Dear Reader:

Yesterday I was having a little bit of a “pouty” party…I have been scared to hardly walk through my garden for the frustration of not being able to work in it like I love…so many pine cones still down and sticks that by now I, normally, would have picked up and wheel barreled out of there in droves. But I can’t risk getting dirt or a stick stuck to my dressing at this late date in the foot recovery.

Yet what I discovered when I did bravely stroll past the fence and began looking beyond the winter storms’ debris… was life returning…beautiful life in the color of green…from underground, from hanging baskets and large planters…all sprouting up and smiling at me as if to say…”It’s okay mom…I’ve got this…I know how to grow all on my own…no need to worry.”  Here are some examples!

“All’s right with the world” without me having to be in charge all the time…the Best Gardener around is taking care of things. So am I growing as well as my garden with the same amount of unconditional faith? …”No” but lessons learned from my garden are helping me get there!

(I did pick out a few petunia beds from tiny planters and a mixed bag of other little flowers to plant.I sat in the warm sun yesterday (what a difference a day makes in March) on my front porch steps and planted the “title” photo flowers, along with some bright red “Pot-unias” (as they are called) in a little wooden basket. It cheered me up immediately. I had enough  flowers left over to plant a hanging basket and for the first time I could place it on Eva Cate’s Japanese Maple…its branches are strong enough now.)

While all this was going on…Cindy sent me a link to blog post from a blogger (Kristin Espinasse) who lives in France with her husband. They are in the wine business and travel to the United States a couple of times a year… so she was staying with her sister in Colorado and while there visiting some beautiful botanical gardens.

Like me she started feeling badly about neglecting her own garden with time consumed both on her blog and the wine business. She took the vacation time to think about ideas to better balance her life. Here are some excerpts from her musings…after three weeks away from home.

Today marks three weeks away from my desk and it is beginning to show me something about the creative process:

Writing is 20 or 30 or 40 percent of the effort…

The other 60 or 70 or 80 percent is the “steam engine” behind the story: it is the words and sentences that file through your brain throughout the day and sometimes at night, no matter where you are–at home or away on vacation.

What was the F. Scott Fitzgerald book in which two characters, a husband and wife, are at a dinner party and the wife looks over at the husband whose lips are moving as he stares at the ceiling?

“Darling! What are you doing?” She says.

I’m working! He snips.

The writing engine never stops completely (oh, the stories I’ve begun in my head since landing in the U.S. None have made it to the physical composition stage, and yet all of them have kept me occupied, or preoccupied).

I am not complaining about any of this, but want to highlight a little pépin, or glitch, about creation: It can slowly wear you down. 

It is so true what Kristin says about the writing process…I have done the majority of the blog post work before I type the first letter….creative writing is continuously going on in one’s mind and imagination long before it hits the paper.

I, also, like Kristin’s thoughts on changing her attitude towards the work needed to restore her garden.

“I had thought my garden had gone to pot, but I now see many of the plants are surviving the neglect. It gives me hope and a goal for when I return to France next week. It is a simple plan, and here it is:

Water. Tend. Visit. 

Water the plants and also the dreams you’ve forgotten. Lovingly tend the garden and the precious hours in your day. Visit the seedlings and other blooming things (new friendships, new interests.)”

Source: “My French Garden and Retirement.” Kristin Espinassee

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So until tomorrow Father…Please help me turn more worries over to You to handle and show me how to live a life of faith like my plants, flowers, and trees do in my garden. They don’t worry…they just bloom under Your guidance.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

While I was working on the blog I heard a familiar voice calling…it was Gin-g bringing a pineapple shaped soft soap canister which smells like pineapple…divine. We always have such a fun visit…and this time was no different except we started laughing hysterically over three “un-funny” pre-tests Gin-i is facing today.

What is it about human nature when we are pushed to the limit? We either break down, melt down, or lose it laughing hysterically. We chose the latter. We laughed until tears came down.

It was just the release Gin-g needed and I apparently needed too. Growing older with medical obstacles lurking around every corner seems to be contagious these days. Gin-g has to face, not one, or two, but three “challenging” pre-tests today to see if she is even eligible for some needed surgery regarding her esophagus…a condition complicated by her asthma.

On a more serious note…prayers would be greatly appreciated today. Gin-g just wants to get through each of the preliminary hurdles without getting sick so she can finally get the relief she needs to resume eating normally again without pain. That is our hope and prayer for you also Gin-g! You got this girl!

*Don’t forget the BIG DAY will  finally be here tomorrow for the Anne’s ART SHOW featuring Susan Baughman, Donna Boerema, and Irish sculptor and painter, Martin De Porres Wright. Please drop by and absorb the beauty of art here, there, and everywhere.

***In my zest to get the word out about the reception, art show and sale tomorrow afternoon/evening at Anne’s house…I forgot Anne had mentioned that Martin was giving our mayor of Summerville a piece of his Irish artwork.

It took place last evening on Short Central in front of the art gallery and from all appearances seemed to be a lot of fun and quite a success!!! Hope some of you happened upon it if you were out on Third Thursday browsing the town shops or simply stopped by to speak to Anne’s wonderful Irish guests.