Weeks of vintage glamour, brocade evening gowns and delicate glass glistening with gold now comes to an end and I find myself in the Meadow Garden after a month of garden neglect. The wind has torn off, tangled up and ripped out of the ground the rabbit proof gate and post and beaten my tall, statuesque Brussels Sprouts plants to the ground. Unhappily, at first, I breath in the peaty Moorland air as I squelch in my wellington boots onto the sodden grass to pull up the gate. Another deep breath and then, very soon after, I find myself soothed by this manual task and am now content and accepting of the force of the wind and nature which governs this wild terrain where I chose to live my life.
As I harvest my Red Cabbage crop, I am quickly muddy and wet and an old Zen proverb, shared with me by a special friend, many years ago, begins to seep into my thoughts.
Before Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
And I feel good and happy and free and so grateful that I know the value of the simple tasks and of hard work. Gardening is like that, it clears a path to something elemental which feeds the body and the soul.
And it feels so good!
Dartmoor Flower Shed 
You draw a beautiful poetic picture xx
A dear friend of mine did her PhD research on the disposal of sewage sludge. After a day of unspeakable field work, she would go home, have a bath, put on a ball gown and wear it for the evening… just because!
I love this! I think dressing up and glamour can be a very powerful weapon in a woman’s armour!
That’s some wind. And it all returns to enjoy the moment in case you think you are building for tomorrow. Nature is an awesome teacher is it not? Hope you also were able to save some brussels sprouts.
Thank you so much Gretchen. I have had to learn that I can not fight the force of nature here. And actually, now, I just go with it and walk in it whatever the weather. It really is an incredible thing to live in a part of the country where ‘wild’ is so close.
Although,,,,tears are shed when the wind breaks my flowers x
It is amazing to me your elegant description of the mundane makes one feel peaceful. It reminds the reader the simple joy of toiling in the soil soothes ones body and soul.
Honey
Thank you so much Honey, I am so sorry for this late response, I try so hard to get everything done, but fail all the time!
I am just baking a new batch of Limpa with berry, Rye, orange and fennel. Trying to get it right!
Karen
That sounds like an interesting seasoning combination.
Honey
Gorgeous, gorgeous shot and words, too. I love the red cabbage and container against the drapes and wood. So many textures. Wonderful! ~Theadora
Thank you so much Theadora. I am a little behind with checking out your latest post, but cant wait to visit you again.
I do hope everything is going well for you. I get the feeling that you work so very hard, putting 200% into everything you do. Remember to save some time for yourself, party girl!
Karen
Karen, so many do not understand the value of a simple life and fulfillment that it can bring. If there was a message that we could all learn from, it might be to learn to be content, at peace.
Yes, I agree. But so many people do not understand that do they?
I have never forgotten that when I ran my business, some customers asked me what I was going to do one afternoon ( it was during the busy Christmas period). I was so pleased to tell them that I could not wait to get home, go into the field and collect sticks which had blown off the trees for my fire.
They laughed at me. I felt so upset, but at the same time I felt sad that they did not understand the value of such a simple and comforting task.
we tend to unnecessarily complicate most things, don’t we? 🙂
Lovely, lovely, Karen. Sounds like a kind of heaven to me. Though squelchy and sodden.
so eloquently put:-) I was thinking today -what hard work it all is but well worth it:-)
Very cool, Karen! The stylish photo of home-grown cabbages & your cool words too! 🙂 xxx
I love vegetables! I think they are beautiful! I think you do too! X
😀😀