Perhaps I should have entitled this post "Ode to Joy." But that's already been used to great effect by Beethoven.
A few days ago in my post on "Tomato Town" I noted that John had accused me of being "childlike" in my enthusiasm, in this instance for making a map of my tomato bed with collaged images of tomatoes around the border. He was laughing when he said it, he enjoys my little tangents (every so often there's a raised eyebrow). He does wonder why I take the time to do certain things, like a silly collaged tomato map, and how I find that time given everything else I do around Struan Farm. But don't read into that the wrong way.
A friend commented after reading this post that childlike enthusiasm is a very good thing. I agree. For me joy is important, it keeps me happy and creative.
But this had me thinking about my various enthusiasms, childlike or otherwise.
Here are just a few: going over the cliff growing tomatoes and fruit trees, veggies, flowers and native trees/plants from seed (or cuttings). Battling weeds like it's serious blood sport (top public enemies are thistles, foxglove, onion weed, buttercup, japanese anemone, arum lilies, violets), also waging war with wascally wabbits and snails. Choosing names for, looking after (coddling?), and talking to the pet lambs. Naming the gnomes. Chocolate chip cookies, the real deal Nestle's Toll House ones. Deploying my label maker where others fear to tread. Hiding jelly beans in a felted ginger bread house for the grandkids, and letting them pick out ONLY THREE to eat after they remember the secret hiding place. Committing to make needlepoint Christmas stockings for the grandchildren. (Three down, four to go. I'm probably the only grandmother on the planet hoping this is it.)
A knitting friend recently asked me what was on my needles, and I had to confess that I have nothing going at the moment. At some point guilt over my embarrassing yarn stash will overcome that and I'll be back at it.
Last but not least: one of my biggest enthusiasms, definitely in the childlike category, must be putting reindeer antlers on the pet lambs for our annual Struan Farm Christmas card. It's now an official tradition--we've had the photo shoot. I'll tell you that both Cookie and Buster channeled Madonna and struck a pose, but I won't divulge who has won "Piopio's Top Model" just yet. Watch this space!
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