GARTH
A yard or garden
quarter of an acre land
grazing for one cow
Author: Cethru Cellophane
I have reached the regrettable realization that I may have squandered my life. I did a quick count recently and figured that I have visited about 66 countries, and lived for more than 3 years in 3 of them. During this time I completed 14 corporate moves (relocations) and have changed my address more than 23 times. I should have settled on a profession that would have kept me in one place with no packing and unpacking. When I think of the time I have spent bundling my life into and out of boxes. Ah well, it's all water under the bridge. But I am grateful for the experience. At the end of the day I will be able to say with a certain authority, "been there, done that". A note about this site’s Header Image The Header image for this site is of the Smith Avenue High Bridge. The bridge was built in 1889 and carries Minnesota State Highway 149 across its span of 2770 feet, 160 feet above the mighty Mississippi River. The picture was taken from the river looking to the north-east and downtown Saint Paul. The bridge is about 1040 miles from New Orleans. One of the reasons I like this view is that I come from a city which has a spectacular bridge. It’s the Clifton Suspension Bridge http://www.ikbrunel.org.uk/clifton-suspension-bridge which spans the Avon Gorge and the River Avon in Bristol, U.K. It’s about 1350 feet long and stands 245 feet above the river below. Sadly it has claimed the lives of more than 400 people who have committed suicide by jumping from the bridge. As a side note, not all attempts were successful. two small girls thrown off the bridge by their deranged father survived the fall when they were fished from the river by the crew of a passing pilot boat. The bridge was opened in 1864 and was designed by the 24 year old architect, Isambard Kingdom brunel. It took 35 years to complete.
May 9, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Thank you, new one for me.
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May 9, 2020 at 7:05 pm
Stephen, I know you like gardening. Garth comes from old Norse geard pronounced like yard and was supposed to be an enclosure enough for a cow’s summer grazing. It’s total size was 1 rood. Kind of archaic but that’s what it as. Hope your potatoes are chitting already. We are expecting snow overnight. Happy Mother’s day to your spouse.
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May 10, 2020 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for the additional story. I missed the potatoes this year. My main focus has been on digging the allotment beds after a 2 year absence. Back-breaking, but so rewarding.
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May 10, 2020 at 9:15 pm
stephen it’s remarkable; I read your reference to digging in your allotment (s) and immediately my mind goes bank to a BBC mini series shown on TV in about 1985-86 “The Bix Beiderbecke Affair” If you are able to Google it , well worth watching. It’s about a fellow who has shed or a greenhouse on his allotment.
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May 11, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Read about it on Wikipedia. Might see if I can catch an episode.
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May 11, 2020 at 7:09 pm
Ishould have mentioned that Bix Beiderbecke was from Davenport in Iowa and was probably one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.
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May 12, 2020 at 5:27 pm
I saw that from the Wikipedia page I read.
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May 11, 2020 at 10:08 am
I seem to remember a garth at either a church I belonged to or the college I attended my first two years of college. They would have been the garden kind.
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May 11, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Hi Ina, Yes most abbeys with a cloister have a garth. It’s the land or garden surrounded by the cloister. Usually a very quiet and peaceful place to meditate while working.
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