July 2025 – My Little Meadow for the Pollinators

July 2025 every year I feel like we all get to the end of July and freak out, “Where in the heck did summer go!?” It doesn’t help that where we live we literally only get about a dozen weekends of “summer” which, besides being super depressing, is also the busiest time for us locals at our day jobs. So, not only are we at a dead run at work we’re also desperately trying to enjoy it too because we can’t waste the nice weather *facepalm* Oh and we all have our lists of outside projects, chores and gardens that need to be taken care of as well! So July, as usual, is gone in a blink.

I’ve been really unhappy the last couple of years after losing my barn, my horse and my garden. To say everything about the yard just made me sad was a massive understatement. We even had to install a new septic system that destroyed our backyard and left it a sand pit that was made all the more worse for how much we had to pay for it.

All my days living here I absolutely loved the view. Whether it was looking out at the barn, my horse safe and happy in his pasture or just our beautiful yard.

Every morning I would get up, look out the window and, I know it sounds cliché, but it made my heart swell.

It made me happy.

And it turned into a sight that damned near broke me every time I looked at it which was every damned day. It sucked waking up to it and it was even worse coming home to it.

July 2025, things are getting better.

There’s no replacing what was lost of course but in light of losing something I’ve always tried to focus on getting something better in return.

Silly example: I got a divorce nearly a decade ago now and my ex took a variety of items that could only be chalked up to pettiness in an effort to annoy me.

He even took the pizza cutter lol

So, I got myself the best most awesomeness pizza cutter I could find.

There’s no replacing my Grandparents’ barn or my soul horse, but I could get a better garden. I had made the decision that it could be taken out with the barn because my old garden was falling a part.

I spent the last two years planning it out in my head and, though I did have to kind of force myself sometimes, it did give me something to look forward to and thus it helped me move on.

I’ve also always wanted a native wild flower garden for the butterflies, bees and pollinators.

July 2025, wonderfully I got my “bee” lawn too!

I ordered several pounds of this native seed mix specific for pollinators here in northern Minnesota. It was pretty affordable and it does seem to have worked!

In the morning now I see my little blooming meadow and vegetable garden where the barn and pasture used to be and its a happy sight. I will always miss what was but its such a relief to have a view that makes me smile again.

Life goes on and it can get better.

Notice that little concrete slab beside the silo? Also notice those two sun loungers that conveniently fit perfectly there?

It has become my favorite spot. If its nice out after I get off work, I’ll go water the garden and sit in the evening sun and read.

Its my little slice of Heaven.

And to get that up here, in the empty spot that broke my heart to look at for so long, feels a bit like a miracle. I think this is what they mean when they say to make lemonade out of lemons.

For me its going to be pickles out of cucumbers later this year and I can’t wait.