I have been as busy as any “Honeybee” ever dared to be, since my last entry.  I have painted a large cabinet, several flower pots, framed flowers and leaves, I had pressed, last year and  did two paintings that turned out awful   . .still, I learned something from   my ill attempts, so I do not consider it was  a waste of time. 

The clothesline has had linens and soft, dresses on it most days and summer squash  has been celebrated several times. 

I had a visit with one of my dearest friends, one morning.  That was a lovely time. A friendship that spans thirty years is like a rare pearl . . .the size of the moon.  How blessed I am to have met her, when we were both young mothers.  Now, we are grandmothers.  I can always depend on intelligent discussions when we talk, yet when I kissed the first  flower of the season, from my grandmothers’ bulbs, on our departing stroll, around the yard and she didn’t bat an eye. . . we have never “put on airs”. 

 I have increased my strolls around the rosewood cottage.  The yard is really like a garden, theses days.  I walk at first light when the world is mostly silent.  Sometimes, I see the rabbit family nibbling on the fresh fruit and vegetable scraps that I leave out for them.  When they are finished, they hop merrily, down the middle of the street, “headed home”.  I chuckle every time.  During the day, I walk several times, stopping to pull grass or dead head spent blooms.    At dark,  I go out to say good night and send good night wishes to the world, I include the robins, cardinals, doves and squirrels that call this place home, too.  A streetlight was out last week, and I was sorry when it got fixed, for I was able the “dog stars”.  I wish street lights were the motion sensor kind . .but, at least now, I know where the dog stars shine. 

I day dream a lot.   . . intentionally.  I pretend all sorts of things, Some are ridiculous notions, others are “wishful thinking” Sometimes, I sit and “wonder” about a subject. (This often leads to a “study”, afterwards. )  .I take no shame in this delightful habit. . .after all, I kiss flowers. 

I do have some sensible hours . . ..l Have been going over the “shoestring budget”.  hence, I have returned to making everything I can.  I have a good supply of cleaning concoctions in labeled jars, accomplished one afternoon.  The collection is actually pretty to look upon and the smells are wonderful.  I felt so pleased . 

Just recently, it has become hot, on Bonnet Street, though we are not suffering  that dreadful  heat that I heard about in the news.

Oddly, my autumn joy  flowers are blooming and so are the chrysanthemums!  Everything is thirsty and so I spend hours carrying small buckets of water to each flower and bush.  I do not find this yard to be too small, these days.

 I have taken to cooking in the early morning.  Yesterday, I baked bread and oatmeal cookies, long before  dawn .  This practice, preserves a bit of  coolness and the air conditioner can use the assistance.  Box fans drone  through out the cottage, as well.  In the ladder hours of the afternoon, the heat is stifling, muggy and hateful.  Since I am not cooking, I read-or paint  I am reading a series called “The Cottage Tales”.  They are  based on the life of Beatrix Potter.  Of course the characters are rabbits and kittens and mice.  Their accounts are quite accurate , however, when it comes to “Miss Potters’  goings and comings”.   The books are well written, too. I am on a mission to surround myself with beauty and simple pleasures-and these books serve that purpose. 

I am back to reading works by Thoreau, in small doses ,for he makes me think deeply. 

Sometimes . . .all of these efforts work together and I feel almost  unscathed and delightfully, untethered. 

A few days ago, I was working in the yard.  Someone , stopped by and said “I am just so sorry”.  I said “about what?”.  She said “That you lost your job.”  “Oh yes!   I had forgotten.” I said  I laughed about that. 

Then again, on some days, I wake up in a state of bewilderment that losing my job DID happen.  I fall in that binding snare, “how in the world, will I make it financially?” . . the thing tightens.  Can a person survive on social security, alone?  My meager savings are pitiful.  Surely, I will never get hired any where. . .By now that snare, that was in plain sight,  is  very tight and So I escape . . . 

and go to visit with the pale blooms of the autumn joy.   . .that suprised me with flowers in June . . . against the odds.  God does not seem to   care about “the odds I start thinking,. . .and sometimes things happen “out of season   The beauty of this truth filled my heart. Maybe, out of season is just right timing . . .

My little grand daughters got a puppy a few days ago.  Lyla has been asking for a beagle for two years.  She would name  him “Biscuit”.  At long last, it has happened! Biscuit is adorable.  I hope to meet him this week. 

Baby Banks is crawling now and Ryan can sing “Jesus loves me” with accurate pitch- and change octaves!  So all of my grand darlings are doing well. . . . and actually, I am too.  

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