Wednesday, May 18, 2011

erik is alive!


remember last june when we painted on some innocent vinbjerg snails in the garden? i named mine erik, since i had painted a little viking helleristning on it. well, until today, i never saw those snails again, but today, there was little erik, making his way around the garden, about 5 meters from where i had originally found him and painted on him.


i was so excited, i ran into the house to tell husband, but he looked at me bemusedly and waved me off. i don't know why he didn't think it was exciting that erik was not only fine, but had survived the winter and everything!


in light of my continuing inability to actually sit quietly and meditate, i decided to pick violets and make a batch, not of the jelly, but of violet cordial (i invent a new cocktail every year, you know).


it takes nearly an hour to fill this jar with violets. violets are small. which is why it's a meditative activity. it's also an activity you just have to do. there are no shortcuts. you have to find them and pick them all, one by one. it's good for your soul, i tell you.


i had to go all the way down to the lake (there are lots of violets out in our pasture) to gather enough. and when i was done, i felt totally calm and zen. just like they say you do after meditating.


and i also found this 5-leaf clover. which has to be even more lucky than a 4-leaf one, doesn't it?


and now i'm off to play with these beauties (heather moore's fabulous cut out & keep for cloud 9). the colors are so much better in real life than they look in photos. and super soft and wonderful.

14 comments:

nacherluver said...

Yay Erik!!! I think that's totally exciting!!!!
And those violets in the blue jar are simply beautiful.
I love simple beauty.

will said...

Apparently Erik didn't vacation in France.

Anonymous said...

This is delightful. I saw a turtle in the yard the other day and now wish that I had the foresight to paint something on his shell. Just to see where he might turn up next. Great fun!

Barb said...

How fun to see him again! I love it. And the violets are beautiful. :) Have a happy day.

spudballoo said...

How fabulous! Yay for Erik ;-)

Love the violets, yes that's got to have been patient work.

kristina said...

how cool that Erik is back! I wonder how old snails get?
mmm, the fabrics - love them!

kristina said...

had to google it - snails can live to become 5-10 years, or even 15! so you might have to fix up Erik's hällristning so that you recognize him next year too :-)

Teach.Workout.Love said...

absolutely love the purple flowers picture!

The Queens Table said...

Yea! Erik the snail. You are strong little buddy!

Your jar of Violets are so beautiful! Enjoy your drink!

celkalee said...

perhaps you could fashion a little lei for erik from the violets?

poet said...

That is amazing! I have no idea how long snails usually live but it's really cool that you found him again! And the violets are so pretty, and the fabrics look beautiful too. Lucky you!

PS: The captcha for this entry is "shipyes" - another tribute to Erik, I guess :)

Shokoofeh said...

Aw Erik! :)
Julie, you're so awesome. xo

k said...

so cool about erik, seems to be thriving. i love your jar full of violets - a jar full of springtime, really!

Bee said...

I didn't know there was such a thing as violet cordial, but it's good to know that you can "bottle" violets -- because they are gorgeous. I need a meditation; must find a field of violets to pick.