But May is enchantment without shadow. May is the sweetness of love and the mystery of blossoming. …
It is good for us, I think, to keep as much joy in life as we can. We busy ourselves with so many things that are not of the heart and spirit. We worry about money, we agonize over the terrible state of the world, we fret at household duties or business minutiae, we work, we argue, we squander our strength in a million ways.
And all the time the wonder of life is around us, the ecstasy of breathing air ravished by apple blossoms, of walking on fern-cool driftways, of listening to young leaves moving in the moonlight, and of seeing the twilight stars in the violet bowl of the sky. There is joy enough in one spring day to furnish forth the world, if we but knew it.
Gladys Taber
Stillmeadow Seasons 1950
Glady's Stillmeadow
Oh, that's lovely. It makes me want to take several days this month and go to somewhere in the country where I could just wander...
ReplyDeleteHope you can!
DeleteSo lovely! I always think you and Gladys Taber think in the same way.
ReplyDeleteThat's the nicest compliment ever!
DeleteExactly what I needed to read this afternoon, Nan; as if you knew she needed to be read right now. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm very touched to read this.
DeleteA wonderful description of this time of year.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes!
DeleteSigh. I love the look and the name of "Still Meadow."
ReplyDeleteOh. My. that is a letter to be read aloud; and I love the look of the house and yard -- not all trimmed up and pristine. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it was taken when she still lived there, or later.
DeleteNo one could say it like Gladys! That wonderful lady's books got me through many a worrisome time. I followed her throughout the year. Every month I would read through that month's chapter, in every one of her books that went by the calendar. She taught me to love so many things in nature and life. To this day I miss her, and Stillmeadow, and Butternut Wisdom. But her books stay in my bedroom bookcase and are never lent out and I dip into them when I'm low and she gets me back on track.
ReplyDeleteThe passages you used are some of my favorites.
Absolutely true! I'm quite sure she is still alive and enjoying Stillmeadow. :<)
DeleteI love what you wrote about reading her words. I agree.
Thank you Nan. Food for thought indeed.
ReplyDeleteGladys is just the best!
DeleteI haven't heard of her. What lovely words.
ReplyDeleteMay is a good month to turn off the television, ignore the news and enjoy the beautiful spring flowers and nature.
Ann
Well, there's a whole lot more here in my letters. Under 'letter topics' to the right, there is a whole category of Gladys Taber with 61 entries, so far!
DeleteI'm for ignoring the news every month. :<)
What a lovely passage! I love Gladys. I just joined the Friends of Gladys Taber group and am looking forward to getting the quarterly newsletter. But in the meantime, I'll read about the glories of May and June in her wonderful, wonderful books. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled you've joined!! I thought of putting a widget or button on the sidebar that people could click to find the Friends page.
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteMy garden
this May
is a dream
come true...
Isn't that just so wonderful!
DeleteWhat a wonderful passage. Gladys really knew how to get it just right when she wanted to say something. And your daffs are beautiful - so richly yellow. I love daffs, maybe because my dad was a Welshman.
ReplyDeleteShe certainly did! The daffs have just gone by, and now we have apple blossoms.
DeleteGladys always captures the essence.
ReplyDeleteI love this! And that photo could be of your home and garden, you know?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know we've already jumped right into summer temps. 100 yesterday and high 80s today. I'm already missing winter! Yes, I said that outloud. ;)
Though her house is a couple hundred years older than mine, there is a similarity between New England farmhouses.
DeleteWe've been quite cool here. Isn't the midwest known for extremes in temps? Though I know you like the sun, I think of you as more of a moderate climate sorta girl.
Yes, we get extreme temps, but we haven't had triple digits quite this early! I do like the sun and I'm happiest when it's 75-85. :)
DeleteI think I've seen 100 less than five times in my life. :<)
DeleteI love it when you give us a passage from Gladys, such warm wisdom. You have really outdone yourself with the header, it is quite beautiful, thank you.
ReplyDeleteC
I borrowed a beautiful old copy of Stillmeadow Seasons from the library, and am so enjoying her words. Those apple blossoms are on a little tree we freed from a bunch of bigger, overwhelming trees, and some bushes. I'm thrilled it is doing so well.
DeleteOh, and I meant to say thank you for the compliment, but as always, it is pure luck. I point the camera and click. Period. :<)
DeleteHow lovely, a treat for the ears!
ReplyDeleteShe does have a way of saying just the right thing. Love her writing.
Delete