Yesterday was not the day to pick roses or the lovely black-eyed susans that were blooming. I did not feel the least bit inclined to sit in the shade either. I found out in the first part of the day when I was hanging sheets on the line, that the heat was already hateful. I glanced at the garden and hurried back to the house . Today was the day for housekeeping, I thought.
Somehow, I got on a mission to declutter-again. The older I get, the more I realize the folly of using the home as a closet. I think back to possessions I have had over the years. I think of the many things that I paid good money for and I don’t even know where they are now, and don’t even care! I have never been a trendy person. I am not enticed by “popular at the moment” things. Still, I have ended up having more than I needed at times.
I collected a box of things to give to a local church for their annual yard sale. I read some poetry by Keats and then I decided to paint. I have not done so all summer, so my roses ended up looking like peonies. Painting is like writing. The picture, like a story unfolds like it has a life all its’ own. I often feel like I had very little to do with either effort at the conclusion .. . but I really did want to paint roses this day.
The thought of cooking supper did not cheer me as it usually does-but I did any way with more of the “food bought by the road” from my trip home with Jo Dee and Joehn. I went out after supper and stayed a very few minutes as the air was hot and heavy as sin. I sat down to write and realised the battery needed charging on the computer. I plugged it in-and the whole world went dark and silent. I looked out and could not see “Miss Susie’s light either so I knew the power was out all around me. All of my tidying up came in handy as I remembered that I had put a candle on the “morning table”. I sat , hopefully thinking it would come back on in moments. The house got hot quickly, so feeling like Florence Nightingale, I walked to the back door with the candle, looking for fresh air. There were plenty of stars but little light. I regretted not picking sticks up earlier. I stood there admiring the stars and a breeze stirred up! It was actually cool and very constant. I heard Christian playing his guitar and found him on the front porch. I sat with him and listened to his magic. The next thing I knew, I was stumbling through the house to get my violin. We played for a long while on the porch with the cool wind blowing. It was pitch dark and I had to “get my bearings” straight on the violin. It was quite a good practice for me, I thought, and found myself enjoying it. Ever so often we would stop and talk. Christian is my youngest son. He is a young man now, and I knew to tuck this memory in my heart, for safe keeping. I was just as disappointed when the lights came back on, as I was when they went out. We played a while longer. It was midnight when we finally came in.
Sometimes, the best part of the day takes its’ own sweet time showing up. Keats wrote “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. I read that today and at midnight, I found it to be every bit as true as it sounds-right there on the front porch of the rabbit patch , singing a song at midnight while a cool breeze was blowing.
rabbitpatchdiarycom 
Oh, to be so talented!!!
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Good morning beautiful! Well I sit here as I am on my exercise bike to read your beautiful words. If u ever decide to get away come visit and grab Faith. Please know our home may seem a world away but it could also give u thoughts for another chapter one day. Our home always welcome u! Lots of family here in Wyoming. 🙂
Love u- God Bless!
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Do you know I have actually thought that one day I might could visit? I felt like you would welcome me by the way your heart shows up-and I would bring Faith! Thank you precious cousin!
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I get the “big bucks” for a reason-hahahaha! Thank you! I will say, it didn’t hurt to be able to play the violin last night! xoxox
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So lovely!
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Thank you so much for your kind comment!
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How time flies and much later, realizing our children are not with us for very long. Why does it take most of us so long to not take people for granted? I could make the night scene out so easily with the words that you put to paper. Thanks.
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Thank you Monica-I think life has too many details and we get so caught up. At times, that could be avoided and we ought to.I am not a fan of the rat race-never have been. Thank you for your comment and reading the rabbit patch diary-Comments bring me such cheer.
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A magical ending to your day! It’s so true about how we end up collecting clutter which piles up so quickly. Sometimes people store the clutter in the garage and park the cars outside. As we get older we realize we don’t need so many things and we gain joy from the simpler things in life. I loved your story!
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you and i think alike-i would rather be rambling around the rabbit patch than out buying more stuff-now i want to live with as little stuff as i can!
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Wow! You, and a computer, are like MAGIC together!! I was following you around in my mind from the house, to outside in the yard, to the porch. Playing music together on the front porch sounds magical by itself. You can take a frustrating experience to most (no power) and make it into a story…as only you can do. Thank you for that. Its always a joyful experience to read your words Michele.
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awwh-thank you for such sweet thoughts-I hope you know the power of your kind words too-they brought such cheer to me.
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I loved “A Midnight Song”!! Like you and your son, I have found my way in the dark to my piano when the power is out. There is such comfort and refreshing in letting what is in your heart come out through your fingers even when no one is present to hear it. I pass by the Rabbit Patch often and one of there days, I’m gonna stop and share a few moments with a kindred spirit!! Thanks for my birthday wish!!
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Thank you-and you are always welcome to stop by! love this comment!
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I didn’t realize this would come up as anonymous!! From your friend, Loreta Gurkin!
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yay! so glad to know it’s my sweet neighbor! I think of you often
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beautiful…
Kind Regards and feeling inspired- K
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thank you! What a nice comment-will ck your blog out too!
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I so enjoyed being part of your day and I thrilled with the way it ended: a porch, a cool breeze, a son, and making music together. I don’t think I’ll ever forget your words, “Sometimes, the best part of the day takes its’ own sweet time showing up.”
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awwh-thank you for your sweet and touching words-this made my day!
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Once again I love this post! I totally relate to the feeling of feeling disappointment at some occurrence only to find I am more disappointed when it is over. Lesson learned (for now) enjoy life as it comes. I am glad you had such a wonderful time with your son. Those times are indeed precious.
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thank you my gifted writer friend!
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How lovely, sometimes the best memories are made on a whim! X
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