Living on a farm, it is impossible to ignore the legacy of the people who came before: the patina of time and the elements on the outbuildings,
and the many beautiful, handmade implements we find in odd places.
I feel a connection most strongly when performing the tasks traditionally left to the farm women: tending to my hens and collecting their eggs, making jelly from our 100 year old apple trees, and checking on the progress of the garden.
When I came home from work the other day, I found a jar of lilacs on the kitchen table, picked by my mother. I imagine a woman years and years ago, planting a cutting she'd got from a neighbour, just to make her front step look pretty. That cutting is now a veritable tree, beside the stone foundation where the original homestead stood.
It does not escape me that our stay here is temporary, and that by planting lupines by the farm gate, I send a message through the years to future homesteaders who might wonder about the woman who took the time to plant something just because it looks pretty.
Ahhh, I like how you've captured the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic. There is certainly something to these weathered old farms we call home that reminds one of the imperfection, incompletion and impermanence of this wonderful life. Hmmm...I sense a blog post developing here.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I can just sense the energy of that leaf frond getting ready to unfurl.
Isn't it amazing what previous generations have produced and given on... and what has gotten lost and has been forgotten over the years? I followed a workshop 'edible plants' yesterday, and o heavens, my eyes have opened! What a wealth of knowledge! Can't wait to start cooking with all of that natural goodness... that's just growing around the place!
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Lovely....great photos. Our farm was born in 1977, so it is very young and we are just beginning to give it some more roots and to nurture what is already here. I am excited to have a blank canvas and to watch it grow....
ReplyDeleteBlessings, K
Beautiful post and just the thoughts I had when we lived in the schoolhouse. Now, our home is only 30 years old, but still the trees next to us were planted when our neighbour was born- he is now 46. History starts somewhere! We planted a red maple, two norway pines, and a blue spruce recently and I picture the children who live here in 25 years, playing beneath them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I always wonder about the people who came before us -trying to find out all the history of the house, etc...
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to meet the gentlemen who owned this house way back in the day...before it had hydro and running water. He told us that he and his wife planted our oak trees, which are now Ruby's climbing trees. They also told me that their grandkids used to refer to our house as a "cottage", which makes me think I should name our little homestead "the enchanted cottage"!!! (I've always wanted to name our little piece of paradise)! Lovely post!
ReplyDeletejust seeing if i can do this
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