Recently there was a full day of outside work that needed doing and since we take care of Granny’s garden there was that to take care of as well.
We started early and everyone pitched in to help. After a busy morning we came in for a quick dinner and then got right back at it.
Much was accomplished by day end and we were pleased with what we had achieved.
It was the end of the day and I was finishing up at Granny’s when thunder began to close in around the holler. Granny is always worrying about storms so she urged me to hurry right home before it got too bad to go.
I almost made it before the sky opened up. Chitter was working in the basement and had the garage door up. I ran into the edge of the basement and stood and stared at the rain.
It was a real downpour. As I headed upstairs to jump in the shower I could hear it drumming on the roof.
I listened to the rain and had such a strong feeling of satisfaction.
We worked hard all day and finished every chore on the list just before the rain arrived.
The feeling reminded me of a time when I was a young adult.
One late fall day Granny had been digging potatoes and hadn’t gathered them into the basement yet.
She yelled at me to come help her get the potatoes in before it stormed. We ran around like crazy gathering potatoes till we had them safe from the rain just as it began to fall.
Dirty and out of breath we smiled at each other in triumph. I told Granny I felt like we were living out a “Little House on the Prairie” story, getting the harvest in before the cold winter wind came blowing. She got the biggest kick out of me saying that and it was the first thing she told Pap when he got home from work.
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We have that feeling this evening, Tipper. A long day, very busy, but everything checked off the to-do list.
There is a satisfaction in completing any project. Today I cleaned the downstairs, two bathrooms, straightened up two shelves in the downstairs bathroom closet, and rearranged the things on the floor of my sewing room closet. I took a lunch break, and finished my work. I was hot and sweaty, but it felt so good to have a clean house. I hadn’t planned to straighten shelves and the closet floor, but I had an idea. It didn’t work, but at least I can find everything now.
What a beautiful picture of the rain . All you shared was such a delight reading … it’s deep joy and thankfulness, gladness,and more . Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain
Tipper, I have to agree about the satisfaction of finishing a job. I’ve built 5 large raised beds this spring and summer and filled them. I want at least 2 more but it will have to wait for I have wore myself to a frazzle. I’m going to raise as many fall crops as I can this year.
Tipper,
One time, a long time ago, me and Harold started up to Bigfist’s Gulf Station for a Dope and a Moon Pie. He had the Coldest Drinks in the Country, and those 6.5 little bity Cokes just suited us Boys.
On the way back down the Railroad Tracks, we saw a Storm Coming and we were both wet as can be in just a few seconds. Even our hair was wet. We knew better than to try the rails, cause they were already slick as snot on a doorknob. Just then, a bolt of lightning hit one side of the rails and we got off immediately on a road beside Emmit’s Meadow.
By the time we got to the trail leading to our house, it had stopped Raining and the Sun was out. I recon The Good Lord looks after little boys. …Ken
How lucky you are to have these experiences with your family. I agree, there is something very satisfying about hard work/aproject and the feelings that come from accomplishing them. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve just got to tell you something off the subject. The other day Dusty was here and we went out to look at the garden. As we walked around he started looking at the ground. He pointed at the ground between the rows. “Dad, there’s been a deer in here!” I looked were he pointed and immediately recognized the tracks he saw. I had been weeding and since I can’t bend over for very long, I drag a chair around with me. The “tracks” were where the chair legs sank into the ground.
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Ed-LOL! Matt thought that was funny. He wishes he had deer tracks in our garden 🙂 Maybe I need to use your method to make some fake ones 🙂
I like to work until I’m exhausted. With a Type A personality, it’s what I do. I agree percent with you, Tipper dear, that when you can look back on the days accomplishments, there’s a sense of not only pride but a sense of well being and importance. The Bible tells us a rich man cannot sleep for he worries but God grants rest and peaceful sleep to a hard working man. Physical labor keeps one strong and also helps keep the mind strong. Your family is a picture of health. Did you know washing dishes by hand helps one relax, pay attention to a task, and provides a sense of accomplishment and it took modern science to tell us this????? Lol all day every day. I believe the grandparents would’ve found this “ scientific discovery” quite funny indeed!!!
I thought about getting a dishwasher but I live by myself now and it would take 3 weeks to fill it up.
I have never posted comments before but my husband and I have been enjoying your blog for several years. We very much appreciate your work to preserve mountain heritage. Every day we look forward to reading your blog and also love the comments!
As for the subject today (good work ethics), We can relate. Both of us grew up on farms and know first hand the dignity and worth of hard work!
Thank you for “Blind Pig…” Also thanks to all whose comments we do enjoy!
I fret that I was so driven by accomplishing that I did not stop and smell the roses. It was my raising. It took me a long time to realize I love to work, and that is my roses. I also love a Summer storm, but it sure can mess with your outdoor work schedule. It is wonderful that Granny still has her garden thanks to you.
And the rain came as a benediction. Amen. I know that feeling, getting done against the odds. Reminds me of this:
ECC5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
It is one of the reasons I like your blog. It is about simple things that are often profound.
There is great satisfaction in getting a job done and I think it is even greater when the work is outside. I guess it is bringing us back to the good earth that makes it feel so good. It’s like returning to our source.
Miss Cindy I agree whole heartedly.
That’s one of the reasons I like your blog too!