Wandering Investigators Sharing Hijinks Clue 3

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Photographs

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The Wandering Investigators’ Peaceful Garden

In June, we gathered at Elizabeth’s house to paint rocks collected from the shore of our island in the St Lawrence River.

Before we started to paint, we talked about who we wanted to surprise, and why. Then we thought about the things that connected our individual stories, and realized they were all about our love for the environment and protecting and enhancing our island home. Our indigenous neighbours speak of Turtle Island, the very big island on which our little island sits. There is an urgent need for healing ourselves and our land, for respecting and protecting the life the Creator brought to Turtle Island.

We talked about our shared passion for pesticide and herbicide free gardening, for using our fruit and vegetable scraps for compost, and even how to use our recently cut hair to keep the deer from eating newly planted trees. While we were willing to put out parcels of soap shavings, we seemed to draw the line at pouring protective circles of human urine around the plants - or at least no one admitted to doing it!

We talked about how fortunate we were to live in a country that was not suffering war, and how we longed for peace for Ukraine, and security for women around the world in places where events they cannot control threaten their families, their homes, their peace and their lives.

And then we found ourselves painting some of the things we found in our garden … water, flowers, a bee, a tree, and a shining sun bringing warmth and sustaining life for all below. The big, bold sun also reminded us of the sunflowers of Ukraine.

Eleanor’s rock is a garden with water and flowers. It will be hidden for her twin grandchildren, Amabel and Everett, because they always bring her special rocks and stones when they come to visit. Eleanor’s eyes light up when she talks about her family. We are looking forward to hearing the story of the twins finding a special rock!

Elizabeth painted the sun. She will hide it for her husband, who is recovering from a series of orthopaedic surgeries. It will be a surprise as he regains his mobility and enjoys their extensive garden. Elizabeth is a kind woman and loving partner, so we think she will put it somewhere close to the house and not hide it in the dense copse of trees or in the rocks on their waterfront!

Theresa and her husband built their retirement dream home during the pandemic. At our first meeting there, we admired the wall of family photographs, and the many items that show her love of family and of local history. Her painting is a tree, signifying the extensive work her husband has done to plant trees around the new house. He found his rock already. He thought it represented their family tree, and was delighted with the discovery!

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