Not the most original title for this blog. I guess I am getting lazy with my blog creativity. I promise I will do better.
A couple of weeks ago I got the virus cabin fever. I just needed to be anywhere but locked in the house or in our garden! Thank goodness and the Dutch government for not completely locking us down. I got on my bike a rode like a crazy lady trying to escape the cops out of town and into the countryside. So happy to work off some of the anxiety of being locked away without the freedom to do what I want when I want to do whatever whim hits me. Immediately as I got into the countryside I felt better. The wind in my face, the flower fields full of blooms next to the bike path and air I could breathe without the fear that someone else might have polluted it with a virus exhale. No worries about the grumpy old man that lives next door, the neighbors kids that play soccer against the fence making so much noise that it pushes my PTSD to the limits and scares the heck out of my hens. Just me, the bike, the fresh air, and the scenery of the Dutch countryside.
I rode along a road I know well in Lisserbroek. Lined with large farm houses and old nursery/greenhouses owners that keep the yards as well groomed as the flowers in those buildings. It is one of my favorite rides close to home.
As I came to one of my favorite houses along the route the owner was out working on his large beautiful garden. I stopped and asked if I could take some pictures of his yard. He said sure and invited me to cross the canal that separated us and to walk into his yard to “get closer and better pictures”. I was gob smacked!
“Really?” I asked thinking how kind in this time when everyone I had met recently was full of anti-social behavior due to the invisible threat.
“Sure, walk up around the house too, there is plenty blooming there for you to photograph.” He answered.
So I started taking pictures.
The beauty of kindness is that it knows no boundaries. Knows no threats. It fulfills the emptiness of others. On that day this kindness was what I needed and the universe showed me where to find it! Thank you universe, thank you garden owner with a beautiful and a kind heart.
©️ The Cedar Journal, 2020, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
What a treat. Some people are so kind, even in ‘normal’ times this sort of gesture is rare. It’s good to escape. I’m secretly planning on visiting a couple of my favourite haunts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do it!!! It is healthy for you and Mrs H! I want pictures!😊😊😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
They will have to be top secret, let’s see how the weather goes when I should be on holiday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No issue with TS! Cleared for that!😂 weather? Really? Isn’t always sunny where you live? I was told that if there is 5 mins of sun in this country it is considered a sunny day.😂 I realized in the first year of living here why my ancestors moved to a new country across the ocean. It was for better weather and streets paved in gold!😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing the garden – I hope he sees your blog! hey, that’s an excuse to go out again – to drop a note with that info!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right! Why stay inside locked away? Plus, spread the kindness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Paula, I would have been as giddy as you at the opportunity to tour and photograph this beautiful garden. Bless that kind man. And thank YOU for gifting me with this beauty via your photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome Audrey! You would have had so much fun photographing his yard. I didn’t want to linger too long as I knew it was a gift just to be there at that moment and given the opportunity to enter his private personal area. I am sure he thought I didn’t understand him when he yelled at me across the lawn that he did invite me to photograph the beautiful yard when I first started taking pictures of the pots of pansies. I silently laughed as I knew what I was doing and pansies are beautiful too!
LikeLike
Totally odd note …when I went through my spam folder I found three of your comments in there! Sorry that I didn’t see them and hopefully this won’t happen in the future
LikeLiked by 1 person
No issues… I have had strange things happening to my WP too. Thanks for letting me know. How are you holding up? 🤨🥃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fine, but also not fine, if you know what I mean
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup… I sure do!!! Hang in there! Just like WWII it won’t last forever, but might be longer than we all expected.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on your successful escape from being shut-in by the Covid-19! I can tell from your boisterous writing about your exhilarating bike ride the relief from all the tension you must have felt. Many kind greetings from Canada!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Peter- so glad that Canda has taken a scientific approach to this virus thing too. I have a friend along the Frasier River close to Vancouver that has sent me the BC reports and they are amazing compared to right across the boarder to the South. Sad to see from here! With my kids still living in the states and things so bad there for so many of my friends and relatives. I just try each day to center myself with my meditation and yoga, not look at the news but twice per day and keep a limit of the bad language that escapes my mouth when the village idiot that is in charge of that country says something incredibly stupid or his side kick walks into the Mayo Clinic w/o a mask! Really? Is that leadership? I think not! But, seeing it from my experience level and workings I shouldn’t be surprised or even upset anymore. Only, that affects so many people. Thanks for stopping and stay safe in the Region.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too, my friend. Stay safe and calm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Calm is a challenge in these times but I can only do my best.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing all those beautiful blooms! Mick and I biked to a nearby house where the yard is naturalized with all kinds of flowers; they have a tulip bed that runs all along the boulevard of their street. It’s just glorious. Definitely a gift to all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is amazing for MN where the deer love the tulips.
LikeLike
Those are just gorgeous flowers that can’t fail to lift spirits! And yes, sometimes the universe does give us exactly what we need exactly when we need it. I’m so glad that man brightened your day with his generous attitude!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was so nice by letting me photograph his yard. We drove past today in the car and all the tulips were gone as and the yard looked totally different. That is how nature works always changing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And people wonder why southern Illinois is in outright rebellion against our Chicago politicians trying to keep everything locked down as if we chose to live in congested urban areas and rely on mass transportation to get to where we want to be – the urge to get out, experience the healing capabilities of nature and meet similarly kind people as in your post – all while practicing realistic/common sense personal protection. Thanks for the pretty flower shots, we are hopeful ours are getting ready to bloom and brighten the place up (just need to keep those deer from having their way ha) – oh, and the first hummingbirds of the season arrived yesterday so all is well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Hummingbirds! I do miss them. I use to have little fat guy who would be the first at my porch window each Spring and as soon as I saw him I would put out the feeder. He had me well trained! When the feeder was empty he would come to the porch window and fly back and forth to get my attention to put more food in the feeder. Not like there wasn’t tons of blooming flowers in my yard!!! What an addictive soul!😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh that’s so good to find such a kind person living at your favourite garden
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful post and garden. It reminds me to never underestimate the power of nature, exercise, gardens and kindness 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure does… nature heals all. As most things are linked to mind body nature. Being well grounded with nature is healing.
LikeLike