Dear Friends,
During the summer that I was being treated for breast cancer, my husband
worked out his anguish (we had only been married a year and a half) by
digging the water garden we had planned the year before. (We are very
compatible; all I have to say is, "Honey, wouldn't it be neat if..." and
he helps make it happen!) He dug a huge 8 x 10 hole, 2 feet deep, with
"shelves" for plants, then lined it with plastic. Then he built a
waterfall, and surrounded the pond edge with big flat rocks you can sit
on -- all brought back over a 2 year period from some mountain property
he owns in N. Pennsylvania.
When I felt well enough, we hit the nurseries for landscaping (and also
did a few late night raids on some rivers and natural ponds in the
area--shhh, don't tell!). We have a Japanese maple, weeping cypress,
ferns, flowers, waterlillies, irises, all kinds of natural stuff, also
lights so we can see it at night. Then I found some Koi and other fish
to put in (they are very happy -- some up to 14" long, I kid you not!!).
It continues to be a great source of joy, and we even have a big
bullfrog in there. The first summer, we would go out every night at 8 pm
to watch a resident spider spin her web between the irises.
We took some pictures as we started digging it, and one set shows a
mallard duck couple who reminded me of us when we were were house
hunting ("I don't know, Honey, I'm not crazy about new
construction...let's keep looking") We've seen them briefly each spring,
but they never stay...until this year! Maybe it's because my Tim (who is
in Food Service, and loves birds) left some feeders up, but they have
made a home with us! I can't tell you how beautiful it is to look out
and see these two --him standing watch as she eats or sleeps; watching
them skim across the yard like they're floating when the grass is
long...today I just saw them bathing in our pond, and now they are
settled on the warm flat rocks, watching the fish.
I wish I could bring you all here to enjoy it with me. It all reminds me
of the little gifts that do come out of suffering. I wish you all peace
this weekend, and respite from your worries....Love, joicy
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