I’ve been told I have a bit of an old soul. I am not your typical 24 year old, and I have tenancies that have earned me the nickname, “Grandma B.” I really don’t mind this much, and I enjoy living a calm, smooth life. I go to bed no later than 10, I wake up at 6, I drink my coffee black just like grandpa, mornings are my favorite time of the day, I eat Metamucil crackers (these are legit good, I don’t actually “need them” I just like the taste!) and I LOVE gardening. I often share stories of my first garden from last summer.
This year I slacked on planting anything, but my roommate (hi mom) planted a few things that I am just swooning over as they start to grow!
Neither of us had planted cauliflower before, so when the leaves started to grow we were unsure of when we would see anything else. I noticed this tiny cauliflower head yesterday!
This Swiss chard has already put my wine box chard to shame, and just proves plants need A LOT of room to grow. I still loved my chard last summer even if the leaves were small.
The mini garden also has some fresh herbs, but this is all for the veggies. I just need an avocado, some carrots, tofu, and cucumber to recreate this amazing rice roll…I’ll use the chard for the leafy green, and perhaps some zucchini as well.
New to me garden additions would be fruit plants!
I am so excited to harvest more blueberries, freeze them, and put them in my cereal.
If you have a garden, don’t invite me over to your house. You will loose me, and then find me talking to your plants as if they were people. Just kidding, please invite me over. Also if anyone spots a good deal on some Depends, I think it’s time I stock up. Just in case.
Q: Did you plant a garden this year?
79 thoughts on “Old Soul”
pickyrunner
People call me grandma too. The dockboys joke that I’m 80 trapped in a 21 year old body… Well I guess that means I’m not a party animal. I like baking, getting up early, going to sleep early, reading, talking about the good old days, all of it. The only things I’m missing are gardening and knitting. You won’t find me talking to plants but maybe picking blueberries .
kelly @ racesrepsramblings
Yum!! Someday I’d really like to have an awesome garden. I’m quite impressed with yours – it seems to be doing really well! Can’t wait to hear how you’ll get to enjoy it. Maybe it will really inspire me to make a little garden happen!
Megan
bahaha Bren signed me up for a plot as a Christmas thing and then I never got it : ( Stupid county. I feel like doing the CSA stuff though is making me happy. Farm fresh veggies that I don’t have to be responsible for watering… I can get on board with that : )
MegBek
I seriously cannot wait to have a house to live in for one reason – fresh, home grown veggies! These pictures make me drool because I want fresh lettuce that I’ve grown more than any kid wants anything on Christmas morning. I’m bratty like that. But really, that garden sounds adorable! 🙂
The Savvy Sister
I planted a “straw bale garden” and it’s doing great! Eggplant for the first time this year!! I’m jealous of your blueberries!
Brittany
I just Googled this, because I had never heard of it and OH MY GOSH I AM IN LOVE!! What an amazing and unique idea!! I must try this sometime!
Erin
After havng Levi I have been called a grandma a time or two haha..Our garden is amazing this year, but I can take no credit for it- all Stu!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
10 PM bed time? Check. Early mornings? Check. Black coffee? Check. And while I can’t relate to the Metamucil crackers or gardening, I definitely feel like an old soul stuck in a young body. Actually, it can get super frustrating sometimes since I look about 8 years younger than I actually am, but I feel about 30 years older. Oi.
chasingchels
Hahaha old souls are the best 🙂 I don’t have the gardening gene (much to my mum’s dismay), but I definitely go to bed early, wake up early (enjoy being up that early too), prefer to eat dinner before 6 when possible, and am a huge homebody when it comes to days off and time to myself. Oh and if I could get Joe to go to bingo with me, you better believe we’d be there at least once a week 😉
Brittany
I LOVE BINGO! How could I forget to mention that..hahahaha. Seriously, every time I go I feel so at home.
chasingchels
Ahhh making me want to go so bad!
cleaneatingveggiegirl
Is it bad that I have NEVER added blueberries to my cereal?? I put them in my overnight oats, but not my cereal. Silly me! I need to try that.
Change of Pace
I’m definitely a grandma but haven’t started to eat Metamucil crackers…yet!
I love that you are growing cauliflower! That’s awesome!
My grandma had the most amazing garden, and now for the past few years my parents have a great one! One year hopefully I will, too!
Rach @ This Italian Family
You should come to my house and actually water my garden for me, haha! I was SO good about it last year, but for some reason this year I’ve hardly spent any time with my garden. Oh, and girl, I’ve been a grandma since I graduated college. 10pm is normal bedtime and 5:45am is wake up time (though that’s not by choice, haha! That’s for work. On days I don’t work it’s more like 6:30/7). My college self would never believe that I would grow up to be like this, haha!
katalysthealth
You and I are exactly a like 🙂 Well, I try to garden, but my 1 year old pup doesn’t seem to like anything I put in the ground 😉
Lucy @ Lucy On The Lookout
Oh wow, I really want a vegetable patch, I’ve got a new basil plant which is probably going to die in my inhabitable kitchen, does that count? Oh and PS didn’t realise you were only 24 (don’t want that to sound pretentious), seriously you have the best attitude ever (and wisdom too… I always presumed you were older 😉 ) !
Brittany
Awww this comment made my day!! You are too kind my friend! Thank you. 🙂
B.
I LOL’ed @ the Metamucil crackers. That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day (it’s only 7am but I’m sure it’ll still be the funniest thing at the end of the day, too).
I tell everyone I have a “black thumb”. I’m not much of a gardener (much to my parents dismay) though recently I’m getting interested in just keeping some window sill herbs. Though I hear that this is the starting point of a gardening obsession so we’ll see where that takes me. For now, I’m perfectly content collecting tomatoes, cucumbers and berries from my parents. Hah!
Rachel
I live in a townhouse so we can’t really plant too too much, but we have had tomatoes and we always have basil growing. Actually right now we have a coffee bean growing something LOL my sister decided to plant it and it took off.. so we shall see :p
mom
Rachel, I have a FB friend who lives in NY and she has an apt. as well. She started an amazing deck garden. She got big tupperware tubs and poked holes in the bottom and put it another type of shallow tub for the water and she planted carrots, lettuce, spinach, herbs, onions, tomatoes, can’t remember the rest but it looked amazing. I bet you can, it’s a little more work and you have to be creative but you can do it.
Katherine
I’m only 16, and my family swears I’m secretly a 70 year old. 10:30 is the absolute latest I’ll go to bed, and I love waking up before dawn. I eat more oatmeal than your average grandparent with dentures, and I like to cook and stay at home. Don’t even get me started on gardening! Old souls unite! I love your garden! I just did loads of blueberry picking, and I’m loving all the things I can now add berries too!
Brittany
AH I swore you were older than 16!! WOWZA!! You are already wise beyond your years my friend!
Ashlee@HisnHers
Looks like your garden is doing good! I planted about 5-6 different things and the ONLY thing I got was green beans. My zucchini plants are HUGE and have big yellow flowers, but dont produce any squash or zucchini. What the heck! I have a really, really black thumb.
spectacuLAUR
Considering I go to bed at 10, wake up at 7, and drink my coffee black… I’m pretty sure we could be old cat/dog lady roommates and live in a retirement home. Do you like to put together puzzles? We could have a puzzle club! LOL
We just planted a blueberry bush! I.cannot.wait!
Brittany
Oh heck yes, puzzles and pets all under one roof…count me in! Throw in some pretzels for a snack to round out the “P” words.
Life After Swimming
I love your old soul tendencies! and look at you with those blueberries! I kill everything I plant..
Britta
hahaha! Amen, to old souls. I am right there with you! This weekend I have not been doing my “old soul” things (going to bed at 10) and I feel completely outta WACK!!!!! I am also exhausted which means I might need a nap today. Loving all the things in your garden – UM BLUEBERRIES?! Say what? I’m coming over asap so I can watch them turn blue/eat them, promise I’ll save you some. And by that I mean I am sure you will be sitting beside me eating them too. We’ll read a book if they don’t turn blue fast enough and listen to Mumford.
Brittany
YES YES come over and lets blueberry pick, read, and listen to our lovers!
Lisa
Haha, I’ve also been called an old soul tons of times! Especially by my friends who are complete opposites of me.
Like my wake up and going to bed times.
I swear I’m an old lady sometimes.
Oh and the black coffee thing too. Yep, old soul.
Your garden looks awesome so far! Can’t wait to see it grow more!
jessiebearwhat
Omg I seriously almost spit out my coffee at “but my roommate (hi mom) “. Hahaha I wasn’t expecting that & it made me crack up!
mom
I know neither was I. LOLOL. I busted butt planting those and I thought she was going to take credit for it. I love that girl.
Catherine @ A Two Storey Home
Hahaha, girl, I hear ya. I am some combination of an old soul and a big kid, but I am most definitely not 27 at heart. My husband and I refer to our plants as “the kids,” as in, “Have you checked on the kids today? How are the kids doing?” 😀 I’m pretty sure talking to the plants is totally normal.
Her Happy Balance
I didn’t plant a garden, but my parents did and I am loving reaping the fruits of their labor haha! The tomato plants are outrageous and I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with! 🙂 Good luck with your/your mom’s cauliflower plant!
Alex @ therunwithin
this is exactly what I love about you – all of it. I am an old granny at heart but hey you got to embrace it!
EverdayLivingPNW
Granny B you would totally get lost in our garden. We dont have veggies but thousands of ornamentals…and hey if you have a green thumb and geek out over that sort of thing please come over and help! We could use an extra set of hands..oh BTW you are prolly one of the coolest grandmas I know! 😛
Brittany
I would use your garden as a tranquil oasis to read books and drink my morning coffee. Ohhh I can see it now.
Mary
I have a garden! Of sorts. It has spring onions, strawberries, lettuces, tomatoes, pepper, squash, potatoes and leeks in but my Mum is the organiser of my garden each year and sends me home with seeds and cuttings each spring.
I would totally gobble up your blueberries. Would love more of them!
mom
you forgot a picture of the raspberries too. there aren’t any ripe ones (We ate them off) but there are some baby green ones coming out.
Alex@Veggin' Out
Old souls unite! Even at the age of 18, any bedtime after 8:30 is considered late for me, any morning after 6:30 is also late, I drink green tea daily, and I also happen to love gardening. Unfortunately, gardening doesn’t love me back. I kind of have the blackest thumb possible meaning that I’ve managed to kill almost every plant I’ve ever owned (except for some bamboo that must actually be made of plastic), including seven cactuses. I did have same tomatoes growing in pots this year, and while they grew upward, they weren’t producing any tomatoes. So I had to turn things over to my mom… and guess what? We’ve been enjoying tomatoes ever since! 😉
I think the plant kingdom would appreciate it if I gave up on them, but I’m stubborn, plain and simple, and I always walk out of the nursery with a new piece of foliage in my arms. No, I never learn. 😉
sincerelylily
Metamucil…… mhmmmm you are speaking my language. This is why we are kindered spirits- because we are both old deep down. This is also why when we are actually old, we need to be living in the same retirement joint to stay youthful and young.
These plants look amazing. I’m uber jealous. I do not have a yard (but I do have a balcony), so I can’t have a massiver garden…. but I have thought about putting some planters in with some herbs and small veggies.But i have a tendency to kill any plant that is in my care, so maybe not a good idea. Maybe i can buy the plant, ship it to you, you can tend to it, and then ship me back the offspring that are edible. and you can keep half, so payment for your labor of love.
Blueberrrrrrrrrries. With froyo. = the best.
Brittany
You MUST try the Metamucil crackers (cinnamon one) with PB!! It is life changing! SO GOOD! One day we will be youthful elderly women in a retirement joint continuing to run and have morning coffee together and talk about our successful bowel movements.
Em @ Have Your Cake And
Ive been told by many people that I seem to have an old soul! Too funny. Very jealous of your garden. I can’t even keep an herb garden alive, although I blame that on the climate in which I live, not the fact that I forget to water things and by the time I remember they are brown and dry.. hah 🙂
MegBek
I’d invite you over any day! I can’t keep anything alive – that’s why Meghan owns a dog and not me, haha. That garden looks amazing. With all the organic veggies I like to eat, I would love to have a garden one day. By the way, I now know what I’m getting Meghan for Christmas 🙂 She’s going to be pissed when she finds out it’s just fresh lettuce 😉
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I like that you’re an old soul, and you like to go to bed by 10 p.m. and wake up around 6 a.m.. I’m the same way.
I love plants, gardens and watching things grow. I am so excited your roommate (i.e. mom) planted some stuff so you get to enjoy it and reap the rewards as well. If you ever saw my house, we’d get lost in the flower beds or maybe my indoor plants; I have over twenty now, maybe even thirty. I stopped counting awhile back. Apparently, I am a plant hoarder.
Brittany
Just one more reason I must come visit…cats, amazing meals, and now a flower garden oasis..yes..this must happen.
Amy @ A Desert Girl
We’re just two old-soul kindred spirits, my friend.
I wish I was a good gardener. But alas, I have a bit of a brown thumb…. Enjoy those fresh fruits and veggies!!
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
I’m such a grandm! I love going to bed and waking up early. I have peppers and tomatoes but this weekend my boyfriends grandma gave me a ton of yellow squash and zucchini and tomatoes. I am trying to find lots of tasty ways to use up the zucchini.
Athina
Well grandma or no grandma I adore your little garden! And I had been reading your posts on my reader and hadn’t seen your blog’s new(??!!) look. I looove the background! 🙂 🙂
Brittany
Thank you my friend!! I changed the background a few months ago for a more summery look! WHOO!
PNWRunner
My parents have a huge garden! They have developed the green thumb for sure! I am an old soul too, I am turning 25 and I am trying to figure out where the time went.
Hannah
I honestly think the Grandma lifestyle comes with an active lifestyle. 1) You’re plain tired at the end of the day from using your body 2) You probably need to get up early to run/workout anyway 3) No one feels good working out when they aren’t regular (fiber ftw!).
Your garden looks great! I’m so envious of people who are good with plants. I’ve had a fern for a few months now, but it’s not looking good. Who kills a fern?!
Brittany
Amen, your points are all completely true. Especially number 3. haha.
allieksmith
I love that you’re an old soul. I am, too. I think we would get along.. except for the black coffee.. I usually like at least a little creamer in mine 😉
Amy
Oh Brittany, PLEASE come visit me!! My mom calls me an old soul too. I go to bed early, wake up early, complain about my aching knees, enjoy prunes (really, plums are awesome!), complain about “kids these days”… We could have an “old lady’s” sleepover where we ate lots of spinach and beets, scooped PB out of the jar with spoons, and went to bed by 9 pm. And then get donuts the next morning. 😀
P.S. SO jealous of your sushi!!
Brittany
YES! “Kids these days” is a common phrase in my vocabulary. That sounds like the best sleepover ever, and I really..REALLY want to come visit!
Amy
You’re invited to come WHENEVER you want! A sleepover, a side trip to SF, a road trip to Disneyland… We’ll have a blast doing anything and everything you want! (P.S. There’s a Whole Foods in my town with those amazing vegan chocolate cupcakes. Just sayin’.)
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD!
I used to live in a 3rd floor apartment with NO outdoor space…but now I have a little yard and I definitely want to start gardening! I’ll be coming to you for lotsa tips 😀
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Your gardening always amazes me- so cool! How long does it take for you to harvest blueberries (clearly I have never gardened ;))!
Brittany
AH I should have mentioned this blueberry plant was just recently purchased, so the fruit that has grown was already on there and we are just maintaining the tree!! We did not grow it from the beginning! SO I have no idea how long it takes!! AH garden fail. HA!
kathy @ vodka and soda
you would LOVE my father in law’s garden. he has a huge backyard and all around the edges are filled with amazing veggies, fruits and even nuts! he also makes his own pickled stuff (my fav are pickled watermelon) and he just busted out his summer pickled cucumbers which are refreshing and has a sweet/sour taste.
unfortunately, i don’t have a green thumb – at all. i killed a cactus once and i have a mint plant that, according to my FIL, can’t be killed because they’re basically weeds and guess what? it ain’t doing so well at my house!
sugarcoatedsheridan
We didn’t plant a garden because we live right next to my parents who plant the garden of the gods right next door and we just steal all of their food!!! It’s wonderful!!
Dr. J
Great garden!! I hated cauliflower for years! Just a few ago I happened to buy some at a local farm straight off the vine! Actually I had to ask what it was that they were selling, lol!
Now I love fresh cauliflower!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
OMG I don’t know HOW MANY TIMES I can say this before I get ANNOYING but, we are the same person! I am Grandma GiGi with an IMMATURE TWIST! I’m like Joan Rivers without the plastic surgery! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We used to have a garden when I was little, it was friggin’ awesome except I hated veggies back then. I think I just liked the thought of growing stuff!!! Tomatoes, green beans, onions, zucchini! SO FRIGGIN COOL! We also had wild raspberry bushes too! Now that was KILLER because we’d go out there and SNACK ALL THE TIME!
Elizabeth
I pretty much sat here at work this morning reading your post and thinking to myself……….I need to meet this awesome girl. She’s the jam and I feel like we should be real and true to life friends. Come visit me in Kansas……..I have a garden. 🙂
An Unrefined Vegan
Want to come help us with our garden? You can eat your body weight in produce every day, if you like! Kel and I can’t keep up! Right now it’s melons this, melons that…I love ’em, but sheesh!
Brittany
YES! I love the look of where you live, I would just DIE with the gardens and long grassy roads to run on. Ohh swoon.
An Unrefined Vegan
🙂
P
I am very much an old soul myself! I am an early sleeper and early riser, and even though going out can be fun, my default Friday night is getting cozy on the couch with my cat :)!
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
haha you can come garden with my mum … she has some veggie plants that are dying and some that are doing PERFECT. we have no clue why. so much better than buying expensive fruits and veggies. 😉
Meredith
old souls are the best souls, no shame in being called that hun 🙂
Yay for cauliflower and things, garden vegetables are THE best. I am so excited to get home and go blueberry picking. There is nothing like fresh blueberries…nothing!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats
I’ve got an apartment windowsill garden that is surprisingly flourishing. I am waiting for Sunflowers to bloom as well as lettuce and cherry tomatoes, my fingers are crossed!!
Love that you get fresh blueberries!
Corrie Anne
I wish!!!! Nice!! We planted some pansies… they died. Those little pansies!! haha
Brittany
Bahaha I see what you did there. 😉
Davida @The Healthy Maven
I have a mini herb garden that my roommate (also my Mom lol) picked up from costco. It has a mind of it’s own though! Hoping to develop a green thumb and start growing more things but based on the herb garden I don’t know if that’s going to happen.
Btw I am a 24 year old grandma too! Sounds like we’re on the same schedule 😉 I’m ok with it!
Sarah @ Feeeding the Brain and Body
Wow, it looks like your garden is doing well! I planted zucchini and strawberries too! My zucchini has a few tiny veggies, but nothing fully grown yet. I’ve had maybe 2 tiny strawberries so far. I planted raspberries and have gotten maybe 3. I have gotten lots of cherry tomatoes and rhubarb though 🙂
I’m a grandma too, it is good to know I am not the only elder stuck in a young adult’s body!
ko0ty
I think I have an old soul too because of the way I think and some of the things I do. I still know how to have fun and live “young” though– although I get tired pretty much and always wish I was in home in bed!
I live in a condo with a tiny balcony and barely get sun so there is no way I can have a garden. One day I would love one though but I hope my boyfriend would tend to it because I don’t see myself as the gardening type. I’m afraid of bugs. Hahaha.
Shira
Ha ha kindred spirits we are Brittany! I am a old soul too and never could stay up late even in my younger years 🙂 xx
Amalia
I get so grumpy when I stay up late. When I was an RA in University my kids used to make fun of me for going to bed before quiet hours even started.
I really want to make sushi now.
The Healthy Flavor
I’m so jealous of your garden!!! I want to grow my own food so bad. Do you have to worry about a lot of bugs? You just wash everything real good?