Translate

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Reflecting on this and that and the other

I thought I'd start off with a few literal reflections. I noticed the top pane of my greenhouse door was reflecting the green leaves of a tree. All sorts of green. My storage building is painted green and it's attached to my greenhouse which is reflecting the green in my garden.
I noticed that the door to my water heater room was reflecting the flowers from the azalea bush. I need to get organized. Between my water heater room (doubles as a garden shed), storage building, and greenhouse, I have too many places to look for tools that get eaten up by the mess I live with.
You may have to click inside the photo above to see the carolina chickadee getting ready to enter her little house. She doesn't have the organizational issues I have because her house is just right for her nesting needs. Of course she has to work a lot harder than I do bringing in the bed for her babies and finding them food. It always seems easier to have a life that isn't one's own but that's rarely true.
When I was a child I used to fantasize about being a bird. Partly because I wanted to be able to fly. In reality, wildlife may not have the burden of a convoluted brain but it is such hard work. The idea of not only having to hunt for food and find shelter but also avoid predators makes a bird's life seem a lot less fun. Humans may have some of those same challenges but as many problems as civilization brings, we also have a lot of support (or many of us do). I also went through a phase where I thought I'd like to have lived in a different time. I was drawn towards classical music and literature and a fantasy of a by gone era. Then I realized that rather than enjoying this mythical life I was weaving in my head, I would have been more likely to be the maid helping the lady in and out of her beautiful gowns.
It is almost comical how I talked myself out of many of my day dreams. Not sure exactly when that happened but to this day I find myself talking myself out of a lot of fantasies before they even get going.I think that's why I enjoy looking for flower fairies and wood nymphs and other mythical creatures. No guilt with those kinds of fantasies. For whatever reason I do have to find some outlet for imagining. For me, my garden and walks are good places for that type of frivolity.
I've often thought about Thoreau's quote about how "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I've often felt like the way to avoid that is a rich fantasy life. It's hard to feel desperate no matter what the circumstance while watching a flower fairy dance on spring day.
The great thing about imagination is that you don't even have to be in a garden to watch the flower fairies. I think I'll be focusing on the wood nymphs who are dancing just beyond my view for a while. Then I will return to the tedium significantly less desperate.

13 comments:

Dr.John said...

Imagination is a wonderful thing. But of course you know that wood nymphs and fairies are real.

Anonymous said...

You have a label called 'babbling'. You certainly weren't here, but I do and I need that as a label..I used to want to be a bird for the same reason...flying..I used to like to fly in planes...no more though...lol.. Lovely photos and no babbling was done...

jmb said...

Lovely post Carver, photo wise and thought wise.

eastcoastlife said...

I have lots of fantasies when I was younger.... it's good to have dreams. :)

Dee said...

Good for you, Carver! Focusing on wood nymphs!

Last night, I read your entry, then read a section in Andrew Weil's book, "Spontaneous Healing". This particular section focused on meditation and mind/spirit matters. He said that we need to start daydreaming purposefully - to use our "mind's eye" and daydream. I think focusing on wood nymphs just beyond your vision qualifies!

Great "reflection" - both photos and about day dreams!

Daryl said...

Oh the second photo could be a painting .. I would love to see that printed on the canvas paper I have ... all the shots are wonderful but that's my fav

Squirrel said...

Well my imagination sees a hummingbird in your dandelion picture - to the right a little more than half way down.

From one melanoma patient to another I thought you'd appreciate that - if of course you can image it too.

Cheers,
Chris

SabineM said...

I loved this post.. THe photos are gorgeous!
Sorry I havent' been online much... Life just got soo busy!

Cezar and Léia said...

Well Carver...
I think in many phases of my life I wanted to be "something"different, or even disappear like a light and appear in other time , maybe...
Anyway, it's wonderful that we can dream!
Beautiful pictures among such deep philosophic words.
Have a nice weekend
Léia

MaR said...

Love your reflections and learning about your dreams!

Annie said...

While I haven't seen a fairy, I like to think they are there. :) Love this post!

Ayie said...

Imagination can lead you to a lot of wonders.

Jeanne said...

Carver--Beautiful! I especially love the dandilion and the reflection in the door--azaleas, right?