Monday, January 19, 2015

My days...

Do you get this sore and tired when working in the garden?  Could this have something to do with age, that doesn’t forget nor forgives?  Maybe?  Spring cleaning—that’s what it’s called.  
 

Spring cleaning is not a thing of the North alone as one may think.  One is not to be spared off that task here either as I had imagined I’d be.  But what amazing privilege it is to be able to start prettying up the garden this early in the season!  So not like the north.  By May, my little paradise will be already looking gloriously beautiful, and I will have an extended period of joy as the gardening season stretches here.


I cleaned a big area and moist spaces by the little creek where I’m planning on planting Elephant Ear bulbs as a border.  I can already see it in my mind—the bold foliage and gigantic heart-shaped leaves… emerald, purple, black, chartreuse and yellow.  Can hardly wait!
 

I think I might have been poisoned again.  I was sure that poison ivy dies off in winter time.  Perhaps not.


The other day colossal flocks of blackbirds in a Hitchcock-like numbers flew by our little white cottage.  What were they?  Common grackles, brown-headed cowbirds; perhaps starlings? With an incredible bustle of tweets and wings they took possession of the wooded areas behind our gardens and surrounding trees for an entire day.  


I marveled as I watched these feathered creatures showing off dazzling aeronautics for such common birds.   Gliding the air as they did in a lovely dance; floating down without an apparent movement of their wings.  Such majestic cascade of a drop—like petals being carried down by gentle breezes.


Then today… sitting at the table having breakfast. 

 

And outside…


 ...THE Cedar Waxwing.  A treat to find outside your window eating berries in their silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow…


Beautiful feathers accented by a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers.


Filling the air with their high, thin, whistles…


What do I do all day in my little white cottage; some people ask.  They want to know… days are too short for all I do and want to see done.  I go about my little white cottage doing this doing that, from time to time, too, looking outside, studying the surrounding, listening to a new bird song over the privets, a racketing of wings, trying to understand the ruckus of crows and sometimes… trying to discover God with my ears and heart when the eye cannot see or would not see.  Always trusting my heart to understand that what cannot be explained. 


5 comments:

  1. You are ahead of me! I am still cleaning out drawers, cabinets and closets. Such excitement in your voice I detect. The poison still lies in the dormant vines. Expecially if you break a vine. The oil from the vine gets on your skin. Someti.es it helps to wash skin as soon as possible with an abrasive cleaner as simple as ajax. Also wash in cold water. Hot water will open your pores. HA ha...as you can tell ..I have experienced the wicked ivy many many times.Good luck with your spring planning. It helps to get as much done before the excessive heat of our southern summers.

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  2. Hi Cielo, I know it's been a while since I commented but I still look at each new post, admiring the lovely pictures and always touched by the way your able to express your feelings often so much like mine. I also think my family wonders what I do with myself all day alone out here on our fifty acres secluded from the world. I always have something I want to do each day and even though it is only my husband and I (our children have long been gone) there always seems to be work, wash, and cooking. I have been trying this cold month of January to spend some time organizing and a little decorating. Yes, it will be a few months up here in the north before we can think about gardening outside again. Although we have a lot of house plants and my husband has quite a collection of orchids that he spends time on. Have a great day!

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  3. yumm, breakfast looks delicious... I haven't commented lately but I always check in to see what my magical transformation you have conjured. Your garden looks pretty in winter as it does in summer, just different.
    My friends wonder what I do all day since I haven't been working for a while too. There is never a moment when I am bored, always something to clean or redecorate or create. There is never enough time or money for everything I want to do. Always a pleasure to see what you have done with your little piece of heaven.
    Sherry

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  4. all looks so beautiful! I am excited you are already beginning spring dreaming! This winter isn't nearly over in
    Missouri. I'm afraid poison ivy lies dormant, but can irritate even in dry state. My poor husband used to get it so bad even from the dry wood we brought in for the fireplace. The doctors have a vaccine against it, but there are certain people who cannot take that. It wors for my friend who likes to work in the woods. Your blog makes me so happy. I think we might have a very good time in the garden or sitting in your lovely dining room. I miss a lot but I'm having a good time puttering.

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  5. I never thought you could get poison in winter either, but I have it so so bad on my face as we speak! I got it hugging my favorite tree in my garden. I think it is poison oak. It is the most painful ugly mess you have ever seen.
    It was funny to hear that you think you have it also. I fear my little puppy Coco might also have it on her paws because she loves to go into the forest next to my garden. I live in Pennsylvania and I have never had this e experience before this winter!

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