Life as I know It

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San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Monday, September 8, 2008

A Clean Sweep

The day before the tail-end of hurricane Hannah slammed into the coast of Maine was a blue and glittering light-filled dream. The wind sighed through the spruces, firs, and pines, and luffed my curtains like sails. For some reason, the approaching storm made me WANT to do some housekeeping.




I think that the late humorist Erma Bombeck would be proud of me. I opened all the windows on the ocean-side of the cottage, stepped aside, and let the wind sweep the floors and furniture clean. After fifteen minutes, I needed only a few brisk strokes of the broom to brush tiny windrows of dust, sand, and bits of leaves and needles out the front door and onto the forest floor.

I love this little cottage for its simplicity and purity. When I am here, I feel as though I am a wind-scoured seashell, both filled and emptied by the timeless cycle of tides and seasons.

Open your windows and pray for wind!

Sharon

6 comments:

Unknown said...

"Open your windows and pray for wind." What a nice sentiment!

I'm still praying for rain in my neck of the woods - week 4 of the drought with a small chance of rain later in the week. Ba humbug!

chercroce said...

Sharon,

How Wonderful! How Perfect! I really enjoy reading your blogs. They trigger memories and paint pictures of life as it is...as it should be! I am so pleased to have connected with you and your writings!

As you know, this year I planted a “Sunflower House” for our grandchildren…or was it for me!
I would like to share our "Sunflower House" with your readers. I am including the link to our blog, which has a new posting with photos of the "Sunflower House" in bloom. Everyone is welcome to view the previous blogs, which contain pictures of our garden project from seedlings to, as you’ve described it so well, “its glory”!

http://www.firsttakestudios.com/vinandcheryl/


I recently read your wonderful book "Sunflower Houses". You write and illustrate beautifully! What fabulous new ideas you've given me!

Thank You,
Cheryl

tamlovesran said...

Your cottage looks like such a comfortable and relaxing spot. Enjoy your time there!

Joanne said...

What a charming cottage, and a great benefit to housecleaning, living at the sea! May you have many happy writing hours there ...

Jen said...

What lovely scenery! I definately need to find a way to get my family to the ocean next summer. We are closer to the Pacific, so it will have to be that ocean for now. Someday, I'd love to find my way to the Maine coast.
Thank you for sharing.

clairedulalune said...

Hello Sharon, I stumbled apon your blog, and I can not stop reading it! How beautiful your cottage is, and your taste is impeccable. Lovely to meet you and I look forward to reading your posts! Thank you for sharing!