Another life lesson

I realized something last summer when I was working in the garden. This is a pretty special place. It speaks in such volumes it's sometimes overwhelming. It says, "come, enjoy the colors, the smells, and all the sights that are inside. But, whatever you do, do NOT piss off the fairies!" Just kidding about that last part, they are kind and forgiving creatures.
  But seriously, it is a special place as it has plants from many people that are dear to me. A trumpet vine, originally planted the year I was born from my grandmother. Peonies that are 30 plus years old, many from my mom, my aunt, my dear friend Paula, and so on. So it's like all those people have a special place in my garden with their plants, they give me peace and happiness. It is a magical place for me to collect my thoughts, calm my nerves, or just plain get dirty. I am one of those people who are never satisfied with leaving well enough alone, I rearrange the garden as if it was the living room. I have a compulsion to make things better, I am a fixer. There I said it. Wheww. It's out and I am not ashamed.
  I have worked for 2 summers building, planting, arranging and changing things and it really has paid off. People slow down as they drive by my little 25x50 ft piece of land with a huge house in the middle of it. Sometimes they stop and ask questions, accuse me of being an artist (haha that's just a joke). My creativity is thought and time consuming and I do it for my family, not the admirers passing by, but if they like it, bonus. As my kids keep on insisting on getting older, I find it helps me that I will always have my plants and they will always need me to love and nurture them. Oh yea, and there are veggies.
  With as many mouths as we have to feed, and as small as our property is, I have to get creative as far as planting the veggies. I've even gone as far as tucking them in between the hostas and lilies. Whatever it takes to ease the food budget, I am not too proud to do it. Or too traditional.
  Robbing Peter to pay Paul is always tricky, but this helps the rough patches not seem as bad. The problem is deciding what is frugal and what is just plain cheap, though I have yet to discover that teeny tiny line. I am not ashamed to pinch pennies till they scream.