Picture Day and Some Tiny Thoughts

Today is mostly chronicling with pictures. I'm keeping it super simple so that when the pictures come along, there's a silence that goes with them. Gardens are meant to be enjoyed in the quiet, to help us experience zen, to find solace if needed. You'll find zinnias in all colors, a spectacular butterfly against one of the giant flower beds with sky, a baby pumpkin, a nearly-perfect apple, the inaugural golden yellow bloom of my Christina gardens (named after my aunt), Mexican sunflowers, and mama and babies. 

The world is ailing, and so much of it is brought about through self-destruction. It's so very sad. Life is hard. It is. And messy and challenging and heartbreaking and anything else you can think of that would make you wonder how anyone keeps their sanity and stays above water, treading, treading, treading. I'm so grateful for God, my anchor. I do not know what I would do without Him.

I grieved this past weekend, and I suspect I may still be grieving. It was for a tradition lost this year, a silly annual visit to the fair with those I love to look at the exhibits and to eat a hot, fresh funnel cake topped with apple pie filling. As much as I love food, ha ha, it's not the loss of the funnel cake that I grieve. Its's those moments of that day that feel so good each year. I do not have a home base, so to speak. I grew up everywhere, and so I am from nowhere. Instead, experiences anchor me; when those experiences turn into traditions, no matter how big or small, a loss of one of those feels a bit like part of my "home' burned down. I know, that's odd. Sadly, it's the best way I know to describe it.

But life goes on, and the next day rolls around, and with each moment of the new day comes both the usual stuff and the new stuff. As you scroll through the pictures, just know that I love each and everyone of those flowers, vegetables, fruits and mama and babies dearly.  The growth, the change - it's a marvel. If you ever need to do something for your soul, grow something. Give back to the earth, go outside, find a way to connect. 

It is 64 degrees this morning. What a gift! We only go to 82 degrees today, and so I simply cannot complain.Yesterday, my dad made apple bars/cake with some apples from our trees. I plan to enjoy at least one or two of those with ice tea today. In the pictures below, you'll see a pot of sunpatiens on our porch. Notice the slant of the light . .. . the seasons are subtle, aren't they? But the sun tells a story, and this one tells me that change is coming. I think apples are a wonderful transition food, and today is perfect for them.

Enjoy the pictures!