Quote of the Day
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
St. Basil, source 365 Days of Wonder
I literally yelled at the poor East Indian dude who answered my called to the credit card company. They shut down my credit card over 3 weeks ago due to fraud, and I still do not have a new card. I was livid. I bantered on about subscriptions being canceled so I couldn’t even watch TV. A bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point.
He patiently checked on the status and calmly explained that I should wait a few more days. I’ve heard it all before. Then I asked, “Why could the Disney Plus charge go through and I don’t even have the secret number yet?”
He again very patiently explained that some companies allow them to change over the recurring charges. “You mean I don’t have to get on the phone and call all these companies?”
My voice was calmer. I was breathing a little better. I apologized for yelling at him and promised I would try to wait a few more days.
Then I went outside to water plants and ended up pulling weeds. I’ve always wanted to be a gardener. One who enjoyed digging and planting. I am hopeful it may be happening. I was amazed at how easily I calmed down when I dug in the cool brown dirt, watched doddle bugs emerge, and felt that satisfaction that I was doing something productive.
Then I called Mary. Mary is my good friend who is a master gardener. I told her about my butterfly garden. She said, “Come over! I have some plants for you.”
I went shopping for plants in Mary’s yard and came home with pots of native sunflowers, a blooming ground cover, and one other butterfly plant whose name I’ve already forgotten.
The digging, clearing a space for something new, finding new plants, a gift of friendship all soothed by worried soul. And I hadn’t even gotten to a glass of wine yet.
In my notebook this week I used the above quote to create a golden shovel.
“he who plants kindness gathers love.”
When he sees the first hummingbird at the hibiscus, he
Margaret Simon, draft
gathers sugarwater for who–
ever may visit; he plants
bee balm, hosta, zinnia, and kindness
attracting a single ruby-red who gathers
us to the window to love.
Mary and I share photos of our orchids that are re-flowering.
Reflections on the Teche 
I can so relate to your frustration…and the healing power of gardening. I have yet to have an orchid re-bloom. What’s the secret?? xo
A lucky spot. I had 3 given at different times as a gift. All three were on my back porch. I brought them in for winter, tried to remember to water them. They don’t like to be soaked through, just a sprinkle now and then. One died and the other two have reached out toward the window light and are blooming again. Tiny miracles really.
Love your golden shovel and the source too, it feels very calming. That sense of calm is one thing I love about gardening, even weeding which one can get lost in… Thanks Margaret!
Weeding in the summer is very different. Sweaty and hot. I usually get angry and impatient but on a nice spring day, it’s therapeutic.
Your Golden Shovel is lovely, Margaret. So happy to hear how preparing your garden helped calm your soul. And I love your orchids. I have one that just rebloomed with more blossoms than it originally had! It was such a surprise.
These surprises are little gifts from Mother Earth.
Thanks for sharing. I’m impressed with your honesty in the beginning and your golden shovel at the end.
I love gardening. I think I picked it up from my Nonnie who grew the most beautiful roses. It is a calming force on a frantic day. I’ve been on those phone calls and they are so unnerving. Poetry is another wonderful way to clear the frustration away and I see that you are full of poetic goodness. Peace to you, Margaret.
I’m getting better at it but it doesn’t come naturally to me as it does for some who seem to have the talent of green in their blood.
Beautiful photos and heartfelt, nourishing Golden Shovel—thank you, Margaret.
Beautiful pictures, poem and message in this post. We all need to search out ways to calm our spirit. Glad gardening is becoming a spirit-calmer for you.
For now, it is. Thanks for coming by.
Nothing like digging in the dirt to calm and nourish you. And nothing better than planting plants from friends–every year they came up and remind you of someone special. Lovely poem.
I didn’t even think about that. I will think of Mary when I see those sunflowers! I wish I could send you a flower for you to think of me.
Margaret, that’s a lovely poem. I look forward to our first hummingbird, but it will be a while.
Ours don’t usually arrive until April. Thanks for connecting.
I, too, find that digging in the garden releases all my angry toxins into the air…such a good thing to turn to after wrestling with the credit card company. How much fun to ‘shop’ a friend’s garden for plants!
Oh, your story of yelling at the person at the credit card company was a surprise. I can’t imagine you losing your cool. I love that he helped start the calming and then the garden finished the job. Beautiful post, and wonderful quote that you golden shovel is created from. The planting of all the flowers and kindness too is beautiful.
Love the credit card customer service incident. It’s so real and a frustration we all share. I don’t garden these days. I gave it up as I didn’t have ‘time’ for it. However, I’m taking my ‘time’ back slowly but surely now. I know what you mean by the calming power of the cool dirt. It’s a special power dirt has.
When I was raising my kids, gardening was not on my radar. I’m learning to love it and I have a beautiful setting to do it in.
Oh, SO frustrating, Margaret. I’m sorry. I love your orchids, your friends, and your poem!
I went through the CC debacle a few months ago, so sorry you had to as well. Love the solace you’ve expressed in your gardening, Margaret. Yep, it helps!
Margaret, I’m glad you find time and space in your garden to let go of all the frustration. What saints – these anonymous voices on the other end of our frustrations! When I’ve hit that place, I make a mental note to pay their kindness forward. Now your pollinator-magnets will do this!
It’s frustrating when someone messes us up (e.g. steals our credit card) and we don’t know who it is and we have all this work to do to make it right. Where is the justice?? Thank goodness Nature will always welcome us with open arms.
Nice slice! I like the way your golden shovel condenses it all down and adds in the extra sugarwater hummingbird.
Nice slice! I like the way your gold shovel condenses it all down and then adds in the sugarwater hummingbird for hope.