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Location: Clearwater, South Carolina, United States

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Dmitri

The day of this writing, at least most of it, was spent with Dmitri, an individual that recently came to stay with us. In appearance he seems really hard and maybe a bit dangerous, but actually is pretty sharp and a real cut-up. The name Dmitri is Slavic for lover of the earth and he is true to his name.

Dmitri is my newly acquired landscaping axe and as is my custom with all digging tools, it had to have a name. This tool is a combo one that is a single blade axe with a sharpened mattock made on the upper rear of the axe head. This enables one to cut with the axe blade or to cut perpendicular to that with the mattock – as well as dig with this same side. This tool is ideal for cutting and/or digging up the scrub trees that populate the borders of our property.

Dmitri and I got quite a workout in one of the aforementioned areas with still only a small portion of the area cleaned out. He seemed to hold up much better than I do, since I had to go in for water and he didn’t get thirsty at all. His fiberglass handle was a good touch, since some of us will occasionally over swing and splinter a wooden one.

The other digging tools seem to be taking this new acquisition in stride, except Betsy, the pick, is taking it pretty hard. The reason is that Dmitri is now doing the main job that she used to do. Frank the sharpshooter, ever the philosopher, tried to console her. He told her “We seldom think of what we have, but always think of what we miss.” But this didn’t seem to help, so he added “Don’t cry because it’s over now, laugh because it happened.”

Betsy will get over it because I still have plenty of work for her. Frank has problems of his own because he has a bad handle and can hardly work at all – hopefully his handle can be fixed or replaced. Bertha the shovel has no use for any sentimental drivel and is looking forward to the next time she can toss the dirt – she’s a gritty one. Ernest the trenching shovel is a specialist and doesn’t care whether he is working or not.

Rufus, the post-hole digger, knows that nobody else can do exactly what he does – his actions can be very deep. At times he even acts a bit “holier than thou”. Chopper, the garden hoe, has been with the family for about 35 years and has known for the last several that he has a partial fracture of the blade. He has hung in there very well until last summer when he was called on to dispatch a shoulder-less vertebrate. The incident almost completed the fracture and has necessitated either a new tool or a weld job on Chopper’s blade. Either of these will be traumatic for him - and me.

In addition to the scrub trees, many brambles still need to be dug up in the garden area. I say dug up because if one doesn’t get out the entire root, it just sprouts right back in next growing season. Some of these roots are ten to twelve inches deep. The garden is mostly cleared of these invaders of the soil except for one end of one of the beds still containing some brambles and winter hardy weeds – can anyone spell dandelion. This has to be completed before spring and planting season because with them there, the garden will be much less productive.

That reminds me of a question – am I allowing the thorny cares of my life and the weedy material things to choke out the fruitfulness of my spiritual garden? Our Master Gardner is able to keep our spiritual garden cleaned out, if that is what we desire and ask. He will also prune us to make us more fruitful – if we allow Him.
ec

14 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Excellent post! I just read a blog in which the writer complained of “boredom.” Last night I talked to a young friend who complained that she and her “dude” were bored—nothing to do.

If they had friends like Dmitri, Betsy, Frank, Rufus, and Chopper—and they were willing to spend time with them—I am certain they would not be bored.

1/28/2006 11:20:00 AM  
Blogger The MacBean Gene said...

Just found your blog via Bonita. I thank you for your witness to the saving grace of our Lord at the end of each.

1/28/2006 11:37:00 AM  
Blogger JunieRose2005 said...

Wonderful post, Mreddie-as always.

I love your humor in all things and your including God in all things!

It's all a gift from HIM!


June

1/28/2006 12:24:00 PM  
Blogger mreddie said...

SSN - Don't remember being bored by having nothing to do. When we were growing up, I don't think being bored had been invented yet, and maybe I just never learned how to do that. :)

the macbean gene - Must include Him, He is the reason for my joy.

junierose - Thanks so much - my Lord is part of me. ec

1/28/2006 02:45:00 PM  
Blogger The MacBean Gene said...

Mine too. don't know why more people don't get the Joy part.

1/28/2006 06:46:00 PM  
Blogger mreddie said...

TMG - That is somewhat of a puzzle to me as well. ec

1/28/2006 06:51:00 PM  
Blogger Using up the words.... said...

Mr Eddie,
You always make me smile with your wit, and clever writing.
Can I ask what you did before the garden and grandchildren came along to consume your time? ;)

And yes... the weeds in my life are constantly being attacked, while the time of prunning is here. I hope it shall always be that way - for I am wanting "more of Christ, and less of me".

1/28/2006 09:59:00 PM  
Blogger Bonita said...

Wonderful post - the tools that we name are dear to us. And, the Divine Gardener has many helpers - you are one of them.

1/28/2006 10:53:00 PM  
Blogger mreddie said...

UUTW - Thanks. My job before retirement was with BellSouth Telephone Co. and my job was in repair and maintence of outside phone cables - for almost 38 years. Always loved working outside, whether it was cold or hot, wet or dry.

bonita - Thanks. I was know as one that loved to dig before my retirement - I just wanted to stay busy. ec

1/28/2006 11:24:00 PM  
Blogger ann said...

Spiritual pruning is one of the greatest - and hardest - gifts He gives us... but we are much better and more like Him for having gone through it.

As always, you make me smile. Your genuine love for life and for Him, your sense of humor, wit and joy are quiet resting places for me in my mind and spirit. I know it's from Him, and I thank Him for you.

1/29/2006 02:03:00 AM  
Blogger Merle said...

Enjoyed hearing about your garden tools. You write very well and always interesting. Glad you enjoyed the jokes. I like favorites spelt like that and I guess color does not have a u either. Anything to conserve time
I like your reference to God at the end of your posts. He is always with us ~ His greatest gift. Among so many gifts.

1/29/2006 05:05:00 AM  
Blogger mreddie said...

ann - Several days this last week I have been pruning muscadines and hazelnuts and even though they probably didn't like it, they will be more fruitful for having had it. We are the same after God's pruning.

merle - I had noticed a bit of difference in spelling an occasional word but not a problem, the meaning is the same. God's grace is always the same as well and His love is constant. ec

1/29/2006 08:57:00 AM  
Blogger Yours Truly said...

What a great way to write and describe things! I smile when I read your posts!

1/31/2006 05:47:00 AM  
Blogger mreddie said...

yours truly - Thanks much and thanks for stopping by. ec

1/31/2006 08:31:00 AM  

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