Fences

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Is there anything unique about the neighbourhood in which you live ?

Rural Newfoundland is characterized by white picket fences.

These were created, originally, to keep wandering sheep from entering people’s yards .The fences also protected the vegetable gardens, which Newfoundland housewives maintained. The potatoes, carrots, beets and onions grown by the women supplemented the local diet of cod, along with delicious home-made bread which they baked for their families. Families of the rural fishing villages were often large. My friend Veronica is one of eleven children, while her husband had fourteen siblings.

I went for a walk today, and I admired the fences in our neighbourhood.

The local carillon in our church bell tower was playing !

The song I heard was appropriate for these days of isolation.

It was : ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’. You are probably familiar with this hymn. The words of the chorus are :

Glory, glory, Hallelujah !

Glory, glory, Hallelujah !

Glory, glory, Hallelujah, God’s truth is marching on !

We will trust, and not be afraid.

Published by Sally

I am a retired Sociologist/Educator from Ontario. I now live at the very edge of the North American Continent. I spend my time in contemplation, spiritual reading , intercessory prayer, and maintaining a spiritual garden grotto as a place of prayer in my backyard by the Atlantic.

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26 thoughts on “Fences”

    1. Hi !
      This is a good observation. Our politicians have made plans to grow more food in greenhouses, but this is just in the planning stages. But I agree with you that growing food under cover is a good idea.
      Here in Newfoundland, our growing season is short. I grow these same traditional vegetables because they are root vegetables, and can survive very close to the sea where the air is salty.
      Thanks for your comment. 🤗

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  4. I love that song.

    I was looking on the map today to see how far Newfoundland is from Chicago (2200+miles). I would love to see it sometime. The landscape seems so peaceful.

    In our neighborhood the streets are lined with huge trees. Some have been here for 40 or 50 years. The canopy is beautiful in autumn.

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    1. That sounds very beautiful, a canopy of large trees. I can imagine the beautiful autumn colours.
      Yes, our island is peaceful and relaxed. I think it is the sound of the ocean waves that helps to create a slow pace of life here.
      Thanks for your comment. 🤗

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  5. In the midwest USA homes built before air conditioning was widespread tend to have porches on the front. In days gone by on nice evenings adults would sit on the porches, theirs or the neighbors, and the children would play on the lawns. “Modern” homes tend to have decks in the fenced backyards. “Privacy.” Isolation. Neighbors are pretty much strangers.

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  6. Hi Sally. Quiet is good, and so are fences for the reasons you mentioned and some not so obvious ones; but eventually most people come to realize some good reason to have them. We all sleep in our homes surrounded by walls which in a sense are a type of fence to set up boundaries and create an inner sanctum from the world or others and allow a sense of security and privacy especially when we need it. Imagine a world with absolutely no boundaries or fences and a complete free for all, that would be pandemonium and I’m sure God never intended such an earthly world for His own. Which reminds me of what the Leftist push and how they conjoin with the New World Order’s agenda of less or no borders or boundaries, unless you’re one of the elite; then you can have 30 foot walls and moats around ya castle.

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      1. Absolutely especially right now with all of this can we imagine a world without all of this modern living and this going on! I have to head out to get an over the counter to help prevent tissue swelling in the chest cavity and so a trip to the Pharmacy is very awkward to say the least and being in my cloistered abode is nice but I have no choice ATM. I’ll touch base later when back!

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  7. I like the short white picket fence, it reminds me of my Guido and his home in Kindersley Saskatchewan. My son is planting gladiolas in his remembrance this year.

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