Beauty Venture: fences, by Toby Neal
Love the pattern and structure of fences.
I like the shapes of fences. The repetitive patterns. The powerful metaphor of definition they convey.
I've always had a little bit of a thing for fences and walls. Maybe it began with one of my favorite childhood books of all time, The Secret Garden. The idea of a secret, walled place has always appealed to me, and now my own backyard has that feeling.
I love the feeling of beauty and privacy conveyed by my fence.
Fences keep in what's supposed to stay in, and keep what's to stay out, out. They also serve as frames for the portait of a living garden; they define spaces structurally and practically, and in the end. . . Many of them should be climbed.
“Good fences make good neighbors” is a 17th century proverb.
But I also like this one:
“The grass is not, in fact, greener on the other side of the fence. The grass is greener where it's watered. When crossing fences, carry water with you and water it wherever you may be.” Robert Fulghum
What do you think of fences?
Given the work we’ve been doing in some of my groups, I’m starting to make a pretty firm link in my brain between “fences” and “boundaries”. Learning to set boundaries (in your 30s) is bloody hard, and in my brain there is a lot of “I’m not entitled” or “it will hurt someone’ or whatever. But hey, isn’t everyone with property entitled to define the boundaries as they see fit? Fences don’t hurt people, they merely define. So, actively trying to link those two… I think it will help.
Personally, I love a beautiful old split-rail fence with stone cairns, especially ones which have been let to grow over with climbing vines… brightly colored morning glories, or jasmine sending you delicious fragrance when the summer nights are too hot to bear… So lovely. 🙂
Yes, fences as metaphor are a beautiful thing!
Can’t find UNSOUND on Kindle. IS it there?
Just finished the newest book.. now ready for your next Book…feedback left..stayed up late to finish
Cause it was too good NOT to. Don
Hi Don,
Actually, I put Unsound on the back burner while I feverishly work to finish Twisted Vines. Sorry, but it’s gonna be this summer! Thanks for commenting, letting me know, and supporting the books! Much aloha
Toby