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.
