notes in the margins

Tom was a prolific note taker. He loved to keep track of things especially if they had to do with growing things or building things. His notes are everywhere on the backs of envelopes, in the margins of catalogs and the back of receipts. The notes range in topics from to do lists such as clean the house and do laundry, to reminders to pick up a repaired piece of machinery to informational such as fertilizer mixes. They are also every where as Tom was not known for tidiness. I am glad actually as these notes are now an on-going conversation. I love finding them in random places and on scattered bits of paper.  It is like he has just stepped out of the room or gone out to the shop to build another beehive.  There are measurements for projects that will remain something of a mystery.  How many times can 2 and 3/8ths be replicated? There are sketches and bits of ideas scribbled on the back of an envelope. He had so many plans and ideas for projects  - adding more grapes or trees or buildings.  Without these notes the clutter of this house would just be clutter instead of conversation. It would  be too clean and too quiet instead he pops in to remind me to water or dig or prune or fertilize.  I am thankful he does .