Author Archive: Betty Hanselman
HAPPY NEW YEAR
“Every man should be born again on the first of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle, if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but, on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take interest in the things that are and are to be, and not in the things that were and are past.”
~Henry Ward Beecher, from “A Completed Year” (American preacher, social reformer, supporter of the abolition of slavery; 1813 – 1887)
We wish you joy in your home and garden in the coming year!
Sincerely,
Your friends at Hanselman Landscape & Gardens
We specialize in delivering natural beauty and the delight of sharing it with loved ones. If you’d like us to partner with you in this endeavor, contact us now: 717-653-1273. We’d love to get started . . . !
CHRISTMAS MUSINGS
“There is one more good thing about Winter — he brings Christmas. Through the bleak December the thought of the coming festival is pleasant — like the reflection of a fire on our faces…. Christmas-day is the pleasantest day in the whole year. On that day we think tenderly of distant friends; we strive to forgive injuries — to close accounts with ourselves and the world — to begin the new year with a white leaf, and a trust that the chapter of life about to be written will contain more notable entries, a fairer sprinkling of good actions, fewer erasures made in blushes, and fewer ugly blots than some of the earlier ones. And to make Christmas perfect, the ground should be covered and the trees draped with snow; the bleak world outside should make us enjoy all the more keenly the comforts we possess; and above all, it should make us remember the poor and the needy; for a charitable deed is the best close of any chapter of our lives, and the best promise, too, for the record about to be begun.”
~Alexander Smith, “Winter,” (Scottish poet and essayist; 1829 – 1867)
Thoughtfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& “Christmas All Year” advocate)
WITH DEEP GRATITUDE . . .
We value your trust and friendship, and wish you joy in this and every season of the year!
~ James and Betty Hanselman
For all of us at Hanselman Landscape
“There is something in the very season of the year, that gives a charm to the festivity . . . . The imagination turns every thing to melody and beauty! It is, indeed, the season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart.”
~Washington Irving, “Christmas,” from The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon (American writer, historian, and diplomat; 1783 – 1859)
SEASONAL DECORATIONS
A joyful array of birds adds festive liveliness to the Pines and Japanese Maples outside my kitchen window, while seasonal berries gaily festoon the plants along the pathways in our garden. Each splash of life and color magnifies the wonder and delight of each winter day. . . and I am grateful!
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& eager bird and berry watcher)
WONDER
“Wonder is an essential ingredient if life is to be made livable. Wonder is the cure — the cure for life-killing boredom. Wonder is the drug — the natural drug without which people may turn to narcotic drugs. Sure, most people bravely soldier on without wonder, and even do so without drug addictions and self-destructive behavior. But is that the point of life? To soldier on long after the thrill of living is gone? That’s not life — that’s life with all the wonder crushed out of it and compressed to mere existence. Wonder is what we’ve lost. Wonder is what we miss. Wonder is what we want. Wonder is our hidden Narnia into which we long to step and explore.”
~ Brian Zahnd (contemporary American pastor, author, and would-be mountaineer, in Beauty Will Save the World)
Are you aching for wonder in your daily life? Step outside into the sparkle of a rain-drenched garden. Meander along a stepping stone path under a cathedral of stately Dawn Redwood trees. Sit on a boulder and watch a hummingbird sipping the sweetness from an Azalea blossom. There is wonder in the grand vistas of mountain ranges sweeping to the edge of the horizon, but there is also wonder in the intimate garden setting just outside your door. Can we restore the wide-eyed wonder you long for by bringing beauty within reach of your everyday experience? We’d be delighted to help! 717-653-1273
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& wonder seeker)