My spring and summer to-do lists fondly remind me of my father. When my husband and I started caring for our long-time family home and 30 acres, spring's excitement came with overwhelming feelings. Early there with four young children ages six months to five years, I found myself in tears facing all that needed to be done, including a large pasture that needed mowing. My dad — a master gardener and hobby farmer — saw my tears and what was needed and stepped in. This began a 15-year summer routine to help with pasture mowing.

Our family fondly remembers those early summer mornings when Grandpa arrived in his little tan truck, sometimes before 7 a.m. We'd chat over coffee at my kitchen table (youngest daughter remembering him sitting in "my chair"), then off he'd go to mow his adopted pasture.

He loved to mow and, like everything our energetic father did, approached it as if he were running out of time. Oldest son recalls: "I'd bring him lemonade, and he'd drink most of it quickly. Then, without stopping, he'd throw the almost empty cup back at me and keep mowing." Oldest daughter added: "He was so focused that when we delivered lemonade, I was scared he might run me over."

... SPRING'S EXCITEMENT CAME WITH AN OVERWHELMING FEELING ...

After completing the work, he'd leave quickly — grass clippings and dust covering his clothes, face, and sunglasses (“definitely his sunglasses,” added youngest son) — rushing to his own farm projects and leaving my mother to clean up my grass clipping mess!

Those summer mornings evolved over the years: young children on summer vacation waking to hear and see Grandpa mowing outside, then later, young adults heading to summer jobs greeting him on their way out.

Through his example, our father taught me to approach overwhelming projects with a "next needed thing" mindset. He didn't let big tasks overwhelm him but tackled them with vigor and purpose. He also taught me to see the benefits: "Margaret, if you keep this pasture mowed, the good clover grasses will emerge." And they did.

While we no longer have that large property, each spring as I prepare our home for summer enjoyment, I think of our dad and how much he loved these projects. As his abilities declined and he could no longer care for his farm or help with our pasture, he sadly told me, "Margaret, I'm sorry I won't be able to mow for you anymore." I assured him it was okay, but we miss him, those visits, and the example he set for all of us.

Next Needed Thing Reflection

• Break down the spring and summer gardening chores and spread them over weeks rather than a few days and only take on what you can care for
• Check, gather and prepare all the tools and supplies you need
• Make lists of items to be resupplied before shopping to not over purchase (remember what you purchase or duplicate, you must store)
• Chunk the work based on high-energy times (and the weather to determine if you are outside or inside with your projects)

Silverish Simplicity Links

• Use a fabric wine bottle tote to hold hand gardening tools (see picture)
• Make tools from recycled materials – I collect different size plastic containers to hold and scoop smaller and more manageable quantities of grass seed, fertilizer and mulch – from yogurt containers to five gallon buckets
• Check first and collect and return good potting containers to your garden center for repurposing
• Pop in a few nasturtium flower seeds mid-summer in your container pots for new growth and color
• Next year adopt a “No Mow May” to support pollinators (a recent early June trip to Germany showed that the “No Mow” is very serious and went well into June)