What a delightful essay! I went over to 3 Quarks to read the whole thing. I will read it again! We live on a 1780s farm and every time we’ve left for a couple of weeks or more, we return to find that the creatures have moved in. If we don’t control the brush at the edge of the fields, that will also take over, in time. It’s a constant tug of war between us and the natural world. As a city girl I’ve always found this frustrating. But then I also make miso and pickles and umeboshi, so...🤷🏻♀️ I have to admit that it’s oddly reassuring to be part of the world and not apart from the world.
Your fam sounds like heaven on earth!!! Do you keep any animals? This time on the big Island, in addition to the former Japanese paniolo ranch we also stayed 1500 feet above Hawi on a ranch with so many sheep, goals, horses and cows. It was pretty magical. I don't know if I could manage to keep things alive and under control since I can't seem to even keep my herb garden going--but I love being there so much. Like you said, it is wonderfully reassuring to be part of the world--not apart!! xoxoxoxoxo
We’ve never had livestock but my husband has wanted to get “someone” (not us!) to put animals on our land because then they could fertilize and also eat down the brush. But what’s complicated is the fencing, so we’ve never pursued it. We don’t want to own livestock because then traveling becomes difficult (my husband works mostly in the Middle East, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to go spend long chunks of time in Hawaii and Japan! Just had to get the kids set up on their own first!).
The Totoro world is real…if you don’t actively try to keep nature out, it is going to move in and take over! It’s alarming to consider until you just accept that it’s the way things work. We’re the visitors here! I hope we cross paths in Hawaii some time in the very near future!
I hope so too! We don’t have any family nearby to help us with the house either which is why we always hesitate about animals and even challenging gardening! But I’ve always dreamed of learning to garden. I haven’t managed it yet though!
What a delightful essay! I went over to 3 Quarks to read the whole thing. I will read it again! We live on a 1780s farm and every time we’ve left for a couple of weeks or more, we return to find that the creatures have moved in. If we don’t control the brush at the edge of the fields, that will also take over, in time. It’s a constant tug of war between us and the natural world. As a city girl I’ve always found this frustrating. But then I also make miso and pickles and umeboshi, so...🤷🏻♀️ I have to admit that it’s oddly reassuring to be part of the world and not apart from the world.
Your fam sounds like heaven on earth!!! Do you keep any animals? This time on the big Island, in addition to the former Japanese paniolo ranch we also stayed 1500 feet above Hawi on a ranch with so many sheep, goals, horses and cows. It was pretty magical. I don't know if I could manage to keep things alive and under control since I can't seem to even keep my herb garden going--but I love being there so much. Like you said, it is wonderfully reassuring to be part of the world--not apart!! xoxoxoxoxo
We’ve never had livestock but my husband has wanted to get “someone” (not us!) to put animals on our land because then they could fertilize and also eat down the brush. But what’s complicated is the fencing, so we’ve never pursued it. We don’t want to own livestock because then traveling becomes difficult (my husband works mostly in the Middle East, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to go spend long chunks of time in Hawaii and Japan! Just had to get the kids set up on their own first!).
The Totoro world is real…if you don’t actively try to keep nature out, it is going to move in and take over! It’s alarming to consider until you just accept that it’s the way things work. We’re the visitors here! I hope we cross paths in Hawaii some time in the very near future!
I hope so too! We don’t have any family nearby to help us with the house either which is why we always hesitate about animals and even challenging gardening! But I’ve always dreamed of learning to garden. I haven’t managed it yet though!
Delightful and delicious images!
Thank you!!!! Going to email you xo