When Toys Are Free...

Sometimes the simplest things bring the most fun and joy.  A bucket of bubbles, a fly swatter and a grandchild make for fun entertainment.

Learning to blow bubbles with what ever tool is handy.  A flyswatter makes a wonderfully fun bubble machine.

Cheaper than a tricycle!

Easier to clean up than finger paints!

Only In Black...

A young child began kindergarten.  She progresses very well and began to take her art work home to her parents.  They were puzzled, although her pictures were very creative, they were always painted in black.

The parents talked to the teacher showing great concern about the mental condition of their child. They observed the children painting as they were gathered around a table with containers of paint and paper.  They noticed nothing unusual but remained concerned. 

They decided to take her to a doctor, then to a neurologist,  to an orthopedic specialist, to an optometrist, and finally to a therapist. 

As much as these professionals tried to discover the reason the child painted only in black, they could not.

The concerned parents were discussing this one night and the older child overheard the conversation.  He asked if anyone had asked the child why she painted in black.  Wow, what a concept, yes, let's ask the child.

When finally asked why she only painted in black, the child simply replied...It is the only color I can reach.

Sometimes the most simple answers are the right ones.

Marcy Still Has Flowers!

although I can't imagine why.

The ground is dry,

The sun beats down,

The dew is the only moisture,

yet they survive

and awe me with their beauty.

Snowy Favorites

Just a little reminder,

of what we had

and what we have to come.

...Good Ole Summertime

I Blame Jules

Trying To Get  Over The Rainbow   would not let me wallow in my own self pity this morning and insisted I take a walk.  If you don't enjoy this, you can blame in on Jules, too. 

I looked out my kitchen window, or rather at my mess waiting to be cleaned, garden vegtables to be put away, and all the dirty dishes.  At that moment, I gave up and decided to take a walk.  This mess would wait on me.

I enjoyed a look at the fresh spring.

I whistled up all the dogs and began this Sunday's adventure.

TP enjoyed playing alligator.

The Borders enjoyed their eternal quest for sticks.

We traveled a different branch this time,

cooling at our leisure.

We saw an ancient wall for preventing erosion

and noticed the crawdads were cleaning house.

 

and we cooled in the shadows

The morning sun's light was perfect

for  reflections.

I'm not sure who enjoyed it the most.

The reflections blended with the fish,

making a natural work of art.

...and the fish were not afraid.

We traveled the narrow stream bed which today was small.  On flood days it reaches to the top and only natural debris can travel here.  This live water is from our first source behind the old garden.  It meanders a while and is joined by the second spring that runs along side the old garden spot.  It is a ways before the third and largest source, our drinking water, joins it and they all flow through the spring pond into the main creek.

...and here is where I climbed out of the shadows and coolness into the warmth of August sunshine.  It is hard to imagine a creek is born within these trees.

I have a few scratches from briars, I fell to one knee trying to climb a bank too steep for me...in flip flops.  I saw beautiful mossy rocks and vibrant green ferns.  I cooled my legs in clean water and wiggled my toes in clay mud and sand.  I sat on a rock bigger than my coffee table and just let the beauty soak in.  I saw no snakes or evil critters although I can't tell you if they saw me. 

It was quiet in this spring fed gulley.  I heard no cars from the distant highway, I heard no dogs barking because they were all with me.  It was very easy to imagine what the valley looked and felt like two hundred years ago before life on earth was so complicated.  It was refreshing to forget, even if just for a moment, that I had responsibilites and obligations.  It was just me and the dogs.  It was paradise.

And wanta know something?  The damn messy kitchen was still here when I got back!!!!!

Oh, well, I could pretend, couldn't I?  I surely needed that walk, glad you could join me.

Rambling With No Direction

It's Sunday, the day I usually reconnect but my wiring seems to be off today.  I woke early and stood on the porch facing dawn, trying to decide the direction of my morning.  The dogs gathered in anticipation of a great adventure but after a while, I turned and retreated, leaving behind the disappointed pack.

I am questioning my direction, my presense, my purpose, I suppose as we all do time to time.  I need to recenter and find something that will ground me, something to show me there is a reason.

This may have something to do with my week.  Having a whole week off and wasting it with nonfulfilling actions.  A whole week and I have accomplished nothing except run here and run there, taking care of business. This was a week full of people, full of messes and full of questions.  I shall return to work with no relief from my dread and dislike of working.

I wrote and added two new pages to my blog, The Truth About Me and A Blog Evolution,  then spent as much time wondering why.

I am having dreams and they are unsettling in nature.  I remember these only shortly after I wake, just enough to wonder if they have meaning or are they just a rehashing of my awake time.

Two visits to the medical facility and other than halting my infection, I have learned nothing.  My unusual change in weight and form has them fascinated.  They ask for a cat scan, but I don't do barium.  I explain that this week in unusual and I cannot come visit when they want me, but this does not register.  I return home to two messages, we have scheduled an ultra sound instead of a CAT scan and follow-up...hey, I told you not to do this!  I can not schedule a day off!!  I will tell YOU when I can come but this does not fit with their world, oh, well, it has to fit with mine. It made them angry when I cancelled but there is no choice now that will please them.

I am reminded of the dream I had two days before, two days before we talked of CAT scans and ultra sounds and things I've never met.  I had written this little snippet down and dated it...strange.  Now I look for it and the paper reads, "Ultrasound my tummy, take a pictue with a zoom.  I feel it growin' inside, portender of certain doom."...and I do not understand the writing of it.

So today I question if this time, this moment is where I am supposed to be.  If so why am I so empty of plans and ambitions.  I have the world at my door step and I have barred  the door.