A Writer, A Housekeeper and a Honeybee | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    I always say when I am on any sort of break, that for now. . . I am a writer! I announce it on Fridays when I come in the back door of the rabbit patch and Christian laughs every time. Last Friday, when school was dismissed for spring break, I said it again-and Christian laughed again. As it turns out, I should have said . . I am a housekeeper!

    I began spring cleaning the old farmhouse on Saturday. I did get several rooms in good order, but I have noticed, that not only did the territory get bigger, so did the house! I have been cleaning out and cleaning up too. I forewarned Mama, as she was coming to Sunday dinner,about my predicament.

    I assembled a Easter basket for Kyle and Christian late Saturday night. I had bought some of their favorite treats. I also got some traditional chocolate eggs. I wondered if they would think me silly, as Christian is twenty-four and Kyle is twenty-nine, but I always do something anyway.

    Sunday dinner, was especially nice. We had turkey and the trimmings, the famous apple salad, like Aunt Agnes used to make, macaroni and cheese, as daddy is not a fan of turkey-and Mama made a chocolate cake with white icing, my favorite. (Daddy doesn't like that either.) Don't you know that Mama brought us an "Easter basket". She had everybodys' favorites, even the dark chocolate that she knows I love. Dear Diary, I am a few years shy of sixty, but that condition did not prevent me from excitement over a basket of "Easter Joy".

    I resumed housekeeping early this morning. I can now say that the library has less books and dust, than it did this morning. The bath is clean and I expect it to stay that way for at least seventy-two hours. I am almost packed to go spend a few days with Jenny, too. I have organized the "Christmas Closet", which is really a large standing wardrobe, to store gifts that may be bought in June -as well as the wrappings and ribbons.

    In my goings and comings, carrying things to place in an assortment of collections, sorted according to their destiny, I noticed that the "Quiet Garden" had bloomed overnight! I could not find a single rose for the table on Sunday and had used the fragrant Lilacs instead. Today, there were dozens of roses in various hues. I have never known them to all bloom at once-and so suddenly! A lone blue iris also bloomed. Miss Sylvia, my friend and neighbor, had given me the irises that I call a water color iris. Miss Sylvia passed a few weeks ago, and so, in her memory, I will now refer to the irises as "Sylvias", I think.

    Though, it is time to turn the lamp on, I intend to finish a few more projects. Tomorrow, Jenny will be here at noon. I will retire from housekeeping for a few days and become a writer, a wanderer and best and most importantly . . Lylas' very own Honeybee.