the7thbridge’s Weblog

meanderings of a gardening mind

February 14, 2009 at 6:43 pm (Uncategorized)

The weather’s gotten nicer so I’ve been outside a lot; working, planning, thinking, dreaming. Most of my thinking happens in my garden. It can’t be simply a manual labor issue, because the phenomena doesn’t occur when engaged in manual labor in the house. Yuck. In my garden, my mind practically screams, “free at last!, free at last!,” because it just runs amok.

I’ll share with you some pictures of a few things you’ll see in my outside world, and one afternoon’s mental amokery:

I see hills and hills of black dirt, bursting with red and white potatoes. I see rows and rows of corn stalks, tall and green, pale yellow silk drying in the sun, vines of peas and snap beans hanging on for the ride. I see a couple of cows ruminating in the afternoon shade, escaping the wind in what Jake calls the “cow house,” hear them calling out; smell the patties that will feed the compost. I see baby chicks nestling under their mamas; hear them bicker as they scrunch up pressing each other for space; nesting boxes brimming with eggs (1001 new and delicious ways to cook them.)

I see me and Granny slowly swaying, watching young’ns playing in the yard. I see me and Daddy watching the sprinkler rain down on the squash. I smell the wisteria and honeysuckle drifting up from the woods. Even now, as I type.

But, Captain, they say you were the most famous Ranger. They say you’ve carried Captain McCrae three thousand miles just to bury him. They say you started the first ranch in Montana…They say you’re a man of vision.”

“Yes, a hell of a vision.”

I see an ole man and an ole woman, while young’ns play in the field, remembering. Remembering when they first saw it.