The Secret Garden of Madison

I have to add this little story I got today in my email from a good friend, it made me think, maybe it will mean something to you too.


Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

This week has been relatively uneventful, a good thing in my world. The goats are well and eating way too much of their favorite hay. Two emergency trips to Tractor Supply to restock are just too much. I've go to look for a local source for hay. Bees are quiet, I hope the hive will survive this very cold winter. That little tease of a warm day makes spring seem too far way. I love the spring, everything new and fresh, the smell of the potting soil as I start all my seeds even all the mud is great.I made potting soil soap, it smells just like a big bag of seed starter when you first add the water, wonderful, probably will never sell but I love it. The chickens are laying like mad, best flock I've ever had Meyers Hatchery has wonderful birds if you're ever in the market. The weather keeps them inside a bit more, twice the clean up but think of all that fertilizer for next year. Everything is a circle, everything effects us all, I hope I can teach my children that.

I did a show a Livingston Mall, met some wonderful crafters and got some good tips. I also came up with a new table set up, but forgot the camera, it's good I think. I'm going to try and set it up again and get some pic's to share with you as soon as the snow melts. New shows so far are Normandy Park School in Morristown April 20th 6:00 till 9:00, hopefully the Green Fair here in Madison no date yet and I'm sending an application out to the Chester Craft Show, it's juried so I'll just have to wait and see if I pass inspection. I think this is the year for a Garden Party, I'd like to invite my favorite crafters to set up out back and invite anyone who'd like to stop and enjoy the garden, shop, meet the critters including baby goats and make new friends. I'm thinking late May if the yard drys up on a Friday during the day. I'll check the Farmers Almanac for a good date.

I'm talking to two different ladies who may be including my soap in their line ups for this spring, I'm very excited and hopeful we can come to a mutually agreeable and profitable arrangement. Please keep your fingers crossed.

I almost forgot, I hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day! My husband, being who he is, came up with such a unique and thoughtful gift I have to share it with you. He search his favorite place to shop...ebay and found two lovely vintage soap dishes to start my new collection. He said that when we get our store (do you love this guy?) we can make a display wall of vintage soap dishes either behind the counter or in the restroom. Too cool! I'm a very lucky girl. On that note I will end this post hoping that the adversity we face makes only coffee. I will be a breakfast blend, I like the sunrise and new beginnings.