earth mothershe was grass and the trees and small birds flying ... she came to him in hippie dress : tie-dyed burst of smock ; hair held back , braided by simple twine , spreading rocks thick and thin , from yard and park , thick bends of twigs , a decaying branch which held a staggering of incense sticks : bowls of water with simple flowers swimming , several bowls here and there : sweet soaps , handmade , lavender , patchouli , sandalwoodalways a slight air about her ... nothing like the event of bertha : no lightning , no tornado , no run to the root cellar , rather , heaviness upon the obvious : seduction of satiety after a heavy lunch of thick seven-grain loafs and home-gardened tomatoes and cucumbers and radishes , lettuce in the spring : canned for the winter , pickled , prepared ... dalores was preparationpreparing in the small ways , the unnoticed ways , but a preparation which resulted , as such meticulous and instinctual preparations do , in marvelously baked breads !