June first at the time of my childhood was Children's Day. With a few exceptions, it appears to be an Eastern European celebration and I wonder why it never caught on elsewhere. It seems a very market capitalism friendly holiday.
I don't remember if gifts were part of the deal when I was small, but I do know I looked forward to the day. In school, we'd be made to feel special and later, when television came into most households in Warsaw, it was talked up significantly: Children's Day! We're celebrating our precious children, the future generation!
So vivid is this memory of an emphasis on the beauty of a child, that rarely does a June first go by without my paying attention to it (even before Snowdrop came into my grandmotherly life).
Let me start, then, with a photo of Snowdrop, who, with her beautiful trust-filled eyes happens to represent for me all the little ones out there right now.
My day actually began quietly, at the farmhouse, just with Ed. With an indoor breakfast (a cool morning!).
On this second in a string of brilliant days, we again work outside. Ed fills the pickup truck with wood chips from the city and he again puts the rooster behind a closed fence (sorry Oreo, but you really are a pest otherwise!) so that I can freely roam the gardens.
And I do a fine manicure of a flower field (the shady one, by the brick path leading to the door)...
...which is an incredibly pleasant task: there is a lot of surveying of progress, mapping out future growth, and perhaps filling in a hole or two. It's not only cosmetic, but it's sensual and fine -- the cherry on top of a grand dessert.
For my perennial photo of the day, though, I'll take you back to the big flower field by the sheep shed path. New iris buds are ready to pop open for us. Without doubt, the visual focus of the yard now is right this spot.
Though the newest bed offers some delightful competition!
In the afternoon, I am in Snowdrop's home. She is all child -- energetic, inquisitive, determined.
The three of us -- mom, Snowdrop, grandma -- do our round-the-lake walk and here, the little girl, as always, appears to melt into her stroller.
I think a lot today about this child, but also about my own children and, too, about being a child. There's reason for it -- June first, yes, sure, that, but also I spend so much time with a child and writing about childhood (in my Great Writing Project), that it all comes to percolate now on this beautiful late spring day.
Strawberry moon tomorrow, but it looks pretty full today. Beautiful day. Happy Children's Day, you kids out there. Your smiles are everything to us older types.
I don't remember if gifts were part of the deal when I was small, but I do know I looked forward to the day. In school, we'd be made to feel special and later, when television came into most households in Warsaw, it was talked up significantly: Children's Day! We're celebrating our precious children, the future generation!
So vivid is this memory of an emphasis on the beauty of a child, that rarely does a June first go by without my paying attention to it (even before Snowdrop came into my grandmotherly life).
Let me start, then, with a photo of Snowdrop, who, with her beautiful trust-filled eyes happens to represent for me all the little ones out there right now.
My day actually began quietly, at the farmhouse, just with Ed. With an indoor breakfast (a cool morning!).
On this second in a string of brilliant days, we again work outside. Ed fills the pickup truck with wood chips from the city and he again puts the rooster behind a closed fence (sorry Oreo, but you really are a pest otherwise!) so that I can freely roam the gardens.
And I do a fine manicure of a flower field (the shady one, by the brick path leading to the door)...
...which is an incredibly pleasant task: there is a lot of surveying of progress, mapping out future growth, and perhaps filling in a hole or two. It's not only cosmetic, but it's sensual and fine -- the cherry on top of a grand dessert.
For my perennial photo of the day, though, I'll take you back to the big flower field by the sheep shed path. New iris buds are ready to pop open for us. Without doubt, the visual focus of the yard now is right this spot.
Though the newest bed offers some delightful competition!
In the afternoon, I am in Snowdrop's home. She is all child -- energetic, inquisitive, determined.
The three of us -- mom, Snowdrop, grandma -- do our round-the-lake walk and here, the little girl, as always, appears to melt into her stroller.
I think a lot today about this child, but also about my own children and, too, about being a child. There's reason for it -- June first, yes, sure, that, but also I spend so much time with a child and writing about childhood (in my Great Writing Project), that it all comes to percolate now on this beautiful late spring day.
Strawberry moon tomorrow, but it looks pretty full today. Beautiful day. Happy Children's Day, you kids out there. Your smiles are everything to us older types.
With the last few pics you've had of Oreo I begin to realize that he really is quite a handsome fellow, for a terror. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why Children's Day never became a holiday in North America. I looked it up and it actually is June 14th this year, in the US. It occurred to me, though, that with as much emphasis as US families now put on their children - often to the point that a child is seen as unable to do wrong - that the country has gone beyond a national holiday and is instead living this sort of thing on a daily basis. (With certain exceptions, of course.)
You can just see the brain cells multiplying behind those big eyes, drinking the world in. She looks so happy, except when you strap her in her stroller. I'm glad she likes the ride despite her expression.
ReplyDeleteThat stroller expression has been puzzling me for a while too. Maybe it's saying she's really concentrating to take it all in... This is no game, Grandma... this is serious stuff!
DeleteWe're having another dark and chillly day - unlike you, I take the opportunity to revel in laziness. Yesterday, I walked the grandpup, read all day, went out to dinner with work friends.
ReplyDeleteToday so far, I walked the grandpup before he was picked up, then went to buy some BABY CLOTHES and WINE.
I'll make this short since lately it doesn't go through anyway - today I'm on a different computer so maybe it will - yesterday I wrote an entire book review that you'll never see. Oh well! I am mentally communicating with you. :)
So nice to see your comment come through! Sorry about hogging the good weather! :)
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