A Prairie Home Companion from American Public Media: First Person

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by Vanessa Ferrell
January 3, 2007

On days like today, I get homesick. 60 degrees in Florida is sweater weather, 40 degrees is a record-breaking cold snap. Today the wind had a bite to it and the wind blew the palm trees around like wild dancers. I feel that I should be outside wielding a rake, but the most I can do is pull weeds. I?ve pulled out my ?cold weather? recipes: gingerbread and oatmeal cookies and thick vegetable soups, but they just don't taste the same without the smell of wood smoke in the air.

I was in the Air Force when I married a Southern boy. After 20 years and several moves, he retired. We left Milwaukee for Florida 9 years ago, to be near his family. It has taken me this long to attempt growing vegetables here, in the winter, which everyone knows is the time the tomatoes are scraggly and the rabbits are nibbling at the marigolds. But when the weather turns colder, I long for the Jack-in-the-pulpits and snowball bush my mother had in her garden, the transient glory of lilacs, the peonies I started, but whose blooms I never got to see, and most of all I miss the smell of dry leaves.

Our Florida home is bright and airy with golden ceramic tile. It has a screened in porch and a Jacuzzi we never use. The growing criterion in Florida is for drought-resistant plants, which will have sharp edges or thorns. They are exotic beauties with Spanish names. Our Milwaukee home was 70 years old with small bedrooms and a cold basement, but wonderful woodwork, a wooden stair rail, and a built-in china cabinet. The yard took at most 15 minutes to mow. I could sit on my front porch and look up and down our short street.

My husband and I are older, and retirement is looking like the Emerald City in the distance. We don't want adventure and hurricanes; we'll settle for four regular seasons. During our 90 degree summers, we remember with fondness the cozy feeling of waking up under a warm featherbed with snow on the ground outside. I dream of tea and Racine kringle after raking leaves. I remember the anticipation of waiting for spring planting time.

Gardeners know that they can put plants in the ground in the full sun, but they may do much better when they?re in the shade. My head may be in Florida, but my roots are in the Midwest.

About the author:
If gray was sexy, I'd be a hot mama. My mother is starting to appear in my mirror. Despite my age, I am continually surprised that I am grown up and doing grown up secretary stuff. I have acquired over the years, a husband, 3 children, and 2 dogs. I dream of Kopps Frozen Custard and Kettle Moraine while I work. My writing lately has been for our church newsletter, when the Spirit strikes.