The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences, from Denise’s one word prompt: STOCK. Visit, comment, write & post your own on Six Sentence Stories.
She leaned on her shovel and surveilled her tiny backyard plot, noting the shady spots that, come Summer, would be created by the neighbors’ overgrown deciduous trees.
Street side, out front, had plenty of southern exposure and the soil had been easily turned and made ready for planting; she’d taken stock of what had worked last year, scouring the mid-winter seed catalogs for flowers that could withstand and flourish in the ever-changing and unpredictable climate. The ground was still damp and chilly in late Spring, so she was spreading toes in rubber boots instead of fragrant, bare ground.
Raised beds and translucent toppers might be worth the investment if they could keep out the pesky rabbits and burrowing chipmunks, and they might do her knees a favor because although she was fine bending and sitting on a low stool to plant and weed, standing up again without blowing out her kneecaps was getting to be another matter entirely.
Smiling at her mind’s eye, she squelched her way to the garden shed set up against the house and, wooden door popping and hinges squealing, placed the shovel in its appointed spot.
She’d oil that squeak later, after another gander at what the gardening sites had on offer, with a steaming cup of tea and a couple of shortbread biscuits to keep her company.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)
Valley of the Trolls 
what a lovely, hopeful way to start the year! tx much for visiting my site. I love anything to do with books & would be thrilled if you’d write a guest blog post for my site, which is for anyone who enjoys writing, or books, and all the arts. If you think it might be fun or helpful to have my followers (who total about 10k across my various social media) meet you, here’s the link for general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ – best, da-AL
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I’ll give it a look. Thank you!
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Yeah, but… the problem with seed catalogs is you have to take stock and plan etc too early. (I’m a pantser gardener, not a planner) See, I want some winter. This reminds me of how short this ultimate tea and cookie season is.
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My childhood friend sees this as dream time; winters are hard to get through, otherwise.
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Mmmmm!!! Sliced tomatoes!!!! Nothing like a tomato picked right off the vine!
Unfortunately, often shared with outside critters! Enjoyed your response to the prompt, but now I’m craving a tomato sandwich! 🍅
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Do it!!!!
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Sounds like a good plan.
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That was lovely, Liz.
Especially because I have just picked the first two tomatoes in my veg patch yesterday. Never mind the fact that one of the little squirrels had a bite from the tomatoes!
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I’m jealous! Damn squirrels are pesky, no matter the hemisphere! Waiting for jacaranda pics from down south & across an ocean, now…
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Oh, the jacarandas are all out here!💜
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This was a sweet snapshot. Even non-gardeners can appreciate both the love of gardening and the deeper context of the prose.
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Yay! Stay in, stay warm, and write!
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Come on, Summer!*
*we indulge in the notion that winter ended on the 21st of December, as each day hence reclaims more sunlight. Surely the temperature will take the hint and get us (way, way old song lyric), “…back to the garden.”
fun Six
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I know that song! All we gotta do is dream and slumber, and surely it’ll come. 🐧🌻
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You had me at the image of the sliced tomato, Liz! Fresh off the vine, slap slices between 2 pieces of bread, add mayo – nothing like garden fresh tomatoes 😁
Very engaging story.
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(missing summer & sun-warm tomatoes, but something to look forward to!)
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Ah, the joys of planning and planting and growing things. My black thumb salutes all who can do it.
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🤣 Me too! Cuz remember, I write fiction…
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A delicious story, Liz! Loved this six.
I know all about blowing out kneecaps!
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🤣🤣
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The tea and cookies sound like good companions. We have raised beds up about 3 feet with a reservoir of water beneath bed. They can be rolled where we want them. It gets hot where we are so something to temporarily shade them in the summer would be nice. Your story made me wonder how to add on that temporary shade.
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That’s a good question. Maybe some lightweight opaque netting that could be rolled over a wooden or aluminum framework?
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