Being Part of the Whole

Almost all the snow is finally melted. The garden lays wide open. Ready. Waiting. Three days ago there were rivers between the beds. April showers. When I walked there yesterday it was still soft and wet. Daniel, our intern for the summer, and I planted 6 more flats of seeds last Thursday. Big melon seeds and the teeniest of seeds that look more like hair. They are unfolding quickly in the warm soil. I love the larger ones. You can see everything that is happening. You can almost watch them grow if you could stand there long enough. Most of the seeds we plant here are heirloom seeds. Seeds that came from all over the world. Black Krim tomatoes, Dr. Wyches yellow tomatoes, Copenhagen cabbage, Black Turtle beans, Oxheart carrots and Granda Ott's morning glory.

Since the snow is gone from the path on the perimeter of our farm, Tim and I were able to walk with the dog this morning. It was very squishy, and we wore our wellies but we made it all the way around. I happened to notice that while I walked, I was concerned about my footing perhaps and mostly, I looked at the ground right in front of me. I walked this way for a few minutes when Tim pointed out a huge ant hill. I observed the large lump covered in dried grasses and moved on, looking at the ground in front of me. A few minutes later, Tim pointed out something else. It was then I realized that I was missing so very much by only watching the foot  or so of ground in front of my feet. I forced myself to look up as I walked so I wouldn't miss anything. It was hard to do. I must always walk this way. We have 40 beautiful acres, with pastures, a pond, meadows, and lots of birds and other animals that I was missing on my "walk". So I was very mindful to keep my head up and my eyes looking ahead. To the horizon, the future, forward. I am now wondering how often do I keep my head on what is happening right this moment or the next but in doing so, miss the world around me? Not looking at the big picture. Today I will be more mindful to keep my head up and my eyes searching for the whole, recognizing that here and now is just a part.Taking a cue from my husband, Tim who always manages to see the hawk in the sky or the bluebird on the fencepost. Because he is paying attention.

We will be ordering our piglets this week. 10 little pink Berkshire piglets will arrive in a couple weeks to live with us for the summer. Perhaps we may keep some to breed this year. Tim has obtained Naragansett turkey eggs for hatching. Those will mostly be for starting a breeding program for next year. The female ducks are sitting tightly on their eggs. They will started busting out next week sometime. Things are rolling now and I should even begin working on my dojo again. Then we can get up early, sneak out to the dojo and start the day with some yoga and a little martial arts conditioning. Spring is here. It is good to feel deeply being part of the whole.