Here is the awesome “inspiration piece” I got from my partner, Caroline. We were paired up by Kismet, I think! I don’t want to spoil the whole thing– I will post a link to the “exhibit page” as soon as Amy has it up. Then you can see what Jimmy did as well as some other friends.
I love this:
Home Grown by Caroline Crawford
Open up.
It’s been a long time.
Now surrender yourself to
the sweet, the sour, the juice, the meat
of this tomato
and remember why you wait
dismiss without even picking up
the rotten tomatoes of November
the cold-storage tomatoes of January
the anemic tomatoes of February
the mealy tomatoes from too-far-away of March
the picked-too-soon tomatoes of May
remember why
you grow your own
choose your seed
plant it
water it
wait for it to sprout
watch it, fret over it, breathe a sigh of relief when the green appears,
let it grow
on its own
and with help, and support, and attention, yes,
but pick a good seed, and a good tomato knows how to grow itself
a good tomato knows it’s a good tomato when it’s in that seed
it knows that in time, with patience, it’s going to be
big, red, round, soft, firm, tender, juicy
it’s going to make you sigh and say
yes, there’s nothing better
yes, that’s what I want
that’s what I waited for
that’s why I don’t buy tomatoes
why I wait.
Taste this tomato and remember
what a tomato is supposed to be
something worth waiting for
something worth savoring
something to celebrate while the juice is dripping down your arm
it’s your dirt, your rain, your patience, your summer,
it’s hope come to fruition,
it’s love, it’s life.
I am totally jonesing for the garden now too! ( I HAVE MY PEAS READY TO GO, PEGALOO!!!)
It was awesome– as soon as I got it in my email, I laughed and read it out loud to Marigold. Remember I had just submitted the garden-esque painting ( posted previously)…. She sat right down and whipped up this:
It took me a lot longer to get my brushes in gear, but here is what I came up with. ( click on for bigger)
It’s some tiny-art. the “bigger” tomato canvas is only 2″ x 2″. I am liking my art smaller these days I think. I am shrinking….
Hope that gives you nice thoughts of spring and summer and the tomatoes in our future!!! Have a hopeful tomato kind of day!
