The Gnome's Gardens

14 Aug '06 6:30 pm

Hi Christopher!

I can understand why you were livid! Yet the friend would probably be horrified to realise that she had upset you.

It takes a special kind of passion and love of beauty, not to mention physical energy and a desire to improve your surroundings, to be a dedicated gardener. Couch potatoes have passtimes - it helps them get through the day. We have passions!

15 Aug '06 3:14 am

I agree wholeheartedly with both your assessments Christopher and Jack. Actually I see gardening as a way of life. It is my way of living in harmony with nature (one reason I try to stay totally organic). Some could actually view it as a sickness, but it is one of the most healing activities a body can have. If my heart is heavy, I can go into my garden and pull weeds, letting my mind ramble wherever it wants. Before long I am lost in planning my next garden or deciding what plants I should order for the fall or spring. If I cry while gardening, the soft earth accepts my tears and rewards me with beauty. Gardening helped me get through some of the hardest times of my life and I can think of no other activity that could do that for me. Non-gardeners just don't understand this psychic connection that gardeners feel and they are missing something very rewarding as a result.

Faith

15 Aug '06 8:00 am

Your thoughts are so tenderly expressed ,Faith .
I think every one here understands exactly what is being said .
Dixie.

15 Aug '06 10:33 am

Faith, you hit the nail on the head. (So to speak Wink

)

That is just how I view this new passion of mine, to garden.

Live to garden.
Garden to live.

Christopher

2 Sep '06 4:16 am

Being away from our beloved site for three weeks, I am so touched by what new I discover every day!

By the way! Dear Christopher! Where are you, dear good, sensitive, poetic, gardener friend?? I do miss you so! I have to tell you, that some of your most recent close ups are not just beautiful , but stunning! Aren't you going to send us some more?? Pleeease!!

And , dear Faith! How I was moved by your last post here!! I was feeling it was me describing how you feel about gardening!I actually believe, it is one of the best healing and inspirational activities for mind , body , and spirit! It is used as a healing method in Hospitals and Special Schools!

In the September's "Gardener's World" (:the BBC edition), the main reportage by Alan Tichmarsh, has as essential idea, that "Gardening is a treat for all the senses, benefiting mind, body, and soul " . I just enjoyed reading in the article about all the things you expressed in your post, dear Faith! All the things we experience, all of us, the real gardeners!

We are so very lucky!

Thank you, Faith!

6 Sep '06 5:33 pm

Well....here we are. August is gone and September has pounced. It wont be long now until the temp drops and things freeze, then the snow will fly again.

I'm sorry for the resent lack of post by your friendly gnome, but things have been a little, well, stressed these past weeks.

I have been laying low this passed summer and enjoying the garden work. This meant that I was avoiding real work, the kind people pay me to do, you know. Last summer we had all these plans and I just got so busy building parade floats that I had no time for our garden plans. This year I stayed home and didn't go looking for work in order to get things done, but work found me in the middle of August and I couldn't turn it down. Especially when it just drops in my lap like that.

So every day I water the gardens and watch as things go to seed. The pumpkins are getting BIG and the corn is taller than me now. I have some pix of the odd thing to two.

So this job I got was to build a mascot costume for the local university's football club. Seems every time I make a mascot I tell myself "This is the last one!" but after time goes by and the problems are forgotten, I forget my pledge to myself. This one was completely nuts too because I usually want 6 weeks to make a mascot and these guys wanted it in 2 weeks. Oh well. I'll sleep when I'm dead. Har har! But in reality I had fun. I know the routine so well and I enjoy the challenges involved and it went smoothly with no big problems. I delivered the mascot at the first game of the season and wore the suit myself just for the fun of it. Last night we went to the second game to see how the chap did who they got to wear the outfit and had a good time. Everyone is pleased with my work and the new mascot is making a name for himself and winning hearts all around. The Regina Rams is the first university football club to have a mascot in Canada.

Now I am on a kick to get as many odd jobs done around the yard as I can before Summer officially runs out. I have ten jobs on my calendar, one for each of the next ten days. So we will see if I can gnome my way through the list.

Something Seasonal.

The night was mighty dark and it was hard to see
'cause the moon refused to shine
There's a couple sitting 'neath the willow tree
for love, they did pine.

Little gal was kind-of afraid of dark
so she said "I think I'll go"
The boy began to sigh
looked up at the sky
and told the moon his little tale of woe.

Oh, shine on,
Shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky

I ain't had no lovin' since
January, February, June or July
Snow time
ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon

So shine on
Shine on harvest moon
for me and my gal

Best regards,

Christopher

6 Sep '06 5:52 pm

Thank you for a wonderful post Christopher ,Deb, and Mom .I loved it all ..The costume is Brilliant ! I just had to laugh when I saw the wood you had BIG plans for - sorry about that ,but the pile of wood is HUGE ,and I don`t know what I`d do if a pile that size landed on my lawn !Ever the wonderful Optimist dear Christopher !
Dixie

7 Sep '06 1:33 pm

Hi Dixie. If you look in the pic of the corn you will see our oldest fence, the big brown one. It is made from cedar and has seen better days. It needs to be replaced and now it can be.

I have other things for this old fence wood. No doubt it will become some new raised planters for Deb, amongst other things.

Raw materials are like gold. They can be turned in to almost anything.

Christopher

7 Sep '06 6:18 pm

Christopher, Dixie warned me that you were pictorially exposing a certain hidden side of yourself, so to speak. Imagine my surprise when I found you in your lovely ram suit! My goodness, it gave me quite a giggle. I had no idea you lead this secret life!

I wonder if any of the other forum friends will now have the nerve to post pictures of themselves in odd costumes! You might have started somwething. For example, Jack has just finished his school production of Canterbury Tales, and I am now imagining him trotting around his garden with his camera on the self-timer, dressed as a mediaeval monk with a fat tummy...
Oh, and my silly insect-mad son Eggy told me to peep at the ladybird picture. Beautiful creatures, beautiful picture! Cheers, and happy cavorting. Oh, and by the way, keep up the puns! And warm regards to Deb and Mother.

7 Sep '06 9:01 pm

Moosey - I rise to the challenge you present !
For your birthday tomorrow ...

I was once third Fairy
And I was young and free
In a 'Midsummers night'Production
When I weighed eight stone three

A skimpy little costume
Of purple ,green and blue
How easily I slipped it on
And waited for my cue

I only ever had two words
I said them every night
We all skipped in "I`m Ready ! "
I chirped with all my might

Now some of me is sagging
My eyes are not too clear
My wrinkles give away my age
As I ponder forty years

Today I am a Granny
My hair is silver -grey
I need my glasses for my books
And a pill or two each day

But I still hear the music
As each year turns a page
Inside I`m still third Fairy
And I`m dancing on my stage

Dixie

The Gnome's Gardens

They don't get it...

Gardening vs. Passtimes

Understanding

Here,here!

Trying to catch up...

Wake me up when September ends.

A Life in the Day of a Gnome

Not board at all.

Costume Brilliant!

Third Fairy