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

Posted on September 20th, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: People at Life