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Thursday, May 22, 2008

{borrowed photo}

There was an orange tree outside her kitchen window she could never bear to pick.

She would sit in the evenings after a long day of work and take in its beauty. The roundness of its fruit, the color, the smell...

Its fruit would eventually fall to the ground where the birds would eat their fill. And then the bees and wasps would eat their fill. Then the other insects would finish the fruit.

She was a careful observer in the world around her.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is the woman who loved the orange tree outside her window.

She lived at Cross Creek, Florida when the swamps still flourished in wild beauty.

I would have loved to have lived then and been her friend. To have gone with her at midnight to look for blue crabs, and to dig up sea turtle eggs.

Every time she would sell a story she would fix something in her house at Cross Creek. One time putting in running water and a rest room. Having only had an outhouse.

I have read her life's story and it enthralls me. She was a bigger than life person. Living her life to the fullest. Living passionately.

I am struck by how a piece of land can change someones life. Really, it's not only the land, I guess it is the people who came with it.

Without them she would have had no stories.

Haven't most of us searched our whole lives for that link to another person? That invisible bond that binds kindred hearts together?

The shared love of art, music, words...nature, life.

Someone who gets us. Someone who loves to live life to the fullest as we do? Who sees the beauty in the everyday simple things. Who delights in the simple joys of life.

I remember one chapter of the book where she talks about going off to explore the everglades with a friend of hers. She wanted to see them before they were gone. They had started land development as far back as the 1940's. She took a woman friend who knew the Everglades very well and off they went. If memory serves me right they were gone for almost a week.

They camped under the stars on dry land. They slept in the boat. They found an abandoned cabin and slept in it one night.

Can you imagine doing that?

It would be scary but thrilling at the same time.

I want to live life to the fullest whatever time I have left here. What about you?

~Nita~

Tonight's song, Shimmer by Shawn Mullins

This is my favorite song. Out of all songs I have ever heard I love this one most. If you have a chance please listen to it.

1st video, 1st clip

We were born to shimmer, we were born to shine...We are born not to hate.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

have you thought nita to send your wonderful stories to some newspaper or magazine? i am sure people would love to read your words!! <3

sending lots of joy,
delila

Rella said...

It's wonderful to read such hope and yearning to go forward with life despite of or maybe because OF the previous chapter you have lived.

xo Rella

The Artful Eye said...

Nita you are such a wonderful writer and storyteller. You really should consider submitting your work.

I think of you and your family often.

It feels like I'm living my dream in moments. Every chance I have to make a small difference in someone's life is a dream and to be able to share my life experiences, and to help others to grow and learn makes me happy.

I'm going to read Cross Creek.
Beautiful post.

xox Andrea

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Delila: My fondest dream is to be published. I have started to write again. John believed I would accomplish my dream of getting published.
Thank you Delila...
Sending you love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Rella: I do long to live my life better and with passion. John always did. He taught me so much.
He reminded me of a windwalker...
He was so full of life sometimes he seemed to almost ready to burst.
Sending you love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Andrea: Thank you so much for the compliments..I will consider submitting my work.
I think of you often too and wonder how you are.
I think we all live our lives in moments. Small pieces that make up a whole life. I think that is why every minute we have is a gift.

Know you have made a difference in my life with your words and thoughts and love.
Sending you love today and always, Nita

Laurie in Ca. said...

Sweet Nita,

I always love the way your posts make me dig down deep and really think.

My first dream was to escape the life I was leading when I was young. I did that.
My second dream was to be married to a wonderful loving man and raise a family. I have done that.
My third dream was to continue growing old with my honey and have grandkids. I am living in this now.
My ongoing hearts dream is to remember where I came from, always being ready to use what I learned through my trials to help others. I am able to do this too. The only other dream that I have is that my life will not be wasted and that it matters to someone and the Lord.
I can honestly say that I am content in my 60 years of life. I hope I get many more years to live out my contentment.

Love you and Praying for you,
Laurie in Ca.

Anonymous said...

I think you are a careful observer in the world around you as well. I can picture you living this adventure. You are brimming with stories to share.
amanda

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Laurie: I pray that my life will not be wasted either. I want to make John and my kids proud, and most of all God.
Thank you for your prayers..And you matter very much to me.
xoxo Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Amanda: Thank you so very much.
That means alot to me that you said that.
I do try to be a careful observer.
I absorb all that is around me.
I do have stories to tell and they are starting to come out.
Sending you much love, Nita

Donna said...

Sounds like a Wonderful adventure!! I hope one day we'll all be reading about Your adventure under the stars!!!! Lots of love and Wonder and smiles coming to you, Love!!!hughugs

Pam Mattick Art and Stuff said...

Hi
Wonderful post, how is your dad? Have you read Annie Dillard. She's written Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, An American Childhood and The Writing Life to name a few. I LOVE Annie Dillard. She and I are so very much alike. I think you would more than enjoy her books.
I got your comment and please don't think a thing about the auction. You have so much you are dealing with. Here is Kary's update and thank you for the kind thoughts. They had to stop and could not treat her with the chemo and radiation yet, because more lumps and lesions were found. We are waiting now.
Hope your dad is feeling well and that you are doing well too.
Blessings,
Pam

Annette said...

every day we wake is a day of living life to the fullest....I'm learning to love my life with everyone and everything that is thrown at me, thats what God wants us to do, we're so much like that orange tree. when not taken care of we fall and everyone takes from our weakness, does this make sense? I'd be the one to take it in and nurture it, plants of all kinds reminds me a bit of a parent as well, the tree or plant is our parent, and the fruit it produces or flower is gives, is us children, and when we leave our parent we fall sometime's, but with God's love we will make a come back.... Hug's to you friend
Annette

Unknown said...

What a thoughtful and inspiring post!

A bird in the hand said...

Dear heart, it took me much longer than you to want to live each moment fully. I always remember the day I realized how (my) John was so filled with life that I could feel it too and I was in awe. And whenever I feel the hurt of his physical absence, I remember that moment.
Love, Colette xoxo

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Donna: you will read about them someday..
Sending you love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Pam: I am so sorry to hear this about your sister. I will be praying for her. My Dad starts radiation Monday.
He is scared..
I am scared for him because it is going to be hard.
I will read that book, it does sound interesting. It is kinda like Walden isn't it?
Sending love to you, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Annette: I liked your words. Very wise. When you say everyone takes from our weakness I do know what you mean.
Thinking of you and sending you love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Elizabeth: Thank you and good luck with your battle. Love Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Colette: It is still really hard for me and will be for a long, long time.
It may take me years to get back where I was before his accident.
But I am going to try.
John was the kind of person who lived his life to the fullest, and I am going to be that way from this day forward.
I miss my John too... No one could ever take his place.
xoxo nita

Joni said...

just dropping by with a hug or two

Joni :)

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Joni: Sending you hugs too.
xoxo Nita

Debbie said...

Beautiful Nita and I too, am going to read Cross Creek. I'd love to live out in the country with some land to roam....

I think we are just being too bombarded, or at least I am. I would like to accompany you when you head out to be Marjorie LOL!!!

Hugs to you girl :)

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Debbie, You will have to go on some adventures with me. You are right, we have been bombarded by sadness...
It is a wound that runs deep, but our days of happiness are coming friend.
Sending you love, Nita

Annette said...

just was thinking about you and your dad, how is dad doing?
Thoughts of you and dad are always near to me....
hug's
Annette

Anonymous said...

Nita, I love to visit. You have such a way with words and hope. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments.

Mimi said...

I would love to read the story of the lady of which you speak...
you are doing so well with your writing and photos...
maybe because of what you have gone through...you see things through your heart instead of just your eyes...and that brings so much more life into what you see and tell about...
I still hold you in my heart and my prayers,
Mimi

pchickki said...

Wonderful post Nita.

I love your story. You really do have a knack for writing.

God Bless you my friend
Patti
hugs

Dena said...

Hi Nita,

You have such a special gift and I am always so moved by your gentle words, so filled with love and compasion. Do continue to write...you are touching lives.

Hugs,
Dena

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Annette: My Dad starts radiation tommorow. So please say a prayer for him. It has been a sad wekend for me and Elizabeth. We have thought of John all weekend. Thinking of you to friend. Love Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Vickie: I need to thank you too. Because you always make me feel better about things.
Sending you love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Mimi: What you said about seeing with my heart, I loved that.
I do try to see with my heart instead of my head.I think the most important things in life are decided with the heart.
And thank you for the compliments.
Sending you love my friend, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Patti: Thank you. I hope you are doing well. I love your new porch!
Sending you lots of love, Nita

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Dena, thank you. I hope I do touch people with my words. I want to encourage people more than anything.
You inspire me friend with your heart. It is very pure.
Sending you love Dena, Nita

About Me

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I love beauty, whether it is in nature, literature or art. And I love music... My day feels incomplete if I haven't had a chance to listen to some good music.. I also love beautiful souls, and kind hearts.

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Copyright@ 2007- 2013 by Nita Barrow- Zimmerman
all rights reserved. Please do not use my original art, photos, or reprint my writing without asking me for permission. Thank You...

Pick out one person a day to encourage.


Please pray for the protection of Israel.
And for the Jewish people who live there. May God give them the strength they need to defeat their enemies.
“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.”
—G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936); writer, critic
"There will come
a time
when you believe
everything is finished.
That will be the beginning."
Louis L'Amour
(1908-1988)

"Wisdom is knowing what to do next;
virtue is doing it."
David Star
(1851-1931)
exert from
The Philosophy of Despair
It is never too late to be who you might have been.
George Eliot
Friendship is a sheltering tree.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
~Wishes are free~
So why not make one?
Psalm 138:7

Though I am surrounded by troubles, my God will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. He will clench His fist against my angry enemies! His Power will save me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life- for His faithful love endures forever.

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