Wednesday, September 27, 2006

What I did yesterday.......

Today I am sitting in the sunflower field surrounded by the beautiful tall, happy yellow flowers that The Farmer planted in June and July. The “Lyng Gray Stripe” blooms which last week all sat perkily high above their stems are beginning to droop under the weight of the developing seeds.



The blue sky above is filled with puffy clouds that look like cotton candy floating around aimlessly. The sky far off at the horizon where the sun sets each night is a baby blue color with turquoise tinges. Puffy clouds are layered on top of each other, the uppermost tinged with a lovely greyish lavender color. Directly above, the sky is a deep and clear blue color with purplish overtones – similar to a June lupine or a deep blue morning glory blossom.

The wind is blowing high through the trees at the edge of the field. I don’t know what kind of trees they are – I must ask The Farmer. Poison ivy vines are trailing along the thick trunks giving them a lovely jolt of red and auburn.

The sunflowers are moving gracefully – like a slow swaying dance. As the wind catches their heavy heads, they nod and bob – as if they are all talking amongst themselves. “Sure seems like frost is coming. Sure hope my seeds grow so my new babies continue my work next year.”

Across the strret, the Jersey cows are curious. They greet me each morning. They watch me arrive and climb out of the car. Soon, they pick up their pretty heads from the grass they have been picking at for breakfast and nod to me as if to welcome me to their world. Their big dark brown saucer shaped eyes make me feel loved and appreciated.


In a minute, the big Jersey bull with a brass ring through his nose comes to the edge of the field and looks me over. He has things to do, women to take care of and in a few minutes, he ushers them up the hill to the barn. Every morning….


Today, I walk down the front rows of sunflowers – shorter in height but not in beauty - sad to see the petals withering and shriveling. As I get to the taller flowers at the back of the field, I startle the birds that were feeding on the seeds in the mature heads. In an instant, finches scatter quickly, taking fast flight in their quick, syncopated, flittery fashion.

In the rows at the back of the field, The Farmer left a little gathering area in a triangular shape. He mowed the weeds that were growing and placed a dozen bales of hay in a semi-circle. Here we had a sunflower field trip with the children in Julia’s school class. The kids drew beautiful pictures of the flowers. We read them some sunflower stories and they ate sunflower seeds and “cowboy cookies” full of sunflower seeds and oatmeal and chocolate chips.


The sunflower field is almost done for the year. It is sad to think that in a short while, the cold weather will come and take the life away. But they have done good– they have made many people happy by gracing dining tables, church altars, the side of the road, and who knows where else. This winter, they will feed the birds and next spring the cycle of life will begin again.

The Farmer did a good thing planting this field. He says it’s his art – his contribution of beauty and happiness to passing motorists, bicyclists, and joggers. Isn’t that just the sweetest? I am so proud of him.



Julia is learning to tolerate the sunflowers. She says she can’t wait til frost hits . This year, she is a little more steady on her feet and taller – the rows and plants aren’t quite so intimidating.


Yesterday, she took her own sunflower photo (in sepia tone - she loves it) and together we made a happy face out of a giant sunflower head.


Me, I’ve got to write a few pages on color for a book I am working on. I came down to the field to gather my thoughts, find some inner inspiration. For the past week I’ve been thinking about color – looking for my inner muse so that I can express the way I look at color, see color, use color, in order to pass it on. Instead of writing that piece, I wrote this. Ever the procratinator, I am. But now I think I can write what my editor is waiting for.

Enjoy your day.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kristin, thank you for that piece...my favorite time of the year and I love sunflowers. What a precious picture of Julia!

Green Kitchen said...

Simple, but poignant--a moment in time. It makes me a little sad. Time goes by so fast.

Anonymous said...

Simply beautiful, Kristin.

Michele

ChickenBetty said...

Look at that darling imp in the sunflower field. Beauty can be so simple. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Aww, Jersey cows are gorgeous - even the bull is pretty!

PamKittyMorning said...

Just lovely and sentimental.

Anonymous said...

Kristin, if anyone can write about color it's you. Several years ago I attended your talk on color at Stitches West in Oakland. It was very inspiring, and I still remember many of the slides. I always *was* fond of using green in my work. After your talk I never looked back! :-)
A lovely blog entry today.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful, perfect day. Fall is second only to spring for me, I love the way the sky is so blue and the air gets a little crisp, and of course, the leaves on the trees are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing these lovely pictures and thoughts.

Anonymous said...

I miss autumn in the northern hemisphere a great deal, but your post was so vivid I could almost feel the hayfever--which I don't miss at all! I do enjoy the slice of life in your blog, though -- a good read.

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