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Outpost:  Your "Inner Outpost"  |
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jenbove
Moderator
320 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
320 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 12:28:32 PM
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A couple of years ago I read a book called Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. It's a great book, especially for those of us who aspire to the writing life, but one particular passage has stayed with me and warrants passing along. Fun and fruitful food for thought...
“Every single one of us at birth is given an emotional acre all our own. You get one, your awful Uncle Phil gets one, I get one, Tricia Nixon gets one, everyone gets one. And as long as you don't hurt anyone, you really get to do with your acre as you please. You can plant fruit trees or flowers or alphabetized rows of vegetables, or nothing at all. If you want your acre to look like a giant garage sale, or an auto-wrecking yard, that's what you get to do with it. There's a fence around your acre, though, with a gate, and if people keep coming onto your land and sliming it or trying to get you to do what they think is right, you get to ask them to leave. And they have to go, because this is your acre.”
In the spirit of MaryJane's Outpost, we might refer to our acres as “outposts.” These are our own internal refuges from the rest of the world, our centers, places we can go to get away from it all.
Let's explore the terrain of our inner outposts. Here are some ideas to ponder:
What does your acre look like?
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
How's the view?
What are you growing?
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
Anything goes!
PS - I've also posted this topic over at the outpost, so take a peek over there too! Here's the link:
http://www.maryjanesoutpost.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8737
Jen
GOT A "WILD HAIR"?
COME VISIT MARYJANE'S OUTPOST! 
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member # 9
My Blog: The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 5:14:19 PM
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What does your acre look like?
Partially wooded, partially cottage wild gardened
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
forested with little hillocks
How's the view?
Lovely, wild and green
What are you growing?
lots of wild roses, berries and a bit of everything else
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Surprise ornaments in tiny wild grottos, wooden benches, gazing globes, bird bath, sundial....and a rope and wooden seat swing in the woods for contemplatin'
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
Unruly and wild in an intentional kind of way, with paths and enough cultivation to let you know that some crazy, wild lovin' gal lives here
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
White washed, what the heck, it's my acre 
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
Anyone can walk in my garden, but they have to mind the fairies and magpies and pet the cats
Annika
Farmgirl sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
http://innermountainmudhens.wordpress.com/
http://panzymoon.wordpress.com/ |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 5:56:14 PM
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What does your acre look like?
Coastal cottage garden, wild flowers, grasses everywhere with a few nice trees to hang a few hammocks on. I also require a spot for a pool that blends into the landscape.
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
Some hills (for DS to race up and down) and then flat with some trees to put down a picnic table or seating area.
How's the view?
Near the ocean with a view.
What are you growing?
Large vegetable garden heavy on the tomatoes, onions, peppers, peas, green beans, squash, watermelons and lots of irises and sweet peas and whatever native colorful flowers grow in a humid, tropical environment.
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Must have a mandatory hot pink flamingo and some sort of garden protector.Alot of paths to walk throughout the gardens and seating/hammock areas. Lot of adirondack chairs tucked in here and there. Play area for DS.
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
Wild and unruly, not too overly prepared. I would like something that looks like God carefully parted a spot and put down my little dream beach cottage. Also, less to mow. I could spend all day weeding but not mowing.
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
How about a rough hewn, white washed but worn out fence. Something that looks like I really built it. Must blend in with the landscape. I like the look of a gray weathered fence.
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
Everyone is invited who wants peace, to munch on a hanful of peas while lounging lazily in a hammock. I would like to see those wearing aprons and cowgirl boots, but anyone can come!! I just ask to be respectful and to the little critters that may visit, please do not eat all my gardens up and please don't scare me to death when I come upon you unexpectadly.
Oh and please do take the time to play with one boisterous boxer and the multitude of animals you may find. 
Cheers,
Heather |
Edited by - catscharm74 on Jan 18 2008 6:28:16 PM |
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Leezard
True Blue Farmgirl
950 Posts
Elizabeth
Novi
MI
USA
950 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 9:18:26 PM
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Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
Mine is hilly and a portion of it is forested.
How's the view?
Green! Tall flowing grasses waving in the breeze and overlooking a pond with woods around it.
What are you growing?
Tomatos, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, snow peas, green beans, salad greens of all kinds and poppies.
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Mostly it's pretty plain, maybe a short stone wall around the garden area.
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
Wild, besides the garden area. All different kinds of wild flowers and other wild plants. I suppose I've got to have one mowed area because I like to mow the lawn ;)
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
No fence other than the short one around the garden.
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
All are welcome that, like Heather said, desire and spread peace.
http://ruby--slippers.blogspot.com/
www.leezard.etsy.com |
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peggysue
True Blue Farmgirl
267 Posts
Peggy
Tulsa
Oklahoma
267 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 11:40:16 PM
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What does your acre look like? a small country garden
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear? kinda hilly
How's the view? lush and green
What are you growing? roses, roses and more roses
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)? a few ornaments here and there
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild? kinda wild, the roses have taken over most areas
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn? definitely rough hewn
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
any fairy that wants to stop by, all visitors must be mindful of the fairies, and not aggrivate the gnomes.
Life is too short to be narrow minded. |
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jenbove
Moderator
320 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
320 Posts |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
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BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2008 : 1:18:27 PM
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jen, this game just takes me back! my first love and i were/are both very creative and whimsical people and we had our own "world." it was a beautiful place that inspired my poetry and his music and gave us strenth on the hard days when the cancer seemed stronger than he was. we still talk about it sometimes. i can remember doing water color after water color trying to capture it's beauty, but it always alluded me. i guess some dreams are just too beautiful to hold on paper.
my acre is a quaint stone cottage in the middle of a wild and unruly garden that spralws to every corner of the natural stone wall surrounding it. the perimater wall is only waste high and invites sunshine and guests, the opening in the fence are not blocked by gates but open and welcoming. the garden fairies keep the boarder and only let happy kind people enter, so i never have anything to fear. near the kitchen door i grow raised beds of vegetables and herbs. fruit trees, brerry bushes, and flowers of every type imigable fill the rest of the garden. a pair of pekin ducks wander in and out of the greenery and the hen is sitting a nest under the blueberry bushes. there is a basket hive of bees in the back corner near the old fashioned pump. hidden seating areas keep showing up where you least expect them. here and there you find whimsy garden art (broken dish mosaics, repurposed and handpainted flower pots, cup and saucer bird feeders, etc.) looking out over the garden wall, one can see a dusty dirt road winding away over the hill with a stand of trees to the right and a smooth green knoll to the left. behind the garden, the terrain drops away quite suddenly to a bubbling stream with pebbled banks.
corrine
It sounds so good to hear myself laugh. --Rascal Flats, "No Reins" |
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lmillward
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
Lorie
Riverton
UT
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2008 : 2:00:31 PM
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What does your acre look like?
My acre is a wild place with a small house that blends into the surroundings. It has large windows like eyes that never shut out the world.
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
It is on a slope of a mountain, densley forested with rocky crags where various critters make their homes.
How's the view?
It overlooks the peaks and valleys of the surrounding mountains. The trees on the slopes are thick and green and I imagine all the things that hide and live there in that mystery.
What are you growing?
I let the place grow what it wants and use what I can of it. Pine sap salve for dry skin, horsemint for tea, wild onions and berries!
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Nature is my exterior decorator and I trust her to know what looks best.
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
Wild, wild, wild!
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
No fences in sight (no phone poles either!)
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
I welcome anyone and anything that is attracted to this place. The people that would bring negativity would never be attracted to this place.
Long live the weeds and the wildflowers! ~John Muir |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2008 : 10:50:21 PM
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| I think I actually have this acre in physical reality. It's not really mine because it belongs to the people of the state of New York, but I doubt that it means the same thing to anyone else. There is a portion of Red House Creek in Allegany State Park where the current has carved out deep banks and broad oxbow islands. There are huge norway spruce and tall hemlocks growing on the islands and on both banks. The stream has cut out deep caves under the roots of the trees and the ground is deep and soft with needles. When the water is low I can walk out to the islands and follow the course of the stream easily. When the water is high it flows over the mossy rocks and I have to climb through the leaning trunks and roots of the bank to go upstream or down. My acre is a linear one because I never stray far from the water. In my childhood I made up a mythology and named many parts of my creekside kingdom, but now I only remember those stories vaguely. I have visited this spot almost every year since 1990 and my mental image of it is an oasis that sustains me in my mind-numbing, sense-numbing daily life. |
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amyartgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
991 Posts
Amy
Junction City
Ohio
USA
991 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2008 : 05:58:25 AM
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Ok here is my Inner Outpost.....
What does your acre look like?
On my small 5 acres, is a small cottage w/ coordinating shutters w/ artisian stain glass windows.
Is it hilly, flat, forested, or clear?
The acrage contains small hills with many different types of trees
How's the view?
Simply breathtaking...what more can I say :-)
What are you growing?
I am growing 4 varieties of roses..in pink, white and red colors.....geraniums also flourish here and pansys; off to the side is a small medicinal herb garden w/ sage, rosemary, lavender and calendula; there is also a small salad garden with tomatoes, onion, romaine and butter lettuces.
Is it spartan or spangled (any cute 'n kitschy lawn ornaments)?
Not much other than trees that are decorated with cutsie lanterns, strun hearts/stars and candle lit Mason jars; There is also a comfy hammock for relaxing durring the day or to gaze at stars from in the night hours.
Is it neatly mowed or unruly? Cultivated or wild?
It is neatly mowed w/ spots of unrulyness
Is your fence high, barbed, whitewashed, or rough hewn?
I have a whitewashed fence and is not too high...I also have a wrought iron gate at the front.
Who do you let in? Who do you boot out?
Everyone is welcome here and everything good is free and abundant...however, anything that is unpeaceful, unfair, unplesant is left at the front gate before coming up the cobblestone path.
Farmgirl Sister #21
http://artfulheart.blogspot.com
http://farmgirltales.blogspot.com |
Edited by - amyartgirl on Jan 24 2008 2:22:53 PM |
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lmillward
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
Lorie
Riverton
UT
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2008 : 09:26:39 AM
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Oh Amie C! That sounds lovely! It is amazing how wild places can shape our memories and influence who we become. The way you speak of your place is so intimate and caring! It makes me want to know all the stories you created about it!
Long live the weeds and the wildflowers! |
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Outpost: Your "Inner Outpost" |
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Your "Inner Outpost"
