Some days are made for... (and other tid-bits)

Some days are made for mending.  For cake, for hugs for caring...

 

Sometimes, it seems that there is extra hardship surrounding those you love, maybe even yourself.  It could be simple, it could be complicated.  It could be life changing, it could be attitude changing...

It could be exhausting and overwhelming.  It could be real.  It could be a reality check.  It could be minor, it could be major...

But whatever it is.  Some days, are made for mending.  Somedays your heart needs mending.  Your soul needs a patch of hope where the threads have given way...  Sometimes, you are the mender, others, you are the one being mended...

      

And, while things in the fancful nook are fine and dandy, except for a few meltdowns due to being overwhelmed here and there (I am sure to let myself throw five years old fits - it's good for purging), there are friends all around me, having tougher times.

And so I say, for today, we have tight hugs, and hope for hearts a mending.  For all of you facing greater things, that seem so out of control I send  ♥  

 

I am hauling buckets of hope from the well...  Here, fill your cup ;)

If you want to know a secret, I am mostly silly and carefree, but, don't tell anyone, sometimes I say bad words & kick the dirt, and scoff, and scream, and cry out loud.  And boy, does that feel good.

Maybe that is why I can be positive, so often more than negative, because I purge a lot?  Who knows...

Often I find myself running out into the garden, when I need to break free from reality.  Yesterday, I exploded out the front door in need of fresh air, and wandered around our ridiculously unkept acreage.  All the plants in lovely bloom... 

But then I noticed something quite strange.  The peach tree was bare, and bare as could be.  Normally, it would have buds at this time.  I called over Mister Lovee...

 

I pointed to the tree.  He said, well maybe today you could clear some brush from around it.  Oh ya, maybe I could do that.  Sure.

But after he left for the office, and the afternoon loomed, I found myself out there, clearing away lots of winter brush and dead leaves, and talking to my peach tree.  If only I could start that horrid lawnmower without dislocating my shoulder, I thought, it would be easier than using a scythe!!

   

But the lawnmower is a monster in itself (and did I mention it isn't working so well? at all).  Just then I heard Gordon across the way, on his lawnmower that he can sit on and ride around.  Then my neighbor to the left, the cowboy bachelor, the same!  And here I am with a darned scythe??? (or sickle) 

What is this?  Little house on the fanciful prairie?

I am happy to work hard, and get in some good exercise, but come on?  So, after 5 piles of brush were gathered by me with my ancient tools (mind you, I love vintage but this is pushing things a bit too far) I thought, that's it, when Mister Lovee gets home, I am putting my foot down, and demanding a girlie high tech lawnmower.

 

I missed the lawnmower chat in the evening, as I fell asleep early in my private boudoir...

This morning, I went out for a walk around the property and had forgotten about my silly lawnmower woes...

Instead I found something so lovely.  So inspiring and in keeping with the first part of my post...  I found our big apricot tree in the back blooming.  And from afar, it simply looked like this...

   

But up close, there was life.  Life fluttering all about...

   

         

Butterflies a plenty...

   

    

    

    

So many butterflies, and bees...

    

         

It was truly a tree of life...  

    

Just when my breath had been fully taken away...  I spotted teeny tiny yellow belly finches in the weeds and wild flowers...

    

    

And two little sleepy rabbits...

    

   

All of this, under that one tree...  Life, thriving.  Simply.  Beautifully.  I felt peaceful.  I felt content.

As I strolled along, I was thinking about life and mending and the fragility of it all...  Just then I approached the peach tree I had worked so hard on the night before.  And whatta ya know?

One solitary bud shed HOPE.

    

Hope feels soooooo good.

Just then I spotted Mister Lovee, and in a whiserping voice, I told him about what I had seen in the Tree of Life.  He went over to have a look for himself, and I continued in the opposite direction.

He came up to me later, and said, there was nothing of that sort that he saw.  No rabbits, no yellow bellies, no butterflies.  Then he said "I think they didn't leave when you were there because they mistook you for an elf."  HAHA!!

Ya, really, that must be it... 

Then I started my lawnmower convo. 

Ahem, "Mister Lovee, yesterday as I was working like an 1800's farm girl, with my antique tools, I noticed the entire male force in the neighborhhod had fancy rideable lawnmowers... and I was thinking, that I am putting my foot down, and requiring a girlie easy to use lawnmower (not even a rideable one, but one that isn't hand held with a blade at the edge), and I will do all the lawn tending on the acreage."

He looked at me as if I was mad.  As if I was asking to put the piano on the roof so I could pretend I was playing in the clouds...

So I ask you?  Am I asking too much?  He thinks I am being unreasonable...  We can get the old one totally revamped says he.  May I remind you, that is the mower that dislocates your shoulder every time you attempt to get it started...

Any ideas to change a Mister's mind?  The other option is to change my attitude towards tending the lawn, and simply "Fahgetaboutit."

Okay, I am off for now, lots of mending thoughts and hugs a plenty!! 

♥, V

Comments

[Kimberly Wlassak]

Sometimes, just at the point of exhaustion and heartsickness and doubt, life rears it's beautiful head and grants hope.

I always feel a little lighter at the point of the Vernal Equinox, which will be here on Friday. Yippeee, the first day of spring, new beginnings, Hooded Orioles at my feeder and the hope of a luscious crop of nectarines.

Thanks, as always, for your hopeful words:
Kim
Garden Painter Art

[michelle]

how nice it is to have open space to cultivate your dreams. i was born in the red woods and then lived in the dessert. I've had a little of both that i can visit on occasion. now i live near the ocean and just the calming sound of the waves crash sets my mind at ease or the slow building of a sand castle.

leave a few catalogs out where he can see them, "opened" to pages of your ideal machine...he'll come around. even tinkers like the excitement of ashiny, new, and something with "buttons"
:0)

[M.L.]

What a lovely day you must have had, working out on your parklike homestead. It looks so beautiful on your blog. Most people exercise in a stinky gym. Not to mention the fresh air, mountain views and incredible flora & fauna. Knowing how much you appreciate the simpler days, the thrill of using traditional tools must have been exhilarating. Boy you are one LUCKY GIRL! I would love to spend my days in as wonderful an endeavor though other responsibilities get in the way. I'm certain your Mister Lovee would be happy to sharpen the scythe for you, and maybe even paint the handle. He sounds like such a nice guy.

xoxo M.L.

[Cori G.]

I like the idea of the piano on the roof so you can play in the clouds. That would be perfectly lovely, but for now I must run. Alas, the rest of your post must wait for later. I'm busy as a bee on other things not my own.
But I'm sending you a million little hugs to wrap around your shoulders.

xoxoxo

cori

[karin y]

oh my! that single lovely bud brought a tear to my eye.
There are miracles out there.
thank you Vanessa.

xoxo
~k

[Kylee]

Oh V~

You simply must have a new girlie-lawnmower. Just think of all the time you could save :-)

And that little rabbit is too cute!! You have inspired me to go outside and explore.

Kylee

[Cori G.]

OK, I'm back! Quick, huh? I actually never left, BUT about that lawnmower...elven creatures DO NOT mow lawns. That
means you :) and me :0! Pruning flowers, pulling weeds, chatting with the bumble bees...those are jobs for you and me. Maybe the mower could come to an untimely end...an unfortunate tumble in a ditch? A broken axle perhaps? A missing wheel?
Or maybe Mr. Lovee just needs a small demonstration of how monstrously mean that old mower is, maybe then he will give in.
Now, I'll tell you a little secret, but you have to promise not to tell. If I lived next door I'd sneak it under the wheels of hubby's truck and run it over...oops! SORRY Fanciful One. I ran over your beloved lawn mower ':(. Oh, not really! But it sounds fun doesn't it? I thought so too!!!

Happy thoughts are being sent your way!!!

Cori

[Cassandra]

Hmmm. Perhaps you could win his favor through his stomach? You do have that list of delicious recipes to try...

[Emily @ Art-n-sewl]

Awesome pictures as always. I say pay someone to do it. I am sure there is some young boy who would love to make some extra cash once a month. My 9 yr old would do it in a heart beat :) Saves you buying a mower and the stress of doing it :)

[Maria-Thérèse]

Apart from the old grass - what a magical place! I really, truly believe you are otherworldly. I feel pretty much together at the moment but who doesn't need mending from time to time...

I'm sending you a secret!
(Is it still a secret even though I said I'd send it?)

hugs

[Cassandra]

Ha! That Mister Lovee is a funny guy, isn't he? ;)

[Tracie Hanson]

Well, I can think of one thing which persuades a man to let his lady have her way.....NO Vanessa! Not THAT!

PIES! For goodness sakes, make the man a pie! Then remind him of all the (peach and apricot) pies in his future when your acreage is properly tended.

Yep...either that....or let a neighbor's kid do the work....then make HIM a pie.

[Tristan Robin]

my favorite post of the day - cheered me up and made me smile!

and BUTTERFLIES! I'm so envious - it's still quite cold here in New England!

[Shell]

Mending hearts or having your heart mended is part of the exchange between people who love one another. Whether your giving or receiving, it's always beautiful.
Your apricot peach beginning to bloom is lovely. All those bees, butterflies and a rabbit are wondrous. I was out earlier, I could feel Spring in the air too. It's just that kind of day.
I think you need to ask some of your fae friends for help. You can slip a easy spell of enchantment in a sweet treat for Mr. Lovee. Just to wear down his resistance so you can get a proper lawn mower.

[Cynthia]

As I was reading along, I felt the mending need. It happens to us all and for what reason, sometimes we never know. If ya can do it, heal thyself, as you did---take a walk , kick a stone, talk to the birds. Then, if you really think that the Mr. isn't going to get you a new machine , well by jiminy, git one for yerself! You'll feel good about your own self-suffiency and the Mr. need not trouble himself further. And just think , maybe you could have it customized----a little hot pink spray paint, a souped up engine, a little ditty basket attached to gather all the treasures you find. Oh my. A Girlie Mower! I can see you out there in your ruffled frocks ,straw hat & some cowgirl boots really kicking up some dust. Yee Haaa ! Sending mending wishes your way. Cyth

[Lavender Dreamer]

Thanks so much for the mending thoughts and hugs aplenty! I'm sending some back to you from the mountains of NC! And I don't know how to respond to the lawnmower dilemma! I would rather my hubby have a totally macho mower that only HE can use! heehee! And how about an apricot tree....WOW! I've never seen one of those! Delightful!

[Nancy]

OMG...your post makes me looong for Spring! But alas, it is still at least a month away here in New England. While it's FINALLY beginning to warm up a bit (in the 50's!), buds and flowers are still a ways off I'm afraid.

Hmmm...a push mower, even a gas powered one, on property your size? You'll die of heat stroke! But you who moves bathtubs by yourself can most definitely learn to use a riding mower! Maybe not the one Mr. Lovee has now, but one of the newer ones. And this time of year they're on sale, even better!

As for how to get it? Easy. If he won't agree, then you just say "OK, well until I'm able to cut the lawn circa 2009, no more quiche for you!" You'll have the new mower in a matter of days! ;-)

PS. You're right about mending. I just went through that myself. Change what you can, accept what you can't, and move on. Sigh...sometimes easier said than done, eh?

[kate]

This is a well-timed post. Two of my housemates (who are sisters) lost their granddad suddenly last week and so it's been a whirlwind of sadness and stress and chaos as they've been grieving for him themselves and dealing with family politics and family grief as they've all been organising the funeral, which is later today. They need mending, and I need some mending too, because it's been very draining watching their pain and doing what I can to look after them.

Your garden is so beautiful, and I love that it's a bit wild, not like suburban gardens. But you should definitely have a lawn mower that you can use without damaging yourself, and I agree that food is excellent leverage for convincing your Mister.

[Carrie~LoLaEnChAnTeD~]

Mr. Lovee is quite the little character isn't he?! I say, if he doesn't want to do it, he should get you what you want!!!! Or he'll have to have the dislocated shoulders!! But, you are right, no matter what is happening with you, there is some ray of hope somewhere, it'll happen!

[Maryann Malaney]

I can't tell you how many times I come into your site just to feel better. Healing and mending is just what we need here in our family, and it's so nice to be reminded every once in a while of all the good things in this life. Oh how I wish everyone could find their sanctuary like I have found mine in you. Bless you.

[Lynn]

I was feeling down for absolutely no good reason, but am uplifted by your post.
I have used a scythe before, and a rusty push mower. Although it is good exercise and it's kind of fun feeling old timey for a bit, it's short lived. I have no idea how to convince Mr. Lovey about the new mower, but do hope he will come around to your way of thinking soon.
=)

[Trish]

I'm with you!! You deserve, yes deserve ;), a girly lawn mower! I love to mow the lawn. However, I have the proper tools. I do admit to having a riding mower, so very little effort required, but hey, I mow the lawn! Thanks for the thoughts about mending. I think you hit the nail on the head.

You rock, Miss V!!

[Mandy Saile]

Ohhhh to have bunnies in ones vacinity, how lovely lovely lovely. I live in a well forested Northern town where there should be lots of bunnies....I've lived here almost my whole life and I've only ever seen 2 wild ones...your lucky, rabbits are magic:D

and ah the old war of who's gonna cut the grass, ha ha...that's a hard one...hope ya win because that old method your describing seems abit tiresome...good luck:D ha ha.

[Misha]

Just have the bill addressed/sent to him from the new lawn crew. I'm certain that you will A.) either have plenty more free time to do your art...or...
B.) the lawn mower will be replaced.
*HEH HEH* ';)

[Christine]

Well..lets see. I'm with you on the lawn mower thing. My dad use to make my sister and I mow the lawn with an old mower like that. I know all about dislocating your shoulder with that antiquated monster.
That being said it's probably is too much to ask for a new mower since it isn't cheap and may be used once in awhile.
But with that being said, I say you put on your most lovely outfit (think cleavage and legs) and head on over to Gordon or the Bachelor Cowboy's place (heck try both) and sweetly ask if you can borrow their "gorgeous state of the art rugged macho lawn mower thingy". Perhaps one of those lovely men will lend you theirs (provided you return it filled up).
Make sure that your Love sees you trotting on over to their places with the longest lashes and sweetest smile on your face. If he doesn't change his mind then, well at least you showed that you've got some gumption (I'm sure he knows this already ).

I'm totally kidding of course..sorta..
Be sure to bring your camera..haha:) Good luck!

p.s. love the pictures of the butterfly and blue sky!

[Kris]

Bless your "pea pickin heart". You remind me of "me". Pretending to be a child livin in the 1800's on a prairie farm Scycling piles of brush. That is back breaking work!! How could you even move this a.m.?

You deserve a mower that is self-propelled so that you don't have to push it...it rolls on it's own and with all of that acreage, you need one!! Tell Mr. Lovee that while you "love" livin on the prairie, things have changed and that it is time to forge ahead and try some of that new fangled equipment that they call a "mower".

Good Luck,
Kris
P.S. let me know if you get one. I also love your pictures...beautiful!

[sadira]

I actually have a push mower for my little lawn. One that looses it's wheel every 10 full turns...which means I push and kick...it must be very entertaining for anyone else to watch. I also need some sort of weed whacker to do the side yards...and then after going to Ms. Dina's tonight, she took me on a secret drive to a new house they're renting...complete with gardeners.

Now.

I ask you...may I have a gardener? My lawn is not as high maintenance as their new one...and their gardeners actually put LIGHTS up in the HUGE pine tree. Le Sigh.

So.

I do not think that a girlie or new lawn mower is too much to ask for (we actually had an electric one at one point and it was fantastic! Just plug in and go!!) It could be worse...you COULD be asking for a gardener.

[michelle]

Oh you have just gotten me so in the mood for Spring! Things aren't quite budding here yet. But you give me hope! Let's see, lawnmowers. I am not allowed to use ours, I ran over a couple of sprinklers the first time I tried to "help" and now hubby has banned me. Darn! One of my best accidents!

[Poetic Dreams]

Beautiful Vanessa,
Mr. Lovee doesn't want his beloved toiling away behind a lawnmower of any sort. I think he secretly wants to do the yard himself. lol
Thanks for the beautiful pictures of your trees and Butterflies and bunnies. I miss my summer bunnies and wonder how they faired this winter?
Wishing ya a beautiful star-filled night.
Hugs~

[Karen Mowrey]

I love to read your posts and yes, we do not have to have major problems to have our own mending day or say "potty mouth" words. Your tree of life is bee-utiful! We have bunnies around but they make their way through the snow yet..but getting there.

We have a very old riding lawn mower and a tractor but my Mr. Honey will not teach me how to use them. He thinks his contribution to maintenance around here is riding something so if I take that away from him he may have a harder chore to do.

My answer to you on getting a new lawn mower is to hire some hotty to come mow your lawn and "oogle" over how you got the job done :) (of course this would backfire with me, my Mr. Honey would see it as his day off!)

[anonymous]

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[Rhonda]

Oh Dearest Darling Vanessa,
On the mower front, no words of wisdom from girl whom cowboy (no not your next door bachelor cowboy- my Florida spoken for cowboy!) has banned *eternally* from use of the John Deere (really, I wasnt even on a mower when The Dreaded Incident of '07 occurred. It was a golf cart. One which we no longer have. Ahem. Nuff said)

{{{{empathatic loving sisterly hug}}}}}}}

xoxoxoxox rooo
PS These comments are HILARIOUS!!! Rock on Fanciful Peeps!

[marjorie]

oh Miss hope and fancy, I am so happy to drop into your garden today! :) Your welling up hope from the basket for all is so lovely, and I feel it! :) I, too, worry a lot about ever so many things, and have my own little woes (none too great as of yet....but life always brings them anew, along with great happiness,too).

I am enamored of your apricot tree! I do so love to munch them, and think what a delight it would be to pluck them from the tree! :) Being about in nature, surrounded by sweetly singing birds, and worms, bugs, trailing ants, new green, Spring grass and fresh air has made my cold almost pass! :) Nature is hope!! :)

Oh, and have you ever seen this dandy lawn mower??
http://www.eco-outfitter.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=180&SEName=brill-razorcut-38-push-reel-lawn-mower

It's a wee bit pricey (eeeep!) But looks lovely....Can a Victorian sugar elf covet yard tools?? I think so! ;)

Cheerio Sweet cupcake head!! :)

[somepinkflowers]

all my life i have wondered:
where is the Tree of Life?

:-)

how perfect that is sits
in your backyard
where i imagine you might one day
place the piano on the roof
to play to the clouds
because

well

why not?

[shibori girl]

Hooray for Peachy Buds! I do hope you are not too sore from your Fanciful Prairie Workout - 'Tho methinks this is how you keep your girlish figure with all those tea parties you have in the garden? :)

Be strong and get that Girlie lawnmower. You'd think Mr Lovee would jump at the chance to hand that particular chore off to someone chomping at the bit to it herself!

Enjoy your enchanted world there, Missy...

xoxo,

Kate

[Mo'a]

You lovely mender of hurt souls are you absolutely sure you want to be the one mowing the lawn?
Or perhaps you need a brush remover. I have a friend who lives in the woods and has a lovely riding machine on which she removes brush, tangled roots and high grass. She is addicted to this job. I am thinking about having her ride over here to clear our lots :)

Perhaps it would be better to ask for the piano on the roof...somehow I think that is more your style ;] annnnd it would make a lovely post.

Loved seeing your signs of spring...beautiful photos.

[Mendy]

Just wanted to check in with ya! Your photos are just breathtaking...so lovely and fresh. I love springtime!! mendy

[StampinMom]

Girl, you've been busy!! Yes, you totally deserve a new mower...or a lawn boy, give Mr. Lovee the option, tee hee!

Beatiful pictures as always & do love the moral to this story!

Jamie :-)

[Karen Young]

Vanessa, what a beautiful uplifting story. It made me feel so good.

take care and I'm off to mend some hearts.

Hugs Karen

[Deborah]

I simply adore you. Fanciful little house on the prairie indeed. Forget about the new lawnmower . . . do move the piano up on the roof and play in the clouds - or at least paint a picture of it. **blows kisses**
Deborah

[shannon]

Well, Vanessa, perhaps you *should* ask Mr. Lovee if you may put the piano on the roof so that you might play in the clouds...and then a little lawnmower won't seem like much of a request!

Oh, the toil of keeping up with lawns in this fertile Northeast...and to think we had no mower until our third summer here (last year). My husband would be out there with a scythe for hours, then later sore and grumpy!

[carolee]

Men!

I hate to admit it, buy my solution would be to resort to bribery (seriously, they can be sooooo easy) and if that fails, tears are always good. I know, they can usually read these things like a book, but for some reason they still respond...

We have a tiny little backyard and use an old fashioned push mower (more green and less maintentance) - but ACREAGE? You soooooooo need a riding mower!

Gorgeous photos. :)

~ Carolee

[stephanie]

I simply LOVE your story of the little tree of HOPE. I believe, I truly do, that hope and good thoughts, hugs and healing minds can change the world.

I do

and as for the lawn mowing thing, it may be too late, but I refuse to even learn how to start that beast because then it becomes one more of MY responsibilities...I have plenty to do thank you very much.

x..x
steph

[Shannon]

Beautiful Tree of Life! So encouraging the way it supports and shelters so many fragile lives.

And the fancy, rideable, lawnmower?
Well, you've put your foot down, haven't you?

[Tink]

lovely pics, inspiration for spring
hoping to go to a garden show this weekend and bring some lovely inspiring floral pics for all to enjoy! don't get me started on the grass cutting thing though!

[elizabeth]

Buy a few goats....they will eat all the grass:)

[Teresa in California]

Sheep will eat the grass too...but then you'll have all that dung to worry about! Seriously, I hope you do get that riding lawn mower. And I'm glad you can be a potty mouth at times...I don't think any of us would be 'normal' if we didn't spew a little bit... even if we do it when no one else is around...it's just letting off steam...kind of like the door mouse in a tea pot. The butterflies are so beautiful in your area. And yes, there are lots of hugs needed the shape that our country is in right now. Thank you for the wonderful photos.

[Krista]

This was my favorite of your posts! (I know, I say that about every one, but really, each one has its own uniqueness, how can I pick just one?) I love your sense of humor, I'm in tears here! I feel a bit guilty that I have a nice riding lawnmower (though it still takes 3-4 hours to mow all the lawn, LOL) and you have to chop away like the grim reaper! (But you're prettier than the grim, of course) Hmm..you could save the sickle for Halloween...hehe, good luck on your lawn mowing adventures...hopefully the Mr. will give in. :D

[Chris]

Lovely photos! You did a heck of a lot of work!

Here's an idea: Tell Mr. Lovee that the bachelor with the lawnmower offered to come over and spend the day on your property any time, since he has more modern equipment. I don't know if my idea will work, but it's worth a shot!

[Tricia]

Heeelllllllloooooo Miss V! Long time no see...erm...write i mean!
I have been mending today as well! I always feel very Mary Ingalls while i hand sew.

I think you should make Mr. L and fantastic dinner and then after a few glasses of vino ask him to get a new fangled top of the line mower for you! You never know, it just might work!
Lovely photos! Toot a loo, now now!