The Latter days of Spring

~ rabbitpatchdiary.com

The wonderful and very old farmhouse is sold .  I who, make gallant strides, not to attach myself to possessions, have mourned the loss of the place.  I am glad to say, that I am at  long last, with peace, about it .    
School ended and immediately, sister Delores, Mama, niece Dana and I,  joined forces for a bridal shower for niece Hayley.  What a commotion ensued!  Dana and I arranged flowers gathered from gardens, back yards-and ditch banks. We all cooked.  Mama tied bows for lanterns and bird feeders-and the mailbox.  Delores decorated and did all sorts of jobs.  We used the same  cut glass dishes, used for generations  and what a lovely table it made.   We also used something from the women before us. There were dishes, a teacup, a snow globe, a lamp and a hand made basket.  We used a small silver tray Daddy had received from working a good deal of his life, with the same company.  I recorded all of this in Hayleys’ “keepsake book”.
As it turns out, we are a good team, for the celebration was without blemish.  When Mamas’ house was back in order, I left for a visit with Jenny and her family. 
The days were filled with stories, books and ice cream.  Will had a birthday and opted for a banana pudding,  instead of a cake, which perplexed the little girls, but they helped anyway.   None of us, were  happy to part, but the sorrow was stunted with the thrill of an upcoming beach trip.  Not only, am I going, but  Brant, Sydney  and  “baby brother cousin”, Ryan will be there as well. 
We just found out that “little Ryan”, will have a little brother in November!   What sweet news-so much that I danced, right there in the dining room!
The latter days of spring have been full of gifts for my heart.
Since being back at the rabbitpatch, on Bonnet Street, I have painted an old Samsonite suitcase, purchased for three dollars at a thrift store.  I had great fun painting a robin in a branch of pale, pink blossoms, on one side and a pastel wreath with a blue rabbit, on the other.  There is a small slight dent, in the case, that I may declare occurred in London, though I have never been there.  I think if you paint blue rabbits and pastel colored leaves, such a fairy tale is not  sinful.   I have a number of projects planned this summer.  I intend to paint birds and flowers-and rabbits . . maybe horses, too-oh! and elephants.  So far, so good. 
Painting. does not come easy for me and so I am full of thought on how to make flowers look as if they grew wildly and unhindered, with their own intentions.   While I paint, the chaos of this world is dimmed  . . in those moments lies the beauty. 
I am reading Thoreau, as well.  The things he observed, and wrote about  in the woods, is very akin to my own way of thinking .  Of course, Thoreau knew it all first.
Thoreau saw how man weighed and measured every thing and every act.  Judgement was calculated  seemingly dependent on the monetary worth, of  the deeds, of a human.  It is no  wonder to me, that Thoreau “took to the woods” for a long while , for it is  disheartening, when you think about it.  What profits a human, will never be solely accounted for in worldly currency.
Thoreaus’ collection of works spark my heart and spur me on to greater things than just keeping the lights on! 
Now, I ready myself, for a trip to the ocean.  The air will smell of salt and the soils will be soft, hot sand, that shifts beneath you, making your steps  more tiresome than ever.  The landscape will be tall slender grasses and “Joe Bell” flowers  . . and shrubs whittled by the constant wind. The sky will be as vast as you can ever see it . . and then, there is is the ocean.  A shining sea that sings constantly and boasts of genuine power.  The ocean does not recognize, status or wealth or accomplishments or talent. Its’ beauty and mercy are doled out , to all without recognition of  such criteria.  The sea is like “the rain that falls on the just and the unjust” .  Nature conducts itself with such generosity and we would all do well to consider that.
Of course for me, the mighty ocean is enhanced when my grandchildren play on its’ shores.  I will not get one red cent for watching the scene, or listening to the songs of the water and wind -but I declare . ..I will  profit . . . in unmeasurable ways.

27 thoughts on “The Latter days of Spring”

  1. Praise the Lord the sale is finale. My neighbor is going through the same. We lost count of how many said yes …then no and now just waiting .
    Beach! How much fun you will have…. especially with the wondering eyes of the Grands..Have fun !!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I have been an awful correspondent to you my dear friend. The last few months have been so filled with one obligation after another-so much that I can barely keep up. I love you as much as ever-I think of you often and after this week, I intend to cal you and have a proper chat-until then, I pray all is well. lov Michele

      Like

      Reply

  3. Michele – Happy to hear SO MUCH good news! Congratulations on the angel on the way!
    You have such a cute little cottage. My new place feels transitory too and it was hard to leave a past behind. It’s taken since first of March to get my mind off what was lost, to see what was found.

    There’s something BRAND NEW that wants to create it’s whole new beginning – I’m glad you’re painting. I was SURPRISED when I started out knowing nothing, that you can LEARN with practice. I thought you had to be born with it… if you’re creating lots of other beauty, you have the EYE for it!!!

    AND THANK YOU – BANANA pudding. I haven’t been able to think of something besides cake or pie that I don’t have to use the oven for. THAT SOUNDS PERFECT!

    Blessings for the NEW Dream will come from a New Time and Place.
    love, Debra

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Blessings, Michelle – My garden is producing at least one strawberry every day. 🙂 I’m expecting more! And there’s a cucumber on the vine this morning. 🙂 love, in lak’ech, Debra

        Liked by 1 person

  4. First, even though it was bittersweet, I’m glad the farmhouse sale went through. That wedding shower sounds delightful. My kind of shower. My daughter’s shower was in an old Grange Hall, where my mother volunteered. As she had died a couple years earlier, it was a lovely way to honor her. Have a wonderful time at the ocean with your best beloveds. Finally, congrats, congrats on your new (yet-to-be-born) grandson.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Laurie, always so good to hear from you. You have been so busy with your book I wish you success. Oh! what an accomplishment for you to savor. Someone was talking about a recent trip to Maine yesterday. I told them I had a friend there-and I meant it. You and your cozy litttle house in the woods . . .awhhh. x Michele

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. So lovely to read all your good news, Michele, and the joyful tone of your post. I’m rejoicing with you. Enjoy your holiday at the beach with your family xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Finally…!
    When a door closes, another window opens.
    I do believe something good will happen to you, maybe not tomorrow but when the time is right.
    I loved what you´ve written, such inspiring genuine words from you again that left in me…

    “While I paint, the chaos of this world is dimmed . . in those moments lies the beauty. ”
    You have described exactly how I feel.
    Hoped you feel loved. Regards, Christina

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Congratulations on the upcoming new family member! I’m glad that the house is finally sold, but know that is bittersweet for you. Still, one of the good things about grandchildren is they remind us to look forward, not backwards. There is a lot of good to come in your future, and you will always have your memories of the past to sustain you. Take care, Michele!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. This was filled with so much love, joy, and anticipation for the road ahead. Michele, for the first time, it sounds like you are firmly settled, have moved on from the Rabbitpatch, and embraced family and where you are. Michele, your house is adorable, your neighbors are lovely, and you are close to your family. Few people have that! You are blessed more than you realize. I’m so glad!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. I’m envious you can paint animals, but I’m still up by one in grandkids!
    Sorry to be such a slacker lately, but I’m glad I caught up with current events.
    Your growing family and trip to the beach reminded me of “Sandcastles”.
    Indeed, the joy is in the building.

    Your devoted fan,

    Scott

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

I love comments

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.