Garden

The weather has changed as dramatically as if someone somewhere pushed the big red "RAINY SEASON" button in the sky. Thick blankets of clouds have rolled over the horizon bringing long wet days and deliciously cool nights. Animals we haven't seen in months have suddenly crawled, hopped, squirmed and fluttered out of nowhere leaving us wondering where they have been for six months and how they all got back at the same time. Frogs wallow in the wet sand just off our porch and create a riotous symphony of croaks all night. Flocks of ibis fleck the dark skies with white wings in the evening and bright red velvet mites are scattered across the yard in the mornings like misplaced Christmas confetti. If we stay up too late after dinner, moths swarm our little kitchen island of light leaving us feeling like we are sitting in a lifesized zoo terranium. Last night was one of those nights where there were literally hundreds of moths swirling around us. I seriously almost expected to look out the kitchen window and see a group of fourth garders on a field trip peeking in. ("On your right children you will see the moth exhibit. Please note how interested they are in the fruit on the plates of the people who are trying to eat their dinner...")

There are so many things to love about the rainy season (mosquitos not being one of them). We are sleeping so comfortably in sheets unsoured by sweat and the hill behind our house is so intensely green it almost looks blue. But one of our favorite things about the rain has been starting a garden. Bryan and I know just next to nothing about gardening but have had fun rooting around in the damp earthiness with shovels and seeds and bugs. We have planted some local things - seasame, corn, hot peppers and potatoes, as well as some seeds we brought with us - lettuce, spinach, carrots, bell peppers and cilantro. And we are so excited to already see a few enthusiastic sprouts poking their heads out through the clods.

It is beautiful to see new life unfurling all around us. Especially beautiful is seeing is shake off the dust it is pushing through and growing out of. Along with all the weeds, the most common thing we have had to dig up and toss out of our garden is bullet casings.