A Phalaenopsis orchid given to me as a gift last Christmas (2011) has finally re-bloomed. |
Like the above orchid, I'm currently in the process of re-blooming too. It seriously took my being able to accept that I had to simply shut my own eyes, let go (trusting that I would be caught by something), and finally I allowed myself to fall backwards—yes, I guess back into my own life.
So what if I went to that moment kicking and screaming? I made it.
If I told you what happened next, well this wouldn't be a garden blog any longer.
A lovely organic leek I sliced for fresh potato and leek soup on St. Patrick's Day, 2013. |
Being gluten-free is easy most of the time, but then you find recipes such as the one for the cake seen below, and you just have to make a cake to share with your friends.
Though not a garden, or even a plant, I had to share my leprechaun trap cake with everyone. Although no leprechauns were hurt, we did attract some pixies. (See below.) |
The pixies are French so they could have cared less about the rainbow and pot of gold. Note that one has a ladybug on its thigh and the other has what looks to be a snail. No, oops, I mean escargot. |
The vintage ceramic potatoes make for nice vases on St. Patrick's Day too. |
Vintage hanging ceramic indoor planter with an Aligator fern (Microsorum musifolium). |
Epiphyllum grown from seed. I like to call this move "doing the Icarus". |
Well, stay tuned since it's moving with me. I have no idea how many years it will take, but I will wait for it.
Green mums in a small vintage liquour glass inherited from my family. |
When things changed for me over a year ago, I was shown by many of my gardening friends that I belonged here.
I learned that lesson rather quickly, but I didn't know how to start over. I have no shame in admitting I needed to find my own way. I've learned some incredible things about myself during the last two months. The serendipity I've experienced has given me a kind of hope.
Yes, then there are the things you need to do for yourself. My marriage did not make me feel very beautiful at all. Let me tell you now, if you feel that way yourself, get out. It is the most important lesson I've learned. The people you surround yourself with should always help to make you feel like the beautiful person you are and sometimes that's just not what happens.
My niece Chelsea glam'd me up for an event. |
My nieces helped me to really understand this recently and I'm proud of them. When you help to raise a child, and then they come over to spend hours making you look pretty—after you've not looked so great for nearly a decade—it does something to you. To say that my niece Chelsea made me look beautiful one Sunday to prove a point to me is an understatement. She's been telling me for years she missed me, and that she wanted the world to see the woman she sees, and I have to say the kid's got a great eye. I just wasn't seeing it.
She proved her point, and as an aunt, it was the first time I'd sat back to be school'd by one of my nieces and it was so worth it.
Trust me when I say that I'm not giving up gardening. I'm very much going to continue blogging too. I just need a little more time to adjust. There are many changes afoot.
There is direction too—and maybe even a plan (possibly a very detailed plan).
I'm over the shock and pain of having fallen blindly. I survived and I've planted my feel solidly on the ground. It's new where I'm standing but I'm certain it's terra firma. In characteristic Ann fashion I'm standing a bit uncomfortably in the middle of an empty field and I've covered my eyes with one hand while with the other I reach into my pocket for seeds.
I am throwing out the seeds. I am casting them blindly in every direction, and if you look closely, you'll notice I'm coyly smiling. If you listen, across the distance, you'll hear me laughing again. It's not loud, but it's happy at least.
So take that springtime! I'm ready for you this year.
Let's get this party started.
Oh weird! Downtown Portland. I remember this place... |
There is direction too—and maybe even a plan (possibly a very detailed plan).
I'm over the shock and pain of having fallen blindly. I survived and I've planted my feel solidly on the ground. It's new where I'm standing but I'm certain it's terra firma. In characteristic Ann fashion I'm standing a bit uncomfortably in the middle of an empty field and I've covered my eyes with one hand while with the other I reach into my pocket for seeds.
I am throwing out the seeds. I am casting them blindly in every direction, and if you look closely, you'll notice I'm coyly smiling. If you listen, across the distance, you'll hear me laughing again. It's not loud, but it's happy at least.
So take that springtime! I'm ready for you this year.
Let's get this party started.
It's not in the slightest bit green, but this Guardian post on bean recipes has an interesting gluten-free cake recipe you might like to try :) http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/02/10-best-bean-recipes
ReplyDeleteThanks Emma! I'm always looking for new things to try!
DeleteI have a bunch of gluten free recipes on my Pinterest board called Paleo/Primal Recipes, just in case you're interested. Many are also dairy-free. That picture of you made up by Chelsea reminds me of Ava Gardner. I love that you continue to be so excited about all the changes going on in your life!
ReplyDeleteI will check it out Alison and I think you're right about the Ava Gardner look I had that day. As for my excitement, it's just going to get worse and worse. I'm looking forward to sharing all of that here though as it happens.
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