The Spring Of Our Lives
Everything Is In Bloom, And So Are We
My Dear Reader…
The old apple tree in our cottage garden is blooming. I can see it from my writing desk where I am often sat in the late evenings. The white petals are dazzling down and putting themselves to rest on the white duvet cover we forgot to take in yesterday.
My 4 months old son loves to lay under the tree and look at its winding branches, the white petals falling down above as the snow did the winter morning he was born.
There is no use in taking in the duvet cover from the garden, because we are out there everyday, and there is no rain in sight. Even the dew of dusk will be gone by the first light of the bright spring sun tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
When my son and I will be laying out there again, and my daughter will play near us. Frolocking around in the garden, looking at beetles and ladybugs and daisies. Their father will be weeding out the vegetable garden, feeding the chickens or doing whatever little job he can get his hands into.
Everything is in bloom. The apple tree, the lilacs and the daisys. The winds are filled with rose petals, dandelion duff and lilac scent. Even the small fruit trees we planted this winter have bloomed, which is a sign that their roots have been placed somewhere good.
The same can be said about us.
Both my husband and I are nearing the end of our 20’s. 10 years ago we moved to a small apartment in one of Denmark’s largest cities, not knowing what the future might hold.
We moved around a lot in those first years. Trying out different apartments, cities and lifestyles. Much like seedlings being planted in one pot, then another, always stifling our own growth by moving.
Now, that I look back at these past ten years, I am glad that we tried so many things, though they, in the end, where not where we ended up.
Actually, I consider moving around and trying out different career paths, homes and cities to be the main factor of ending up here.
In the cottage garden of our homestead with our two children, where we are putting down our roots at last, and not only that. We are thriving here. We are blooming.
Planting fruit trees that our children will run underneath, and perhaps our grandchildren will climb them one day. Renovating our home in a slow way that we love, and not for the purpose of re-sale value. Making bonds with neighbours and family close by, knowing that we will see each other frequently for many years to come.
We have committed to this one place. I know people are reluctant in saying the word ‘forever home’ (and maybe also to commitment and reliance overall), but regardless of what the future might hold, this is really what our homestead and cottage feels like right now. I could not imagine us being anywhere else.
This past year we got married, had another child and Herluf started a full-time job. Earlier this spring we established our vegetable garden and started the field rotation by welcoming two piglets to our ground.
We have been establishing ourselves here, and though I love spring and dreaming and changes and new beginnings most of all, I feel ready for us to go into our summer.
Next year we will both be turning 30. Lots of doors will be shut, and a clear path has been made for us both. We have planted all of our seedlings out, and I am ready to see them grow.
To enjoy the buzz of bees while laying in the grass, watching the skies, to water our plants, and feed our children. To see how our respective career paths might unfold. To enjoy slow summer days where everything just is without the need to question or change any major thing.
To watch the seasons and years unfold from right here at my little writer’s desk, and to be in the midst of it, under the blooming apple tree, soaked in sun rays and spit-up equally, in the depths of motherhood and building up our homestead from scratch.
So that, when autumn arrives, as it will do one day for us if we are lucky, we will be harvesting the fruits of our labour, and we will be rich in good times with our loved ones, right here, at our forever home.
I hope you too are well this spring, and enjoying this blooming month of May.
Much love,
Anne of Baggebo
Beautiful. I relate so much to your sentiments Anne. Home among the flowering fruit trees in Spring is a high like no other 💗
Anne, this is profound ❤️
Such satisfaction with life and everything you have. So beautiful!