Wednesday, January 14, 2015

My Get Up and Go

In the words of Pete Seeger "my get up and go has got up and went". Since August I've ignored the blog because I had lost my motivation and enthusiasm for writing. "Take a break" some of my friends advised but it seemed the more I was away from writing, the less inclined I was to go back to it. "What more can I write about that I haven't already written" I thought. Am I missing the point...why did I start the blog? That reason was based on keeping a journal for me to refer to, and to share my experiences growing our garden on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Along the way, I met some wonderful people; the garden was photographed and published in two magazines and also a book. Who knew that could happen simply by making connections, sharing with others what is very personal, our own garden and what it means to me, to our family. Pete Seeger continues to sing, "but in spite of it all, I'm able to grin, and think of the places my get up has been". It has been a wonderful, and truly fulfilling joy, this blog. So, readers, I am loath to give it up.

The new year has begun with optimism. Last year was a difficult one but now, I am happy to say, or at least hopeful in saying, my Get up and Go, is improving. There's always something to write about when you have a three to four season garden. Even now, with snow on seedheads left for birds, beans that were never harvested and memories visited when looking at the bird bath not brought in, but forgotten, it is a beauty to behold.
Outside, the sun is shining so bright, the sky is 'hurt your eyes blue' and the snow is covering every seedhead and branch; fencepost and leaf.

But I know it will awake before I know it, and meanwhile, I will start growing pea shoots in pots, sprouts in a jar and plant Egyptian onion bulbs on the window sill to snip the fresh green growth. I will find primroses in the shops to brighten my January, and later, cut forsythia to force. And yes, I've written about this all before but perhaps that doesn't matter. Perhaps, what matters is that writing brings back the joy it always did, and to just put bum to chair and "write something for Heavens Sake!"

13 comments:

  1. Welcome back and no it doesn't matter if you have written similar things before - how many face to face conversations start with do you remember when? We had a few minutes of snow this morning nearly all traces were gone a few minutes later.

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  2. Dear Heart,
    I am glad you are back! I have missed you and I was concerned.
    Donna

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  3. It doesn't matter a whit that you might have written about it before - spring follows winter every single year, and yet we delight in it each year, again and again. The photos are beautiful, and here on this foggy island I will think, for a bit, of a sky that is 'hurt your eyes blue'. So glad you've written and posted!

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  4. Last year I planted a forsythia because of yours. And of course some Ballerina Tulips. I will think about you every time either of them flower.

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  5. ...........and inspiration for me here too!

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  6. So good to see you back. Whatever you are willing to share I am willing to read. I feel like I should have known you were a Seeger fan. As soon as I saw the title I filled in the line, he always brings a smile to my face.

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  7. It's crazy to think that we live in the same part of the world and have never met. Your garden is beautiful. Congratulations on your successful publicity. Well done, you!

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  8. I'm glad to see you posting again, Bren. I hope you will have another burst of energy for your blog, because all your readers enjoy it. you have a very easy-to-read style of writing. And BTW, in a garden nothing is EVER the same as before - it's constantly changing. It's just that sometimes you have to observe a little bit closer to see the differences!

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  9. I am pleased that your get up and go has returned. You may feel you have written it all before but every spring and summer we greet again with fresh eyes and new perspectives.

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  10. I can completely relate. I recently took a three month hiatus myself. I find that if I just write about what's happening in the garden or what I'm up to, it tends to feel mundane after a while. But I remain much more engaged if I talk about what the garden means to me or write about my latest gardening inspiration.

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  11. Thank you all for your wonderful, invigorating and encouraging comments. I feel truly blessed that you were kind enough to send your comments and support. Every word was special in itself, and I count you all as friends. xo Bren

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  12. It' s lovely to see a post from you and the snow looks so beautiful! It would be good to see more about your gardening seasons I have always picked some good tips from you! Sarah x

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  13. So glad you are back. I have thought of you and wondered how you were, how your Mom was doing. It is challenging to keep a blog going. Not a day goes by when I don't question my sanity for continuing. But blogging does bring wonderful connections and I consider you one of them. I always love reading your posts Bren. The subject of your garden never gets old!

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