What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible - Theodore Roethke. I couldn't agree more, for, otherwise, how on earth will we be here tomorrow! So you are wondering, how do you recognize the impossible? Well, you have to understand that by creating a certain set of circumstances, the seemingly impossible becomes possible. For example, take our 'screen house'. Screen house? Most people will see a shade house. However, on closer inspection, you will find that it is far from shady inside but rather quite bright. What it does is filter out damaging rays of light so that plants can reach a stage of maturity to tolerate full sun light. The secret is in the type of netting.
In a previous post on 24/1/2010, I mentioned that camellias are a form of super rose in the north of Portugal. However, they have other surprising characteristics as well. Because they originate from China and Japan, the time they flower was determined by the seasons in that part of the globe. Hence, they flower in our winter and spring from November through to April - namely, in our darkest months, and so they lighten that darkness more powerfully than any native flower! You see, Theodore Roethke revealed a fundamental truth, " Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." Come 'see' for yourself!
A lively understandable spirit Once entertained you. It will come again. Be still. Wait. - wrote Theodore Roethke .... Clearly, Theodore had an inner spirit in mind, but there are others that awaken the first. As I look out at our horses, I see the Holy Trinity and mine is filled with their amazing grace.
Do you remember that line in a romantic song? Either way, we understand that, even though the wish was there, its realization was never possible. And much is the case concerning roses in our climate in Portugal. The heat reduces the flowers to fallen petals in a moment. Yet we have a need to express our passions just the same. Today, it is often forgotten how the incredibly courageous Portuguese set sail in their little wooden ships to discover routes to the unknown parts of the globe and answers to their everyday existence. Well, you have probably guessed by now that one of the plants they brought home from China and Japan were Japanese roses or camellias.
But camellias are no shadows of roses; they are much hardier and grow into wonderful flowering trees lasting a hundred years or more. And, in this way, I CAN promise you the rose garden of your dreams - subtle, varying, colourful flowers with evergreen foliage and NO thorns!
When we first started out there were a lot of fields that needed to be mowed regularly. Hence, I invested in some 'fun' lawn mowers that were child's play to drive and work with. In fact, the idea was to make the task child's play and not something arduous. However, grass grows and keeps growing, and our mowers were often hard put to keeping up with it. In addition, the price of petrol (or gas) kept rising and not all our fields are flat and our bones were getting shaken apart. And what about the countless hours spent mowing!
Well, things have changed. Enter horses! No need to mow, no need to spend enormous sums of time and money. We have put the lawn mowers out to pasture!
Yes, more thoughts on providence. Providence is often expressed as windfall gain. Any creature makes use of it... Especially, the buzzard. A buzzard is always on the look out for a new opportunity or a place or situation that offers one. Could one have a nest in the roof? You are thinking 'on' the roof, but that is the unexpected part.
Yesterday, I saw a buzzard lifting off as I came back to the house, but where did it come from? You see, because of the enormous temperature shifts we experience here, the house has a special open window, or vent, below the roof big enough for a big bird to enter.
Later, the same day, I saw it once more flying low close to the forest floor. Again I was surprised. My point is that it was not where buzzards are supposed to be, and yet it was well and thriving. This buzzard knows a thing or two about 'providence' and how to make the best of it. How is it one never learns lessons like this at school!
Yesterday, I took time out to listen to an interview with Daniel Quinn. It seems so many years now that I read all his books. The key notion is that, for mankind to continue to exist, we are going to have to change our mindset to 'stay-ability'. It was quite a powerful message that doesn't seem to have a solution or does it? You see, Daniel found his inspiration and vision from 'providence' - a dream of a deer that suddenly springs out in front of him to tell him something vitally important - yes, that Mother Nature's ways are sacrosanct. And so, perhaps, what we need to be on the look out for is 'Providence' in whatever shape or form she comes to us ... as she has done from the beginning of time. .
What a difficult month January is with its departures and arrivals! For that reason, it pays to look back to look forward. Here is Sebastian last year, and, at this moment, he is much bigger and stronger and on his way to becoming the King of the Estate. But, for the time being, we have to wait a little, wait a little more for Spring.
Yes, I'd like to imagine all different types of people coming here and becoming part of a more caring future. Oh, yes, wouldn't that be great! Let us be greedy for knowledge and well being. In this way, we are inquisitive, interested in all the wonderful aspects of living things, knowing that each one complements the other - a need and its fulfillment. Rather than tread on bounty, we tread softly and let the dreams of those around us turn into reality, such that together we might number all the little droplets of water, making up the fine falling rain that is drawing up the grass right now.
Did you know that an upright horse shoe is a sign of luck in England and an upside down horse shoe denotes luck in Portugal? However, to my mind, both cultures have got it wrong. Luck is brought to you by the horse rather than the shoe! That is what we are discovering hereabouts. Inspired by the beauty and well being our horses have brought us, my neighbour, Carlos, has taken in this mare who is about to transform his life, for she will become the horse she was created to be. You see, horses transpose a loving environment into the greatest prosperity you can imagine.... as she started to gallop and play today, I saw this reflected in the tears of joy in his eyes.
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