My father added a garden every year until almost all lawn was gone. My wife Julie loved gladioli. He grew hundreds, filled buckets with them, loaded the trunk and floor of the back seat and drove with Mom the 420 miles from Pa. to Michigan. Julie once asked him the secret to their marriage. His answer: “I’m Mr. Outside. She’s Mrs. Inside.”
There is nothing like kindred spirits sharing digging in the dirt and thinking about all the goodness to come from it! The richness and abundance make my heart sing - and my body quiver with expectation of the beautiful miracles that come from the ground! I feel the most connected to my self and to our human world when I can dig in the dirt and see the little hummingbirds flitting back and forth to the feeder. Thank you for sharing your experiences, too. They are intimate and at the same time, perspective-widening. Makes a great start to a great day!
I love going out to our little garden plot and coming back with a bucket of golden cherry tomatoes every day! How two little plants have grown into 5-feet tall vines which have branches extending out on props made from whatever I can find to hold them up is a miracle. And the taste! It’s a little bit of sunshine bursting in my mouth! I’m astounded and beyond grateful.
A couple of weeks ago, Ruth and I went to a farmer's market, the first time this year. We bought some peaches. I'm always hesitant to buy peaches in the grocery store because they often are mealy. But I hoped these, coming directly from a smaller farm, wouldn't be. I wasn't disappointed. The peaches were delicious and I was grateful about that. Good peaches are probably my favorite fresh fruit.
Gardening does make me happy and relaxed. Lately here in southern Colorado it has been too hot and we had an influx of grasshoppers 🥹 - so no harvest. But we will replant soon! In the meantime I am looking forward to farmers markets in our area!
I am in a book group reading Life After Doom by Brian McLaren and had to share this quote from your piece today..."Life has a way of becoming focused on our concerns, our troubles and regrets. Everyone you meet is carrying something. We also live in a time when commercial media focuses daily on what is scary, tragic, enraging or salacious -real or manufactured. How important it is to sink into what is so good in our lives and in our world. That doesn’t mean I don’t care or I’m not doing what I can to address what is hard or concerning in our world and in my own life. But what I am saying is that it is not the scary, tragic, enraging or salacious that sustains us —it is the unabashed goodness of life that grounds us, revives us, gives us the courage when courage is needed.
Let us sink into what is refreshing, enlivening and life-giving. Let us delight in our relationships. Let us strengthen our communities because half a tree is beneath our feet and half a forest is under the ground."
I am enjoying tending my container gardens after a slow start to the season in PNW. But today I am conscious of tending a completely different garden. My son turned 18 this week, surprised how this has hit me. He has grown into an amazing, smart, capable and compassionate man. As I write this he is leaving for his first camping trip (with friend) that he has planned on his own. I have been mostly hanging out for whatever questions arise and to listen to him talk through plans/packing etc. Parenting these days feels more like being supportive weather- providing light or rain - largely in the background- and being present to rejoice at the sprouts and growth that appear. And to give away the harvest.
Three time I have walked in to work and found a bouquet of homegrown flowers on my desk. The first bouquet was from a Superior Court Judge...the most incredible selection of peonies I have ever seen. The Second was my the same Judge...this time a marvelous bouquet of Asters, Zinnias, Hydrangeas and wildflowers. The Third was a beautiful splashy/clashy bouquet of Zinnia's from the County's newly elected Clerk of Courts. I "woman" the Information Desk at our County County Courthouse and I am the first seen past security. I always keep flowers on my desk...but these three bouquets added an extra dimension to my grocery store bouquets and were a delight to all. Those three are forever in my mind...and I often "pull up their photos" during the day. The impact has been priceless. diana
Oh yes, yes yes…..I love having cut flowers around. I loved how you called Zinnias “splashy/clashy. Perfect description! I think flowers are such a gift to the heart and soul and eye. They make me grateful just to be in their presence. And the fact that sometime we are given flowers as a gift from others, or a joyous, delightful gift we give ourselves, makes a bouquet even brighter. Thank you so much for this description. Let’s all give someone flowers this week!!
yesterday while out for my walking meditation feeling the breeze kissing my face, the beauty of the green landscape, the memories of my dog frolicking in the fields, the friendliness of the people whose paths I encountered on my walk. The smile would not leave, the smile I had the pleasure of sharing & receiving back.
Yesterday when I was on social media, a place I try not to dwell too long in, a musician posted a beautiful picture of the sunrise over soybean fields near the area of Illinois where I grew up. It was a wonderful photograph and made me remember where I came from and the beauty in an area of the country many label as dull and monotonous. And yesterday night, out walking near sunset in my current home in Chicago, the sun displayed this same wondrous beauty in the urban sky and there was a beautiful symmetry to it all.
Such a lovely image. I love Chicago. My daughter and husband live there and I am always moved by the beauty to be found in the city. I love walking by Lake Michigan. I think it’s brilliant that so long ago the cities made 20 miles of lakeshore public for biking, walking or all kinds of gathering, picnics and daily encounter. The sky is amazing and the kinds of cloud formations and “feel” of the sky at different times of day and in different seasons is stunning. . Cities have personalities….and I really do love the energy of Chicago—the neighborhoods, all the different kinds of communities, the access to so much art, music, theater. Yes, I’ve spent a lot of time in Chicago….Go Cubbies :-)
My father added a garden every year until almost all lawn was gone. My wife Julie loved gladioli. He grew hundreds, filled buckets with them, loaded the trunk and floor of the back seat and drove with Mom the 420 miles from Pa. to Michigan. Julie once asked him the secret to their marriage. His answer: “I’m Mr. Outside. She’s Mrs. Inside.”
I loved being with the gang at the farm‼️❤️
There is nothing like kindred spirits sharing digging in the dirt and thinking about all the goodness to come from it! The richness and abundance make my heart sing - and my body quiver with expectation of the beautiful miracles that come from the ground! I feel the most connected to my self and to our human world when I can dig in the dirt and see the little hummingbirds flitting back and forth to the feeder. Thank you for sharing your experiences, too. They are intimate and at the same time, perspective-widening. Makes a great start to a great day!
Okra!
Fresh peaches from our tree with fresh blueberries from our loaded bushes. A wonderful breakfast blend.
https://jeffastle.substack.com/publish/home
I’ve visited the Eiffel Tower, done a painting of it, and enjoyed the experience. Now I’ll take the corn.
Indiana Cantaloupe from up around Elkartf Goshen area. 👍😜
Subscribed as soon as I saw the peppers
Carrie, your smile in the photos at the end of your post is one of the wonder and gratitude moments in my day.
Awwww! Thank you Vonda
I love going out to our little garden plot and coming back with a bucket of golden cherry tomatoes every day! How two little plants have grown into 5-feet tall vines which have branches extending out on props made from whatever I can find to hold them up is a miracle. And the taste! It’s a little bit of sunshine bursting in my mouth! I’m astounded and beyond grateful.
A couple of weeks ago, Ruth and I went to a farmer's market, the first time this year. We bought some peaches. I'm always hesitant to buy peaches in the grocery store because they often are mealy. But I hoped these, coming directly from a smaller farm, wouldn't be. I wasn't disappointed. The peaches were delicious and I was grateful about that. Good peaches are probably my favorite fresh fruit.
Gardening does make me happy and relaxed. Lately here in southern Colorado it has been too hot and we had an influx of grasshoppers 🥹 - so no harvest. But we will replant soon! In the meantime I am looking forward to farmers markets in our area!
I am in a book group reading Life After Doom by Brian McLaren and had to share this quote from your piece today..."Life has a way of becoming focused on our concerns, our troubles and regrets. Everyone you meet is carrying something. We also live in a time when commercial media focuses daily on what is scary, tragic, enraging or salacious -real or manufactured. How important it is to sink into what is so good in our lives and in our world. That doesn’t mean I don’t care or I’m not doing what I can to address what is hard or concerning in our world and in my own life. But what I am saying is that it is not the scary, tragic, enraging or salacious that sustains us —it is the unabashed goodness of life that grounds us, revives us, gives us the courage when courage is needed.
Let us sink into what is refreshing, enlivening and life-giving. Let us delight in our relationships. Let us strengthen our communities because half a tree is beneath our feet and half a forest is under the ground."
Thanks.
I am enjoying tending my container gardens after a slow start to the season in PNW. But today I am conscious of tending a completely different garden. My son turned 18 this week, surprised how this has hit me. He has grown into an amazing, smart, capable and compassionate man. As I write this he is leaving for his first camping trip (with friend) that he has planned on his own. I have been mostly hanging out for whatever questions arise and to listen to him talk through plans/packing etc. Parenting these days feels more like being supportive weather- providing light or rain - largely in the background- and being present to rejoice at the sprouts and growth that appear. And to give away the harvest.
Three time I have walked in to work and found a bouquet of homegrown flowers on my desk. The first bouquet was from a Superior Court Judge...the most incredible selection of peonies I have ever seen. The Second was my the same Judge...this time a marvelous bouquet of Asters, Zinnias, Hydrangeas and wildflowers. The Third was a beautiful splashy/clashy bouquet of Zinnia's from the County's newly elected Clerk of Courts. I "woman" the Information Desk at our County County Courthouse and I am the first seen past security. I always keep flowers on my desk...but these three bouquets added an extra dimension to my grocery store bouquets and were a delight to all. Those three are forever in my mind...and I often "pull up their photos" during the day. The impact has been priceless. diana
Oh yes, yes yes…..I love having cut flowers around. I loved how you called Zinnias “splashy/clashy. Perfect description! I think flowers are such a gift to the heart and soul and eye. They make me grateful just to be in their presence. And the fact that sometime we are given flowers as a gift from others, or a joyous, delightful gift we give ourselves, makes a bouquet even brighter. Thank you so much for this description. Let’s all give someone flowers this week!!
yesterday while out for my walking meditation feeling the breeze kissing my face, the beauty of the green landscape, the memories of my dog frolicking in the fields, the friendliness of the people whose paths I encountered on my walk. The smile would not leave, the smile I had the pleasure of sharing & receiving back.
Life is Good GOD IS GOOD
Beautiful….so beautiful Tom. Thank you.
Yesterday when I was on social media, a place I try not to dwell too long in, a musician posted a beautiful picture of the sunrise over soybean fields near the area of Illinois where I grew up. It was a wonderful photograph and made me remember where I came from and the beauty in an area of the country many label as dull and monotonous. And yesterday night, out walking near sunset in my current home in Chicago, the sun displayed this same wondrous beauty in the urban sky and there was a beautiful symmetry to it all.
Such a lovely image. I love Chicago. My daughter and husband live there and I am always moved by the beauty to be found in the city. I love walking by Lake Michigan. I think it’s brilliant that so long ago the cities made 20 miles of lakeshore public for biking, walking or all kinds of gathering, picnics and daily encounter. The sky is amazing and the kinds of cloud formations and “feel” of the sky at different times of day and in different seasons is stunning. . Cities have personalities….and I really do love the energy of Chicago—the neighborhoods, all the different kinds of communities, the access to so much art, music, theater. Yes, I’ve spent a lot of time in Chicago….Go Cubbies :-)