Summer in the Rear View Mirror

Yesterday, as if I needed a reminder (I didn’t), rain fell gently upon the Earth all morning harkening the end of summer and the changing of the seasons. I’d already begun to reflect with nostalgia on certain visuals I found still lodged in the memory of my camera, light bound in a black box, serving to tweak my heart and delight as I relived private random moments I’d experienced during this summer, like the sunflowers above in that big round unlikely vase I’d found.

Another particular pleasure was the lizard that came to keep me company for nearly two months, staging a home in the lavender that lives just in front of the front porch area. Here’s where he was hiding:

Not a bad place to choose as your home, right? Well, he was in there, every single day, for weeks and weeks! I’d never really experienced that before. He came out each afternoon to sun himself, which I would routinely manage to forget, so that when I stepped down off the last step onto the sidewalk, thinking only of ending my business day with a trip to the post office, he would suddenly dart, whish, back into the lavender, and then we’d somehow often repeat the ritual when I returned. (You’d think I’d learn.) Lots of mini adrenaline rushes. What if I’d stepped on him?? (I never did.) Anyway, here he is, dear thing.

I never really looked him up. Maybe someone knows what he is. Then one day he was simply (sadly) gone. I like to think that it was not a certain black and white kitty that is notorious for coming into my yard at night when no one is watching. It wasn’t, right? It was just time to move on and he’s safe somewhere down the road. I’m sure he is. I certainly enjoyed him while he was here. I would come out and talk to him and he never minded. And it was particularly gracious of him to let me take his photo so I can remember him and share him with all of you. Cutie.

Then there were the flowers.


Dahlia from Conny which kept on giving and giving

And Conny herself, on a summer jaunt! (She’s going to kill me, but I love this impish grin!)


Trumpetvine which tried my patience all summer long, it is so invasive but beautiful


Gorgeous blue morning glory greeting me on early morning doggie runs

And the animals…


“Ruby, have you been playing in the mud, again?”


Kitties got a new bed, finally!

Summer brings all kinds of tasty treats, like…

Freshly picked peaches from the farmer’s market spun into luscious pie

No little summer pictorial would be replete without my new summer shoes! Wahoo!

And, yes, I let my manicurist paint and decorate my toes with various colors and rhinestones. Yes, I do. You’re not a bit surprised, are you? I thought not.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Much love and summer blessings,
Kathryn xoxo
Loving postscript: my deepest thanks to my peers on blotanical.com who have honored me by making Plant Whatever Brings You Joy a finalist in the Best Blog Writing and Blog of the Year Award categories. I am deeply moved and grateful to receive your blessings. xoxoxo

24 Responses to “Summer in the Rear View Mirror”

  1. You’re pictures are Beautiful!! Ruby and the kitties are too cute! ๐Ÿ˜€
    And, mmmm does that pie look yummy!!! Thanks for the Gorgeous
    journey ’round your place! Wow! to your lavender too! Lovely!
    Love,
    Antonia

  2. Thanks, Antonia! Glad to update you on the animales. ๐Ÿ™‚ I never tire of seeing Sweet Pea and Luna snuggling up together. Instant cuteness. Thanks for the visit. Love, Mommie xoxo

  3. Dear Kathryn, what a lovely post embracing gently summer for saying goodbye and see you next year.
    Smart lizard chose the best place – fragrant and protective ๐Ÿ™‚ I believe he is gone somewhere better place for winter.
    Kiss,
    Ewa

  4. Beautiful photos!

    I love the poem :)))

  5. How you do that magic with your words is something that will never cease to amaze either one of us. You are, as always, elegant and glorious all at the same time. Thank you for the tour and, yes, we’re positive that your lizard friend has moved on to a better place… without the assistance of the neighborhood cat.

  6. Hi Kathryn, what a wonderful look back over your shoulder. I couln’t enlarge the lizard enough to tell, but maybe he is a horny toad, I used to have a pet one as a child. How funny that you nearly stepped on him so many times. I would do the same thing, sometimes we get lost in our agendas, don’t we? Ruby has such a happy smile, what a treasure. And the lazy cat royalty, smile, are you kidding me? LOL The dahlia shot is to die for and so are the shoes and toenails. Mary Oliver is fast becoming my favorite poet too. Move over Emily!

    Frances at Fairegarden
    new url
    http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/

  7. Hi, Ewa, Your wish for my little lizard–gone for winter–touched my heart. Thank you for the well wishes, and the visit! Kathryn xoxo

  8. Good to see you here, Marie! Do the people of Norway know Mary Oliver? She’s so wonderful and perfect for creative/gardening folks like us! Kathryn xox

  9. Hi, Francis! What a great response! Yes, I could never integrate that there was a lizard out front all the time. Permanent non-seq in spite of loving him. ๐Ÿ™‚ And, yes, the cats are spoiled rotten, particularly Luna who was a show cat and must have received elaborate grooming and attention prior to living with me (and has not forgotten, clearly, how she expects to be treated!). When I went to the bookshelf I was actually looking for Emily and made a left hand turn towards Mary. ๐Ÿ™‚ Wild Geese called to me. Thanks for the lovely visit. Kathryn xoxo

  10. Shibaguyz! You are both too kind. Thank you for your lovely acknowledgment and for the little blessing on the lizard’s path. Kathryn xoxox

  11. Beautiful, wistful look back at a summer that is gone all too soon. I’m sure I love the foot shot best! ๐Ÿ™‚ Love those toenails.

  12. Hi, Nancy! LOL! Thanks! I do love what she creates–so entertaining! Thanks for the visit! Kathryn xoxo

  13. He does look like a horny toad, as Frances guessed. Those used to be common in Austin, but no longer. Beautiful pics and reminiscences, Kathryn. I especially love that laughing dog and the morning glory.

  14. Welcome, Pam! I looked up the lizard, finally. It looks like he’s a western fence lizard, apparently common here. I’ve just never had much occasion to encounter them before. And when I do I always call them “legartijos” and that’s as far as it’s ever gotten before. So now we know. ๐Ÿ™‚ Glad you like my Ruby girl. Yes, she definitely smiles. She’s a happy girl. Kathryn xoxo

  15. I love your toenails. Congrats on the nomination.

  16. Hi, Debbie! Thank you and thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Kathryn xox

  17. Love the toenails Kathryn! Your love of life comes through your posts, and is always inspiring.

    That’s a beautiful Mary Oliver poem. I’d love to buy a book of her poetry. There are so many it’s hard to know where to start. Do you have any recommendations?

  18. Thanks, Linda! That particular poem lives in a book called New and Selected Poems. I think any investment in Mary Oliver would not disappoint. ๐Ÿ™‚ Kathryn xoxo

  19. You have created such beauty for the world!
    A delight to see and read your posts and photos,
    Karrrita

  20. Welcome, Karrita! And thank you so much for your kind comment! Kathryn xoxo

  21. Well done, Kathryn and congratulations.~~Dee

  22. Hi, Dee! Welcome home! Can’t wait to hear about GWA! And thank you! Kathryn xoxo

  23. Dear Kathryn,
    Your post means so much to me. I just returned home being with my dad at Stanford Medical and my mother’s surgery was successful. Hallelujah !from Handel’s Messiah is what I am singing right now
    I think you remind us in every post the joy in the world, and the little things in life are the biggest, after all:
    A display of sunflowers in a ruby glass vase flanked by gaily painted candlesticks from your travels near and far, on crisp and warm cloth,set in a room with family serving pieces awaiting the company of good friends.
    Levander( that is my name for him) the lizard in his bower now exploring the big world.
    Your portraits! A special chapter in your book: your neighbor in his hat, apron and hammer, an elegant portrait of your friend on a trip to the nursery and her rare garden purchase, a happy young girl in braids who is the sunflower reaching for the light. a “tongue in cheek” portrait of beautiful, good friend Conny.
    Friends of all species such as bright and beautiful Ruby and wise and wonderful Kitties.
    A perfect pie made from summers’s bounty.
    Rainment for Summer!
    Thank you Kathryn, for your prayers and for being you!
    Hallelujah!
    Warm Regards,
    Philip

  24. Oh, Philip! What a glorious note to wake up to this morning, with good news about your mother! Hallelujah, indeed! Prayers continue for her well being and good recovery. Thank you so much for the beautiful tribute. And I love the name Levander the Lizard! Perfect! Hugs! Kathryn xoxo

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