We like to take something of our travels back home with us, and not always something material, but a creative idea or an inspiration sparked by our experiences. Our stay at this boutique hotel gave us the idea to keep a large bowl of walnuts to crack on our counter. The bowl says come in, crack a walnut, let's have conversation. We were also inspired to make our own raisins. So our next bunch of grapes stayed on the counter for fifty-three days. We never imagined it would take so long, but how interesting it was to watch the gradual process of grapes shriveling to become a gourmet oatmeal-topper.
The drying stems turned to gnarled talons clinging to the ceramic fruit carton on the counter. The green fruit tinged brown and turned browner by the day, the week. Dehydration and depletion isn't pretty. A small reminder to drink plenty of water and also a thoughtful pause on the aging process.
A youthful grape takes on the renewed life of a ripened raisin. It is sweet!
And in honor of National Poetry Month here is a poem for you...happy poetry reading and sweet patience!
Patience by Kay Ryan
Patience iswider than one
once envisioned,
with ribbons
of rivers
and distant
ranges and
tasks undertaken
and finished
with modest
relish by
natives in their
native dress.
Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable—
a place with
its own harvests.
Or that in
time's fullness
the diamonds
of patience
couldn't be
distinguished
from the genuine
in brilliance
or hardness.
2 comments:
I've never tried making my own raisins! Now I think I must. We do often leave out a bowl of nuts with a nut cracker. You're so right about it being a kind of welcome. Nearly everyone who comes in the kitchen helps themselves.
Ah, Kay Ryan. She's brilliant, and that sentence:
"Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable—
a place with
its own harvests."
Yes, indeed.
Hi Gigi,
Thanks for commenting and sharing...tell me how your raisins turn out!
xo Christine
Post a Comment