Alexandria
11
posts
4
likes
I have nothing to say.
|
Post by Rosita Espinosa on Nov 3, 2016 17:59:37 GMT
October 6, 2004Rosita never had a green thumb and literally every plant that she ever owned died. Yet, there she was with a shovel digging holes to plant cabbage. Volunteering for this job hadn't been her idea. Abraham thought she should take the day easy and do something other than stand watch with a rifle in her hand all day. She wasn't sure what the big deal was. Sasha was never asked to stop being on watch, but then again she wasn't the type to let others boss her around either. Rosita liked to think she wasn't easily pushed, but when it was Abraham doing the pushing she tended to listen. If only for a while.
Bundled in a cargo jacket to fend off the cold, Rosita stomped hard at the shovel and watched the ground crumble beneath her feet. The ground was cold and firm like steel, but one of the older women in town told everyone that the best time to plant cabbages, spinach and carrots was during the Fall when the weather was colder. That knowledge went against everything Rosita knew about planting crops—which wasn’t much. It wasn’t like her father and brother spent time with her in gardens growing up. When it came to stuff like this she was completely lost.
At least she wasn’t the only one outside digging and working in the garden. Tara had joined too, and Olivia. That woman rarely left her home so it was strange seeing her outside doing anything besides taking inventory. Because their inventory was running low. Rick didn’t think everyone should know, but she could tell. The runs into town weren’t to bring in supplies like clothing and ammo anymore. Now all everyone talked about was food. The garden wasn’t growing fast enough and their stores were running out. No one complained about eating the same things every day. Hell, they were all glad to have anything to eat at all. But if things didn’t change they’d have a riot on their hands. Rick was barely holding this place together and it was only a matter of time, when they started rationing out canned beans, that people would start to panic.
Rosita tugged her cotton beanie down over her ears and stomped the shovel into the ground one more time. There. That hole looked deep enough to her.
“Hey, anyone got any seeds?” She yelled above the gusting winds.
|
|
0
posts
likes
I have nothing to say.
Deleted
Deleted Member
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 4:32:55 GMT
The baby had kicked so hard for hours Maggie just needed to get out for some air. Being cooped up in the house was what most of her day consisted of nowadays. Everybody worried that too much work would do some harm to the baby. While she appreciated the concern it was a bit overwhelming to her. Everything has happened so quickly that it seemed surreal. Finding Alexandria just to discover that she truly had been pregnant. While she missed her period once at the prison being pregnant never came to mind. Yet, now that she was going to have this baby everything looked differently to her.
The town wasn't just some place for them to be safe anymore. To her it was the future home of her child, and everybody that she loved more than herself. Wrapping herself up in a coat, and scarf she left the warmth of her house. The weather started to turn cold as fall was soon to follow. While she appreciated the break from hot weather she was scared to get sick. It she gets critically sick it could possibly affect the baby terribly. Maggie blew onto her hands as they already felt as if they were freezing.
Eventually she stumbled upon the group that had been task to tend to the crops. Maggie felt a smile tugged at her lips as she watched them move about planting new seeds. In the last two months everybody has become like her family. To see them working together to keep everybody fed was like nothing she had ever experienced. What truly caught her attention was the form that she recognized as Rosita. Who was usually seen on guard duty, so she found it funny she was there. Kneeling down as gently as possible she picked up a packet of seeds.
"Looking for these?" she approached with a smile as he reached down handing Rosita the seeds.
|
|
Alexandria
11
posts
4
likes
I have nothing to say.
|
Post by Rosita Espinosa on Nov 4, 2016 16:39:30 GMT
Rosita turned and gazed up at Maggie. She was the last person she’d expected to be out in the cold. Glenn, she was sure, would have a fit and for an odd reason that made Rosita happy. Maggie could take care of herself. She’d walked miles to find her husband against horrible odds and she’d stood up to Abraham out there on the road to Washington. His wrath had scared even her, yet Maggie had held her own. If anyone knew what they were doing it was Maggie.
“Thanks.” Rosita took the small paper envelope holding the seeds. She dropped a couple into the hole and proceeded to hand shovel dirt into the hole on top of them. She teeth chattered and her fingers were slowly beginning to grow numb. “Texas was never this cold.” She said as she finished piling in the dirt. She stood up and turned to look at Maggie. “I’m considering driving back out there if this continues.” She joked with a smile. She never liked the cold and Virginian winds were slowly sucking out her soul. She hoped the old woman…Meredith, was right about planting in the Fall. They needed this garden to start producing something edible or they’d all be on a water diet soon.
“How are you holding up?" She asked. Rosita bundled her jacket closer and leaned her arm on the shovel.
|
|
0
posts
likes
I have nothing to say.
Deleted
Deleted Member
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2016 5:28:38 GMT
It was for that reason she was glad Glenn was on a run. If he had seen her outside surely he would try to get her to get back into the warmth. Maggie appreciated that he was worried about her, but he couldn't stay inside. It was good for the baby for her to get as much exercise as possible. What was better exercise than keeping warm in the cold weather they had? Anyway when Rosita thanked her she handed her the seeds before crossing her arms. In a failed attempt as her entire body shivered coldly.
"I know what you mean. My daddy always said cold weather made hell look appealing."
The woman chuckled at her words as her father came into her mind. Maggie was at that stage that thinking about her father was something she was able to do. At times she wished her daddy was still with her. Her baby needed a wonderful grandfather like he had been a wonderful father. Still she knew that he was in a better place. A place where the undead wasn't always trying to kill you. At least he was back with the rest of their family. Her arms uncrossed as she rubbed her stomach as Rosita asked how she was doing.
"The baby has been kicking more frequently than usual. That with not being able to stand the smell of most of the food we have I'm holding up. You doing alright?"
|
|
Alexandria
11
posts
4
likes
I have nothing to say.
|
Post by Rosita Espinosa on Nov 6, 2016 14:05:55 GMT
She hadn't known Hershel, but he seemed like a wise, old man. Rosita smiled at the look of peace that crossed Maggie's face at the mention of her father. He must have been an amazing man. "Smart man." She commented, feeling awkward speaking of a man she only knew through the stories of others. Maggie and Beth were two strong women. If they were any indication of the type of father Hershel was, Rosita could see why everyone missed him.
Rosita didn't know much about babies, but kicking seemed like a good sign. That meant it was healthy and strong. Rosita's smile quickly shifted into a frown at Maggie's next words. "Wait. What?" She put her hand on his hip and pursed her lips? " Does that mean you haven't been eating?" She asked, ignoring Maggie's question entirely. "Does Glenn know that?" Rosita knew the food they did have in storage wasn't the best, but it kept them fed. If Maggie couldn't handle the smell she probably wasn't eating enough.
Perhaps she shouldn't be outside in the cold either? Rosita thought as she gazed back the way Maggie had come. She should take her inside and make her something edible. Carol may be able to help too. That woman could make anything taste good.
She looked back at Maggie, her tone a bit more accusatory than she would have liked. "Why didn't you tell before now? We could have made more runs. Found you something else to eat." Maybe she was overreacting or maybe Maggie was the suffer in silence type and she was right to interfere.
|
|
0
posts
likes
I have nothing to say.
Deleted
Deleted Member
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 1:16:32 GMT
Luis pulled some metal tubing and some large pieces of tarp from a shed located by the garden. It had begun to get cold but there was still enough time to let some of the winter vegetables to mature before harvesting. His intentions were to construct a windbreak to try to trap some heat for the garden. It would only be a few degrees, 10 or 15 degrees, warmer but it could be enough to protect the leaves of the cabbages. He hadn't noticed the women until he began to walk towards the garden area. "Ladies," he greeted both Rosita and Maggie. "How are things with you two?" he asked them. He hadn't really talked with either of them but had seen them around Alexandria. He noticed the growing baby bump on Maggie and made a mental notice to make sure he had vegetables that would give her as many of the vitamins and nutrients she would need. Maybe when they went on another supply run he would go with them and try to find as many types of seeds he could find. there would never be enough seeds. TAG: Rosita Espinosa , @maggie ((ooc: I hope it's alright that I join you ladies. If not let me know and I'll delete my post.))
|
|
Alexandria
11
posts
4
likes
I have nothing to say.
|
Post by Rosita Espinosa on Nov 16, 2016 14:04:19 GMT
It wasn't long after Luis approached that they all heard Glenn calling for Maggie in the distance. Rosita met the woman's eyes and then gestured for her to go. She didn't want to be accused later on of upsetting her. Not that Maggie could be easily upset, but still, she didn't want to get on Glenn's bad side. Things were pretty stressful in the Rhee household these days and she didn't want to add to it. Looking after Maggie as she walked away, Rosita turned to Luis and smiled. "I'd be better if these crops grew over night." She said, eyeing the piles of dirt at her feet. Rosita leaned on her shovel and cocked her head to the side. "You're a gardener right? When will this mess produce anything?" She couldn't help but believe that their efforts were worthless. They'd been tending to the garden for a while now and they hadn't seen a single sprout. If Luis had any tips she'd love to hear it. Tag: Luis Diego
|
|
0
posts
likes
I have nothing to say.
Deleted
Deleted Member
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2016 4:27:40 GMT
"I'd be better if these crops grew over night."Luis smirked, amused by Rosita's declaration. Just as he was about to say something Maggie left in response to Glenn calling her. Watching her go, he couldn't help but to notice how ill she looked. Well, she was expecting a baby and, hard in the best of times, she was carrying her baby at this most uncertain time. No one knew when they would loose their lives or how. "You're a gardener right?...""Yes," he replied as he laid the metal tubing on the ground and unfolded the blue tarp. "...When will this mess produce anything?" "Well, ...," he took a deep breath before continuing, his voice lightly decorated with a Mexican accent "..depends on what you have growing. I'm going to try to build a wind break so the tomatoes can grow a few days longer without being damaged, but I suspect there's only a short time for us to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. "Looks like you have some winter crops that could help sustain us through much of the winter. What squash we don't eat now we can store in jars for later. Those tomatoes can be canned and used for months. Cabbage can stay good in cool storage and onions can be stored in panty hose for up to three, four months. Maybe longer. But looks like you have some pumpkins. They make good soup. You can take their seeds, dry them out and than roast them. Makes a delicious snack." Rosita Espinosa
|
|
Alexandria
11
posts
4
likes
I have nothing to say.
|
Post by Rosita Espinosa on Nov 23, 2016 13:26:41 GMT
Rosita listened to Luis with a glimmer of a smile on her face. The man knew more than she did which eased some of her worries. Still, whatever they grew wouldn't last long. Hopefully this run to the mall would be worth it. If the mall hadn't been touched then they could have wandered onto a gold mine of food and supplies. "I've never canned anything so this should be interesting." She said, smiling wider. She searched the man's face and noticed that he was handsome. He was a bit older than her, but she did have a thing for older men. Abraham would kill her if she knew what she was thinking. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him. She thought as she surveyed Luis scruffy face. Besides, it wasn't like she was planning anything. She did like a man who knew his stuff though. Knowledge and confidence were two things she found incredibly attractive. Pulling her eyes away from Luis, she glanced back down at the ground and pointed at the tarp. "I can help you with that if you want." Digging holes all days was getting boring fast and maybe if she helped Luis she could learn more about him. Luis Diego
|
|
0
posts
likes
I have nothing to say.
Deleted
Deleted Member
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 1:54:43 GMT
"I'd appreciate your help," he replied, a smile on his face. Rosita was a beautiful young woman plus she was Hispanic like he was. But there was no way he would so anything to harm her or force her to do anything. But when it came to doing gardening the more hands to help the easier it was on everyone. "Basically what I am going to do is make a frame, stick it into the ground and attach this canvas to the frame with hopes of protecting the tomatoes from the cold wind so the fruit can ripen as normally as possible. Yes, they can ripen on the shelves but once they're pick they won't grow any larger but the larger the tomato the more people can enjoy it." He knew he probably sounded like he was rambling and he was, even just to keep his mind from wandering to places it shouldn't so he began to attach the metal rods into a square frame. It wasn't exceptionally strong but would accomplish the purpose. "Want to help?" he asked her as he lifted the frame and moved over to where the tomato bushes located on the corner of the garden. "Take the other side and we'll stick it into the ground than pin the canvas to it." Rosita Espinosa
|
|