Rabbit Patch Diaries
Visiting a rabbit patch ought to be a sweet occasion. I am on a mission to make sure this truth unfolds as naturally as stories passed between old friends. If you find any wisdom here,it probably was learned around a kitchen table-the same can be said of the whimsy. The “Rabbit Patch Diary” is my account of things that I love-Things that bring comfort and joy to my life. I am a collector of beauty in things I see, words spoken as gently as a poet lives and moments that make all the difference in the season of life. I am a mother of five beautiful children that are all grown up. I am a violinist, but I am also a writer. It’s the way I share the treasures I find . My hope is that you will find your time in the rabbit patch well-spent, and that some of its charm makes your heart glad you came.
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With yesterday, being February first, I said "rabbit" a lot. A friend introduced me to this custom many years ago.
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With yesterday, being February first, I said "rabbit" a lot. A friend introduced me to this custom many years ago.
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It was raining before the day arrived. The dawn came gradually without any fanfare. The mockingbird did not proclaim the morning, either.
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It was raining before the day arrived. The dawn came gradually without any fanfare. The mockingbird did not proclaim the morning, either.
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I attended the early service, today, - the last Saturday in January. The morning was cold and still, but a mockingbird sang, anyway.
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I attended the early service, today, - the last Saturday in January. The morning was cold and still, but a mockingbird sang, anyway.
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My early service was void of seeing the sun rise. I first woke, before light came to the world.
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My early service was void of seeing the sun rise. I first woke, before light came to the world.
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Jennys' birthday, dawned bright and clear, much like the day she was born. Lyla and I sang "Happy Birthday" several times before breakfast. Lyla wanted a cake and party hats to confirm the occasion, at breakfast.
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Jennys' birthday, dawned bright and clear, much like the day she was born. Lyla and I sang "Happy Birthday" several times before breakfast. Lyla wanted a cake and party hats to confirm the occasion, at breakfast.
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It started snowing in the late evening, yesterday. Today, when light came to the rabbit patch, the territory looked like a post card from a place like "New England" or my friend "Fayes' Iowa".
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It started snowing in the late evening, yesterday. Today, when light came to the rabbit patch, the territory looked like a post card from a place like "New England" or my friend "Fayes' Iowa".
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There has been no need to build a fire as of lately, at the " rabbit patch". Instead, the window, by the morning table, is raised.
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There has been no need to build a fire as of lately, at the " rabbit patch". Instead, the window, by the morning table, is raised.
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Very far away from me, across the wild and open sea,
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Very far away from me, across the wild and open sea,
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All day long, there has been sunshine on the rabbit patch. Sunshine that was bright enough to cast shadows. I have always loved the play of light and shade.
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All day long, there has been sunshine on the rabbit patch. Sunshine that was bright enough to cast shadows. I have always loved the play of light and shade.
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I was up this morning, when the territory was dark and silent. I especially wanted to see the sunrise on the snow, again.
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I was up this morning, when the territory was dark and silent. I especially wanted to see the sunrise on the snow, again.
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This is no ordinary day at the rabbit patch, for snow blankets the territory. School was dismissed early, yesterday-and so all afternoon, I waited for snow.
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This is no ordinary day at the rabbit patch, for snow blankets the territory. School was dismissed early, yesterday-and so all afternoon, I waited for snow.
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Lylas' snowman has been around so long, he should have had a name. It was -6 degrees F this morning at the early service.
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Lylas' snowman has been around so long, he should have had a name. It was -6 degrees F this morning at the early service.
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The snow at the rabbit patch, lingers and will for at least a few days more. Like everywhere else, it is cold here.
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The snow at the rabbit patch, lingers and will for at least a few days more. Like everywhere else, it is cold here.
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Some people call them cheese "straws", sometimes they are called cheese "biscuits" If you pipe them, they are straws, if you make them into little cookies, then they are biscuits.
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Some people call them cheese "straws", sometimes they are called cheese "biscuits" If you pipe them, they are straws, if you make them into little cookies, then they are biscuits.
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On the first day of the brand new year, I missed the early service. By the time I woke, the sun was up and shining.
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On the first day of the brand new year, I missed the early service. By the time I woke, the sun was up and shining.
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I attended the early service in Elizabeth City, on Saturday. I had a lot of company, for it to be such a cold winter morning.
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I attended the early service in Elizabeth City, on Saturday. I had a lot of company, for it to be such a cold winter morning.
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It was snowing at the early service, this morning. It did not last long, and only could be considered a dusting, but the chance to watch it fall, was not short on beauty.
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It was snowing at the early service, this morning. It did not last long, and only could be considered a dusting, but the chance to watch it fall, was not short on beauty.
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Christmas eve morning is here . . and with it rain. I woke to the sound of rain and it was lovely.
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Christmas eve morning is here . . and with it rain. I woke to the sound of rain and it was lovely.
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I arrived in Elizabeth City, early in the afternoon, on Wednesday. It had rained the whole day. When I crossed the three rivers, it was impossible to see where the rivers ended and the sky started, on the horizon.
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I arrived in Elizabeth City, early in the afternoon, on Wednesday. It had rained the whole day. When I crossed the three rivers, it was impossible to see where the rivers ended and the sky started, on the horizon.
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Today is the first day of the holiday break. The morning was too lovely not to notice, as I drove to work.
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Today is the first day of the holiday break. The morning was too lovely not to notice, as I drove to work.
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Morning broke again with a holy silence. It is hard to be anything but reverent when all around you is still.
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Morning broke again with a holy silence. It is hard to be anything but reverent when all around you is still.
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The early service, in the rabbit patch territory, was a cold and still one, today. I went out to collect pine cones and thought the sound of the door shutting, would shatter the world.
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The early service, in the rabbit patch territory, was a cold and still one, today. I went out to collect pine cones and thought the sound of the door shutting, would shatter the world.
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Winter came in last night with a cold and mighty wind. It matters little to me that the calendar does not yet declare it is winter at the rabbit patch.
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Winter came in last night with a cold and mighty wind. It matters little to me that the calendar does not yet declare it is winter at the rabbit patch.
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I was up long before dawn, this day. I was at the early service in the back yard of the rabbit patch, standing under a sycamore, not bearing a single leaf, when morning broke.
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I was up long before dawn, this day. I was at the early service in the back yard of the rabbit patch, standing under a sycamore, not bearing a single leaf, when morning broke.
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The bone chilling rain is about to wind down, it seems. But for just a few measly degrees, it would have been snow.
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The bone chilling rain is about to wind down, it seems. But for just a few measly degrees, it would have been snow.
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I all but missed the early service this morning. I slipped in late-but in time for communion.
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I all but missed the early service this morning. I slipped in late-but in time for communion.
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I all but missed the early service this morning. I slipped in late-but in time for communion. Thankfully, the rabbit patch does not keep an account of such things.
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I all but missed the early service this morning. I slipped in late-but in time for communion. Thankfully, the rabbit patch does not keep an account of such things.
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Last night, was the night of the "Holiday Concert", at our school. This is a huge event and requires months of preparation.
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Last night, was the night of the "Holiday Concert", at our school. This is a huge event and requires months of preparation.
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The spirea has tiny little blossoms, at the rabbit patch. A few of the azaleas do too. The roses are still blooming-and why not?
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The spirea has tiny little blossoms, at the rabbit patch. A few of the azaleas do too. The roses are still blooming-and why not?
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While November, has a fair share of "silver days", there are golden ones too.
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While November, has a fair share of "silver days", there are golden ones too.
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Now, as I watch the night giving way to morning, and that familiar sense of peace abides, I am flooded with things like hope, inspiration and gratitude.
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Now, as I watch the night giving way to morning, and that familiar sense of peace abides, I am flooded with things like hope, inspiration and gratitude.
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Thanksgiving Day has dawned with low peach colored light. The woodland trees behind the old barn look like black lace, in the absence of their leaves.
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Thanksgiving Day has dawned with low peach colored light. The woodland trees behind the old barn look like black lace, in the absence of their leaves.
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As usual, I woke early, this morning. It was dark and rain was falling. I had the window up, as it has been so mild.
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As usual, I woke early, this morning. It was dark and rain was falling. I had the window up, as it has been so mild.
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It was "pitch dark" when I got up this morning. The house was chilly, but not nearly as cold as Saturday morning.
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It was "pitch dark" when I got up this morning. The house was chilly, but not nearly as cold as Saturday morning.
