If we were having coffee: Kindness edition

A shady place to sit near the vegetable garden.

Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight:  always try to be a little kinder than is necessary?

~ Sir James Matthew Barrie, The Little White Bird

Five Photos, Five Stories: Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus

Long ago and far away, in a land across the sea, lived Fair Margaret, a beautiful young woman who fell in love with a knave known as Sweet William.  Sweet William was known for his heroic and chivalrous deeds, but he also had a reputation as a bit of a ne’er-do-well when it came to the ladies.  His roguish charm was hard to resist, and many a sweet maiden would later regret falling for his line, “Grant us a smile, love.”  Poor Fair Margaret was one such maiden who became his lover, giving her heart, her love, and her innocence to him.  Several weeks later, upon seeing Sweet William marry another, Fair Margaret threw herself from the window of her chamber, and her body was broken and crushed upon the rocks in the sea below.  Her ghost, it is said, haunted Sweet William until he could take it no more, and the old gods granted him his wish to be turned into a flower that would always please the ladies with its charm and cheerfulness.

Five Photos, Five Stories: A walk at twilight

A place to rest.

I went out for a walk the other evening to stretch my legs and enjoy the breeze.  It was one of those liminal times, just after the sun has set but before the darkness takes over, a time between times when the veil between the worlds is thin and, it is said, magic happens.  As I approached the roses, I caught sight of something out of the corner of eye.  A wing, a flicker, a spark of light, a giggle made almost tangible.  I looked down towards the ground where I thought the flutter had come from, and there I found a tiny bed made from a rose petal nestled in the curved valley of a leaf.

Five Photos, Five Stories: Batman

Batman injured.

In an attempt to jump in and stop an altercation between Young Rufus and his father, Old Baldy, Batman fell short on his landing, injuring himself on the Peace, Love, and Happiness artwork recently installed in a Gotham park.  Official word is that with rest, pain medication, and ice packs, Batman should make a complete and rapid recovery.  He has asked that no charges be brought against Young Rufus or Old Baldy since it was a family dispute, and no one was harmed as a result of their actions.

The art installation, created by world renowned artist Lux Lemon, was not damaged during the fray.  Mr. Lemon stated that it was designed to withstand the elements and possible abuse by visitors to the park.

Home and gardens

Marigolds in the scrounger’s garden.

I have found, through years of practice, that people garden in order to make something grow; to interact with nature; to share, to find sanctuary, to heal, to honor the earth, to leave a mark.  Through gardening, we feel whole as we make our personal work of art upon our land.

~ Julie Moir Messervy, The Inward Garden