477. With finger in her solemn lip, night hushed the shadowy earth. ~Margaret Deland

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Night is a dead monotonous period under a roof;
but in the open world it passes lightly,
with its stars and dews and perfumes, and the hours
are marked by changes in the face of Nature.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Screen shot 2014-09-04 at 12.47.27 PM

A black and white cat has leisurely strolled across our patio for several nights in a row now, and it, like all the other felines who wander by, doesn’t seem to be the least bit interested in or fearful of us as long as we’re on the other side of our patio doors. Actually some nights it’s like a holiday parade out there, only it’s peopled by cats, possums, and raccoons, all of whom are the suspected culprits of destructive mischief such as the broken rose stem I discovered this morning. Then some nights, in addition to all that activity, there are the gecko lizards who like to run up and down our patio doors chasing bugs. So it is that though the enchanting yard and gardens have disappeared into the darkness, even in our absence life and the living prevail in the hush of night.

I call our glass patio doors, our big screen TV because the indoor cats and I have wiled away many an hour just watching what goes on outside. In so doing I’ve witnessed a wide spectrum of good and bad, feast and famine, and life and death over the years. And I’ve always found a comforting harmony and balance in those opposing forces. For example it’s easy to lose a sense of how beautiful a garden or the earth in general is without a picture of the kind of devastation that a storm or a drought or some such can do to it. That’s why I think the beauty of spring is so breathtaking; it comes after the landscape has been ravaged by winter’s often harsh and cruel assaults. In the same way, who among us could ever begin to bear the brutality in the world without having also witnessed life’s abundant goodness.

I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.  ~Psalm 26:8   ✝

 **Image via Pinterest

15 thoughts on “477. With finger in her solemn lip, night hushed the shadowy earth. ~Margaret Deland”

  2. what a beautiful tuxedo cat—looks a little like our long gone Angel–who was certainly no angel 🙂
    Isn’t it amazing of what takes place during the cloak of darkness–those things that come to life as soon as the sun goes down—a wonder indeed–
    Happy watching—hugs and love—julie

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    • I love tuxedo cats! The kitten we lost several months ago was a tuxedo and would have been beautiful had she lived.
      It is amazing what all takes place out there at night. I do hate it though when things get broken or damaged. Hugs and love, N 🙂

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  5. Night inspires me… when I seek answers, it always helps find to find them… beautiful post and thoughts as always. Thank you Natalie 🙂 Affectueusement, Frédéric ♥

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    • You are so very welcome, mon ami! I love sitting out in my garden at night. I always feel the Lord’s presence in my garden but nighttime seems especially sacred. During July and August here in Texas I don’t sit out all that much because it is just too uncomfortable. Even though it’s still too hot here now for my liking the days have gotten short enough that I can enjoy sitting out for a little while at least. I sure would love to have some of the blue bells you wrote today about in the spring, but they would never survive the summers in this dreadfully hot place. Bonsoir, N 🙂

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