18 Aug 2019, 06:00
Gardening for Dummies
Tanya walked into the greenhouse and snatched what she needed. Yes, she was aware that she should probably ask before she borrowed equipment, but then again that would mean finding someone to ask. She just didn't want to deal with it at the moment, so consequences be damned. It was ridiculous that she would even have to ask to borrow equipment when she was doing errands. Besides, it wasn't like she could buy her own gardening equipment when she had no money. It was ridiculous.
She shoved a trowel, leather gardening gloves, pruning shears, and a small basket into a big basket. She hoisted the big basket up onto her shoulder, wincing at the uncomfortable scratchy texture of the wood against her cheek. She headed out for the fruit trees first, since she'd probably get the most reward over there. She had to admit that the campus was beautiful, the shimmering lake in the distance combined with the intense hills mountains surrounding it, the contrast was breathtaking. Growing up in the city and in foster care, she'd never really had the chance to be in nature. It was one of the things she had been looking forward to once she could get a safe job, then she'd be able to leave the group home to go hiking and take a train out of town.
Sighing, she turned away from the magnificent view and continued her walk to the orchards. To be honest, gardening was one of the few things she truly loved to do. It came in a close second to reading. The group home had a garden that some of the kids worked on and although she hadn't lived there long before the letter from Hogwarts came, she had truly fallen in love with working the earth and watching something grow and live and thrive. She set the basket down and took the gloves out and put them on. She'd never liked wearing leather gloves, they were too rough on her hands and these ones were slightly too large on her bony fingers. She took them back off, she didn't have to wear gloves while she was harvesting apples anyway.
Tanya dropped them into the grass next to the basket, shoved the shears into her pocket, and took out the smaller basket. Yes, this would have to do. She'd fill up the smaller basket and bring it to the bigger basket. That way she didn't have to lug the basket up the tree when she wanted to harvest from the top. Yes, this would work. She walked around the bottom of the tree and began picking the low-hanging apples. She grabbed the largest one she could find, then sat down and took out a knife she'd taken from the Great Hall. She sliced the apple up and tossed the core to the side, then savored the delicious fruit. She'd always enjoyed apples, they were always easily accessible and generally good. They were a safe fruit. She wasn't one to play roulette, so if she could avoid doing so, she did. And fruit cost a ridiculous amount of money, especially since they are such a necessary part of the diet.
But now she didn't have to worry about food. She can always walk down to the gardens during her free time and take some. She felt a twinge of worry about what she'd do when school went out. Would she be returning to the group home? Or would she go to another house? She wondered if they'd be hosting another summer camp next year. It would have to be something to talk to the Head of House about. Tanya leaned back against the tree as a sudden urge to sleep overcame her, barely putting her arm behind her head before she passed out.
She woke quickly, feeling unbelievably refreshed. Taking a quick glance at the sky, she gathered that it hadn't been too long since she fell asleep. It probably wasn't even lunchtime yet. She looked at the ground next to her, where several pieces of apple had fallen from her hand. She had at least set down the knife before she passed out. Refusing to think about what might happen in the future if she has another one of these sleeping spells while doing something that might cause her harm, she grabbed the apples and shoved them in her mouth, chewing them quickly.
Stretching, she stood and began harvesting more apples. It was a mindless job, which made her retreat into her own thoughts. She didn't particularly like this, as thinking of the past often made her lonely and depressed. Better to think of the present. To escape her thoughts she began singing softly, and admittedly poorly. But that didn't matter, she was completely alone. She sang of nothing in particular, just some old folk songs she'd learned from some old man.
She had joined in on a trash can fire one winter because her hands were cold, and there'd been an old man there who started singing. Unlike her, his voice was deep and powerful. When he opened his mouth, it felt like the world shook. Tanya and a few other people huddled around the fire joined him, and he'd taught them a few songs. She'd returned every night, and she'd learned that the man was Russian, and the songs were in Russian. (She'd just gotten by before by mumbling things she couldn't quite make out. She felt kind of bad for assuming he was just speaking gibberish previously, but not bad enough to admit she'd thought that.)
She picked up the big basket and began the trek back to the greenhouse, regretting filling the basket all the way up. She had become lost in her thoughts once more, and hadn't realized how many apples she'd picked. But it would be worth it once she delivered the apples. Lord knows she needed something to do. With a hefty sigh, she put down the heavy basket in front of the greenhouse, then grabbed another one and set out to begin harvesting cucumbers, which she had been surprised to see earlier on one of her walks through the grounds.
Normally, cucumbers struggle anywhere with foggy and/or damp summers, so she'd assumed Scotland wouldn't be the most ideal climate for them. Then again, she was now in a world of magic. Surely they'd used some spell to acclimate the cucumbers to the new climate. She was excited though, she had always loved cucumbers, and was excited to try some fresh off the vine for the first time.
She shoved a trowel, leather gardening gloves, pruning shears, and a small basket into a big basket. She hoisted the big basket up onto her shoulder, wincing at the uncomfortable scratchy texture of the wood against her cheek. She headed out for the fruit trees first, since she'd probably get the most reward over there. She had to admit that the campus was beautiful, the shimmering lake in the distance combined with the intense hills mountains surrounding it, the contrast was breathtaking. Growing up in the city and in foster care, she'd never really had the chance to be in nature. It was one of the things she had been looking forward to once she could get a safe job, then she'd be able to leave the group home to go hiking and take a train out of town.
Sighing, she turned away from the magnificent view and continued her walk to the orchards. To be honest, gardening was one of the few things she truly loved to do. It came in a close second to reading. The group home had a garden that some of the kids worked on and although she hadn't lived there long before the letter from Hogwarts came, she had truly fallen in love with working the earth and watching something grow and live and thrive. She set the basket down and took the gloves out and put them on. She'd never liked wearing leather gloves, they were too rough on her hands and these ones were slightly too large on her bony fingers. She took them back off, she didn't have to wear gloves while she was harvesting apples anyway.
Tanya dropped them into the grass next to the basket, shoved the shears into her pocket, and took out the smaller basket. Yes, this would have to do. She'd fill up the smaller basket and bring it to the bigger basket. That way she didn't have to lug the basket up the tree when she wanted to harvest from the top. Yes, this would work. She walked around the bottom of the tree and began picking the low-hanging apples. She grabbed the largest one she could find, then sat down and took out a knife she'd taken from the Great Hall. She sliced the apple up and tossed the core to the side, then savored the delicious fruit. She'd always enjoyed apples, they were always easily accessible and generally good. They were a safe fruit. She wasn't one to play roulette, so if she could avoid doing so, she did. And fruit cost a ridiculous amount of money, especially since they are such a necessary part of the diet.
But now she didn't have to worry about food. She can always walk down to the gardens during her free time and take some. She felt a twinge of worry about what she'd do when school went out. Would she be returning to the group home? Or would she go to another house? She wondered if they'd be hosting another summer camp next year. It would have to be something to talk to the Head of House about. Tanya leaned back against the tree as a sudden urge to sleep overcame her, barely putting her arm behind her head before she passed out.
She woke quickly, feeling unbelievably refreshed. Taking a quick glance at the sky, she gathered that it hadn't been too long since she fell asleep. It probably wasn't even lunchtime yet. She looked at the ground next to her, where several pieces of apple had fallen from her hand. She had at least set down the knife before she passed out. Refusing to think about what might happen in the future if she has another one of these sleeping spells while doing something that might cause her harm, she grabbed the apples and shoved them in her mouth, chewing them quickly.
Stretching, she stood and began harvesting more apples. It was a mindless job, which made her retreat into her own thoughts. She didn't particularly like this, as thinking of the past often made her lonely and depressed. Better to think of the present. To escape her thoughts she began singing softly, and admittedly poorly. But that didn't matter, she was completely alone. She sang of nothing in particular, just some old folk songs she'd learned from some old man.
She had joined in on a trash can fire one winter because her hands were cold, and there'd been an old man there who started singing. Unlike her, his voice was deep and powerful. When he opened his mouth, it felt like the world shook. Tanya and a few other people huddled around the fire joined him, and he'd taught them a few songs. She'd returned every night, and she'd learned that the man was Russian, and the songs were in Russian. (She'd just gotten by before by mumbling things she couldn't quite make out. She felt kind of bad for assuming he was just speaking gibberish previously, but not bad enough to admit she'd thought that.)
She picked up the big basket and began the trek back to the greenhouse, regretting filling the basket all the way up. She had become lost in her thoughts once more, and hadn't realized how many apples she'd picked. But it would be worth it once she delivered the apples. Lord knows she needed something to do. With a hefty sigh, she put down the heavy basket in front of the greenhouse, then grabbed another one and set out to begin harvesting cucumbers, which she had been surprised to see earlier on one of her walks through the grounds.
Normally, cucumbers struggle anywhere with foggy and/or damp summers, so she'd assumed Scotland wouldn't be the most ideal climate for them. Then again, she was now in a world of magic. Surely they'd used some spell to acclimate the cucumbers to the new climate. She was excited though, she had always loved cucumbers, and was excited to try some fresh off the vine for the first time.
Stamina: 4 Evasion: 3 Strength: 2 Wisdom: 9
ArcPower: 9 Accuracy: 8