Black Swallowtail – gouache on vintage postcard (c)Val Webb
The narrow, still space between Christmas and the New Year is a contemplative time… a chance to cast one final glance in the direction of 2007 as it trudges away over the horizon and then enjoy a brief rest while waiting for 2008 to arrive on the doorstep.
Out in the damp chill of the winter garden, the crucifers are ripening faster than we can eat them: friends and neighbors are finding themselves the recipients of bagged broccoli crowns; crinkly savoy cabbages were distributed along with Christmas gifts. I plan to test the theory that tender collard greens, consumed with blackeyed peas as a New Year’s Day meal, attract prosperity. Our cauliflower and snow peas — unhindered by the swarms of borers and chewers that plague warmer seasons — look like the pristine pictures in seed catalogs. Ahhhh. The garden almost seems to tend itself. I love winter.
Contemplation is also the common thread connecting three books I’m reading now. The first is Walden, or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau, the great-granddaddy of simple living. It was written during Thoreau’s two-year sojourn living in his tiny, handmade cabin at the edge of Walden Pond. I’m glad I somehow missed being assigned to read this book back in my high school American Lit days, because Thoreau’s insights on community and closeness to nature would have been lost on my globetrotting teen-aged self. This is a book to be nibbled at and digested bit by bit. I enjoyed this 1845 comment on vegetarianism:
One farmer says to me, “You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;” and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plough along in spite of every obstacle.
The second book is Elizabeth Gilbert’s rich and satisfying Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. It’s the fun and constantly surprising account of the author’s journey in search of life’s deepest lessons (and world-class pasta). Stitched into this crazy quilt of a travel memoir are flashes of pure insight. If this book doesn’t fill you with wanderlust, nothing will. Enjoy!
My current garden-related read is a visual feast, a kaleidoscope of scribbly botanical art goodness by Manhattan urban gardener Abbie Zabar. Her year-long illustrated journal, A Growing Gardener, is a thoughtful (and very, very colorful) account of her work to transform her apartment building’s rooftop into a garden paradise. It’s peppered with recipes, garden plans, lists of source material — lots of interesting stuff. If you happen to live in one of those unfortunate climate zones which are currently snowbound, this is some seriously inspiring fireside reading. Entertaining, too. And beautiful.
Happy New Year. I’ve read Eat, Pray Love. She is a good writer, and I loved the travel. I’m reading Dear Friend and Gardener for the Garden Bloggers Book Club. I just finished Cry the Beloved Country by Paton. It was wonderful.
Eat, Pray, Love is one of my all-time favorite books. You’ve inspired me to pick up Walden again.
I am so envious of your home-gown collards! Makes me want to go home and visit my parents in the country. Oh wait! I am going in a couple of weeks! Collards, here I come. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Hi Val,
Happy New Year! You’ve picked some excellent books to start your year. I’ve been thinking of rereading Walden again. It’s been many moons since I read it in college. Seems appropriate right now as I’m trying to slow down and get closer to nature.
–Robin (Bumblebee)
Happy New Year Val!
I love the poetic way you described the contemplative time between Christmas and New Year. I haven’t heard it put a better way, ever.
Also, thanks for reminding me of Thoreau. I could really use a dose right about now.
I hope this post-new year’s day, time of getting back to business, is treating you well!
Val, I don’t know how I missed this and I’ve been coming here frequently to look for your lovely words and art. As someone else has mentioned, I too now feel like re-reading Walden’s poetic thoughts. It seems that contemplation and simplicity are on the minds of many of us!
Diane at Sand to Glass
http://sandtoglass.blogspot.com/
duh, did I really write that? 😀 … you know what I meant: I meant to say Thoreau’s thoughts on Walden … oh well … worth a good laugh anyway!
Diane
I really enjoyed “Eat, Pray, Love” . Great read.
Lori
Return to the Garden
Solid article. I study something like this here at Miami University.
It’s truly stimulating to know writing from other writers and observe a little bit from their source. I’d love to use some of this material on my own blog (if you don’t mind). Obviously, I’ll offer a link to %target_domain% on my blog. Kudos for sharing.