“She had only to stand in the orchard, to put her hand on a little crab tree and look up at the apples, to make you feel the goodness of planting and tending and harvesting at last.
All the strong things of her heart came out in her body, that had been so tireless in serving good emotions.”
– Willa Cather from My Antonia
I just realized I didn’t link back to Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago, who makes Muse Day possible. Please visit her for more poetry (and prose) on the beginning of Autumn.
Hi, Dee, Purple coneflower always makes me think of my two years in North Carolina, as it seems to be in such abundance there–and I almost never see it here, strangely. It has such a sturdy presence.
I read My Antonia in high school. Still own a copy. And, of course, you know my daughter is named Antonia, so it’s fitting in our family to remember Cather…Thanks for the lovely reminder!
Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com´s last blog post..Scarf Initiative Update!
That is a great image and a great quote. Prose is nice for a change.
Thanks, Eliz, I thought so too.~~Dee
Thank you so much for visiting my blog..I love the coneflower. My daughter is living outside of Tulsa and has been for the past 2 years. She is engaged to a man she met at a rodeo and they are moving back east soon…
Michelle, you are so welcome. I enjoyed your blog. How cool that you and I have a connection by your daughter in Tulsa. Glad she is moving back near you though.~~Dee
That’s a lovely bit of prose. It’s nice to reap the fruits of your labors. It keeps one connected to the earth, grounded, so to speak.
Cindy´s last blog post..Garden Bloggers Muse Day – October 2008
Indeed it does, Cindy. What a great way to put it.~~Dee
Cather is as skillful with words as a surgeon is with a scalpel, but she doesn’t bother with anesthesia. For some reason, the Echinacea brought the medical analogy to mind. Thanks, Dee, for reminding me to read her again, and thank you for stopping by and commenting.
walk2write´s last blog post..High Marks for Progress–Lessons for Me on a Tutorial Tuesday
Cather does wield her pen as skillfully as a scalpel. I think your analogy is great.~~Dee
What a lovely poem. I’ll have to look up more of her poetry.
I went back and viewed some of your older posts. Your photos are beautiful. I’m so glad I stopped by, I’m enjoying your site.
Marnie
Thank you, Marnie. I’m so glad you stopped by too.~~Dee
Annie said exactly what I was thinking, time to pull out the book again and give it another read. Lovely photo and fantastic quote.
Gail
Gail´s last blog post..Ledge, Layers and New Friends
Hi Gail, I’m so glad you liked it. Happy Muse Day.~~Dee
I read My Antonia for the first time a couple of years ago and its now on my all-time favorites list. I love that quote you’re spotlighting.
jgh´s last blog post..Fiddler on a Pogo Stick
Thank you. I’m glad it spoke to you.~~Dee
Oh Dee, it’s a beautiful muse and a perfect pic to go with it.
Anna´s last blog post..Not Your Normal October Calendar
Thanks, Anna. I wanted a pic of a crabapple, but couldn’t find one. Maybe next time.~~Dee
Thanks for that lovely musing, Dee. I see that you are back on Blotanical again ! Maybe there’s hope for the rest of us. According to Stuart he has everyone on board again.
carolyngail´s last blog post..GARDEN BLOGGERS’ MUSE DAY-OCTOBER
Well, I hope I am, but if not, oh well. I hope you’re there again too Carolyn.~~Dee
That Muse Day quote makes me wonder if should give “My Antonia” another chance, Dee – my only brush with the book was more than 15 years ago when I had to help/persuade/force a kid to make a book report on something they hated. By the time we were through I hated it, too!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Oh, Annie, when I read your comment, I laughed. How many books have I felt the same about? Too many to number. My Antonia is difficult to get through, but like her other books, worthy.~~Dee
I really need to read ‘My Antonia’. Thank you, honey-bun. 🙂
CurtissAnn´s last blog post..Ready to Fly
Actually, my favorite Cather novel is Death Comes to the Archbishop which sounds like a mystery novel, but instead is the story of a wonderful bishop in New Mexico. Fabulous storytelling.~~Dee
Love the prose Dee. We all tend the garden to feel better. It is part of us.
Yes, Lisa, and I thank God every time I go out there.~~Dee
What a lovely poem for Muse Day. Your coneflowers look great. Mine are long since spent.
Racquel´s last blog post..Silly string in the garden?
Very lovely bit of prose. There is a goodness in planting, tending, and harvesting and Cather put it into some beautiful words.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..The Rewards of a Garden
Oh, I purchased some of these coneflowers at Blue Moon Gardens in Edom yesterday. I’m so excited! I’ve never had these gorgeous flowers in my garden.
Brenda
Brenda Kula´s last blog post..Fall At Blue Moon Gardens