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| Image by TheFunky.pixel from Pixabay |
"They had simply rounded a curve in the road and found themselves in the 'Avenue'. The Avenue, so called by the Newbridge people, was a stretch of road four or five hundred yards long, completely arched over with huge, wide-spreading apple-trees, planted years ago by an eccentric old farmer. Overhead was one long canopy of snowy fragrant bloom. Below the boughs the air was full of a purple twilight and far ahead a glimpse of painted sunset sky shone like a great rose window at the end of a cathedral aisle.
Its beauty seemed to strike the child dumb. She leaned back in the buggy, her thin hands clasped before her, her face lifted rapturously to the white splendour above.
. . .It's the first thing I ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here—she put one hand on her breast—it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache."
L.M. MONTGOMERY, Anne of Green Gables
I've never had the personal pleasure of passing under such a vast bower of beauty, but that lovely photo above certainly gives, as Anne herself would say, scope for the imagination. Aren't you glad for the gift of your imagination? Maybe a larger question should be....have you ever witnessed something that so satisfied you in your breast with that queer funny ache, and it was so breathtaking it could not be improved upon by imagination?
I sure hope you have a lovely weekend.
Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,
Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,
Heart hugs,
Brenda
xox
"A queer funny ache" ...now that I have experienced and, though I've never ridden in a carriage through such splendor, I have walked through an apple orchard in apple blossom time...a splendid experience.
ReplyDeleteThe images in Anne of Green Gables are so strong. One of my strongest images from my adult life is sailing on the Grand Canal in Venice with my husband (who had never been to Europe or on a cruise) with Andrea Bocelli (recording) singing Time to Say Goodbye. That sounds hokey but it was moving.
ReplyDeleteI feel that way when I stand under my beautiful Spring Cherry blossom tree, full of flowers.
ReplyDelete"that queer achy feeling" is a good way to put the emotions of seeing something so lovely. I feel that way when I'm hiking and come across a beautiful view, especially when it involves a body of water. Apple blossoms are finished here, but oh, they were so bountiful and pure this year.
ReplyDeleteSome years ago one Spring, I found myself waiting for my order in a fast food drive-through. The apple trees along the parking lot were in full bloom, and suddenly a blizzard of blossoms flew in through my open window. It made my coffee break that day unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteStanding on the rim of the Grand Canyon and walking down a Near Sawrey lane in England with moss-covered-stone walls on either side and a view of sheep and their lambs and Esthwaite Water in the distance.
ReplyDeleteToday, apple blossoms were very close to my heart. To come here and see them here too was the nicest Sunday gift for me. The mention of Anne, my favourite girl in the world, second to only my own, sealed the perfection of this Sunday gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Brenda.
I have at times felt that ache, and couldn't put words to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, lovely post. I love Anne of Green Gables. This photo reminds me of one that used to hang in my living room and I am looking for a place to hang in my new home. The photograph is called "Behind the Magnolia" and I asked the photographer to blow it up quite large and he did and it turned out lovely. You can lose yourself in it when you look at it. That passage reminds me of my journeys through the Lowcountry of South Carolina - those great oaks weeping with moss, it is one of those things you don't just see but experience. Imagination can't improve upon the real thing. Thank you for this post and lovely frame of mind it has put me in.
ReplyDeleteI have not experienced that much beauty before but I have seem some beautiful sights! I love being in the mountains and listening to the birds.
ReplyDeletehave you ever witnessed something that so satisfied you in your breast with that queer funny ache, and it was so breathtaking it could not be improved upon by imagination?
ReplyDeleteI've felt that way many times, but I don't think imagination could improve any of those moments, unless, if I were to name them...so, yes!