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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Letting Go

There is this time every summer that, as a gardener, I just sort of let go. What can be done is done or it may just be a weariness from all the work. It is a time for a bit of respite before the harvest and garden clean up are in full swing. That time is now, especially helped by a heat wave, it has been in the high 80's for days! I got up before 5:00am this morning and took a walk with Runa, trying to beat the heat. For the first time in a long while I grabbed my camera. It has been some time since I came to this blog "place". It has been a challenging summer. My son broke his leg in the spring. There have been many trips back and forth to the college campus. Surgery, crutches, then complications so more travel for me and times of tension and worry. Things are, finally, settling down. The boy is on the mend and so is my psyche! What has brought me peace during these times besides a supportive partner, is this place on earth. I have often thought of starting up "here" again but I couldn't come up with a good segway for return. So the time of "letting go" seems as good as any. Here is a little photo journal of my dawn stroll with a bit of news from around the land.

The pond has been wonderful this summer! I took a dip right after my walk. I jump in everyday sometimes too tired to swim so I just float and look up at the heavens and relax. The pond is quieter too. We found a new home for our ducks so one less chore and little more freedom to travel.

A couple of photos of the "let go garden". Plenty of dill! Dilly beans will be processed soon!

A rare Vern sighting. Except for meal time we hardly ever see him. He is off on his own adventures these days. Runa is my ever present companion! Here she is begging for a bean. She is such a lovely creature. I am very grateful for her friendship.

Still battling the beetles. But they aren't making me so mentally crazy this year. I sort of enjoy my evening of beetle collecting. I might not be motivated to get outside around 8:00pm if I didn't have the beetles...who knows?

My favorite kind of flower is the one that creates a vegetable and can be tilled under in the fall! This is a Long Pie Pumpkin flower surrounded by crimson clover.

A new experiment this year is letting a friend have a garden spot here. It has been a very nice addition. I have learned a thing or two from this beginner gardener. Like I might not need to do quite as much work to get a good harvest. Her garden is producing well even with being "neglected" more than my patches!

Well I have found my path back. I will try to show up a bit more often. All is Well~
wishing the same for you~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Spin Yarns, Weave Dreams, & Sew to Mend the Soul

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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Lupines

I am not much of a flower gardener. I tend to be fixated on practical plants that are edible. Over the years, though, I have made an effort to be a bit of a Lupine Lady, at least on my own property. Starting with a few plants and seeds I have encouraged this amazing display around our pond. There is a practical aspect for planting these flowers. They create a buffer of plants that are left unmown around a pond contribute the the health of a pond. The plants create a bit of a barrier that prevents thing like grass clipping from blowing into the pond. That sort of organic matter will contribute to muckiness <---technical term for yucky swimming water ;) The slope above the pond is just a little less mowing my semi-mowing obsessed HD has to do. Most areas where I plant something near the lawn has to be flagged off to prevent it from being mowed. But Lupines are my DH's favorite flower so they are safe from the blades! So the more I spread the less lawn we have. There is the added benefit to it being just plain beautiful for a couple of weeks!

Unforgettable View

It was a dreamer's day that spun me visually undone
in cloudless skies of wild blue, beneath a basking sun
I drove the mountain road, where flowers bloom wildly to the sky
lupines, lilies, of twinkling starry hills
tallest summer grass, wildflower entwined
with deer to rob such beauty blind
with an other worldly view, I climbed and climbed
leaving all darkened, lowly thoughts
so blotted from my mind

CA Guilfoyle

Jul 31, 2012

Don't these Vintage Ice Tea Spoons sort of remind you of the Lupines?

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Friday, June 12, 2015

Back~~~

The Boy is on the mend. My gardens are planted. And the best news, we are sleeping in a new bed! After 2 1/2 weeks of sleeping on the floor, the couch, the frat house, & hospital waiting rooms a bed feels like pure bliss. New cork flooring is down in the bedroom. That much closer to the end of our 22 year journey of building this house together. I can't say I have truly caught my breath yet. Still weekly trips to help out my son. The gardens need care. The next phase of ---> can we really, finally, finish our house this summer needs to begin. And, oh yeah, I have 4 Etsy shops. But a little breather is in order. At least a mental one. Big Breath ~~~in~~~out~~~

In Praise of My Bed

BY MEREDITH HOLMES

At last I can be with you!

The grinding hours

since I left your side!

The labor of being fully human,

working my opposable thumb,

talking, and walking upright.

Now I have unclasped

unzipped, stepped out of.

Husked, soft, a be-er only,

I do nothing, but point

my bare feet into your

clean smoothness

feel your quiet strength

the whole length of my body.

I close my eyes, hear myself

moan, so grateful to be held this way.

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

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Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE!

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, & Lifestyle on the Land:

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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Saturday, May 23, 2015

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ Plus ++++

My families' life has taken a turn towards the bit crazy, busy. My scientist son who was already to rock n roll for the summer up at college had a bit of an accident. While having some fun with his bros, play soccer, he broke his leg last Sunday. So I was on the road back and forth, spent a night in a frat house, sat at a hospital while my boyo had surgery, brought him home and, settled him into the living room. Of course, this all happened after we had emptied our bedroom readying it for painting and flooring. So we are all sleeping in the living room. Gardens are on hold, while my hands are full with renovations and nursing care. But that is just as well since the spring has been pretty frosty.

I am flowing with everything and taking advantage of the situation. My days with my boyo are numbered as he prepares himSelf for adult life that will surely take him away from Maine. I am being In Joy with the time I have with him. This may be my last chance to really care for him on this deep mothering level. He is healing well and fast. He is determine to get back to college and take his class that starts in June even though he can't bear weight on his leg for 5 more weeks. So the blog is on vacation for bit until I catch my breath. Plus, I want to give all the time I can to helping my son.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ FEDCO + Canoe

I could call this post forest and far afield happenings! It has been busy around here the last 4 days! Friday I went to the FEDCO pre-order sale(...Open to the public this weekend!!) I spent Saturday planting my 10 elderberries to create a hedge in a wettish area, some replacement rhubarb, 3 honeyberries as an experiment, & one Motherwort which has been a helpful herb for me as of late. I got around to some mulching with buckwheat hulls, my new favorite mulch. Also, did some raking and prepping beds. Meanwhile, DH was completing machine maintenance to get ready for the summer of work.

Sunday we took the day off!!! We took our little canoe to nearby China Lake. This is a pretty heavily populated lake so it can be busy and noisy. But, this time of year with the ice just barely off the lake it was pretty quiet. We had never canoed this lake but have driven by it 100's of times. It was pretty neat to see the sights from the water. We took a picnic that we had while floating about. Spent nearly 4 hours on the lake which we only realize when we came ashore. The loons made several appearances as well as "singing" their haunting song!

Monday was back to work! DH had some wood to stack and then he rototilled my gardens for me. I got my peas planted and some flower seeds in for my beneficial insect garden edges. early afternoon we took a break in the sun that lasted the rest of the day. Both of us usually seek the shade but after this long winter the sun was an elixir of pure pleasure!

Today I need to get my onion seedlings in the ground. I may get some other early seeds planted. So much to do.....! Spring cleaning, set up my tree house, put away winter clothes, organize my attic....the sewing room my just be in limbo for a bit... well, at least until a rainy day. I better get cracking!

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE!

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

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"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼

It has been pretty rainy and cold around here lately, but, better than snow! There was a brief bit of clearing so Runa & I got out for a walk. Spring in Maine is a slow affair. The world feels like it is at a stand still, somewhere between life and death. It takes quiet to feel the earth waking. It is easy to become distracted by all the things to do. There are dead things everywhere, branches, remains of gardens that were forgotten in the fall. I found a dead porcupine that just look as if old age had taken him. The scent in the air is not fresh, there is too much mud and rot. Nevertheless, I felt the awakening today. I hushed the to-do list and went to a still place in my mind. As I walked, I opened to the aliveness around me. I could feel the ripple of life pass through my body. I took the time to relish this inbetween time before the soon to come hustle and bustle of gardens and lively life!

Last of the Snow

Raven Offerings

Slow Greening

Garlic

Soon Enough

I try to see something new each day. The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion. My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks! Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet. By creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder. I love to wonder about wonders. These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut. But mostly, they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present. I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of my discoveries, they are a moments of childlike wonder!

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky" ~~~Buddha

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE!

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, & Lifestyle on the Land: