On my return, I was shocked to find my favourite durian tree had lost a limb. A huge storm must have broken out while I was away.
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| It's the main limb as well - from a tree in its prime. |
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| The first thing that caught my attention was this mass of dead leaves . |
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| Pulled right out of the socket |
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| Ripped apart - fresh tendon and ligaments exposed |
My heart broke upon seeing unripe fruits scattered on the ground.
Fearing the worst, I looked for any other broken branches, or worse, trees that had been uprooted. There were none.
I was greeted instead by sights that held me in complete awe: the trees were flowering again!
It was as if to compensate for my loss.
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| Another bounty on the way |
Durians fruit once a year. Very rarely twice. If there were two seasons, there would be a few months interval between the first and second. To have the trees flower again when matured fruits are still on them is a miracle that gives you indescribable joy.
With the greatest sense of gratitude I accepted my rezeki - the gift of new fruits.
This has happened many times before - that I had to take the good and the bad in my strides.
Such is Life on The Farm. Such is life.
36 comments:
Wow! That's amazing, Grandpa. Someone must be looking out for you!
Yummy surprise!A bounty coming your way. Do you have a durian party?? Hope I'll be on your list!!
Her highness, I hope so, I really hope so...
Keats, you are always welcome!
dear Grandpa...where is this 'kebun' of yours?
i too harbor a dream of retiring on a farm...soon.
ps: i have listed u on my blogroll...
That's too bad about the limb, but hey, more fruit! What could be better. I hope you have a great harvest with it!
That WAS the good with the bad. lol
the fruit is just amazing! sorry for the loss, pal. and yes - its The Way of Things. onward and upward! hope that you had fun with the grandkids - i bet they love having you around.
:-)
Hi, Grandpa
Thanks for agreeing with me on Mr, London Street's wonderful blog the other day. I found you thru that and
am so glad.
What unusual looking fruits the durian are......,how do you peel them
and what do they taste like? Do you eat them raw, cooked or pickled in some way?
Salam Pak Pin, The Farm is near Tg. Malim. Drop me an e-mail and I'll give you directions how to get here.
Your dream can become a reality if you want it bad enough. I wrote "Ten reasons to retire on a farm" earlier - scroll down to the bottom of my Home page - under 'Your Favourites".
Thank you for putting this blog in your blogroll - I'll pay you a visit soon.
Mary Mary, thank you. I hope so too. There'll be more to share with family and friends;
small farm girl - yes, it was, wasn't it? I hope your "revamped" life is still on track... :)
Ohiofarmgirl, I had a marvelous time with them, but parting was tough as usual...if only I could adopt them... Thank you for stopping by pal. Have fun with those little cuties of yours.
Lo, welcome to The Farm! Yes I thoroughly enjoy MLS posts, as I'm sure you do too.
We open durian using the tip of a strong knife. It looks impregnable but there are compartments that make splitting the fruit not too difficult.
The flesh inside is creamy, custard like. We always say it tastes like heaven! But it needs getting used to, and the aroma can be a little overpowering.
They are normally eaten fresh, but can be turned into durian cakes, or eaten with glutinous rice in coconut milk - yum!
Your every loss (pain) you will be recompense.. I would like to think :)
That is pretty amazing! I really have to try Durian one day ;)
Hugs,
Rach
Wan, every time this sort of thing happens I feel deeply blessed, and take iktibal that my troubles could be mere tests.
Hi Rach, and you must. I suggest checking out at an Asian supermarket near you. They may be frozen and a little aged though, but at least you get to taste it.
It is the most celebrated fruit in Malaysia and Thailand. Because it generally fruits once a year growers and the public wait with eager anticipation for the arrival of the new season. It is normally consumed, in quite festive atmosphere, amongst friends and families, never alone.
How wonderful that your tree has flowered again!
I often find that when something bad happens something good happens at the same time. I'm so glad that everything worked out in the end. I am glad you got to spend time with your grandkids too.
Akelamalu, to see a durian tree flower is already a joy, as there's no guarantee that it does every year. But to see it flower AGAIN while still bearing fruit is sheer ecstasy!
What a wonderful gift. Death and rebirth. Can't sum it up any better than that. Glad you're safe, Grandpa.
very interesting Grandpa - hey are you brave enough to eat durians? I have heard it can be an experience?
hey Grandpa! did you work on the limb today? can you use the wood for anything?
i have big news and i'm sharing it with you first...by this time tomorrow we'll have another milk goat! i'm so excited i had to spill the beans!
;-)
what a glorious day! i hope you got up early and are enjoying the sunrise!
your pal,
ofg
Happy Frog and I, thank you. It's a good lesson for us not to dwell too much on the negatives, as something good could be just waiting to happen.
I had a fantastic time with the two little boys. A chance to meet up for dinner with their parents too.
Joylene, thank you. Now that you mention it, may be it was just as well that I was away, for a storm like that is pretty dangerous.
Hi David, good to see you! Welcome to The Farm!
Eating durian is definitely an experience, for so many reasons. If you don't like it the first time don't give up, keep trying. I guess it's like most people with cheese (me included) :)
Ohiofarmgirl, hi pal! Funny you should ask - I'm out today with my chainsaw. The wood will be for firewood on my brand new barbeque, and for the boys who may decide to sleep outdoor and build a campfire.
Wow, that's good news! More milk and more cheese then - good for you!
Yes, I'm up early. I'll have to spruce up the place a little, as I prepare to host the durian party... :)
I think it was really cute that you left the farm for faster internet!;)
Your bounty looks gorgeous.
Hi Grandpa, I sure would love to visit you on your farm as I have always loved farms. And yours with your durians, ha ha.
I just had some last night, frozen ones from Thailand. I let then defrost for an hour then eat like ice cream....delicious, no seeds too.
Pity about that branch though. But I'm sure another will soon come out.
Have a beautiful Sunday. Keep well.
Lee.
It's said that "if you take care of the land it will take care of you". So maybe if you have compassion for it , it will give compassion back :o) I know they are living things , just don't speak our language, but understand our feelings. Enjoy the new bounty
It IS like life. Beauty blossoming in the midst of what looks like decay. "The gift of new fruits." I like this so much I have written it down. Thank you!
Aishah, that' me - any excuse to be with my grandchildren! Thank you - they are looking good. First one dropped yesterday. There's an open invitation by the way...
Lee, I would love to show you around the farm and share some durian with you. You just have to tell me when.
Gingerbreadhouse7, welcome to The Farm! We have the same saying in Malay -how very true! Thank you for stopping by.
Ann, good to see you! There are lessons to be learned in the course of our daily lives, if only we pause to ponder, every now and then. You are welcome.
Dear Grandpa,
And through your kind and thoughtful interaction via your comment on my site, I was somewhat aware of what you might allude to in this most inspiring post.
And to know, despite it all, through the good and the bad, you have had the gift or another harvest of Durian fruit. I rejoice for you, my friend.
May the 'supermoon' cast a magic glow on this planet of bizarre extremes. My friend, a wonderful and motivational story. I thank you.
In peace and hope for you, for us all, Gary :)
Some say we must experience the bad to appreciate the good. I'm not sure I agree. Hopefully the rest of the tree will live and prosper? I have never heard of Durian. Sounds interesting.
I'm sorry about your tree. It's good to hear, however, that it is flowering again. These photos are amazing.
klahanie, good to see you my friend! I thought I give you a hint on that wonderful post of yours to have you come by The Farm... :))
Yes, may the magic of 'supermoon' shine on all of us. I share your thought in hoping that things will get better, despite all calamities. Thank you Gary.
Kari Marie, I agree, but we can always rejoice when our pain is somehow relieved by an unexpected windfall. The rest of the trees are doing fine. You should try this amazing fruit sometime. Thanks for stopping by.
Olga, thank you. I've got over it now, especially when I have to focus now on harvesting and taking care of the newborn. Have a nice day!
Just goes to show you Grandpa, you go out on a limb and you get rezeki. What a lovely ending to what started as a sad story. I can remember some terrible lightning strikes which split beautiful gums in half when they must have been standing for hundreds of years. It hurts. And they don't grow fruit!
I hope you loved spending time with the grandkids.
Denise<3
L'Aussie, hi Denise!
So you know the word rezeki too, I'm impressed! We use it to denote and express our gratitude for gifts in whatever form - children, grandchildren, that salary raise, or in this case a bountiful harvest.
Hope you enjoyed your holiday in the sunshine coast.
I always hate to see a limb broken on one of my trees.
It all kinda makes one wish for a huge band-aid to make the ouchie better!
That is so incredible. What a shame to see the main limb down. I can't believe any branch can hold those heavy fruit.
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