brakes work!”

The poor kid was immediately embarrassed and giggled nervously, when her adult male passenger leaned forward laughing, and said, “Thanks! Yes, they DO!”

As the car turned the corner, we both noticed the big yellow magnetized sign plastered across the trunk:

• I am grateful for belly laughing while working.
• I am grateful for many water breaks on the kitchen porch, with a cool breeze blowing and birds entertaining.
• I am grateful for a lunch break, too – and a new Casey’s convenience store with a great deal for two slices of pizza.

We continued planting – wisteria, 5-6 different kinds of multiple grasses, azalea, lavender, hibiscus, hostas, wedding flowers, etc. And all through the day, we both remarked, “This is the best day.”

Sam dug, Rhonda planted. All around the house we went, removing the over-abundant day lilies and iris and liriope, transplanting the sad and neglected, belly laughing at the stares and the silly kids across the street playing in the muddy ditch water, using muscles we I hadn’t used for a long time.

• I am grateful we didn’t have 70 plants in little square boxes.
• I am grateful for a full day of complete enjoyment with my husband, just the two of us, together, making our home beautiful.
• I am grateful for dirty clothes.
• I am grateful for empty bags of mulch.
• I am grateful for aspen trees that MIGHT not be dead after all.
• I am grateful for bunnies who have made their home in our yard, unafraid and chomping away at an abundance of green grass.

Just when we were completely exhausted and calling it quits, Angela and Pete pulled up, on their way home from a weekend in Colorado.

• I am grateful for a sister who took the time to come see where we live in small town USA.
• I am grateful for a peaceful evening on our front porch, sandwiches and watermelon with family.
• I am grateful for the end of the sunny day, on a motorcycle with my husband, enjoying our little town as we rested our weary muscles.
• I am grateful for a shower.
• I am grateful for a bonfire in our front yard and the satisfying feeling that Sam was sitting on the front porch in the dusk, watching his fire and admiring his hard work.
• I am grateful that the police chief is our friend, and I am pretty sure we won’t get in trouble for having a bonfire in our front yard.
• And I am grateful that we both decided, “THIS has been the best day.”