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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

First Steps


Usually I choose the songs for my posts by their titles after I've written the post.  I figure if the title matches my theme, then the composer, who titled his piece, probably felt what I hope my post conveys.  This one, Primi Passi, translates to First Steps.  It's headed a blank post for over a year now because the words to match have not come..... until today..... because today, I'm in a mood.....  A north wind is blowing in colder air after having 80 degree temperatures the first two days of the week.  Rain has been falling since last night greening everything up overnight it seems.  This is certainly the First Steps of Spring.  I just hope the impending frost tonight won't damage the flowers already in bloom....  



I'm also taking First Steps in being a grandmother.  Yesterday we planted a Red Flowering Dogwood in the newly-designated area I'm calling the Enchanted Woods for our little granddaughter Olivia June born just last week.  I can't help but feel emotional when I think of her.  It's been 6 days already since I've seen her, held her....



Sunday Ken put together and installed the entrance arches at either end of the pathway that winds through the Enchanted Woods.  I've planted Blue Clematis to grow up and over....

In a few years we'll build a little playhouse cabin for her.  In the meantime we bought this gnome bench for her to sit on once she's toddling about.  It sits next to her newly planted tree and across from my resting place when we're in the Enchanted Woods....

If you look carefully, you'll find the little gnomes that live just outside the Enchanted Woods keeping watch over it....

My son and his wife are in their mid-30's.  This is a big First Step for them as well.   Being a parent in today's world must feel even more daunting than it did for me those many years ago.  I contemplated not bringing a child into this world then, but my need to nurture was just too great.  And as my sons grew up and left home one by one I realized that need to nurture did not go away.  Little Olivia has reinvigorated that need to create and grow and nurture.  I look forward to the new adventure of being a Grandmama!  But for now I must concentrate on keeping my balance as I take those First Steps, trusting my Father to keep me from falling. 

16 comments:

  1. Olivia is so beautiful and very lucky to have grandparents that make an Enchanted Forest for her! The gnomes are darling too. I hope you will get to spend loads of time with her! They sure don't stay small for long. Actually it's frightening how fast they grow! It feels like winter has come back today, I went out and cut the blooming flowers as we may be getting frost tonight. I figure the yard may not look as pretty but at least I can enjoy them inside. I'm envious of your clematis, we have not one good spot for it on our very shady property. I grew it on a picket fence that was in full sun at a former house. People would stop and ask me about it all the time because it grew so well. I just chopped it way back in the fall and let nature do the rest!

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    1. Whether I have blossoms on my Clematis remains to be seen! It will be fairly shaded once the trees leaf out. I have one in the front yard trailing up the drain pipe along with the honeysuckle, but then that gets afternoon sun. We are expecting a frost tonight, too. Thank you for the suggestion that I go out and cut some flowers! I have lots of daffodils here and there so if I take a few blossoms from each I'll have quite a bouquet that won't take away from the garden if the frost is kind tonight. We are planning to see Olivia this weekend so I'll have better photos of her next week to show!

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  2. I love your writing today, dear Cathy. So thoughtful about your role as Grandmama. I always try to follow my heart when it comes to my grandchildren and feel it takes me in the correct direction. Your new adventure will be filled with so many emotions. I love the Enchanted Forest you are creating for the new little one--what great adventures you will have. Enjoy those baby steps. ♥

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    1. Thank you, dear Martha Ellen, for your sweet, wise words. Following my heart will certainly keep me on track! ♡

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  3. Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! I love the name Olivia. She is such a precious little bundle! I can see she is going to love spending time at her grandma's house. :-)

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    1. Thanks, Kristie. Her other grandmother lives 20 minutes beyond us. I hope I turn out to be a good sharer. :-)

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  4. Cathy, Olivia is going to be so 'enchanted' with her special forest, and delighted to discover the wee folk residing there! We once owned a property with woodlands. We cleared several pathways, marking them with wooden signage. My husband made several wooden benches and a little foot bridge that spanned a small waterway, and I had fun gathering and placing fairies and gnomes hither and yon. We didn't have grandchildren at the time, but our two cats enjoyed trekking the trails with us. You will have such fun!

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    1. I'm going to look for little fairies to put inside the Enchanted Forest. The sign is the next thing on my husband's To Do list. ☺

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  5. The baby is absolutely adorable, Cathy. There's nothing so precious as a little newborn face. You are going to have so much fun in the Enchanted Forest with Olivia and of course any other grandkids that come along as well. I always stayed with my dad's parents when my mom was in the hospital having one of my 5 younger siblings, and I can remember following my grandpa around in his flower garden. He'd show me how to tell the flowers from the weeds, and sometimes he even let me water the plants. He had to help of course since the watering can was usually too heavy for me - but I can still remember how exciting it was to be doing that "grownup" thing. Think of all the fun you're going to have teaching Olivia to garden! I'm sure she's going to love it as much as you do.

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    1. Yes, that's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking forward to! I love hearing about your memories from growing up in your large family. ☺

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  6. Such a beautiful little girl, Grandmama! You will have such a lovely time with Olivia in your gardens and Enchanted Forest! You will see through fresh eyes! Wonderful to anticipate, I'm sure.
    Blessings on you all.

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    1. I think that is the best part of children....how they help you see through fresh eyes, as you say!

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  7. Cathy, Oh the times you will have with your little Olivia, lucky you to have her close. I can just imagine her helping in the garden...well, in a few years. I am not a gramma, and it saddens me sometimes when I think of all I would love to share with a wee one. I Love the video below with all your glorious blooms, fabulous! I like that you mine your wandering seedlings, as I do, from sidewalk cracks and all throughout. I wish I had lavender sprouts, but that is one thing I have no success with here in the southeast.

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    1. Well Jeri, consider us, your readers, your grandchildren! Your gardening videos will be just like having us tag along, only without the help....although very young children sometimes can have their own ideas of what is plant and what is a weed and help a little too much.

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  8. Wow! What a special little girl to have a garden planted for her by her grandparents. And cared for tenderly, I'm sure. I just smile thinking about it. Maybe you can write a book about it too. I don't understand why I missed this post, for some reason you don't show up on my reader. I hope the babies doing well! And that you're having a good week.

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    1. You can also sign up using your e-mail address. I spoke to Olivia's poppa the other day and everyone is starting to adjust to her sleep/eat schedule he said. He's been working from home so momma is hopefully getting lots of rest and help.

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