I danced unapologetically beneath the watching trees in my yard. My feet kicked up under my long skirt and my daughter laughed. I felt delirious with ecstasy. I picked her up and together we swayed like the wind in a tree. She giggled and then my hair tumbled down my back when the hairpins I had been wearing fell out. I have firewood. I have been waiting for awhile for Mr. L who finally came by right on island time and cut up the snag I had paid to get fallen several months ago along with some other logs. Seeing the bucked up wood fills me with great joy. It means warmth in this home we share with peace, kindness and gentleness. As soon as I gave Mr. L his money and after he had left I pulled out my splitting maul, wedge and sledge hammer. It's been awhile since I've used these tools. I broke open the first block and the sweet intoxicating scent of cedar drifted in and around me and I realized parts of it were still dry even after several months of waiting in the rain on the forest floor. I stood there momentarily motionless breathing in the heady scent and then I promised the tree I would try to live as beautiful as it once was before the storm that brought most of it down. And then I thanked God who made the tree.
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Woohoo! I certainly share in your joy, and I would have danced with you! I know only too well the problems that wet wood brings, and the joy of having wonderful dry wood! And cedar - wow - that is GREAT wood! So happy for you my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend. Yes red cedar is a very common tree both on the island and on the coast.
DeleteSheer joy. You really know how to enjoy the scent of something, the air, the texture. This is what we are to do here. To enjoy the God-given gifts with all the senses. LOVELY! Anita
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words and for your comment. I value all of the comments I receive as it gives me feedback on what I am communicating.
DeleteI think we forget about the joy that is derived from simple pleasures and having simple needs met. You seem to be much more in tune with it in your world than most of who live with so much that we take for granted on a daily basis...like heat!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim. I am trying to accurately portray both the ups and the downs of my version of a back to the land lifestyle. I call it that for lack of better words.
DeleteThat is just a beautifully written piece, Ronda! It was always my job as a youngster on the farm to split kindling. My foster brother always did the chunks- splitting them down to burnable size in the old wood stoves (2 of them). I loved splitting the kindling...especially the smell of the split wood...also the sawdust smell when they cut wood with the big saws.
ReplyDeleteYour words today made me relive just a bit of that. Be careful splitting though~~!!! xo Diana
Thank you for your kind words Diana.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just love how you wrote this. Beautiful!
Best of luck with splitting. And send me some of that beautiful smell. I love the smell of wood.
xx oo
Carla
Ronda, what a beautiful picture you have painted. I can just imagine you and you daughter dancing in the yard and I can almost smell the wonderful scent. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura for your sweet comment.
DeleteI love the way you write and live your life! I'm enjoying reading through your blog and getting to know you. I hope this tree provides you with a lot of warmth! Enjoy your week, Diane
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forwards to putting this tree into the woodshed that I am going to build. I'm glad your enjoying the blog. I'm thrilled to meet you and learn more about you to.
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