2011

The weather has been remarkably clement. It is a wonderful time of year. One of my correspondents seemingly mocks me with the title of my blog....the world is passing me by...but it has been a season of fruitfulness as alluded to in previous blogs. Tomatoes slowly ripen. Would that weather were warmer and that they would come on more quickly.

Meantimes my cynical critic suggests my life is passing by without meaning.I have anointed one who has died, and another who is on the brink.

Most people don't enter into this...it is the priest's lot...

With cynicism most think the world is in our grasp. It is not.

All flesh is grass

The cold on your throat is my hand
Lurking in the dark, lurking in the light
I'm here to haunt you I am your fright
The marks on your skin are marks of my seed
And the pain you feel is forever breeding
And all your flesh is grass in my hands
And all the skin rots as autumn grass
The dark you see is the dark I am
I rip your heart out, I am your sandman
And all your flesh is grass in my hands
And all the skin rots as autumn grass

I wouldn't be quite so fierce as these word are...but death is rough for all of us

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I don't mean to be morbid.

But so many are cocky, thinking the world is their oyster...but it is fleeting

and as fragile as anything

On being boring!

As part of my commitment to being both boastful and boring I do intend to regale you dear reader with pictures of tomatoes. This is not the first, but it's looking to be the best so far. It was almost all I could do to not pick it. Not a hose has been used, in these drought stricken times, in tending to these plants. Perhaps taking the time to do it with a watering can whilst thinking about the day ahead and saying a few prayers is a good way to go about it...and (as it were) bears fruit.

Lest you think (too) that this is a total fluke, there is also plenteous basil of three types, parsley, rocket and lettuce.
There are eggplants coming along, and silver beet and bok choy.
So it will just get more boring (for you) from now on!!! But be assured it is enlivening for me!

Michael Leunig wrote this excellent prayer about the tomato phenomenon

It is time to plant tomatoes.
Dear God, we praise this fruit and give thanks for its life and evolution.
We salute the tomato,
cheery,fragrant morsel, beloved provider,
survivor and thriver and giver of life.
Giving and giving and giving.


Plump with summer's joy.
The scent of its stem is summers' joy, its promise and rapture.
Its branches breathe perfume fo promise and rapture.
Giving and giving and giving.

Dear God, give strength to the wings and knees of pollinating bees,
give protection from hailstorms, gales and frosts,
give warm days and quenching rains.
Refresh and adorn our gardens and our tables.
Refresh us with tomatoes.

Rejoice and rejoice!
Celebrate the scarlet soul of winter sauces.
Behold the delicious flavour!
Behold the oiled vermillion moons
that ride and dive in olive-bobbing seas of vinegared lettuce.
Let us rejoice!
Let this rejoicing be our thanks for tomatoes.

Amen.

Leunig - 'A Common prayer'.