The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 67

Good morning everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this beautiful May morning. Today, and around this time for a while, The Mindful Farmer is poignant, reminiscent and a little sad as it is the 10th anniversary of the passing of my Mum, Elizabeth, a great, kind, humble and beautiful woman and a very hard working farming woman, knew nature, the land, livestock, a wonderful pudding and sausage maker and a master cook. I lived by her side you could say for my first 12 years especially in the morning times and then I would go with my Dad in the afternoons. I learned so much from this great woman. On her mortuary card the words inscribed are “ you laboured hard for those you loved and left us to remember”. I got my love for plants and gardening from her also and a section of the gardens at Ballinwillin House Farm is devoted and styled to her dream. I hope and pray Ireland continues to breed pure bred “Irish Mothers” as I remember them totally dedicated to the family cause. It is another question I am asking you out there, is Ireland producing such mothers nowadays? It may be a very controversial  question but one I feel I have to ask. Sure all mothers love their homes and family and children - is it the same? My heart tells me no. It is obvious something has changed the way we would answer this question but is society and its trends and tail wagging the dog for future Ireland. Enough about that now or Mam will be giving out to me and sometime when you are all here on retreat I will tell you of the horrific ordeal I had to endure on Mams passing. I was at the vineyard in Hungary in another lock down, “the ash cloud” and couldn’t get a flight home but it is too long a story and one for later. For today and for all mothers who have passed I want to remember them in our prayers and for my own Mam. I just want to say I remember most of your words and deeds, your soothing leaning voice, you were the first sound before we could see, your nearness always filled the air and still does at Ballinwillin House. You nurtured and fostered us in your space, formed from the depths of your heart, you knew us inside out. We will always remember you.

Today is World Meditation Day so be sure and take time out on your own in peace and meditate for a while. I am really looking forward to next Monday, May 25th when you will be joining me on the 3 day Mindfulness Challenge. We are getting a fantastic response and it is not too late to join us on my Facebook Private Group. So that is it for today. Pray for all Mams. Pray also for an end to Covid 19. continue to bless and heal each other.

The Mindful Farmer

Patrick