Getting Back to the Garden

For the past three weeks, I have been trying to follow an adage my father often used, "Don't tell people what you're going to do, tell them what you've done." He was a big believer in not sharing plans or ideas prematurely, but keeping plans close to the belt while all the details were being worked out. I doubt he would have worded it this way, but it was his way of clearing the field of energy so that the idea could unfold naturally. My father, despite growing up in very difficult circumstances and with only an eighth grade education, managed to educate himself, picking up a great deal of wisdom along the way to his own version of the American Dream. I try to remember what he shared with me and follow that wisdom as I shape my own course in life. A growing enthusiasm for its unfoldment, and its nearness, allows me to share my big news with you today.

I have found my property.

My sons are referring to it as my  "slice of heaven"  and my own  "Paradise."  These feel like apt descriptions to me.

Taking this big step again is a bit scary. With owning this piece of land comes a responsibility to it. It has been lovingly cared for throughout the years and it deserves my utmost respect and dedication.

It consists of 5.77 acres of almost park-like grounds, with a house that may not be my dream house, but has the potential to be, either through refurbishment or, eventually, replacement. It is the land itself that drew me in and wouldn't let go, albeit it did this rather quietly and without a lot of clamoring for my emotional attention.

I first looked at it several weeks ago, before spring had sprung. I hesitated, uncertain whether I was ready to take the plunge. Three weeks ago, my plans for the day kept being altered and so, without becoming frustrated, I waited for further direction. That afternoon, I knew I was supposed to take another look at this property. I made the arrangements,  ready to ask a few more questions, look a bit more closely at the nuts and bolts of the place.

I wasn't prepared for its beauty. Spring had indeed sprung and the lushness of the grounds and  a new awareness of all it offered started to sink in and with it a closer look at the possibilities. While standing in the driveway, on a perfect sun-filled day, I made an offer. By later that day it had been accepted, and we close the sale this Tuesday, June 15th. I will share more of it as I go along, but for now let me just say, I feel I have been given an opportunity to steward a fine piece of Mother Earth and I intend to do so with a great deal of love. I am looking forward to spending my days in a quiet sense of duty to this land, getting dirty, getting tired, and getting peaceful at the hands of this little piece of Paradise.

This is the view from the porch of the 100 year old log cabin that also sits on the property. It's waiting to see how I will use its very cool space.

We are stardust.
We are golden.
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden...

~from "Woodstock,"  by Joni Mitchell