LINKI wanted to get out for a walk today, but it just didn't happen. Instead, I took a garden tour. I thought of the Landscape vs Wild at Jude's and the "To feed or not to feed (birds)" over at Grace's and elsewhere. I thought the garden above was a nice form of city wild and she planted beautiful flowers that the hummingbirds love - so win-win! Plus, even though I wondered about mosquitoes, it's nice that she provides lovely bird baths and houses to boot! I thought of Liz & Don's recent birdhouse addition. Well, that was a fun little journey.
This channel has so many beautiful gardens, but not just flowers - food gardens too. You can find one HERE and HERE.
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Fork Story:
This is my fork. I love this fork. It was purchased back in 1978-79 at a pretty nice home goods store in Santa Monica. It was a Pottery Barn type store. My ex and I went to look for housewares...a registry? I don't really recall and that doesn't sound right though. We did not do a registry, but maybe we considered it? Anyway, I bought this one fork with a wooden handle to consider. I thought I'd want a whole set of them, but that never came to pass either. However 45 years later, with all of the changes in my life...I still have the fork. I love this fork. It has served me well.
I drew it.
"Slotted spoon - best diet tool ever!"
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The Woman and the Fork
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things ‘in order,’ she contacted Her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
‘There’s one more thing,’ she said excitedly..
‘What’s that?’ came the Pastor’s reply?
‘This is very important,’ the young woman continued. ‘I want to be buried with a fork in my Right hand.’
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
That surprises you, doesn’t it?’ the young woman asked.
‘Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,’ said the Pastor.
The young woman explained. ‘My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favourite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!’
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: ‘Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.’
The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, ‘What’s with the fork?’ And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about The Fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
I heard this story many, many, many years ago. I think I remember it for the language play most of all and for the idea that something good may be coming. Something good may be coming. That hope is important at any stage of life.
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This is what I've been calling the "scoop". J. found it at Emma Wood many, many years ago. We think it is quartz. I love that small bit of purple on it. It's heavy and feels so good in your hand. He noticed it poking up between other rocks and such. The purple caught his eye.
I drew it too.
Recently, while J. watched a program about history or indigenous peoples or something (I was not paying attention)...it occurred to me that the 'scoop' would make a great tool for eating. It has the right shape, a slight scoop shape, a place to put your thumb to easily hold it. I wondered if/how it would work? How would it feel to eat this way?
So, I washed up the scoop...and ate my dinner with it!
May you share a good story
May you embrace the old
May you try something new
xo
Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2024