While peeling garden grow carrots for lunch today, I’m grateful for this year’s harvest of peaches, pears, apples, eggplant, gypsy peppers, corn, carrots (of course), and all the resulting delicious meals. Summer and Fall harvests delivered delightful rewards that are now also peach cobblers, peach-topped waffles (photo), peach crepes, apple sauce, and apple crisp treats.
2019’s metaphorical harvest includes: celebrating 50 years of marriage with my child’s maternal grandparents; my child discovering she is an honor roll student capable of earning high school and college credits at the same time; meeting a man who warms my heart, fills my soul, feeds me delicious foods, and patiently stands by my side as life unfolds; and growing new business opportunities.
Yard harvest, if you will, included hummingbirds a plenty; roses blooming abundantly and filling vases indoors for months; and fragrant, bright purple lavender for three months. In fact, the neighbor asked to have some to gift to her children who just bought a home. Columbine was also a treat producing enough seeds to share with three friends and still have some left for myself. Fall separation of iris resulting in dozens of bulbs being shared with friends and co-workers.
House harvest (another “if you will”): Bathroom finally textured and painted anew – because the original house builders simply put wallpaper up without treating the walls. House exterior painted again (third time in 19 years) because the long southern exposed wall was fading and showing wear. I group house-maintenance as a harvest because of the time spent organizing and completing these projects. As with all things in life: no invested energy, no harvest or reward.
Life’s abundance never ceases – if only we stop long enough to see it, feel it, and experience it. What are you able to harvest this year? For what are you expressing thanks? Happy Thanksgiving 2019.
Nesting is about the objects and experiences that create a sense of home. Without home, it is difficult to maintain health, find joy, or to be productive. Enjoy the Nesting series of blogs on your search for and creation of a deep sense of home. –Jana
Jana Kemp
