And on this beautiful fall day, my memories ripple over one another, like stones tripping over water. So writing about a central theme is not the goal for this day.
“Peoples thoughts can be a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.” ~ Proverbs 20:05
Yesterday, on the Sabbath, I rested my eyes on the glories of springtime at Maison Nord Garden. The private gardens were open to the public to benefit the Harford Community Action Agency.
Rhona Frank and her daughter Chrissy own the 7 acre property. Rhona’s creativity along with her her collaborator, Kelcey Degnan and their other botanical helpers is evident everywhere. Chrissy’s claim to fame is “chief duck-keeper” and event assistant. Several outbuildings were colorfully painted to perfectly accentuate certain areas. As I spoke with the elder of the two ladies, it became evident great thought is put into the design and the species of flowers she wishes to highlight at various times of the year. I was charmed by the succulent display which was planted and overtaking the roof of the children’s playhouse. The red flowering quince trees and the tulip display were beautiful as well as the woodland flowers which have poked up from under the earth – lenten rose, bleeding heart, primrose, ajuga, Virginia bluebells, just to name a few.
As I strolled the paths and the gardens, I reflected upon how God’s magnificent powers along with seed, water, soil and light, yields nourishment for both body in the way of food, and for soul, particularly after the barrenness of color all winter.
When the property was purchased, it was a farm. Now viola! Seventeen years later, many labors of love have been put into transforming it into floral gardens. The owner explained other garden highlights which will appear throughout the gardening season.
I’d like to thank this mother and daughter team, who were both delightful, for my experience there today. I jumped in on a portion of the garden tour which provided me with the names of a few plants I was unfamiliar with.
What a wonderful way to support a vital community organization, by sharing the beauty of the fruits of their labors. Look forward to returning!
Happy Friday! Today on All Things Fulfilling I’m keeping it brief ’cause I’m loosing sleep, ’cause I’m rolling, rolling, rolling on this river. Words just keep on burning and I want to keep on going.
If you are looking for some inspiration, there are at least 1800 other blog postings about all kinds of fulfilling things, including posts about writing and independent publishing you can read on this website! Check out the categories on the right-hand side of the page. We will see you right back here on Monday.
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author, Sue Batton Leonard.
How many books do you have to sell to be considered a best selling author? Research tells me 5,000 copies or more. Clearly, most authors write because they love the process of creating a satisfying story.
But, for every writer out there, there is an element of hope among us. Hope that our books will do much better than we ever anticipated. Some of us allow ourselves to dream beyond our wildest imaginations.
Don’t we all dream of better tomorrows? That’s what inspires writers to get up every morning.
I hope you’ll return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela
Ever since I put my mind to the idea of spring cleaning, I’ve had trouble sleeping. There are too many possibilities before me streaming. My preliminary discussions with my mighty information technology (aka i.t.) advisor have encouraged me to move forward. With time, clarity will come. I just need to practice patience and have faith that the words, sounds and images will be united into one fulfilling space.
I have of plenty of concepts to sleep on which is making shut-eye elusive because I am sowing creative energy of the heart and that is stimulating!
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labor. ~ Jim Rohn
I actually like my tendency to get ahead of myself. It means I’m moving forward with dreams, possibilities and opportunities.
But, yours truly needs an occasional reminder that patience in taking one step at a time will bring together a fulfilling arrangement.It gives a composition the needed time to be planted, gestate and grow.
To all visitors of this space, a place to render words from the heart.
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.”~Bernard Williams
The good news: February 25th is a special day, and it is coming up. Annually I’ve declared it as a benchmark – over the hump day of winter. Occasionally I’ve moaned and groaned about the length of winter living in the mountains but, I must confess it is a beautiful season. So far this year we’ve received just about 300 inches of snow here in the town that the locals call “The Boat.”
It’s hard to believe spring will ever come with the heaps of snow that surround me. But what’s so lovely about the next season is it arrives as “my spring of discontent.” That means I am ready to blossom, grow and step outside my boundaries which always leads to new perspectives and projects.
In a few weeks I look forward to a visit from my sonshine. He’s my mighty counselor in all things technical and digital. I have some ideas up my sleeve. Hopefully, between the two of us we can put our heads together and do a shoveling out and spring cleaning on All Things Fulfilling. I’m up for the challenge because I’ve learned with faith, all things are possible!
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, award-winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.
Today, I’d like to put a call out to anyone like me who has independently published – whether it’s a book, film or music. Here’s the question:
If you could share one piece of advice with those who are in the process of writing and publishing independently what would it be? Post your helpful tip on this website.
The mission of this site has been to share all kinds of fulfilling things about independent publishing and this thing called “life.” Looking for more information? Use the search bar or category archives on the right-hand side of the home page of AllThingsFulfilling.com
And for those who share their wisdom through a comment:
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, award winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.
“The most valuable antiques are dear old friends.” ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
To my twin sister and our closest girlfriends – you know who you are:
When we’re real old ladies (I’m talkin’ real old – retired from retirement) instead of going to the nursing home we can fill a trailer park with these little gems and ramble around inside them wondering how we got there.
We’ll drink cherry colas or brown cows (root beer floats) all day long from the soda fountain ( spiked if you’d prefer). Or better yet, sloe gin fizzes! Let’s horde stashes of turkish taffy, jujubees, pixie sticks…pick your passion, maybe an O’Henry or two.
We’ll put on our red Wax Lips and walk around the neighborhood lookin’ all pretty, visiting from house to house. Let’s fill our mouths with pink Bazooka Joe and blow bubbles and we’ll crack our gum in public as loud as we want to.
We’ll put speakers outside the Pink Palace and blare “You’ve Got a Friend,” and “Sweet Baby James” from our record players and dance till we drop.
We’ve learned from experience it gets mighty cold in the mountains so we’d better make sure the Pink Palace is well insulated and has a woodstove. The one with the best memory among us will have to be the Creosote Captain, lest we stoke too big a flame and start a chimney fire.
Dig out your flannel Lanz night gowns, girls, and your L.L. Bean hiking boots and down vests from the hope chest. Or we can always relocate south and hang out in our bikinis- now thats the beginnings of a vintage comedy act.
What do you say, girls? Shall we start planning now?
P.S. Happy Belated Valentines Day to you and your spouses!
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
“When we establish human connections within the context of shared experience we create community wherever we go.” ― Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls:
As a follow-up to the writings of the past two days about how our life stories come together through the associations we make with others, once again I am reminded that we really are never alone. Here is how it happened:
I am connected with an on-line group of people who grew up in the town and area that I did. Someone posted a picture of a vault box used in gymnastics. An onslaught of postings followed of individual memories of junior high and high school gym classes during the 50’s and 60s.
Comments about the vault box echoed my sentiments exactly. Many said “taking showers in a non-private environment was so humiliating because we were at a vulnerable age when bodies were changing and teens were so sensitive about how they looked to others.” Others stated their distain for the gym uniforms because they were “dorky.” Others mentioned individual sports that they detested or were no good at. Some said “they loved gymnastics and the vault box but hated running laps on the track or in relay races. That’s when they felt so inadequate.”
Junior high and high school gym class held such strong memories for me that I even devoted an entire chapter to it in my memoir. I had a life-changing moment in the gym in the Towsontown Junior High School, that will never be forgotten.
Do you have any moments in your life that changed the direction of your life forever? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Post a comment.
This blog is brought to you by the award-winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul, Sue Batton Leonard.
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