Monday, November 19, 2012

Inspiration does grow on trees ~ My Column from Sunday


The weather forecast called for freeze warnings this week, so I checked gas levels in our propane tank, made sure the outside faucets were covered, and then I stepped down to the fence and picked the last few tomatoes left on the vines.

I love autumn, but I thought of how I will miss our fresh vine-ripe tomatoes as I popped some bread in the toaster, and sliced a tomato. 

When the bread jumped, I slathered on some mayo, spread the slices across the warm bread, sprinkled on salt and ate the sandwich standing at the sink.

The wind out of the north jangled the chimes on the side porch and put a fresh layer of leaves on the back deck.

The water oak in our front yard has finally decided it’s autumn. Unlike the harbinger sumac, which starts screaming in late August with tinges of red and crimson, the water oak takes his time before deciding to let go of his leaves.

I made a mental note to sweep the deck after I finished writing my column. 

As often happens when I don’t have a decent idea to write about, I piddled. I straightened up computer cords, cleaned my keyboard, filed CD’s and did everything but write.

I sat in my office so long my rear-end went to sleep. I almost tapped the letters off the keyboard, and every idea I came up with was “lamer than a land-mine sweeper.”

That’s when I stepped outside to get some fresh air and remembered the deck needed my attention. Thank goodness for small favors.

I grabbed the broom from inside and went to work sweeping a couple bushels of leaves off the deck.

I actually enjoy this chore. It’s one of those mindless activities that feels good. I get a little exercise, and when I’m finished, I can look back and get a feeling of accomplishment. It’s instant gratification.

There are a lot of people I know that hate trees and would have the water oak chainsawed before you could say Paul Bunyun.

They don’t like trees close to their house, they don’t like birds using their vehicle as a potty (actually I’m not fond of this either), they can’t stand squirrels, and they’d rather lick a toad than rake leaves in the fall.

I love that tree and consider it a gift. I’m not that good at guessing sizes, but it looks big enough to have its own zipcode.

My garden loves the water oak as much as I do because I till mountains of dried leaves into the soil to make organic fertilizer.

I also use them to mulch our fruit trees, and I always save some to burn on cool Saturday afternoons.

Mother Nature is no dummy. She provides us all with gifts that keep on giving. 

Not only is the tree beautiful, but it also provides shade in the summer, and in the fall it nourishes our garden, it gives me physical exercise, and a mental respite. 

I just realized that while sweeping the leaves, I came up with the idea for this column, so it is also my muse. What more could you ask for?

Happy autumn.

6 comments:

  1. Rick! hi! i really enjoy your writing style. i loved this post. i read Jilda and she, she doesn't say a word about the stove. you guys are funny/cute.

    my fav in this was saying how fast Jilda's mood flew!!!!! hahahaha.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nature and mindless activities are a great source of inspiration. I agree! And I will miss those tomatoes too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I soo agree My yard was God's gift. It had apples, cherries,black berries and all kind of wild flowers and so it attracted a lot of animals and the roof was a disaster because you had to live on it to keep clean.
    I love nature but sometimes too much is too much. lol
    It's excellent for young people.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We have a lovely, huge tree of some sort..we're not really sure what it is..on our front lawn and various dogwood and an oak that isn't quite might yet. But mostly we have pine surrounding us and that's fine with me because the "Creepy Woods" keeps me in leaf, tree, nature, and animal heaven...a little bit away from the house! Without the lovely trees we would freeze in winter as that is our source of heat. Enjoy this fall!

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  5. I suppose this will fall in the "silly questions" category, but why did you salt your sandwich? A tomato does not need salt to be delicious. My sister and brother-in-law salt their salads. I don't get it.

    I'm just sayin'.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
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