I just stumbled upon this old post from 2013, when I first began transforming this broken, juglone-poisoned yard. It’s really difficult to imagine just how desolate, aggressive and sometimes scary this yard was when we first moved to Goshen. In the photo with the first pile of wood mulch, you can see how brown and unhealthy even the grass was, and how barren the land in front of the blue house was. Both yards now sing with glorious flowers from March through early November, and we’ve got holly berries, rosehips and evergreens for winter interest now, too.
The post tells the story of our gut-rehabbed house, and now I smile knowing that we aided a similar transformation of the house next door — from total junker to beautiful haven.
The last paragraph of this post begins: “In case you haven’t noticed, we are currently gut-rehabbing and replanting our entire world. Change is happening, sometimes on the hyperlocal level. Sometimes in your own town or even your own backyard! If you feel discouraged by the state of our world, look for the beauty in discarded things. Become the visionary; embody the artist.”
It’s good to take stock every now and then. In what ways has your own life blossomed? What inner visions have you brought to life in the world out there?
Well, it’s gardening time again — our first year cultivating this wild yard that used to be a spooky urban forest before our landlord, Larry, gut-rehabbed our house. “I remember that house” is the refrain we hear from people around town whenever David and I mention gardening and tell them where we live.
To put things in perspective, David’s dad is, among other things, a professional photographer and lecturer, and he has a slideshow all about Appalachia. He knows our landlord, and … true story … before we rented this place, David’s dad used to stop by and tease Larry late at night as he worked on this impossible project of meticulously restoring a “stripped beyond the studs” old house. The contractors in town used to tease Larry, too, asking him why he didn’t simply tear down the property and start from scratch.
As a little mischievous wink, David’s dad…
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Laura Bruno's Blog 
Posted by “I Remember that House” | Thomas Reed on October 7, 2016 at 1:25 pm
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Posted by Clare Forrest on October 7, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Laura Thank you , this post is inspiring in more ways then you could imagine. Thank you. Much love Clare❤️💕🌹
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Posted by laurabruno on October 8, 2016 at 12:57 pm
You’re most welcome, Clare. So glad you found this inspiring! Much love ❤
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Posted by Kieron on October 8, 2016 at 1:40 pm
This, for me, is also synchronous because I had asked for some way of moving forward on projects that had stalled for quite some years. A subtle response that I almost overlooked took place thereafter. I noticed in July I began to be ruthless about removing things and dropping people from my life whose energy felt wrong, outdated or had unsavory connections or who were chronic takers. The release of these things led to taking leaps of faith, such as adding a running stream to the back yard (an ongoing project, not quite done but flowing water we do have!). Other things fell right into place with no effort on my part, like the friend who came to live with us while waiting for something else to become available for himself, and paying rent by doing all the stuff I can’t do, have no time to do, don’t know how to do, am too tired to do, or won’t do, period. Example: The garage is organized almost to military specs and his energy swept so much junk out and gave me the kick I needed to just give away, recycle, discard etc useless stuff and clear other people’s stagnant energy away (including my own). The basement is getting turned into a workspace complete with shelves, a workbench, organized space for all the tools etc. And he loves doing this, and I love just knowing where things are when I need them, so it’s a win-win. 🙂 Interestingly, he’s unknowingly absorbed the intense orgone in this place and is much more calm, relaxed, focused, and of course eating better food makes for a better mood. 🙂 And I am calmer knowing I have fewer undone projects silently reproaching me. Happy all around. 🙂
Oh btw thanks for the cute card and the sticker! 🙂
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Posted by laurabruno on October 8, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Way cool, Kieron! Thanks for sharing, and I hope that sticker is of some use. If not, at least you have the kooky card! 🙂
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