I used to make garden decorations out of clay pots what seems like a lifetime ago, there are still a few random half painted small ones stuck on shelves. But as usual, I moved on to something else, never quite circling back. To make things even more enticing, my daughter gave me a box of gardening pots, peeking out of the box were several clay pots.
For the past few days, I have been completely wrapped up in creating. Digging out supplies from various spots that I had hidden them. I still needed a few pots and sauces to finish the lighthouse shape, easily solved by a quick trip to the garden center.
One of my sisters planted an idea in my head yesterday, one that I cannot past. I am probably going to make a trip to the garden center for a few more pots. I am not going to be able to get it out of my head if I don't. I need to make that lighthouse, it needs to leave my mind.
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Glowing in the darkened garden |
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Puffin Pass sits in the lower garden area |
Somehow in the midst of all the painting, I am still keeping up with the gardens, canning, freeze drying, quilting and all the other things that drift in and out of my thoughts and life.
If you have never made your own maraschino cherries, I'm going to highly recommend it. I made two types, one with Luxardo liquor, perfect for old fashioned. The majority of the jars are alcohol free, these were made primarily for my sweet dragon. She loves them.
I am finding myself in such a peaceful space. I am feeling the world changing all around me. The quiet space I'm creating is calming. It's peaceful.
In the cooler early hours the morning, Hubs and I worked on our yard. Neither of us can handle the extreme heat, so we are thankful that the current heat wave has started to fade. I managed to get all of the flower beds weeded and Hubs was able to fertilize the yard to help it deal with the extreme heat of summer. I'm questioning why they even sell fescue in this area, as it is a cool weather grass and our weather is definitely not cool in the summer. I find I question a lot as I age.
For years I have ignored our lower yard, I'm fairly sure I have mentioned that. It just didn't draw me in, it didn't invite me to spend time there, so I never really put energy into it. Each bit I put into it, tempts me to do a bit more. To create a private small paradise.
While the creative side of my heart is filled creating this personal space, my mind is filled with something entirely different.
Lately, probably as a result of watching everything around me, I've been pondering the immense disconnect and lack of true community spirit that seems to be spreading. I am not usually an overly outgoing person, I know that I am completely comfortable alone. Yet I do enjoy people.
A neighbor reached out on our neighborhood Facebook page, sharing that she was a widow and newly retired, feeling a bit lost without a support group. While out of town last summer, I couldn't reach Hubs for hours and the only neighbor I had contact info for was not in town for the day, the stress was incredible. Yesterday listening to a podcast someone asked a question about what do you do as an "elder orphan". I think it struck me hard, simply because the point was being driven home that we do not have the communities we used to have. The connections.
There is something positive to be said about the old fashioned small town mindset. I grew up on military bases, same kind of mindset. You shared skills, you supported each other, you were there when someone needed something. No one walked alone.
In that past few months several of our neighbors have moved (I never even met them), new families have moved in. The last few I have made it a mission to get to know, even striving to learn and remember names. Baby steps. I am forcing myself to step out of my bubble, to create connections with the people that are in my immediate area. To support those around me in whatever way I can or feel comfortable with. I'm still basically more comfortable alone.
I now babysit a pup during the day, so her mommy can go to work without worrying about her being alone. She lives a few doors down. I've helped neighbors with their yard work, Hubs and I have pressure washed driveways and sidewalks.
I don't know why I'm feeling drawn to reach out, but I am. A couple of our neighbors would like to get together to make fresh pasta and have a dinner together. I love this idea, strangely. I feel like many are starting to long for that sense of community. Maybe we are moving past the closing our doors, putting up barriers?
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Only two are actually mine |
For now, I'm going to continue taking small steps. Creating beauty all around me. And finding a way to create community. I feel quite strongly about it. I don't know why... I just feel very drawn to do it.
What do you think? Am I losing my mind? Is the world changing so much that I am grasping at the past or is there actually a need in this crazy world for us to come together, to stop all of the division?
Time to get back to work... I will ponder this later.... besides, I need to paint another lighthouse...
You are the only beauty around me that I need to see every day! 381+
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