Today I was honored to arrange flowers for a memorial/dedication of a fountain service that would be held this evening for the wife of a dear friend to my boss. Lynn diligently picked bucketsful of weedy grasses and greenery from the farm early this morning, before rushing home to prepare and cook much of the food that would be served also for tonight celebration of life... (Lynn is an angel that always lends a wing or both when needed by others). I offered to help by doing the flowers so she could concentrate on all else she had to do timely without feeling rushed and frantic.
I did not know this dearly departed wife, mother and friend to many, though I felt connected to her family and those she loved as I worked. There are two of the above arrangement both with the center sunflower facing upright towards heaven. Rosemary is tucked in each for remembrance.
A real pumpkin cleaned out and stuffed with beauty and blessings of the season will be the centerpiece for a table. Long stem lavender is added for love.
And one other bouquet for the house
The nicest part of creating these today was that Lynn trusted me to do them when I know in her heart she wanted to do them but time was of the escense and there wasn't enough of it for her to do it all. thank you Lynn for letting me be part of your friends celebration of a loved ones life.
Tomorrow I will walk my zinnia field and pick a couple bouquets of the last of my pretties. I will hold gratitude in my heart for what the field has given this year to us in beauty..I will sing to them one last time as I pick and I will whisper thank you as I walk away. Monday the zinnia will be gone and in their place collard greens and kale will be planted. SIGH...to everything there is a season...a time to live and a time to die.
I'm getting ready to take some pictures of the fall lot overflowing with abundance of the harvest season, so check in on me soon to have a look at Fall at Stoney's.
Until then...look nto the eyes of someone you love and tell them, "I love You", because we don't have each other forever in this lifetime, make the most of the earthly life you have otgether while you have it close, comfortable and tangible.
What a beautiful post - the arrangements are lovely and will surely be a welcome sight. I love cheery bouquets - and sunflowers always say cheery. Your thoughts further down the post are also very poignant. Yes, there is a time for everything and even though there's the loss, there's also the remembrance (rosemary) of a life shared and special moments.
Posted by: Ardi | September 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM
The flower arrangements are beautiful, the words are thought provoking. What a lovely post. I'm glad you had the opportunity to spend some time doing what you do so well (both arranging flowers and writing for us).
Darla
Posted by: Darla | September 28, 2009 at 02:20 PM
We have been thinking similar thoughts, as we often do, Carolyn. I always feel close to you when you are in touch, and appreciate the time you take to do so. Thank you.
Your arrangements are so very lovely, and I appreciate how you included the symbolic plants as well as the ones that celebrate this season of life. Every season is beautiful, and I like to think that when we leave this earth, we move on to something more beautiful than we can imagine.....and we have pretty good imaginations!
Please send my regards to Arnie, and tell him that I visited the Stoney's website. It's wonderful! I enjoyed my visit there very much, and I send my compliments to him on a job well done.
Love to you, always.
xo
Posted by: Lena | September 29, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Dear Carolyn,
The flower arrangements are perfect! The words you wrote are too! Thank you for posting them...I think of you so often and look forward to your next post. Autumn is here for sure!
The best of life's blessings to you and your family always,
Leslie
Posted by: Leslie Garcia | October 03, 2009 at 01:49 PM