The blog of Canadian author Cynthia Reyes
My friend Wendy Lavigne has been through a remarkable journey, as I know you will agree when you have visited her lovely blog. Wendy is an interior designer, with a focus on healthy environments.
I know – I’m not giving you any real clues. You’ll have to visit her new blog and find out.
https://wendyennislavigne.wordpress.com/about/
My best wishes,
Cynthia.
*PHOTOS BY HAMLIN GRANGE*
Before the car accident, I was busy leading the big projects, travelling here and there. Running around trying to change the world can make a person miss the beauty of “ordinary” things.
Injuries and pain are indescribably worse. You finally have time to see, but barely have the energy to look.
But – oh – it’s worth the effort!
To see one’s surroundings with new and grateful eyes.
To take joy in the small moments.
To be open to small patches of everyday glory.
Snow on evergreens. The first snow makes the garden beautiful, day and night.
The late sun. Late afternoon sunlight shining on wood floors is magical. And when the late sun hits the wavy glass sidelights in the front door of our old farmhouse, it’s wondrous.
My husband’s truant socks. He has tons of single socks and we spend time searching for their matches.I used to get irritated by this. Or by newspapers strewn across the breakfast table. (Or his overlooking my small attempts to ‘cheer up’ our house.)
Now, I call them “signs of life”. And I give thanks for having someone kind, funny and loving to share my everyday life with. (And I try to assemble the newspapers without muttering.)
Freshly washed sheets. There’s luxury in the smell and feel of freshly washed cotton sheets although they’ve been used and washed many times.
The old wool blanket. “Canadiana”, for sure, it would be worth something, unstained. Do I care about the stain? No. I love this blanket for its brilliant stripes – and for having survived decades of use.
Blooming Amaryllis. Bought for 6 bucks, it re-blooms (big red blooms) on long stalks each winter. ‘Nuff said.
Our family’s big mixing bowl. Many apple pies have been mixed up in that beautiful old bowl.
My daughter’s dogs. Sometimes, just the sight of them gladdens my heart. One brownish-black, one white, they’re both tiny dogs with personalities of their own. As I write, they’re stretched out beside me, fast asleep.
Slowing down by choice is great. Being forced to do so is awful.
But in the spirit of lighting a candle and finding my way out of darkness, I’ve been focusing on positives.
And keeping both eyes open for the everyday kind of glory.
**
This post is dedicated to the caring staff at the pain management centre of Toronto Rehabilitation Hospital. One of the techniques they teach their patients is mindfulness.
When you said we should love all your creatures
And I try – you know that I do
When you told us that we should love them
Did you mean mosquitoes too?
**
Yes, I know that some humans are awful
And I know we’ve not done very well
And it’s true that I felt some relief, God
When the Vatican redefined hell
**
Cause I have to confess that when bitten
My thoughts would make even you blush
And I really can wait for your answer
There is truly no need for a rush
You know how it hurts me to kill them
How I wince and regret such bad things
But please tell me why you made some creatures
Why on earth did you give them their wings?
Take that Japanese beetle for instance
In fact, I implore you, please do
Cause that Japanese beetle’s created
Leafy holes big enough to see through
God, those beetles will be my undoing
As they munch on our healthy green leaves
Did you see what they did to our garden
Do you not think them terrible thieves?
And another thing, God, that I wonder
For those earwigs are such awful pests
Who have set up their homes in our veggies
Did you mean them or just all the rest?
**
So dear God, I must ask you this question
Cause I know you like people with spunk
When you made such troublesome creatures
Were you maybe a little bit drunk?
There are people in my blogging network
Who’ll be horrified that I’m so bold
But I really do need to be honest
Cause I like being part of your fold
**
So again I must ask you this question
And I know you will tell me the truth
Do you not think that some of your creatures
Are a tiny bit mean and uncouth?
I am sorry to bug you with nonsense
And I know that I should never fuss
For some people are dealing with big things
And they never complain, swear or cuss
But dear God could you give me an answer
One day when you’ve got some free time
As to what I should think of these insects
‘Stead of writing ridiculous rhyme
**
When you said we should love all your creatures
And I try – you know how I do
When you said that we really should love them
Did you mean all the awful ones too?
**
Somewhat Inspired by Theologian C. H. Spurgeon, via Levi Thetford’s blog.
© CSReyes
Aggie asked me to publish blooms of peonies from my garden.
I promised I would.
Aggie and husband Lou run Isis Farms near Avery, Texas. They call what they do “beyond organic”.
“We want to grow and supply ‘real’ food, for ourselves, and as many people as possible. We think that good, whole food is a key to health.”
They describe themselves as stewards of their 30-acre land.
“As stewards of this land, we want to nurture a healthy ecosystem, maintaining the forest, reintroducing native grasses, and keeping the chemicals out.”
Aggie and Lou believe the planet cannot possibly sustain the average American’s lifestyle. So they are doing their part to reduce their impact on the earth.
“For example, we are planning for solar power, and rainwater collection and drip irrigation to minimize water usage. Our home is small, and we heat with wood, which creates no additional greenhouse gases, and is freely available in our forest. We purchase used items when practical.”
Aggie and Lou have been working very hard to realize their ideals. And they continue to do so, through what seems to be every single day. This kind of work and vision take commitment, but they seem to have it in spades.
So these blooms are a tribute to Aggie and Lou and Isis Farms.
And because Aggie asked to see them.
This post is dedicated to Aggie, Lou, and all who are doing something to “reduce their impact” on the earth.
*The second and third images above are by my wonderful photographer Hamlin Grange. (The rest are by that awful photo-taker who shall not be named.)
Cynthia Reyes 