simple pleasures
(polaroid sx-70, 600 film)
i have been all about the simple pleasures these days and thankfully after the crazy cold and snow of last week, we are once again living the beautiful life of sunshine and blue skies, green grass and green leaves. blossoms and tulips. dandelion dreams. its finally spring in alberta and i couldn’t be happier.
my garden was painstakingly turned over, weeded, raked and prepared for the plantings. its hard work but oh so worth it because this year i will have two kinds of peppers, hot chilis, sweet corn on the cob, green string beans, cucumbers, spaghetti squash, zuchinni squash, sweet spanish onions, beets, carrots, peas, tomatoes, an assortment of gourmet lettuce and various herbs along with yummy raspberries and strawberries and hopefully some blueberries though i suspect those won’t take until next year.
i still have a swack of new perennials to plant and it looks like we may be digging up another part of the yard to put in a brick patio which i will surround with yummy bee and butterfly attracting flowers. there is nothing better than sitting outside with a glass of something fruity reading or talking to a friend or blissfully writing in my notebook while surrounded by the life of the natural world. we have a short season here but somehow that just makes it all the more drinkable.
i have been running and running and then running some more. i have been logging at least an hour a day at the local saltwater pool and my bike is finally giving my legs a workout. i have been spending lunch hours walking in our river valley and pressing me some weights in the gym. i have been really enjoying pushing this body of mine as far as it will allow me to push it. i feel like a kid again most days and fall asleep content dreaming of raspberry dripped syrup, grass stained elbows and rolling down grassy hills filled with tiny daisies and dandelion stained knees.
simple pleasures.
(polaroid sx-70, 600 film)
and of course we have a garden gnome after all it was the garden gnome that brought me and my husband together. if you don’t know the story, you can read it at the story of us and this past weekend, i found the perfect companion to watch over our veggies and plot his own secrets.
i feel really grounded in myself and my family these days, in the sunshine laughter of my life and the bright earth around me. i am hopeful that this is a new journey i am on, a journey that honours the ground that i have walked on and holds the memories close to my heart always but is indeed a new journey forward.
in keeping with my enjoyment of the simple pleasures, i was so happy to read that the lovely shelagh of alice in paris loves art and tea has created a space to bring back the art of letter writing and is giving me an excuse to use up some of the beautiful stationary that has been gathering dust in my bookshelves. if you are so moved to find yourself a letter writing pal, check out artful penpals, reviving the lost art of letter writing.
peace and love.
May 26th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
so much goodness here, beautiful!
you are such a gentle guide…
such an inspiring companion on this quest for simplicity.
loving you.
xoxoxoxox
May 26th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
oh my friend, i do love this post! i remember reading your story, but it resonates so much more now that i know you. (= i’m happy you found your garden gnome - he’s a good one, you can tell.
in today’s mail i received my much anticipated new-to-me blue and white striped tee, how fun that i open your archived link and there you are, wearing yours!
you already know that you are my fitness hero and inspiration but i don’t mind saying it over and over. seriously, you inspire me.
sending you love and hugs from here to there. xo
May 26th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Garden Gnomes eh? It’s sad, but we had two garden gnomes at our wedding, and when we placed them in our front garden at our ‘old’ house, one gnome was stolen off the property. It really bugged me. We quickly grabbed the other gnome and he’s been indoors since. I have lots of pictures of our wedding with said gnomes.
I also just read your ‘how you met’ post and how utterly LOVELY! It seriously brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing Darlene! You’re both such special kindred spirits! :)
Daisy
May 26th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I splurged this weekend on 2 lbs of cherries at an exorbitant price, but they were irresistible. Home grown tomatoes are my very favorite food in the whole world. Nothing tastes better. Standing at the sink, one knee propped on the other, salt shaker in hand, sunshine coming through the window, biting into a just picked, still warm from the earth tomato. Does not get any better.
May 26th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Oh my gosh! I LOVE the story of how you & Duke got together. It’s so crazy and fun and so so so meant to be!
It gives me hope that the right guy is out there for me! Hell, and I may even know him already!
You guys are such a rock star of a couple!
I think you should DEFINITELY edit that film and make that movie for an anniversary present!
P.S. love your garden too!
May 26th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
oh…what a fantastic post…
i could eat it..
i could fold it up and put it in my pocket
and pull it out on rainy days for a little ray
of sunshine…
:O)
love the garden gnome…
and going to check out artful penpals
asap…
sounds like so much fun!!
xo
May 26th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
My favorite part of spring so far has been digging out in the yard. Glad you finally got your turn.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Dar, you are an inspiration! In so many ways:) Time to pry my bum away from this computer and MOVE!
Thanks for mentioning the “letter revival”, There are 15 of us already:)
Cheers, Shelagh
May 27th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I can’t believe you guys still had snow last week! What is up with that? But now you are in your garden…one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.
xo
May 27th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Wonderful post Darlene! I would love to be part of a penpal group. I love the art of letter writing!
Happy, happy spring :)0
xoxo
Jane
May 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Thank you for posting the link to the letter writing exchange. I’ve already signed up and I can hardly wait for it to start.