Dear Reader:

Yesterday Honey sent me some articles from their Sunday paper (last week) in the mountains…one was about a beautiful garden a man started upon retirement and how it has been a healing sanctuary for him throughout several serious health challenges that have come his way.

I could really relate…since I always go to the garden first when I need solace or just quiet time to digest information or gear up for more medical challenges. I was at Ace Hardware yesterday before I met Gin-g for brunch at Toast. They had a new sign over the door entrance leading to the garden…I loved the texture and the words.

As soon as I saw this sign…I immediately thought…my garden IS my gift…a gift of unconditional love. How many of you readers I need to thank, continuously,  for making this “gift” come true! You showed me a vision and then shared it, along with work, ideas, and plants of every kind. It has continued to grow because so many of you continue to add on to my garden through your own gifts and talents.

*True confession: While in ACE Hardware I picked up two more plants…a purple Mexican Petunia flower plant and a beautiful burnt orange (sun-loving) plant called Celosia Flame. (Together we have the Clemson colors…perfect timing with the new season starting shortly.) Roar!

It was the second article (in the newspaper Honey sent) that really sent me  down memory lane. *Once again it was a remembrance from a woman growing up in the south (with all the expressions that came with it) she remembered as a child.

The one expression I had almost forgotten was a simple one…but one not heard as much any more. “Hush.” (“Just a Southern Sayin'” Kalynn Brazeal)

…”My favorite one was “Hush.” You didn’t tell people to shut up. It wasn’t kindly and no one is that rude.” 

Immediately I thought of my favorite little Mother Goose lullaby that I have sung to all my grand babies (when they get older they realize I can’t carry a tune and won’t stay still long enough for me to sing it…so have to sing while they are still in the ‘infant captive audience’ stage.) “Hush Little Baby, Don’t You Cry.”

I only know the first two verses…If I think about it…it is kind of a strange little song…best not to analyze it…just sing it…I like the tune! At least, no matter how many things Papa gets for baby…nice and/or silly (billy goat)…it does prove that Papa (and Mama) will be there for baby through thick and thin…(if you just get QUIET!)

Hush little baby, don’t say a word

Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won’t sing

Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.

………………………

 

It was my adorable Aunt Eva who used “hush” a lot…to reprimand us to be quiet but also in…(upon hearing surprising news or some good gossip) …

 “Sho nuff?…Well, hush my mouth!” 

Another word(s) that is used in a different context in the south is…UGLY and PRETTY. Down South these terms don’t  necessary describe someone or something’s physical appearance…it refers more to their behavior. How many of you remember hearing your mama tell you (as you headed out the door)

 …”Now don’t act ugly…be sweet and act pretty.”

 …And speaking of PRETTY…Honey found this old post card of Pretty Place in the mountains above Greenville (Camp Greenville)…it has got to be one of the most spiritual places here on earth…and oh so pretty!

Honey went to Blowing Rock this past weekend and was going to try to find our old camp… Camp Yonahlossee….we figured out one day that we were both there at the same time one summer (12 years old)  but never got to meet each other. What a shame…our friendship could have lasted even longer. Instead of a camp…Yonahlossee is now a high end housing community. This is happening too frequently in the mountains now.

And here’s another “pretty”…Vickie called me over to see her hoya bloom…it doesn’t bloom often but when it does…it is spectacular!

So until tomorrow…Beauty is just a blink away…let’s don’t forget to look around us and not always just straight ahead. Beauty is both lateral and vertical.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh