While winter keeps us in her frosty embrace, remember . . . spring starts on March 20th next year, and next year is only a few days away.
Makes everything feel a bit warmer doesn’t it?
Here is something else to warm you. My mother gave me three garden angels on Christmas Eve. See the first one? She’s holding a flower in her left hand and tools in her right. She’s my kind of girl. The other one holds a bird about to take flight. The third angel?
She appears to be dancing with a garland of flowers suspended above her curly hair.
I am more like the angel with the work basket; very Martha-esque. However, I think this one, like Mary of Bethany, has chosen the better part.
I placed them in the containers on either side of the front door for the time being. I can’t think about where they will eventually dance until the garden is good and growing.
Today, angels danced in my head all day while I folded laundry, put away gift boxes and watered my indoor bulbs. I’m not sure why I’ve been thinking of angels. Perhaps it’s because we celebrate the Christmas season until after the Feast of the Epiphany. We sing a lot of Christmas carols. In fact, tonight at Mass, we sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Each song features angelic visitors.
But, that can’t be the only reason why angels are swaying in my imagination, for I also kept thinking of that quote by Abraham Lincoln, which was part of his First Inaugural Address:
“I”m loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” (Emphasis added).
The “better angels of our nature.” It has a lovely ring doesn’t it?
What did you do during this season of joy when touched by your better angels?
Dee – these angels are lovely – may they watch over you all in 2009.
K
Karen – An Artists Garden´s last blog post..Welcome the New Year and reviewing the old
Honey-bunny– you are an angel for me. And basically I think Martha was much maligned and equally as the best part. I say so in my upcoming book– or rather Belinda does. 🙂 Isn’t your mother an angel to give you such gifts!
CurtissAnn´s last blog post..Merry Christmas to All!
I’ve had angels on my mind lately too. Not sure why, but I enjoy them. And fairies. I need more in my garden this year! I love yours–lovely!
~Angela 🙂
Angela (In the Cottage Garden)´s last blog post..Top Ten Garden Photos From 2008
I’ve always wondered why angels and gardening always seem to go together somehow. We’ve even got a shop here called Gardening Angel! I guess they both bespeak of miracles.
Brenda
Brenda Kula´s last blog post..Digging In The Dirt Therapy
Brenda, I think they both speak of every day miracles, and those are the ones we don’t always see.~~Dee
Thanks for those hopeful words – can’t wait til spring! Your angels are so cute!
I wish you a very happy new year!
Katarina
Katarina (Roses and stuff)´s last blog post..The Garden Year 2008
Hi Katarina, thanks and Happy New Year to you too.~~Dee
Your Christmas garden angels are so charming. Love the comparisons to Mary and Martha 🙂 Perhaps that’s what their names should be 🙂
Amy´s last blog post..Easy Tasty FAST Homemade Pizza
Amy, I think so too, but what shall we name the one carrying the bird in hand?~~Dee
What beautiful reminders! I think, as I pack away my Christmas angels, and display my daily angels, I will remember to be the better angel!!!
(lately, I’m very moved by the memories of my deceased loved ones, and desire to enjoy this life more, and be better at it:) I can feel my ‘angels’ encouraging me on:)
Blessings to you:)
Carla´s last blog post..Christmas treasures: pt 9
Beautifully said, Carla. May we all try to be our better angels in the new year.~~Dee
This was a good quote to go with your garden angels. I feel so blessed by such good friends and family and all are good angels to me. I get such positive, nurturing from each and every one. I try to pass this along when I can. Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours.
Hi Lisa, yes, what would we do without friends, who make us happy. Happy New Year to you too.~~Dee
Dee,
I love your angels, particularly the one dancing with the garland. I have been reminded many times this year for all that I am grateful for, and the people that make my life wonderful. I wish you a Happy New Year, and may your year be filled with peace, love, health, and happiness!
Liisa
Liisa´s last blog post..Felco Pruners and The AeroGarden
Liisa, Happy New Year to you too. Any of us who can claim peace, love, health and happiness are rich indeed.~~Dee
I need to write that quote down and post it here at my desk, where I can see it often and be reminded to listen to my better angels!
Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Still Colorful on My Corner of Katy!
I love your angels! That’s the best gardening gift I’ve seen this year. I can’t wait to see where you place them.
Angels are big in my family. My mom has a large collection both inside & out. They are a reminder of all our beloved departed who (hopefully) are waiting for us when our time here is done. The 1 kids’ book that makes me cry every time is “Dog Heaven” by Cynthia Rylant, which shows angel dogs frolicking in Heaven and occasionally coming back down to earth to watch over their people.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..Too Much Christmas
MMD, I love anything by Cynthia Rylant. Bear and I once sent her a card Bear made of a dog. She sent back a handwritten note, and we have it to this day. Just something to think about for your Girl.~~Dee
In this quiet part of winter, I choose to keep the quiet. I take time to reflect on where I have been and where I am going. Not lofty goals or resolutions, just a quiet taking of stock. No retribution or regret, but a quiet wonder and appreciation of all that is good.
May you New Year be peaceful.
Mary Ann´s last blog post..White House Kitchen Garden: YES!
MA, I love that idea.~~Dee
The angels are wonderful, and I hope they remind us all to cultivate our better angels as we go into this new year with a new president and administration. I think Angels remind us that Love is the Answer to so many of our problems.
commonweeder´s last blog post..Chistmas is Over
Poets, sages and saints have been telling us that for years, haven’t they, CW.~~Dee
Hi Dee, love your angels. The hair is so cute. They are certain to bring your garden luck.
Marnie
Thank you, Marnie. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.~~Dee
Dear Dee,
A beautiful post and the angels are wonderful. What a gift it is when our mothers know us!
Thank you asking~~I spent lots of time with my son, listening and laughing and letting him just be…
Warmest wishes Dee for your new year to be filled with love and wonderful garden adventures. gail
Gail´s last blog post..Taprooted
Thanks, darlin’, you too. Glad you had time with your son.~~Dee
I love that idea. Angels truly do walk among us, don’t they?
I didn’t have much to give, but I raided my bath supplies that I had stocked up on and put them in a box for gifts for the forgotten teenagers for Christmas.
Cinj´s last blog post..Christmas Blessings
Cinj, the best gift is always the one which comes from the heart. Material things don’t matter.~~Dee
“By the better nature of our angels… that’s a nice phrase to have going through my head for awhile, to remind me what this season is all about!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..A New Old Hoe
It has certainly been part of my thoughts. I hope that I can live up to it.~~Dee
Hi Dee, what a perfect gift from your mother, the garden helper angels with lovely hair. I spent quality time with my own little grand-angels and took that time for lots of hugs and kisses.
Frances
Frances´s last blog post..I Call Your Name
Hi Frances, it was a wonderful gift. Many people were generous with their time and talents this year too. I hear grand-angels are best of all.~~Dee
We, too, gave more to charity this year. I also asked my granddaughter to purchase an “angel gift” for a child in her community, rather than give me a gift. It was such a joy to hear about the whole thing and see pictures of the gifts she bought for the child. Better than any “thing” under my tree!
Where did your mom buy your angels?
Hi Mary, I love what your daughter did for you. I may have to borrow that for next year. Mom bought them at Gardener’s Supply Company. They are very cute I think.~~Dee
I love your angels – they are sweet and beautiful and will look great in your garden. Thank you, too, for posting the Lincoln quote. My better angels prompted me to give to charity (in their names) instead of buying unneeded gifts for many of the adults in our family.
Kim´s last blog post..Finally – the Shed
Great idea. We’ve done that several times over the years. My in-laws need nothing, as do we, and we’ve given to Heifer International in the past.~~Dee
Your garden angels are sweet, Dee. And I love that Lincoln quote too. I’ve been enjoying extra time with my little angels over the holiday.
Pam/Digging´s last blog post..Roses and appendicitis on Christmas
I’m enjoying the kids being home too, and I must make a grocery run today.~~Dee
Hi, Dee! What a lovely Christmas gift from your mother. Very sweet. I look forward to seeing where will be their permanent home in your beautiful garden come spring! Thanks for including the Lincoln quote. It’s beautiful. My better angels guided me to bake a lot for those who make my life work well, to show my gratitude. It was fun and well received.
Kathryn, that’s so nice. I’m enjoying reading what everyone has done throughout the season.~~Dee