Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sweetness And Lots Of Light



Why are some days so much better than others? I don't think I'll ever know. Perhaps there is a complicated formula in which the variables are things like amount of sunshine received and amount of sleep gotten and the colors and subjects of dreams. Of course we would have to include such things as the position of the planets and the moon, what we ate the day before, and when the last time we made love was. All of these things must be considered, I think.
For whatever reason, though, today has been a good day.
It was, in fact, such a good day that I finally got up the whatever-it-is-that-it-takes-me to call and make reservations for a room for a wedding Mr. Moon and I are going to attend at the end of March up in Georgia. This is going to be a full-blown wedding, the wedding of the third son of one of my oldest friends and I am sure beyond doubt that it is going to be done well and done big.
I really don't want to miss it, even if the thought of going out and finding something to wear is so daunting that I can hardly bear it. I have been putting off simply making the reservations call for a week but today in the face of such a fine mood and so much sunshine, I did it. When I pushed the "off" button on the phone after getting my confirmation number I felt like Uncle Si on Duck Dynasty who is frequently known to announce, "It is ON! It is ON like Donkey Kong!"

Amen, Uncle Si! Amen!

Now tomorrow I'll probably wake up and think, "Oh Jesus. I can't go to that wedding," but now I have to. I've made the damn reservations.

Anyway, Lord, how much can one person talk about the simple making of reservations? Obviously, a lot.

We got in the garden, too. I sort of just wanted Mr. Moon to get in there and till that shit under but he decided to do some weeding so what could I do but put on my overalls and join him? I didn't do much, honestly. Just enough to make my wrist hurt enough for me to actually consider going to see a doctor about it. Eventually. Maybe. It's only been hurting me and waking me up regularly at night for approximately twenty-seven years now. I'm not one to rush in to see a doctor for every little thing.
Or...almost anything.

While we were in the garden I decided to let the chickens in to join us. I have no idea why but almost nothing makes me happier than working in the garden with the chickens all around us. I love how Elvis rushes in first and makes that ooooh sound he makes, alerting the hens to vast opportunity of the culinary kind. They pecked around in utter ecstasy for quite some time and then discovered the collards and now my greens all have delicately tattered edges. Oh well. I don't care. I have a pot boiling with some I picked earlier for our supper and I am glad to share the riches.

So yes, just those simple things have made me happy. Chickens and pulling weeds and the good clean sunshine and the cooking of beans with the last of the funeral ham which I pulled out of the freezer and the greens I have simmering with tomatoes and onions. The rising sourdough loaf. Hanging out with my husband, the prospect of yet another cozy evening in, a phone call accomplished.

And this:





The birds at my feeder. I have never seen as many cardinals as we have this year. That last picture is what a male cardinal in the light of the setting sun looks like. As if he might burst into flames at any moment. The azalea blooms may be history but there are still the camellia blossoms and the bright fire of the cardinals, the red and yellow stripe of color on the blackbirds' wings, a swoop of it as they sing their rusty song and then suddenly, burst forth with such a sweet whistle of a sound that it reminds me of syrup, poured out of a bottle.

My wrist hurts. I'm going to quit writing now and go stir my beans and decide whether or not to add rice to the pot.

I am happy. For no apparent reason and for every reason on earth.

Today the world is sweet for me and I am grateful and do not even care why overmuch.



10 comments:

  1. Well, I have to say that I'm sort of relieved to not have a garden any more. But I do like to read about yours. I used to want chickens, too, but never got them. Peeking in on your life seems to satisfy me just fine.

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  2. It's as if I can smell the garden dirt wafting through the computer screen.

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  3. And, you helped me cook from afar ;) It turned out really good. Thank you.

    Sounds like a great day!! I wish I could have gotten outside. I miss some vitamin D.

    Love you!

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  4. It's so good to be happy. Glad that you worked in the earth and enjoyed the day. It was beautiful but chilly here.

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  5. Denise- You know, our plans involve moving to the water as you have done. So...you are getting me ready for that in your writing. I am grateful for that. Reading about the joys that are in front of me.

    Nancy- That dirt smells good and has chicken shit in it. I do love dirt.

    SJ- Did the carrots taste sweet?

    Syd- Same thing here. And tonight it is going to get very cold.

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  6. Sounds like a great day. Those moments like you described at the end of the post when you are just happy... when life is just good... those are so frickin' awesome to experience firsthand and also to witness in others. Thank you for sharing all of your moments - bad and good.

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  7. You could always wear the nunnightgown to the wedding. Or would that be inappropriate? :)

    As John Denver famously sang, "Some days are diamonds, some days are stones..."

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  8. You're making me crave the outside, the dirt, the smell of freshly mowed grass and the sun. I'm up here in the snow salivating, as if I'd just watched someone eat a big slice of chocolate cake drizzled with warm caramel.

    Embrace the good days.

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  9. And you make me happy when you write.

    Wow, the garden already.
    You are always so ahead of us here.
    Snow still covering mine.
    I wanted to send you some seeds this year, but haven't even bought any yet.

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  10. Jill- They really are the sweetness of life, those moments. Aren't they?

    Steve Reed- Don't think I haven't considered that. But no, I do not think it would be appropriate. Sadly.

    heartinhand- Oh. I DO!

    Bethany- SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS!!!!!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.