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Monday, March 19, 2012

THE LIFE OF RILEY: A WEEKEND AT THE FARM...

 The Life of Riley: An easy and pleasant life

We spent a glorious weekend at the farm, it was like living the life of Riley, an easy and pleasant life. 
We kicked off our shoes and lazed away an entire afternoon here...
Sheltered under an enormous pine tree we watched the wind sculpt pictures in fluffy white clouds, laughed over buzzards soaring overhead wondering if we were possibly dinner, talking quietly, enveloped in the soft scents of fresh cut grass and spring flowers, serenaded by birdsong...
Pine cones nestled and napped nearby...
The life of Riley:  an easy and pleasant life.

We walked barefoot in the old garden plot now a green carpet sprigged with the most delicate purple and blue pattern...
Where we found the very first wish of the season...
 Sprouting amid the golden coins cast about by the buttery sun...
We made the wish together, clacking foreheads, laughing like children, trying to see who could scatter the first wish on the wind.

The life of Riley:  an easy and pleasant life.

We inspected the grapevines just forming their new leaves...
Observed the gentle birthing of the soft Lambs Ear...
Meandering past the heady Purple Grape Hyacinth...
The life of Riley:  an easy and pleasant life.

Stepping onto a new carpet of Bluelets...
Near the aged stacked stone wall...
To better appreciate the infancy of the leaves and flowers on the Red Bud trees...
The life of Riley:  an easy and pleasant life.  A rare and beautiful moment in time.  Slipping away from our daily routine.  Letting sun and wind, color and texture, scent, sight, and sound, these magicians of spring, weave their soothing spell over our winter tired souls.

We could have seen any one of these wondrous things in our own backyard but they would not have been the same.  At home time marches on steadily keeping us in rank and file with everyday drills of "to do's" and the pressure of "must get to's" so that sometimes, really most times, these things go scarcely noticed.  We are held in strict formation of time and schedule to maximize effective use of our days.   
Daily life at the Quill is anything but the life of Riley, it is not always pleasant nor are all its days filled with ease.  It makes me appreciate the small snippets of time when I can break rank and come to parade rest, adopting a more relaxed and at ease position enjoying a different kind of attentiveness.  Instead of being focused on daily detail I can focus on the details of the making of a day, the birthing of a season, the unfurling of a leaf, a delicate blossom, a scudding cloud, the feel of sunshine and wind on bare skin, prickly ticklish grass under foot, catching whiffs of soft floral and grass cutting perfume, or hearing trills of birdsong.

These small simple pleasures are the essence of the life of Riley to me, taking the time to appreciate what is right before me.  They are within easy reach; making life pleasant with each changing season of new and comfortingly familiar discoveries.  They never cease to delight me and they never disappoint me.

If you could have a perfect life of Riley day, paint me a word picture in the comments, I'd love to share your vision.  
I hope you day is filled with ease and pleasantry.

11 comments:

Charlene said...

Sounds like a wonderful life! Thank you for sharing the wonders of spring (Minus the allergy stuff). I love those Grape Hyacinths. I see those & always think I want to plant some of those! HUGS! Charlene

Vee said...

In spring, your day sounds like perfection to me. It simply could not be improved upon. Thank you for sharing it with us...love seeing the little flowers of the garden and field...even the dandelion. Hope that the wish comes true!

In summer, I'd love the cots set up along New England's Atlantic shore, beneath an umbrella where I could read and soak in not the rays, but the sounds of the waves and the seagulls. Pleasant things to eat and drink are also allowed.

Blessings from Cindy said...

Sandy, you have such a gift of giving us the experience through your eyes. Ahhhh the wonder of nature. I am imagining being on a camping trip at the coast, hearing the waves in the distance, their rhythmic powerful blue sparkling water crashing on the beach, spreading the milky foam, then withdrawing, taking blankets of sand with it, back and forth, back and forth. As I sit by the crackling fire I can feel the warmth against my feet and the front of my legs. I snuggle, wrapped in a fluffy, nubby sweater, taking some of the nighttime chill away. There is a brisk breeze that smells of saltwater and pine wood smoke. The flames are amber, gold, and white/blue swirling as the wind makes them dance and the embers glow brilliantly orange underneath the fragrant logs. In the distance, I can hear the waves, crashing and withdrawing... back and forth, back and forth...
Blessings,
Cindy

Gail said...

Sandy,
What a wonderful post! You even make a dandelion look good......so relaxing;).
I would love to get away, alas, it's not in the cards right now so I'll make my home my "spa" and try to relax here.
Our dd has spring break coming up and I always love having her home every day.......!

Ruth Kelly said...

You take wonderful photos. Love your post.

Anonymous said...

Oh, milady! You have captured my Riley day so well! However, the thatched roof cottage is missing . . . a Yorkshire village in walking distance with the quaintest of tearooms and antiquarian bookshop might just do nicely, too. Bliss!

Joy!
Kathy

Anonymous said...

Some days we just have to CHILL, don't we, Sandy. Take me away, Calgon! I could use a day like that! lol

Sounds divine!

XO Diane

Shopgirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shopgirl said...

Smell the Roses, this is a beautiful post...Hugs, Mary

Blessings from Cindy said...

Hi Sandy~
I just posted about all the lovely gifts you sent me. Thank you sooo much again. I really enjoyed being a part of your art challenge.
Blessings to you, sweet friend!
Cindy

Vickie said...

Life of Riley... I would do exactly as you have done. That's what I do on the farm. Going barefoot in the cool dirt where I've been tilling and hoeing, watching the bluebirds, sitting in my vintage metal chairs in the sunshine and turning my face to the warm sun, or grabbing a quilt and having a picnic snack and maybe a nap...sweet iced tea...
Beautiful word pictures, Miss Sandy - you're an artist with the Quill!

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