A no

“Do you want to keep your plan?”she intoned. 

“Oh, yes, unless there is something cheaper,” I added hopefully.  I heard a muffled giggle. Then another. 

I took that for a no. 

Longed for

It rained!! That should be read with a mixture of joy and disbelief and at least two exclamation marks. 

I’ve missed the rain. Not just missed, but longed for. 

The weather network mentioned rain. They assured me that it was on the way, but I thought, “promises, promises.”

So much for the joy of anticipation!

Instead of glancing skyward with hope I headed off with reusable grocery bags clutched in my hands.

Fresco is a store without windows and I toiled up one aisle and down another with nary a thought of the weather. Out of sight, out of mind. 

And so when I pushed my cart through the crowded foyer and that wide double door rolled majestically aside, I was temporarily transfixed! 

Rain was pouring down.  Oh the sound! As I stepped in a trance into the downpour, a young couple rushed towards the entry. He sized up my expression in a moment and turning to me said, “What does this MEAN? Can summer be OVER?”

Amen and yes!

Sociable squirrel

 As my granddaughter dashed down the driveway with the recycle bin, a squirrel dashed beside her, branch to branch. When she stopped, the squirrel stopped. When she pressed on, thus did the squirrel. 

This morning as we hurried to the car, the squirrel was watching us.  Down the tree trunk it scrambled, black eyes locking with ours. 

Such a sociable squirrel.

Judgemental turtles

As we hunkered down with binoculars in a birders blind, a girl turned to her boyfriend and said, “I just think turtles look so judgemental.” I could hardly wait to find the turtle! There it was with nose stretched skyward. I suppose if you have your nose in the air, someone may think you haughty.  Body language can lose something in the translation. 

Taking hold

 Life is good at getting us to let go of one thing to take hold of another. 

Hello september

We’ve walked at Aldergrove Lake Park when the trails were the only haven, the meadow a swath of scorching light.  

But today the rain has turned down the volume. No glaring blaring all surrounding brightness. 

Instead, trails cool and fern fresh. 

Vine Maple glow and blackberry glisten.

The meadow inhales and exhales as it pulls us along. 

We surprise a tiny baby rabbit and an even tinier frog. 

We pause on the wooden bridge and spot crayfish waving their lobster like claws. 

Hello September. 

Wonder of wonders

Rain fell overnight. Oh wonder of wonders! Yesterday was heat pressed and steamed, but today, all is freshly laundered and air dried. 

Doesn’t the change from the heat of summer to the cooler days of fall fill your heart with hope?