Sunday, June 5, 2011

AN OBSESSION...

Harvesting in the drizzling rain ~ 6.4.11

"The soul should always stand ajar, 
ready to welcome the ecstatic experience."
~ Emily Dickinson, American poet 
(December 10, 1830 - May 15, 1886)

EMILY DICKINSON, an American poet born in Amherst, MA, is said to have written over eighteen hundred poems, but fewer than a dozen were published during her lifetime. Before she died, she asked her sister, Lavinia (Vinnie) to burn any letters she found. 

The depth of her writing was not realized until Lavinia found a hidden cache of her written work... reading through the notebooks of her poetry, Vinnie realized she could not destroy Emily's work!! The first book of poetry, The Poems of Emily Dickinson, was published in 1955, over 68 years after her passing. Oh... what a loss for the profession - especially, female writers - not having the ability to share her works with notable authors of her time.

Emily was introverted, lived a reclusive life, and was known for wearing WHITE (after Memorial Day?? yep! isn't that a fashion faux pas?)... of course, she lived in a simpler time, women didn't have closets bursting with clothes... As the result of her strange personality, Emily didn't need much, for she never left the bedroom at her family home - especially in her later years.

You might be asking what Emily has to do with strawberries?

NOTHING! absolutely nothing! but she wrote this quote which reminds me of the "ecstatic experience" of biting into a bright red, juicy strawberry... JPE & I are eating about three baskets of strawberries a week. 

My favorite breakfast ~ a cup of strawberries with half of a sliced banana, topped with a cup of cottage cheese, and a sprinkle of homemade granola (loaded with flaxseed, sunflower seeds, oats, molasses = yummy!)!

 Okui's Berry Stand ~ Grover Beach ~ 6.4.11

After my computer session yesterday morning, I stood in line for a three-pack of freshly picked strawberries... and whispered a "THANK YOU" to all the harvesters working in the Saturday morning drizzle. There's nothing better than "freshly picked" produce!!! 

AND - for the record, we had a "light rain / drizzle" from Friday evening until about an hour ago...

6 comments:

  1. What interesting details about Emily Dickenson, fascinating. I wish I had some strawberry fields nearby. I really need to grow some in the garden.

    As to your question about who is caring for the garden while I am away. Everything is on automatic irrigation and I have moved most of the potted plants to places they will get water. I have a couple of people coming by to make sure all is okay. No rain here yet...I would have welcomed it.(-:

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  2. I never get tired of strawberries - so very delicious! :-)

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  3. Love strawberries. You are so right that nothing is better than fresh out of the field. A woman and I were just talking last week about the groves in Washington state and getting fresh cherries and apples. So awesome!

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  4. Strawberries are a big hit around here too, since they are Willow's favorite. The best ones are the fresh strawberries just picked from the fields. Supermarket ones are horrible! Hope you're having fun!

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  5. That is amazing. I never knew that about her. I'm feeling even more thankful for my strawberries after seeing those workers bending over to pick them!

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