I fell asleep beside an open window lulled by cool air and the sounds of a steady rain, slept deeply and then awoke early to overcast skies, a garden whose thirst had been quenched and a misty continuation of the night's precipitation.
It is likely I would win many a competition in a race to be busy...though good grief I try not to be. I might just go buy me an old fishing rod, I have the flies and hooks, even the line from my Pa's old fishing basket and when I'm all set up I'll be turning my back on all those ridiculous urgencies I invent with such regular monotony - despite this being my holiday - and take a wander to the river, lay a while under the larch then catch a trout or two. Thats exactly what Ill do, just as soon as I'm ready...
Thank you my friend, for the reminder that none of us know the number of our days.. 🙏🏼
Lovely, and important. But, David, I have a question - of a semantic nature! As an English person, I'm intrigued by your use of the word 'garden' rather than (what I'd understood most Americans call) 'yard'. Garden has so much more evocation to it than the bald, utilitarian sounding yard to my ears! And the title of your Substack was what drew my attention to your ravishing posts in my early days on here, I so enjoy them! But can you explain please what seems to me to be this anomaly? And who took that lovely photo? Timer with tripod, or your 'sweetie'?!
First, Liz, thank you for the kind words and for making time to comment. The portrait is a self-portrait, so, timer and tripod. As for my use of the term Garden, we are on the same page, you and I. I have a garden with one small patch of grass for barefooting it and the rest is garden… beds filled with perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees. I have no desire to maintain a poisoned expanse of ‘yard,’ like you, I suspect. Some of us Americans aspire to more British sensibilities. Make sense?
David, I echo your thoughts and musings. Today is my 68th birthday. I’m going to the Wednesday Bird Walk here in Sequim, as usual for Wednesday mornings. I’m taking a bowl of fresh Bing Cherries to share with my friends there, because Life IS a bowl of cherries. I also plan to seek out and find 68 bird species on my bird-thday and to notice and list 68 “things of wonder” today. It’s a ritual I started a couple years ago. Fun! Enjoy every day!
A beautiful reminder to slow down and soak in the moment. Pockets of joy, simple pleasures. I always stop to smell the roses. Thanks for a few more tips to bath in the glory of the sunny season.
Nothing like a trout stream to cool the senses. Each one has its own unique character. Dark and moody, wildly rushing and free spirited . They all share one thing in common. Beauty. Carefully watching the current as it ripples and trickles, parting its path in two around rock, pooling in still, shaded water. Scanning, waiting, for a bubble or Caddis Fly to tiptoe on the surface, hoping for a fish to rise. Will the water divulge the secrets of trout today? There, right there! Shhh, taking a deep silent breath, letting it out slowly, quietly. Casting arm at the ready, a ballet move perfected long ago. For a moment, time stands still, was it the current, the wind rustling leaves, or voices from memories past , heard whooping and laughing. Find the places that bring you an abundance of joy , garden, home, stream-side, lover, friends or memories of. And please, write us a story about every minute of it. I can smell the Maid of Kent roses from here.
Sometimes when the dogs get up early, I go out to the back yard as the sun is rising and the sky has that similar look of a sunset and listen to the birds and watch the squirrels as they come down the trees and run across the top of the fence looking around to see where the dogs are. They have been bolder this summer almost daring the dogs. Sometimes the cardinals come into the middle tree looking for bugs in the bark. This is a quiet time to just think nothing in particular as the world awakens, Thanks for your beautiful writing
Joy!! Pure and simple joy!! Yes, yes...go fishin' and listen to the sounds of the lovely little creatures that buzz around, to the splashes from the water, as some fish try to catch mosquitoes as they fly by, and to the bird songs sounding the joy of summer. Enjoy! (Love your photo!) Thank you!
I think most people miss out on the true richness around them because they are rushing around chasing money and or fame. They need to slow down and savor the natural world around them. I'm glad there are many writers on Substack doing just that.
I'm encouraged to see the number of people hiking, forest bathing, and writing posts about the natural world. It is inspiring during these dark times. Perhaps, Eden is on our backyards of only we would notice.
My dear wise friend...
It is likely I would win many a competition in a race to be busy...though good grief I try not to be. I might just go buy me an old fishing rod, I have the flies and hooks, even the line from my Pa's old fishing basket and when I'm all set up I'll be turning my back on all those ridiculous urgencies I invent with such regular monotony - despite this being my holiday - and take a wander to the river, lay a while under the larch then catch a trout or two. Thats exactly what Ill do, just as soon as I'm ready...
Thank you my friend, for the reminder that none of us know the number of our days.. 🙏🏼
Lovely, and important. But, David, I have a question - of a semantic nature! As an English person, I'm intrigued by your use of the word 'garden' rather than (what I'd understood most Americans call) 'yard'. Garden has so much more evocation to it than the bald, utilitarian sounding yard to my ears! And the title of your Substack was what drew my attention to your ravishing posts in my early days on here, I so enjoy them! But can you explain please what seems to me to be this anomaly? And who took that lovely photo? Timer with tripod, or your 'sweetie'?!
First, Liz, thank you for the kind words and for making time to comment. The portrait is a self-portrait, so, timer and tripod. As for my use of the term Garden, we are on the same page, you and I. I have a garden with one small patch of grass for barefooting it and the rest is garden… beds filled with perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees. I have no desire to maintain a poisoned expanse of ‘yard,’ like you, I suspect. Some of us Americans aspire to more British sensibilities. Make sense?
How very lovely. Beautiful photo of you with the comely maids. You have your summer/life priorities right, seems to me! x
David, I echo your thoughts and musings. Today is my 68th birthday. I’m going to the Wednesday Bird Walk here in Sequim, as usual for Wednesday mornings. I’m taking a bowl of fresh Bing Cherries to share with my friends there, because Life IS a bowl of cherries. I also plan to seek out and find 68 bird species on my bird-thday and to notice and list 68 “things of wonder” today. It’s a ritual I started a couple years ago. Fun! Enjoy every day!
A beautiful reminder to slow down and soak in the moment. Pockets of joy, simple pleasures. I always stop to smell the roses. Thanks for a few more tips to bath in the glory of the sunny season.
Nothing like a trout stream to cool the senses. Each one has its own unique character. Dark and moody, wildly rushing and free spirited . They all share one thing in common. Beauty. Carefully watching the current as it ripples and trickles, parting its path in two around rock, pooling in still, shaded water. Scanning, waiting, for a bubble or Caddis Fly to tiptoe on the surface, hoping for a fish to rise. Will the water divulge the secrets of trout today? There, right there! Shhh, taking a deep silent breath, letting it out slowly, quietly. Casting arm at the ready, a ballet move perfected long ago. For a moment, time stands still, was it the current, the wind rustling leaves, or voices from memories past , heard whooping and laughing. Find the places that bring you an abundance of joy , garden, home, stream-side, lover, friends or memories of. And please, write us a story about every minute of it. I can smell the Maid of Kent roses from here.
i love this photo.
and your words, of course 🌱🌿💚
How lovely to have a lap full of Maid of Kent!
Sometimes when the dogs get up early, I go out to the back yard as the sun is rising and the sky has that similar look of a sunset and listen to the birds and watch the squirrels as they come down the trees and run across the top of the fence looking around to see where the dogs are. They have been bolder this summer almost daring the dogs. Sometimes the cardinals come into the middle tree looking for bugs in the bark. This is a quiet time to just think nothing in particular as the world awakens, Thanks for your beautiful writing
Joy!! Pure and simple joy!! Yes, yes...go fishin' and listen to the sounds of the lovely little creatures that buzz around, to the splashes from the water, as some fish try to catch mosquitoes as they fly by, and to the bird songs sounding the joy of summer. Enjoy! (Love your photo!) Thank you!
Thanks for the beautiful reminder💫
Put a grin on my face :) Headed out to the backyard to work in the garden with our two granddaughters!
Thank you for this beautifully written piece and the photo. Sublime!
Put peace in my heart and a smile on my face. Oh, the love and happiness that mother earth gives us!
Yay! Can I come fishing too? I promise to keep relatively quiet and civilized.
I think most people miss out on the true richness around them because they are rushing around chasing money and or fame. They need to slow down and savor the natural world around them. I'm glad there are many writers on Substack doing just that.
I'm encouraged to see the number of people hiking, forest bathing, and writing posts about the natural world. It is inspiring during these dark times. Perhaps, Eden is on our backyards of only we would notice.
Yes, doubled the number, thanks. There is pretty much only one river as it is.