Simply Moments

The excruciating heat has made being outside unbearable and we kept putting off some major chores whilst waiting for cooler weather--that never comes--until suddenly realization hit that it was almost the end of August and the Summer work had barely been started. Last week we decided we couldn't wait any longer, regardless of heat, Hell or high water.  Now we're not only sanding/painting the very large back deck, but also digging a 30" deep by 20' long trench for our new bamboo privacy screening, and preparing a section of terracing for two new trees that need to get planted before too much more time goes zipping by.  And all this in temperatures that fry my brain, melt my resolve and cook my motivation. Today I have some time before the zucchini bread comes out of the oven, so rather than tax my addled wits, I'm just gonna post a few photos and call it good... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last month when I got my birthday Buddha for the garden, I planted a

I had a meltdown on Tuesday. You know how you can just go along, outwardly acting like you've got it handled, you're in control because eventually,  this too shall pass,  even though internally there is turmoil you try to ignore or fight or pretend isn't really there?  But then, along comes some little, inconsequential thing that bursts open the floodgates and there's no stopping the torrent. I don't even remember what kicked it off. I'm not a crier.  It's just not in my playbook.  I'd much rather get mad than cry.  But holy tearjerker, Batman, on Tuesday over lunch, I totally lost the plot.  Burst into tears, ran from the room, sat on the floor in my closet and wailed like a scalded cat.  Poor Nick.  He gave me a few minutes, then came and sat down on the floor with me while Benny tried to lick my tears away.  Which made me cry harder as women are wont to do.  I tried to explain when Nick asked me what was wrong, but I really didn't understand

So relieved to have made it to August in--more or less--one piece... July was fraught with so many things, including temperatures that soared higher each day, eventually reaching into triple digits; a president who is so out of control it boggles my mind every single day; gestapo tactics against American citizens; virus counts climbing into the stratosphere with no end or leadership in sight; the appalling, selfish ignorance of my fellow human beings who have no regard for the safety and welfare of others.  And then a sudden, unexpected death in my family.  Seriously.  As if the past six months weren't bad enough, July just capped them all. This morning I realized, what with all the chaos and turmoil, that I haven't posted for weeks.  I've been trying to write at least once a week, but with the heat, the governmental angst, the plague, the family crisis...you get the picture.  Today is the first day in a month that I've taken a good, solid deep breath followed by a