Digging Potatoes While Nude
I have found
the very best way to dig potatoes on an early Saturday morning is standing in
front of my picture window with a hot cup of tea in my hand while in my all
together. This morning on one of the
last days of September on a Saturday, I was awaken by my husband watering a few
plants on the patio that insist on blooming.
We have a few stragglers with our peas as well as the Delicata squash
with a one squash still on it. Meanwhile, he waters. His attitude is if it is
blooming, he is watering. Having finished the watering, he moved on to the
potatoes, or where the potatoes had been as the vines had all died back. I tapped on the large picture window to let
him know that I was awake. I was still
unclothed but content in the slight chill of the morning in our house with my
cup of tea firm in my hand. My man
turned and smiled when he saw me standing in the morning light. I could see that he already had quite of bit
of potatoes in his white harvesting Tupperware bowl. I left for a nice hot bath.
As I soaked
in my bath, the voice of my man rang out.
He was telling me, “These are big boy potatoes.” When I finally got out of the tub, wrapped in
my towel, I padded into the kitchen to see his gatherings. He was right. We had been blessed by some very large purple
potatoes. All of our potatoes are
volunteers. We find them in the bottom
of the cupboard. Depending on whoever is growing we end up with either purple,
red or white potatoes in the fall.
Often, they are growing in the patio pots in early March because we have
missed a few in the harvest. They are
one of our small joys. It is a sign of spring. It is a reminder winter is
coming when the vines die back. I wonder
what winter harvest my soul has for me.
The little
birds are returning to see if the feeder has been filled. The blue jays have made an appearances. We had a true blue jay as well as the Stellar
blue jays show up yesterday. I reminded
my man his birds needed their peanuts so he dutifully headed to the kitchen to
gather the peanuts for the blue jays. They
are greedy. One will hop down from the
fence to fill itself with peanuts and will not leave until all of the peanuts
are gone. It is a small gift and well appreciated by the beautiful Stellar blue
jay. Something we can all remember as
summer leaves us with only the comfort of our homes and joy of companionship
with friends and family if we are so lucky.
Perhaps I can work on the not being greedy part.
A week has
passed since I started this bit of writing.
The jays are still greedy while I am thinking of ways to slow down, to
enjoy. In Melissa Eisler’s ebook “12 Secrets
to Feel Younger & live Longer” she states “Okinawans practice “Hara Hachi
Bu,” a Confucian mantra said before a full meal that reminds them to stop
eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full.” I am thinking a mantra in the
morning before I crawl out of the warmth of my bed would be good. Something along the lines, “Survival begins
in moments” which would be good convincing myself the chill of the bedroom is
only for moments. My feet just might be
willing to lead the rest of me out of the warmth to begin the day as the day of
the digging of the potatoes. I was caught up in the moment of watching my
husband in the morning sun. There was
quiet beauty in sunshine striking the dew left on the grass, the leaves of
fading roses and I could relax digging potatoes while nude in my thoughts only.
