As I Ruminated Further.........................

Weeding the garden is exhilarating!
It is excellent exercise and leads, I have discovered, to great clarity of mind! What a delightful, unexpected benefit. Of course, I am always thinking, or ruminating as I work. Everyone does. Or at least they used to.
When I think of the vast amount of things that I contemplate while I am busy feeding, mucking and various other chores, I realize that I could not live without this crucial thinking time. I don't know what would happen to this household if I was robbed of the time to dream of bigger and better things and how to make them a reality. Sure, I sometimes listen to the BBC World News while I am milking, but generally, I just sit there, keen to the sound of my chicks peeping and the ever present and soothing song of the milk as it flows into the pail. These sounds are very conducive to figuring and evaluating as are the sounds of the wren calling to her young and the mourning dove to its mate as I pull unwanted mimosa seedlings from amongst the heirloom tomatoes.
As I said, I usually do a good deal of thinking while I am working, but often it is of an analytical nature. I wrestle with different theories and truths. However, gardening, and harvesting, in particular, leads to much happier, hope-filled trains. Partly because of the atmosphere and the aforementioned sounds and because you can see the results of your work so quickly. A basket FULL of green beans and okra, or a bag full of weeds and a clean row left in your wake.
Hence today's epiphany.
I was dwelling on the wonderful words of John Adams and quite possibly one of my favorite quotes when I realized what my purpose was. Why I work as hard as I do, when I could get just as much material benefit if I went out and worked as a waitress or sold real estate. Why I constantly strive for a different kind of life.

“I must study war and politics so that my children shall be free to study commerce, agriculture and other practicalities, so that their children can study painting, poetry and other fine things.” - John Adams, U.S. President

That's it!!!
I think I am the second tier of that original American dream!!!!
I want so much for my children.
I am "studying these practicalities" and yes, I am teaching them to my children, but I want to give them the gift of freedom to exercise their finer sensibilities.
I want them to try their hand at drawing and painting. I want them to notice an unusual mushroom or bug and be able to draw it.
I want them each to have the ability to pick up an instrument and play for their own pleasure and be able to accompany themselves whether it be a hymn, a folk song or an operatic aria.
I want them to know how to cook and create something from nothing (as we are often called upon to do in this household)but I also want them to know the joys of gourmet cuisine and its preparation, if they so choose.
I teach them about classical literature and read stories to them that ordinarily would be "too old for them." I make them exciting by using British accents and characteristic tones and gesticulations. We read Robin Hood in the original "Olde English" style and it wasn't long before my 6 year old was asking his papa what a "saucy fellow" was!!!!
They memorize poetry and learn difficult, heart- touching dances created to remind our ancestors of their emancipation from tyranny.
All of this to say that we have a responsibilty to honor those who gave us the rights we have today, by honoring our future generations through hard work and exposing (or steeping!) them in experience and culture.