This is my grandma Winnie in her bib overalls. She not only has bibs on but if you look
closely you will see she also has her
high heels on.
And I’m pretty sure if you look even closer you will see she
has
her earrings on too.
She was a classy gardener.
I do have to say, no matter what both of my grandma’s were doing, they
ALWAYS had some level of make-up and jewelry on. They set a pretty high standard for all of us
granddaughters that followed behind them.
Spending time with them growing up I knew what I saw on the outside was
just a mirror for what was on the inside of them. They were strong women with
kind and gentle spirits.
She passed her love of gardening down to me.
And to that I nod and say, “thank you”!
I just can’t figure out how to do the high heel thing in the garden.
When I spend hours in my garden with my own bib overalls on I
feel the spirit of my grandma smiling over me.
“girl, get your high heels on”!
When I step into my garden, I step into a peace I find no
where else. The collection of birds that
make our yard their home serenade me with their morning song, the squirrels that live in our trees scamper around me chattering and
reminding me that their peanut stash is low.
Maybe I’m a one focus girl, because when I put my hands in the dirt all
the chaos and noises that fill the world outside my garden gate
are non-existent. And if you pay really close attention to nature you will find
that hour by hour she’s ever changing.
Last week a friend came by for tea under the red
umbrella. She was facing up the yard and
I was facing down the yard. As she got
up to leave (after 4 hours of chatting) she said, as she sat there she noticed
how the sun came and went in the upper garden
continually changing the view she was looking at. She doesn’t know that before she arrived I
actually had a talk with Mother Nature asking her if she could
please -
out do herself a little for my friend and -
showcase her creativity. . .
which of course, she did. . .
and of course,
I thanked her. . .
Out in nature is where I like to spend my free time. Give me a salt water beach or a country
road. And this girls happy.
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to have dinner with our friends at
their home on Camano
Island . As we drove home later, in the quiet of the
night, over hill and over dale through the green lush countryside, windows
cracked, breathing in the fresh night air and stopping along side the road to
take in the big yellow moon overhead that was lighting our way, I was reminded
of the beauty that surrounds us every day if we just take time
to notice.
So as I take a stroll one last time through my backyard to
make sure all the new plants are in the ground, the dirt is fluffed and ready
for the 3 backyard party’s that are lined up back to back like tin soldiers, to
take place the next 3 weekends, my bibs are hung by the back door, and my
thoughts turn to party napkins, fancy drinks, is there enough seating for
everyone? Well, maybe a few could stand
while they eat.
And of course, hoping there is enough food for everyone who
enters the garden gate.
If you’re ready to party -
Come sit by me. . .