Still Winter

There seems to be no end to this season's beauty. It's been the perfect year to overwinter herbs like the thyme below. We haven't lost any.

We have owned this little piece of land for almost 26 years. This is the first year that the spruces have been pruned in the winter. I think it was a red squirrel. We saw one recently and have never had red squirrels in the past. A nicely spaced blanket of spruce clippings. Really quite amazing.

Isn't it interesting how nature does not like bare soil? This daylily has done a good job of covering the soil beneath it with its narrow leaves.

Sunny days have been few and far between this winter. The rye grass green manure crop that we seeded IN THE GARDEN, somehow made its way into the greenhouse. It seems quite happy there. I need to cover the rye grass with black plastic so it will die and start to do its work.

It is hard to believe that very soon, flocks of cedar waxwings will be feasting on the crab apples......

.... and the second best kind of cat will be placed back in the flower garden. A patient cat, it waits all winter in the same spot with its ball. No one plays with it while it waits and waits and waits for spring.

You can't see them in this image, but yesterday some bright green crocus stems were emerging in the front of this garden. I tried to find them, but they were covered with snow.

So, I turned around and followed my path home.

My new favourite spoken word poet is Lucas Jones. His latest book, "I Still Believe in Miracles" should appear in my mailbox in August. But, until then, here's his poem that zapped my heart when I first read it: I Met God at the Supermarket.

I met God at the supermarket.

He said, "You alright?"

I said, "Yeah, you?"

He goes, "What’s on your mind?"

I’m just getting some food.

But I think He could tell because I looked kinda sad.

He said, "Go on then, ask."

I said, "Why are things bad? Like why is it hard? Like sometimes it’s shit. Sometimes it’s like, oh my God, is this it?"

He goes, "I can tell you that now, but you won’t like the answer."

I said, "Don’t give me riddles, man. I’m not calling you Master."

He said, "Fair enough. I’ll give it to ya straight. You know in a film? Or story? Or play? The bit when you think it’s all fucked,

there’s no way the lead can survive; then suddenly… yay! Something good happens and then they’re okay. And they learned something true and new on the way. Well, it’s basically that. You’d be bored without this. You wouldn’t know what the good bit is. Like what? Just a film about someone who’s fine? And then nothing happens? And wow, it’s alright?"

He said, "Trust me, I’ve tried it. Before you were born. When no one was rich and no one was poor. And no one was cold, just happy and warm. And ahhh… it was so shit. They all went to war. Just to find reasons to feel something more. So now it’s like this: You hit, then you miss. Then hit. And then win. You know… that kinda thing."

And you could tell by my face I was still kind of pissed.

He said, "I tried to tell you, you won’t like the gift."

I said, "When does it end?"

He said, "Oh, in five minutes."

I said, "Wait, wait, wait... what? I’ve got so much to give. Just give me more time. I’m sorry. Forgive. My dreams are undreamt. Lost words on my lips. I missed all the sunsets and clichés and shit. And loving my love. And time with my kids."

Then He goes, " ‘Ahhh… Did someone find reason? Look forward to something? Have faith that there’s more meaning?"

I went, "Oh noooo… you got me, ya prick."

He said, "Here’s your time back. Now fuck off and live."

Here's a link to the video.