A Few Bright Stars and a Lily | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    I made the "early service" this morning. I saw for myself, the birth of the day. It was nothing short of grand . . . and it never fails to stir my heart. For me, the sunrise is a holy time. I feel like I have been to "the Church in the Wildwood", as I sang of in my youth, when I see the first light of day.

    When my grandmother lived here, she would laugh when I walked in, from attending the "morning service. I would come in the kitchen saying things like "I am going to wash the curtains, and paint a garden bench, then I will make a cake . ." and on and on I would go, as I was just so full of hope for the day. I have not changed much, since my grandmother passed. I still have my lofty notions, in the early morning. . .and today is no exception.

    After the Early Service

    My friend, of almost thirty years, Janet was hosting a gathering this morning. We listened to a presenter talk about essential oils. Another dear friend, Rae went too. I have known Rae as long as I have Janet, and so for me, it was an especially happy occasion. I met two ladies, that read the Rabbitpatch Diary- their names were Judy and Jenny, a delightful mother and daughter. They hugged me and about made me cry. It was "the icing on my cake". After the presentation, we had conversations about living simply and ways to be kind to the earth, as we traipse about in our lives. It was all quite interesting - and appealing to me. The earth is everybodys' mother, after all.

    I am not sure if it was the energizing peppermint oil or "keeping good company", but I came home and started mowing . There was a cool breeze blowing , so much that a few yellow and sometimes red, leaves came unfastened from the trees in the young woods. Also in the air, were butterflies. They seem to love the loosestrife, that is blooming. I saw the first blooms of the ageratum, also known as "floss flower" . If fairies grew flowers, it would be the periwinkle ageratum. The stalwart phlox blooms now -and will til frost. . .and the lantanas are full of little multi colored clusters. They may be my favorite. One single ginger lily has opened and others are promising to follow suit. My affection for the fragrant lily is unwavering after a decade, now. Beauty berry is claiming a fair share of the woodland. Not one rabbit should go to bed hungry because of that. They can also eat fallen grapes, as this year the vines are full. The hours passed sweetly as no matter the direction, I glanced, there was something beautiful to behold. . .some picture to tuck in my heart, for a cold night in January.

    Tomorrow, for the first time in a while, I am having Sunday dinner. I have a pork roast thawing now and plan to have stringbeans and potato salad. I will fry cornbread as thin as I can make it, and Mama is bringing an apple pie. Just the prospect of it, makes my heart well up in gratitude. Few things in life are more satisfying for me, than loved ones gathered around a table, sharing a bountiful meal.

    When late evening fell, I went out, as usual, to say good night. The air was very cool. There were a good many stars out, but you couldn't see a million. The stars that were out, looked as big as I have ever seen them. The big dipper was right over the barn and the dog stars were over a pine. The pines whispered softly in the breeze and I thought from start to finish, this day had been generous. I lingered longer than usual, listening to the serenade of the wind and trees , and gazing at the masterpiece above me, while the lone ginger lily lent its' fragrance in the air. I felt like Love was coming at me and through me, from every direction . . and it was beautiful.

    Dear Diary, I am glad for woodland flowers and berries . I am glad for friends, old and new. I am glad when the air is full of butterflies and fragrance. I am glad for the whispering pine trees and stars that shine boldly. . .and I am glad to know that a single lily and a few bright stars can change the world.
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




Something More Rabbit Patch Diaries, Public Perspective, Body & Soul Song of Summer


HbAD0

Latest Body & Soul

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a Community Partner Engagement Plan to ensure the voices of North Carolina communities and families continue to be at the center of the department’s work.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how to support and improve heart health as well as prevent and manage heart disease.
Part of ongoing effort to raise awareness and combat rising congenital syphilis cases
Recognition affirms ECU Health’s commitment to providing highly-reliable, human-centered care
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a new Statewide Peer Warmline on Feb. 20, 2024. The new Peer Warmline will work in tandem with the North Carolina 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by giving callers the option to speak with a Peer Support Specialist.
A subsidiary of one of the largest health insurance agencies in the U.S. was hit by a cyberattack earlier this week from what it believes is a foreign “nation-state” actor, crippling many pharmacies’ ability to process prescriptions across the country.
The John Locke Foundation is supporting a New Bern eye surgeon's legal fight against North Carolina's certificate-of-need restrictions on healthcare providers.
Shia LaBeouf received the Sacrament of Confirmation, completing his conversion to Catholicism, on Sunday, and the actor’s confirmation sponsor suggested LaBeouf may become a deacon “in the future.”
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released the following statement on the Trails Carolina investigation:

HbAD1

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a draft of its 2024-25 Olmstead Plan designed to assist people with disabilities to reside in and experience the full benefit of inclusive communities.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tues., Feb. 20, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how to support and improve heart health as well as prevent and manage heart disease.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investing $5.5 million into the FIT Wellness program, part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program in the UNC School of Medicine, to improve reentry services for the justice-involved population.
As of Feb. 1, 2024, 346,408 newly eligible North Carolinians are enrolled in Medicaid and now have access to comprehensive health care, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard.
Controversy surrounds a healthcare provider’s decision to block parents from having access to their children’s prescription records.
Members of the North Carolina Rural Health Association (NCRHA) visited Washington, D.C., on Feb. 14, 2024, to meet with elected officials and advocate for policies to improve access to care in rural areas.
Mark Wahlberg said that COVID caused a “disconnect” between Americans and called for people to come back together through the “power of prayer.”
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released the request for proposal to hire the organization that will help manage the Children and Families Specialty Plan.
As part of its commitment to improve the health and well-being of North Carolina children and families, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of its Child Behavioral Health dashboard.

HbAD2

 
Back to Top