New Life

Maundy Thursday, sitting in the glorious sun after a long, dark, wet winter.  Signs of new life are everywhere.  I walk around the garden's perimeter, trying to identify the various perennials that begin to poke through the dirt - the ones I moved, whose changed locations I failed to record.  Oh look - here come the tips of what I think is a peony.  Is it one I've set aside for someone?  Last fall, I obviously thought I'd remember why it's here and who it's for.

Tomorrow is Good Friday.  Good, we call it.  Commemorating death.  The goodness can only be a reference to the resulting treasure that unfolded.  Dying becomes a precursor to life.  It happens in gardens everywhere, year after year.

I've cut back and cleaned up dead grasses, leaves, clipping back branches on shrubs.  Everything looked pretty dismal a month or two ago.  But now!  Now I can watch for changes every day.  The Star Magnolia was timidly showing the tips of its blossoms this morning.  This afternoon, it's fairly bursting with pride!  And in a few days, it will be out in full regalia.

Tomorrow, all is dismal.  We look at the ugliness of death.  Ah, but in a few days, the glorious resurrection blinds us with hope and joy!

A blessed Easter to you!

Lost in Time

There are two activities - OK, maybe three - that for me, are all-absorbing.

The first is gardening.  If I have appointments lined up, or a long 'to do' list, I'd best not head out for a walkabout.  No telling where it will lead.  Suddenly, I am lost in this separate world, oblivious to responsibility as I weed, plant, transplant, clip, rake and hoe. As for many people, the physical work and being in a natural setting gives me time to ponder.  This is where I turn over dirt, turn over concepts and ideas.

The second activity is writing - either words or music.  Hours spent in research feeds my ever-curious mind and deep desire to learn new things.  It is such a privilege to interview ordinary people who have done great things. Their passion is inspiring.

Crafting and honing a piece that flows well invites the reader in.  Going back over and over to find just the right words or notes to convey the intent of the piece - playing, arranging, rearranging - this is a (mostly) joyous task!

Coming in third is art - drawing, painting - but I won't say too much about this since I'm still a  novice, and may always be.  I have a friend whose artistic talent I admire and who has made me realize how much time, hard work and focus are necessary to do good work.

But for now, I must get out and clean up some of winter's debris amongst my perennials!