Suddenly, we find ourselves staring out the window at our brown, crunchy gardens, not realizing how long we’ve been standing there. We’re silently rearranging beds in our minds.

We begin digging around in the seed packets leftover from previous years. “Hmm, that didn’t do too well. I think I want to try a different variety this year.”

And after all that heavy holiday food, we think wistfully of the fresh, green flavors that we had at our fingertips in August.

The next thing you know, you’re wondering if it’s too soon to start seedlings, knowing full well that it is. (For me, anyway.)

Isn’t it funny the way a gardener’s mind works? 

By the end of October, I just want to be done. I’ve had it with the bugs and the crazy weather. If I have to preserve another jar of tomatoes, I’ll cry. I glower at the bees out there pollinating yet another blessed zucchini flower and wistfully pray for that first hard freeze to put an end to it all so I can have a break.

Yet, a mere two months later, here I am, poring over seed catalogs and planning like a cat burglar, getting ready for my next big jewel heist. Oh, there will be jewels, alright, big pink Brandywines and deep purple eggplants and emerald green peppers…