The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. ~Robert Louis StevensonJuly is when the summer’s rhythm seems set and before us lay days of warmth and sun and the routine of the garden. We have daily duties to attend to; watering, harvesting, deadheading. We begin to enjoy the freshness of the summer vegetables; first squash, then beans, tomatoes, peppers and corn, if we are lucky.
We know now, or think we know, what type of summer we are going to have.
For some it is hot, too hot, and dry and they watch as their plants wither and dry in the sun and wonder what will be left in their gardens when the rains finally return.
For others, it is wet, too wet, and they wonder if they shall even be able to return to their homes and gardens once the flood waters recede.
Whatever our summer brings, by July we find its rhythm, we follow its path, completing our daily duties, whatever we find them to be. We are thankful for breath, light, flowers, duties and having a path to follow.
Visit Sweet Home and Garden Chicago for other Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day posts on the first day of the month.
The Quotidian Mysteries.
It seems you and I are on companion pages today. I love that poem, and I’m glad you used it.
We are having a wonderful summer. Hot, but we’ve had rain, and I’m grateful for every day God gives me in the garden~~Dee
That was really deep, Carol – finding our path is a major problem this July. And even if we find it, will we have the strength to follow it?
MaryAnn in Idaho has a different kind of RL Stevenson poem on her blog which was perfect for July, although it may not be an official muse post.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
What beautiful sentiments for your muse post.
Wow, all that while mowing. You do find your Zen that way. Great post, wonderful poem. “Deep Thoughts with Carol.” Your Coneflowers are so much farther along than mine. They’re lovely.
yup, it is too hot here, hopefully it will cool down soon! great insights.
Yes, finding the zone is a special act. One that can make us feel so content in the heat of mid summer or mid life.
Wonderful post on July for GBMD. Thanks so much, Carol.
A very thoughtful post, Carol! The poem is an excellent reminder to enjoy the small things in life.
Yes we should enjoy the daily things in life most since that’s what we spend the most time doing. Lovely RLS.
Hey, I did have flowers at my feet this week over at Blithewold! I love the rhythm of the summer. I’m not sure I’ve hit the stride yet but summer is definitely here. Lovely prose.
All, thanks for the nice comments and for finding my muse thought provoking!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens