Quotations Offer Inspiration

It’s been several month now since the publication of our book, Gardening for the Soul.Colleen and I still enjoy taking the book out into the garden for time alone. In particular, we enjoy many of the quotations. Some of our favorites are the following:
What the caterpillar calls the end, the world calls a butterfly. (Lao Tze Tao)
The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. (Sir Thomas Moore)
From the service in which I joined as a child I have taken with me into life a feeling for what is solemn, and a need for quiet and self-reflection, without which I cannot realize the meaning of my life.(Albert Schweitzer)
Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air, and to eat and sleep with the earth.. (Walt Whitman)
To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. (Mahatma Gandhi)
A piece of the sky and a chunk of the earth is lodged in the heart of every human being. (Thomas Moore)
I never cease to marvel at the wonders of nature, not only on earth but in the ocean. Recently I have been snorkeling a lot with my grandson, Matt, and have regained my appreciation for the vast ocean with so much beauty. Whether on land or on sea, we can learn so much from nature.

Posted on 07/20

Who is Cracker Boy?

The book, Cracker Boy, is a story about a young boy who grew up in mid- Florida. “Cracker” is the term used to identify rural folk who were usually poor and illiterate, struggling to make a living in difficult times. The term “cowboy” was never used to depict men on horses who rounded up cattle. Rather, they were called “cow hunters.” They were known for their proficiency in cracking their whips and many were known to kill rattlesnakes with their skill. In time, the term “Cracker” was used to describe rural Floridians, a term endeared to old-timers who are proud of their heritage.

The young lad in the book, Cracker Boy, uses a dialect common to rural Florida in the early 1900s. He fulfills the common image of a genuine Florida Cracker caught up in the transition to a new way of life.

Posted on 06/06

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About

Jim, a fourth generation Floridian, is the author of seven books and has contributed to numerous magazines such as Florida Wildlife, Nature Photographer, Florida Gardening, Tide, Birds and Blooms, Butterfly Gardener, American Butterflies, and others. He was a columnist for a local newspaper, The Observer, for six years and is an active member of The Florida Writers Association.

Recent Books

Blood in the Sand

Blood in the Sand tells the story of a charter boat captain who goes with his writing group for a retreat on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the members is murdered and the protagonist becomes a sleuth and ultimately solves the murder.

The Seeds of Summer

The Seeds of Summer is a story about the struggles of Molly and her three sons who live on a farm in rural Central Florida during the Great Depression. After the death of her husband, she marries Bartho who is an abusive husband.

Florida Alligators

Florida Alligators offers a look at Florida's past when alligators were slaughtered needlessly and offers a glimpse into their present status.

Florida Adventure Stories

Florida Adventure Stories contains 16 stories filled with exciting adventures that are based on historical facts.

Jim Wiggins