Still in the spirit of keeping track of myself ~
ALL GOOD GIFTS ( Incomings):
from Cynthia, author of A Good Home, a dedicated post, accompanied by flowers;
from Clare, at A Suffolk Lane, an introduction to the lovely tradition of the Blessing of the Plough on Plough Sunday, and a reminder of the wonderful hymn ” “We Plough the Fields and Scatter”;
from Robbie (and her friend Lori), at Palm Rae Urban Potager, notification of Save our Soil Blogger Action Day (21st January ).
ALL GOOD GIFTS (Outgoings):
for Robbie ( and Lori ), composting my soil in time for Save our Soil Blogger Action Day, and scattering seeds of buckwheat and wildflowers;
for Clare, a beautiful rendition of We Plough the Fields and Scatter,
and a glimpse of a harvest to come,
fed on the sweetness of summer raindrops;
for Cynthia, an arrangement
for a heart’s ease and a heart’s celebration in all things bright and good, no matter how tiny.
© silkannthreades
This is a most beautiful post, Gallivanta! I am most touched by the gift of the harvest thanksgiving hymn and the film was wonderful. I do apologise for not having visited before – I have had a lot of time to myself this weekend – a real luxury – and have done a bit of catching up. Thank-you from my heart. Clare x
Oh, so glad you could come by. Your Plough Sunday had my mind going in all sorts of directions. It may inspire another post yet. I have the photos, and some words (in my head) but no time to write it. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Time to ourselves is precious.
Thank-you! Have just returned from Taking Mum to church and husband is on his way back from Manchester. He’ll be here in about an hour. Daughter will need a bit of chivvying to do some work for college soon. Back to normal!
Normal can be nice, too, like a comforting old shawl. It’s been a normal old Monday here. 🙂
What a heart lifting post I enjoyed just now, from the beautiful harvest hymn through to the delights of the harvest. That final little bouquet with its heartsease created the perfect ending. Lovely, Gallivanta!
Mary, the heartsease does exactly that. Every time I look upon it, my heart lightens.
Thank you for sharing your sunshine and seeds and a glimpse of things to come. :0
Lucy, the seeds are already sprouting. I am very excited to see my first buckwheat plants.
Woo Hoo! Spring is sprunging!
😀
😀
So much growing there in your healthy looking soil. What is the flower in your Header? They’re awesome. Your wee caterpillar will be the most beautiful butterfly later, it’d be nice to see where it cocoons so you could tune in for the metamorphosis. Amazing to me even as an adult.
I do enjoy the Johnny Jump ups. They grew all over our yard at the lake and just continued to propagate on their own. Are you going into fall in a month or two? Cheers!
Boomdeeadda, we will indeed soon be falling gently into fall. I don’t enjoy saying goodbye to the long summer evenings. As for the cocoon; it has vanished. The wind has been very strong and drying over the past 24 hours and that has caused the cocoon to detach from the leaf. It may still survive. I found another cocoon hidden deep in the rocket leaves, when I was picking rocket for my salad tonight.
The plant in my header is clematis paniculata. https://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/o-bright-day-marked-with-a-still-whiter-stone/ It is gorgeous. Just as your yard at the lake must have been gorgeous with all the Johnny Jump Ups. 🙂
A cornucopia of beautiful gifts – eclectic and thoughtful.
Thank you Andrea. A cornucopia is a lovely word to choose. 🙂
Such a mellow and gracious post–aren’t we lucky to have such interesting friends?
Indeed, indeed, we are.
Wonderful post! Love all you photos, especially the soil and the gooseberries. The hymn brought back memories of Sunday School harvest festivals when I was a child growing up in England.
That’s lovely to hear that the post brought back those memories for you. Is it a hymn you have played on your piano?
Oh yes, I’ve played it many times, as I used to play for church services both in England and in South Africa. 🙂
Ah…. that’s lovely.
@physalis – amour en cage… I’ve seen one these days in a neighbor’s front yard… I wrote a text about “l’amour en cage” last year… 🙂
Ah, yes, I put l’amour en cage on the photo just for you. 🙂 I am glad you noticed!
Your caterpillar photo is simply stunning. I am seeing Monarch butterflies in the garden every day as we bake in the summer heat. That is such a wonderful sight. I had hoped to plant some swan plants but the wet, cold, very windy spring deterred me…now I wonder if I should have planted some regardless of the weather.
Thank you! I was very excited to finally get a decent photo of a monarch caterpillar. I guess its stillness was helpful! I planted 6 swan plants this year but they were all stripped bare in a couple of days, and most of the caterpillars simply disappeared into ? ? ….oblivion? So I am starting to wonder if it is worthwhile to plant the swan plants when it is impossible to keep up with demand. And the caterpillars don’t seem to care for the other foods that are sometimes suggested.
Swan plants really do seem to be their favourite food.
Yes, they love them too well!
I loved seeing your caterpillar. A friend in California eased into her patio chair last week with her morning coffee, and discovered a monarch drying its wings on the chair’s wooden arm. The crysalis was beneath. She hadn’t seen it, and when she began looking, she found more. I hope yours will be as successful this year. You surely have a place that seems made to order for them.
There’s no ploughing or scattering here today, only beautiful rain. We’ve received well over two inches, and though it’s cold and windy, there’s no question the soil is loving it. It reminds me of that famous line: “The quality of mercy is not strained, it falleth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
Thanks for such a lovely, gentle post, and its reminder that all good things come as gifts.
How lovely to have the blessing of rain. Not too much, not too little, but just right. When it happens like that it does seem heaven sent (and sometimes heavenly scented!). Off on a tangent…my husband and I were married in Botswana where the currency is the pula.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_pula Pula means ‘rain” and/or blessing. It didn’t rain on our wedding day 😦 but it rained when both my children were born (not in Botswana). 🙂 I haven’t seen any evidence of monarchs on my patio chair but I shall keep a look out. How sensible of the monarch to know that a patio chair is for sunning oneself.
Beautiful post!~ Lucky of you to get those gifts dear Gallivanta! ⭐
Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
Aquileana, thank you. Your posts are wonderful gifts to us, too. I am so far behind on them. Hope to come over soon.
Dear Gallivanta ⭐ Thank you very much for dropping by and for your beautiful words… I hope you have a great week ahead!. Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
Thank you Aquileana. Best wishes to you too.
What’s a post without flowers, Ann? 🙂 🙂 And a caring message, as always!
Without flowers I would be all at sea. 🙂 🙂 And there would be nothing wrong with that because I love everything about the sea except being on it.
Gallivanta – No need to post this, but an FYI – WP glitched and dropped me from following you. I have refollowed. This has happened time to time with various blogs. Not sure if others are having the same problem.
Lavinia I will post this because it is a reminder to people to check the posts they follow. It does happen from time to time. In fact I have just thought of someone who hasn’t appeared in my email notifications for a long time. I must check if WP has unfollowed me from her site.
Thank goodness I have your posts to cheer me and remind me of the spring that is coming. Right now I have at least three inches of snow on the ground!
But you also have beautiful deer to cheer you on; they come with the snow it seems. We are blessed to have such beautiful scenes outside our windows.
Yes, I am definitely blessed to have red cardinals against the white snow. I never tire of looking at it!
Do blue jays come as well? Squirrels?
Yes, I have blue jays. Squirrels are around but they don’t seem to bother the bird feeder much- thankfully!
Lovely!
I love the gracious and gentle in and out nature of this post (the balance sheet). I look forward to seeing pictures of your wildflower garden sometime soon. 😉
JAA, I wouldn’t normally keep a balance sheet of gifts (like the Queen http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/australias-bizarre-gifts-for-queen-elizabeth/story-fnisprwn-1227185282062 ) but I was thinking about how balance is good/beneficial for human life as well as soil life. My first wildflower sowing is now producing pink clover; so pretty. I am looking forward to what I will see in this bigger area we have seeded. For sure there will be photos!
Very nice pictures of the caterpillar. The pictures of flowers in the vase are so lovely. The last one is my favorite.
Thank you YC. That’s probably my favourite too. 🙂
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You really created a wonderful fusion between your written thoughts and your images.
Thank you Charlie. I am glad it is a fusion and not a CONfusion. Sometimes I think my posts are a confusion of ideas. 🙂
How beautiful Gallivanta – what a generous post!
Thank you Mary. Have you ever tried painting soil? I found it tricky to photograph successfully.
Hi Gallivanta – I’m not sure what you mean, painting soil. I’ve never heard of it – can you explain what this is, now my curiosity is getting the best of me.
Oh dear. I wasn’t very clear, was I? What I mean is have you tried a painting soil/earth challenge, like your painting trees series and painting rock series? There are so many different types of soil, like the beautiful Seven coloured Earths in Mauritius https://thecrankydesigner.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/the-seven-coloured-earths.jpg and the Danxia Landform at Nantaizi village Zhangye, China.
Then there is garden soil rich with compost and worms. 🙂
how funny, was I a little off base or what! No I haven’t, but doesn’t mean it won’t make the list one of these days – very interesting and will head on out to the links.
Perhaps you were thinking more along these lines. http://www.opalexplorenature.org/sites/default/files/7/file/Painting-with-soil.pdf Reading that reminded me that we need good soil for our flowers as well as good soil (clay) to make the vases in which to display them. Soil has so many uses. 🙂
What lovely gifts, beautiful for everyone to look at!
Yes, Ute, something for everyone really. 🙂 You are all wonderful.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful gifts with all of us. I hope the caterpillar forms a chrysalis as well….I’m looking forward to photos!
I hope it does. Last year was a complete failure for the monarchs in my garden. Not a single butterfly emerged. 😦
I remember reading that. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂
Thank you. We need those crossed fingers. 🙂
Lovely thoughts Gallivanta!
Thank you Pauline. I am grateful to have them. 😉
“We Plow the Fields and Scatter” is new to me. The article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Plough_the_Fields_and_Scatter
notes: “The hymn was originally German, by poet Matthias Claudius, ‘Wir pflügen und wir streuen’ published in 1782, and set to music in 1800, and attributed to Johann A. P. Schulz. It was translated into English by Jane Montgomery Campbell in 1861.”
For me it is one of the golden oldies from my Sunday School days! I was going to include a video clip of the song in its modern interpretation from Godspell, mainly because the writer of Godspell is Stephen Schwartz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Schwartz_%28composer%29 . Your secret stage name perhaps? 🙂
In your linked article I see that Stephen Schwartz graduated from Mineola High School (in Nassau County on Long Island). My two siblings were born in Mineola, and my family lived less than five miles from there.
There you go….I knew there must be some close association. 🙂
Beautiful photos as always, Gallivanta, and a heartwarming post for a 30 degree morning here! Spring is on the way though, and some of my daffodils by the garage are now over a foot tall, and ready to bloom! They are the first heralds of spring here, long before the trees bloom. Frogs start to emerge in this part of winter now, and have been chorusing away after dark in the low wet areas.
How lovely to hear the frogs again. I am surprised that it is warm enough for them, though. I don’t hear frogs here but I did enjoy listening to them when I visited my parents in Cairns over Christmas. There was a tremendous singing the night it rained.
A perfect example of enjoying what we have, not worrying about what we want…thanks for this xx
Thank you Carol. Fortunately there is very little, in a material sense, that I want these days. Emotionally/spiritually I may want more than I have but I am learning to be less demanding on that side too.
Such a lovely post, and gifts for friends, Gallivanta. 🙂 The photo of the caterpillar and the lines are so beautiful! So is the interesting video with inspiring lyrics. Enjoy your bountiful garden … 🙂
Thank you Iris. My garden doesn’t produce as much as it used to, but it is enough for two and, sometimes, there is a little extra to share with friends.
How kind and generous of you, Gallivanta. 🙂
Many people are very generous in offering me produce from their gardens, so it is good to be able to do something in return when I can.
you are gifted:-) you have a way to make “soil” radiate:-)..you are an artist! Just lovely:-)
Happy Save The Soil Day!!!!
My soil had a very happy day. It was overdue a good feed. My soil and I thank you for reminding us of the need for good care and nutrition.
I love that story -Cynthia wrote about the Old man and the soil-priceless:-) I want to be that old man in my neighborhood some day!
Cynthia’s story was WONDERFUL. I am sure if I walked by your garden I would stop to chat and ask you all about it.
awww…and I would ,too:-) I am glad to have met you over the cyber fence-you are a fascinating person + I enjoy visiting your lovely blog. I am decluttering ( you inspired me!)a bit but starting to get busy with starting plants inside-“spare” time is devoted to starting my garden + also for others:-) Spring is around the corner!
I can understand how starting plants takes precedence over decluttering. Providing our bodies with healthy food is a priority.
What a cool idea (which I might steal sometime)! I sometimes think that it would be nice to send gifts to some close blogger friends, but the reality is, I’m a busy gal so shipping things off—let alone asking for personal addresses—can be tough. Lovely option and lovely gifts. 🙂
Shipping costs for ‘real’ gifts are eye-wateringly high, so I tend to limit gifts even to my own family overseas. Sometimes a phone call or a Skype video call are all the gifts they need. And I am flattered that you would like to steal my idea. 🙂
So thoughtful and sweet!
Lovely to see the beauty and warmth of your garden.
Yes, Sheryl, no chance of snow here! We have had some very hot days this summer. Hot enough for me to be able wear the light summer skirts that have been languishing in my wardrobe for I don’t know how long. Glad I held on to them.
what a beautiful bouquet of a post, filled with love! z
Thank you Lisa. Your comment reminds me of your beautiful magic carpet floral drop. 🙂
You’re generosity shows. Lovely sentiments as well–thanks for the links to the others. I didn’t know about today’s honoring Mother Earth. Of course, in my region it’s winter, and the forecast is sleet and snow today. But I always meander in my gardens regardless of the season. Today I’ll honor the earth with some attention even in the snow. Thanks and joyous planting to you.
Every day is an opportunity to honour Mother Earth but I rarely do it. I will happily go outside and say what beautiful trees or flowers but I can’t recall when I last said what gorgeous soil that is. 🙂 Did you have a chance to see this great video clip? I find it worrisome the extent to which our built environment is covering up our precious soils.
I saw a beauty! 😀 Love the goose berry shot!
I can’t wait to taste them; so long since I have eaten a cape gooseberry. Not since my childhood, I think. And I do hope the monarch caterpillar will form a chrysalis. (A chrysalis on the physalis :)) I can see it from my kitchen window…exciting.
I have never tasted gooseberry. How would you describe the flavor? A beautiful view from your kitchen window would be a wonderful gift!
Mrs P I can’t remember what they taste like; it’s that long ago. What I do recall is a sense of delight and pleasure. Since I liked (and still do) sour fruit, I imagine the gooseberry fruit of my youth was tart and zingy. Last year I tasted dried cape gooseberry dipped in chocolate. https://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/3770/. That was like a sour cherry or cranberry. Dipped in chocolate made it extra delicious.
That sounds delicious, I too have preferred tangy fruit.
Right now I am enjoying some deliciously tart plums which a friend has given me from her own tree. I like them best before they are fully ripe. 🙂
As a child, we had a Japanese plum in our front yard and it was always a race to see who could get those sour plums off the tree first. 😀
I wonder if children still like sour things or if Coke has ruined them all forever. 😦
In the US there is a sour candy craze. They make candyas tart as those cherries, the more sour the better, i like sour butam notfond of thecandy…too sour! 😝
That’s interesting to know. I am not fond of candy in any form, although I quite like gummi bears.
I am partial to chocolate but I am trying to be good…it is not one of the approved foods in my diet so I only eat it occasionally.
LOL. Chocolate isn’t classed as candy in my house. It’s a staple food. 😀
LOL 😀 😀 I like the way you think!
What a wonderful Gift Exchange, Gaivanta. 🙂
It’s the best kind! It’s simple and easy and doesn’t cost a penny. 🙂
Yes, of course and I quite agree with you. 🙂
🙂
Wonderful! We have snow ! ⛄️❄️☺️
Shivers…brrr…but that is how it should be, so all’s well. 🙂
Absolute! ❄️
This is a sweet deal for everyone, Gallivanta! Such beautiful gifts, incoming and outgoing, to look at 🙂 I love your flower arrangements!
Tiny, I fall in love with my flowers every time I look at them; not because of the way they are arranged (heavens NO) but because they are flowers, and they are beautiful. They are a sweet deal all by themselves.
That is so true…more and more, as I get “more experienced”, I appreciate the beauty in nature.
I have loved flowers since I was little. Some of my earliest memories are of playing with flowers and looking at flowers in our garden. There were attempts to draw flowers too. Another past time was arranging flowers in sand trays. Did you ever do this? http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVFsRq7d2Y0/TdZmuACqXWI/AAAAAAAACuo/7syxmvnWErc/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG Some of your early memories will be of flower arranging in the church. Were you allowed to help with that?
What a lovely positive post with beautiful gifts for beautiful people! xo Johanna
And I am sure we are all happy to share them around. 🙂
Oh, what a lovely way to start the day!!! Remembering goodness instead of troubles–can I borrow that?!!! Thanks so much for the kind words & a peek at your peaceful garden! 🙂
Lori, I found your comment in the compost bin of WordPress; that is the spam folder! (Wouldn’t it be good if we could put all that rubbish spam to some good use?) So glad I dug you out. It was a pleasure to put in a good word for our soils. They are so important and we are covering them up at an alarming rate.
How absolutely kind and gracious of you, my friend. Thank you very much.
It’s a good exchange of gifts, isn’t it? You send the flowers. I send the arrangement thereof. A sweet deal. 🙂
A sweet deal.
🙂