Garden of Shannon

I. The Garden Witch’s Wonderland

Step into the garden and let the garden witch show you what grows here and the fauna & friends that live amongst the flora…

The garden witch looks outside her window and sees that spring is at a close distance. The leaves prepare themselves for a growth spurt with some minor shedding in between. The birdsong is brave and beautiful chiming in through her balcony window. Her sunflower is showing off that bright golden smile, all her other plants are thriving in the sunshine and the garden creatures are merry. The garden witch wants to show appreciation to squirrel who is a playful and harmonious neighbor always dancing in the wind and waving to plants and other friends whilst guiding others with his foresight when needed.

The minions are working hard and looking over the garden for predators such as mites, caterpillars, and aphids being the apex predator of them all. The minions work diligently to rid the leaves of these overbearing creatures while reporting back to their boss so the ‘Bug Be Gone’ spray can come out – a few drops of essential herb oil such as basil, thyme or rosemary mix with water in a spray bottle. No one messes with the big guns!

We have Butters the bunny who enjoys resting and napping for a couple hours outdoors each day. He brings great energy to the balcony but be careful, his senses get him into trouble. He is known as a friendly harvest thief. Bunnies are welcomed Over the Garden Witch’s Wall, but keep a close eye.

Have you found the bowtruckle yet? He has wandered off and has traveled far from his homeplace but now he has found a new home with the garden witch and friends. He has made himself mighty comfortable over the past few years and he is a brilliant fellow, although a bit shy. He comes in peace but if you threaten his tree home…let’s just say you’ll probably have a difficult time with your sight, if you still have it at all. Butters learned a lesson a few months back, they are good friends again and respect each other’s boundaries. No one was hurt.

If you happen to get lost deep into the garden, you may find yourself a benevolent guide. The gnomes can direct you through song to a quaint little cottage inn. Stay the night and receive a refreshing drink and a hot meal before bed and a snack in the morning to get you energized and back on your journey.

This week the garden witch planted something in the garden. Fauna & friends did not get to see what kind of seeds that were sowed so it is going to be a surprise to all, if they sprout. Give the garden witch some grace she is a wonderful novice.

In closing, the garden witch, fauna and friends have a recipe for the soul for you: Be patient with yourself while continuing to grow. If we have learned anything by living in this garden, we understand how much of a transformative process it is. Just like the human spirit.

S.B. Garner
Dear Diary No. 5 | The Sleepy Hermitess

The past two weeks: Rose baths. Intrusive thoughts. French vanilla tea. Looking in the mirror and liking what I see. Looking in the mirror again and nitpickin’ and bitchin’ – being a brat. More tea please. Make it chamomile this time for the nerves. I have been in the house too much. Feeling as though I’m teetering between reality and a dream state as if I were some sleepy hermitess. Go on a walk in the park with hubby and get some vitamin D and resurgence. More balcony gardening and rearranging things. My bunny plotted and schemed and ate one of my collard green plants. I could not be upset with him for too long he is who he is, and the guy is too cute, but he is grounded from going outside for a short time. Lying in bed too much. My favorite place to be. Visiting libraries is still a ritual and reading books remains a prayer. Feeling groggy these days, but no matter, rest is a recipe for a great me. Brainstorming experiences and ideas for my next short story. We will see. Over and out.

Happy writing and keep evolving!
Dear Diary No. 3 | Lifting the Veil

A lady tries not to overthink her writing craft while getting spooky inspiration from the masters of horror.

I sit at my altar looking out to my balcony. The sliding door is open, and the room becomes light and airy. I watch my bunny clean his ears with comfort and ease. I sit here looking at him thinking this exotic pet of mine has a good life. I have been doing some studying to pass an exam to continue my business path. I have also been doing some short story writing. I have not been able to come up with a good ending for the one I was recently writing. I have changed it three times already and I am still not pleased. I am going to put this story on pause like I have done the other three stories. I am overthinking it and that is something I refuse to do with the writing craft.

I am writing something else in the meantime, anyways. A story about a misunderstood woman who faces adversity in her community/small hometown. Specifically, one person continues to spread hate and bring harm her way until a hard truth comes out – a veil has lifted. I will possibly place some spooky elements throughout the story to pay homage to the Halloween season, who knows?

For the past two weeks I have been too tired to do much as late as if I unknowingly have a personal Mr. Sandman at my side waiting for me to sit on the couch or lie in bed so he can start his sleepy sand shenanigans. But being the person that I am, I always force myself to do something whether it’s reading, cleaning, writing or studying even if it is for a very short time I showed up for myself somewhere, somehow.

Horror reads for October 2025

Well, for the remainder of the month I am going to get my one-thousand-word daily limits. Watch some Over the Garden Wall and continue reading my spooky books throughout the month. Tonight, I will get my husband to read me a short story aloud from what he is reading currently: Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes then maybe we can get into some Poe and Lovecraft for the rest of the month. I need all the inspiration I can muster up. Finally, we usually end our nights watching some horror films. Gosh I love this time of the year!

Happy spooky reading!
Dear Diary No. 2 | Luxury of Doubt and Libraries

A lady take a chance on her life to become a businesswoman once again while still writing seriously.

A wise man once said doubt is a luxury that one cannot afford. The feeling of uncertainty has been tackling my mind when it comes to going back into the real estate industry part time to make some extra scratch while I continue to write. But there has been this seed of hesitancy that I have been trying to keep from sprouting. I have thought about this pursuit for some months and have decided to act.

While my mind has been racing like the fastest horse at the Kentucky derby. I have been trying to slow my body down and do one of my favorite things – go out into the community and relax in nature. I was feeling a bit suffocated and anxious due to all the mind flutter I damn near blew a fuse. I needed to exercise my mind and my body, so I decided to try something new with my husband. “Instead of driving let’s take the valley metro trail to a new library, get some lunch, play some Pokémon and walk around downtown.” He lit up with excitement. We set plans in motion. I became the happiest girl. My husband, a satisfied man.

It was a good time out. The sun followed us like a burning shadow nonetheless manageable than most days. We went to Burton Barr Library – a six-story building with art collections throughout, immaculate study rooms and of course books galore. I cannot wait to go back and study at one of those desks for hours on end. I did check out some books on improving my writing. I am thrilled about this reading material. I hope to gain much knowledge from such authors and put that information to use.

After our library visit we decided to stride through the lively downtown streets looking for a good snack. We came across a creative and charming restaurant named Lovebite Dumplings serving pork, chicken and veggie dumplings with your choice of noodles or rice – the food was delicious and packed with flavor. I decided to take a picture in front of the restaurant because I thought it to be nice looking.

Downtown Phoenix, Sep 2025

Now that our bellies are full and feeling fatigued from all the activity, we decided to make our way back home where we relaxed in our cozy apartment drinking cold drinks and watching old movies starring Joan Crawford. The weekend was a win.

-S.B. Garner
Dear Diary No. 1 |The 2nd Beginning

A lady forces herself again to go outside & write seriously!

I have been waiting patiently for the weather to show some grace. She is not ready to do so, and I am no God to force mother nature to change moods. I must let her run her course while I continue hiding in cool rooms, resting under blossoming trees and stone ramadas when called to go outside. Fall is amongst us, and I am happy knowing that my seasonal summer dread is fading away. No more being envious of those precious ducks and geese swimming in ponds while I walk beside them with sweat trickling down my nutmeg skin while cursing myself for being crazy enough to leave my home in the first place.

This past weekend I was out in the sun again because summer is almost over and I must be a big girl and finish the season outside strong like my inner child wants me to. So, I ended up at one of my favorite places in Phoenix – Manistee Ranch. A place where I can walk around and be surrounded by beauty and nature’s repose. It is nice to take a walk on the grounds, lay on the grass, or sit at a bench in the shade and think clearly – meditate. I love a place where I feel safe and have a sense of belonging. Having such places to go to is good for the soul.

Manistee Ranch, Sep 2025

Afterward, my husband and I love to go to libraries in the area and get down on resources they have to offer. Utilize your local library. After all, a library is a cultural community center that yearns for those to seek its knowledge housed within its walls. Some goods we happened to leave with were different types of flower and herb seeds for fall gardening (all free) and we also purchased a few used books for .50 cents each. The book I found myself purchasing is named Hao by Ye Chun. It is a book of short stories about Chinese women handling migration and motherhood. So far, the book is beautifully written with resilient women going through troubling life situations. My kind of book through and through. These are the types of books I love to read. These are the kinds of stories I aspire to write.

Now I come back home where I feel my best. I have scrapbooked my monthly goals in my planner. Books I plan to read, stories I want to write, places I want to visit while praying for creativity and consistency to keep me honest. One of my newest goals for myself and my brand – becoming an online diarist. I have always kept journals since I was a child – scribbling thoughts down and writing silly anecdotes about my day to day. But it is time to attempt serious writing, again while remaining true to my being this time around. No performances, no trying to strive for perfection, no being distracted by people’s perceptions of me. I am blocking out the noise and honing my craft. This is my journey of refinement in all facets. This is my 2nd beginning.

-S.B. Garner