Gifts come from the most astounding, unexpected places, and miracles are everywhere. This morning I opened my email and found this:
"Hello Aline, Kurt and everyone!
By bizarre and convoluted means (arent they always!) I found myself on your site.
I
have a small organic garden and was reading up about composting seaweed
and came across a post by Aline on the Ventnor Permaculture site.
There
was a link to The Milkweed Mercantile and Ive spent a lovely hour
looking through your site and various blogs and Im staggered at what you
all have accomplished.
I looked backward through Aline's
photostream on Flickr and travelled back in time through the building of
the Mercantile. First I saw the cheery guests and beautiful rooms and
eventually made it through to digging out the basement with your
enormous digger!
Initially when I spied beautiful floors,
fireplace and the lime plastered walls I assumed you had converted a
barn at *considerable* expense. However as I travelled further back
through your photos, I discovered to my intense joy you had fulfilled
your very own self built 'Grand Design' from scratch!
Oh well
done everybody! What a journey! It looks FABULOUS and so warm and
inviting. But my goodness what a lot of work- I mean crazy amounts! Kurt
and Aline, I have so much respect for your vision and energy. To
envision the possibility of 'what could be' from 'what was' is rare
gift!
And you had so much help from your community! So many
smiles and waves to camera throughout the process Aline and Kurt are
truly blessed with friends and neighbours who have gone above and beyond
to help create the amazing guesthouse and cafe.
I never knew of
you until an hour ago, and probably couldn't find Rutledge, MO with an
hour, two hands and a paper map! My life is very different, I have a a
busy urban life in London, but Im genuinely proud of your
achievements:-
The wonderful cafe kitchen, the PV panels, wind
turbines, the strawbale construction, reclaimed doors and floors,
Tamar's beautiful mosaic swirls... all created with such good grace and a
passion for quality work. Its absolutely shines through in everything
you've done.
Congratulations one and all!
Have a good day!"
Wow. I'm considering printing this out and carrying it around in my pocket, as a touchstone of sorts, on those days when all I can see is what hasn't yet been done, when I forget what we've actually accomplished.
This is also a very good reminder of the power of connection, and how a kind word can make a world of difference.
I really am speechless. I'm sitting here at my computer with a big smile on my face. Words are pretty much failing me, so I'll just finish by saying Thank you Anne-Marie. You made my day!
