Wednesday, April 25, 2012

In the garden

It felt like summer this past weekend; high temperatures as we haven’t seen around here for this time of year since 1934—surely a record on these chilly mountains of ours. And gardening was truly a delight. Although I’d have to say, we worked like mastodon work horses from early morning to late evening cleaning, repainting the porch’s floors, planting and taking out old bushes that were originally planted in the wrong spot, dividing, mending and replacing all the sprinklers that had broke down over the winter—mud in my face and hair, mud in my hands and feet.

Are you like that too? Oh, I choose to do my gardening devoid of garden gloves and rather do so too barefooted—old garden boots forgotten… unless, of course, I’d really need to wear them.

And thus, I was right in my habitat; delightfully enjoying all the hard work. I never see working in the garden as ‘work’. You? To me it is more a deed of love rather that a task.

Hard work is the rule, though delightfulness is often discovered in the midst of it. And I had an epiphany while working—more like a reverie: A cottage set amongst tranquil, rolling hills; stillness enfolding the cottage garden; soul attuned to the silent hum in the heart of all life.

...that was, of course, until my dreams and the sanctity of silence and stillness were shattered into thousands of tiny pieces by all the annoying barking that goes on in our neighbourhood. Argh Arrrggghhh smackalack-pooey-poeey!!
Can you imagine Buddha finally reaching enlightenment through contemplation while sitting with his dogs beneath a tree? So much for the silence of the mystics!

So everything is looking marvelous over here; with the freshly painted floors and new pastel linen on furnishings…

And the birds… oh the birds! It’s bird season for sure. The heavens are filled with songs and perfume. If you can sit down for just a moment and take a long, loving, look at your surroundings, you’ll be able to see the world in such different way. It is amazing to be able to observe our world with the senses rather than the intellect…. It is a passionate, emotional, even intuitive endeavor.

I’m so enjoying this time of year… I love spring. My soul rejoices in this new life that’s coming forth from the ground with such an unconquerable force and promises. All around me speaks to my heart of a powerful Creator—God of all heavens and earth. I am humbled by the deeds of His hand.

15 comments:

  1. Cielo: Your garden is looking beautiful and I'm happy to see the magic is still there..Happy Thursday..Judy

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  2. What a beautiful post! Your blog is all magic!!!

    One day we are all hoping you will show us all your shoes!!!!!!

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  3. Ola Cielo ya beo como estas difrutando este tiempo que es muy importante para ti porque todo tus sueno se realisa en tu hermoso jardin , yo tambien estoy difrutando el mio recuperando todas mis plantas que fueron abandonada por un tiempo cuando me
    mude a California, pero ya sintieron mi manos y mi amor por ella ya estan muy lindas otra bes
    mi galan de noche esta florecido y con su olor estaciador y mis jasmines tambien.
    recibes un fuerte abrazo lleno de bendiciones.
    XOX
    Isora

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  4. What a lovely post! You are so poetic and the photographs are beautiful.

    xox

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  5. Lovely post~I enjoyed walking through your garden with you. I feel the same~I absolutely love to work in the garden, it brings such peace and enjoyment.

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  6. Your garden is so beautiful. What a magical day!

    Jody

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  7. Your garden is lovely! I never know what to say to people when they ask if my garden takes "a lot of work". Like you, it's not work to me!

    Barking dogs are annoying, but the incessant lawn mowers and leaf blowers around here are even more intrusive!

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  8. Your garden looks lovely and is repaying all the care you give it. Like Diana I have to contend with barking dogs, lawn mowers, strimmers etc which so often destroy the peace of the garden. The early mornings are the time to be out there. Buddha would be fine with my dog sitting under the tree with him - Bilbo Baggins very rarely barks except occasionally at squirrels in the woods:)

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  9. Good Afternoon Cielo, I too like to garden bare handed and bare footed. I have to be on guard for black widow spiders and brown recluse, but happily get close and connect with my garden friends. I have been working on and off today - my husband and I do make long days of working in our garden - a wonderful hobby for a couple! The winds are high today - bending the trees and I look up in wonder at the buzzards - how they float and dip in the air. Sometimes I wish I could do the same -but, glory in the presence of our LORD in the gift of renewed life each season.
    Best Blessings,
    Kathy

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  10. Cielo- It looks beautiful. I always feel like I am visiting a magical place when I come here. It is too bad about the dogs. We had that in one of our old places (actually in 2 od them) and it is SOOOO aggravating. I feel for you. We love pets but ours were always trained to silence unless something threatened or surprised them. Blessings- xo Diana

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  11. Silly dogs....ugg...well they don't know if no one is telling them...Yes the Garden is the peace in my life that I adore. I sit in the back and just listen and watch...the other day I say a little blue gray bird as it was just jumping from this to that in the garden then to the fence and to the large apple tree next store and off it went...I love to watch the birds it's my favorite thing to do...Love your garden very much..and love to read your blog post such loveliness always...thank you ...Happy Weekend..with love Janice

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  12. I had to come by again for another look at your beautiful garden...I wonder if you would let me know which photo editing program you use to make the deckled edge on the last picture you posted? I love that charming old look!!
    Soft hugs once again...Karla

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  13. Spectacular blog and very inspirational!

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  14. All of the beautiful photos are magical.

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