Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Beautiful words

Reader Jeff wrote a comment on the Garden Update post which was so poetic I didn't want it buried.
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As easily as anyone I can see an outward sign of what most regard as wealth...big fancy houses, expensive exotic cars, first-class world travel... the list is endless...and feel a certain real attraction from time to time. But for sheer jealously, pure longing, a palpable, wistful desire, for me nothing can compete with the images of a bountiful garden.

Even knowing the unimaginable amount of hard work it represents, I am overcome with jealousy. Smiling, good-natured jealously, but all the same. I am currently not in a position, space-wise, climate-wise, time-wise, else-wise to even begin to address my shortcomings in this regard. Were I there, I'd give you a big hug, Don a solemn handshake, and without words, wander endlessly, in awe, around the tires, til someone came with a flashlight and fetched me out of the darkness.

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Reminds me of the lovely poem by Dorothy Frances Gurney, the most famous verse of which is:

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,--
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.


12 comments:

  1. Well said, Jeff. Thanks for highlighting this comment.

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  2. love this. I can stand an look at my garden, and often do, just in wonder of all it is producing and Gods gift of food that is good and good for us

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  3. Amen all around.

    A lovingly tended garden reflects a well-lived life.

    We just had a first time visit from some self-described "city people," who walked around our place in wide-eyed wonder and had their first experience with a lamb. Watching her get her bottle was a real treat for them, and getting to pet and walk with her brought smiles and special moments.

    We country folk are sooooo blessed, aren't we?

    A. McSp

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  4. I hope that Jeff is somehow in the writing field. He paints a perfect picture with his words. Just awesome.

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  5. Gardeners live like kings and queens - and eat like them!

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  6. Have you noticed that the first known gardener in the bible is God? "Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed." Genesis 2:8

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps that is why I feel so connected when I have my hands in the dirt, planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting...

      Thanks for reminding us!
      sidetracksusie

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  7. The third time around, I still love that comment.

    Just Me

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  8. Jeff has expressed my feelings perfectly.... upon seeing a bountiful garden.

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  9. Aw, shucks. Thanks for the kind remarks everyone. And as always, thanks to Patrice. Until the planned orchard takes root, she'll serve well as the "peach" in this garden. ;)

    And yes, I have been known to string together a word or two, from time to time. (Don't you wish when someone read something you wrote, they heard it in Morgan Freeman's voice in their head?)

    God bless.

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  10. My wife and I just returned from the Alaska State Fair, where we vounteer our time working in the Crops and Flowers section of "The Barn". At the end of a long day (building displays, in-processing entries, etc...) I looked around at the wonderful crop samples that men, women and children brought in. Produce of many varieties surrounded me on all sides and I felt grateful and content that there were so many skilled growers in the area.

    I dunno, I guess it was almost "spiritual" to be surrounded by God's bounty.

    P.S. If anyone's interested, the big cabbage this year was 111.7 pounds. Pumpkin was 1287 lbs! That's a LOT of pies.


    Steve Davis
    Anchorage, Alaska

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