Porch Sitting

This is one of my favorite occupations.  It was a warm and steamy day when I went for my walk this morning.  I thought I had missed the early warm-up to the day.  But I was wrong.  I wanted to check out some flowers and views that had changed over the past week.  The intermittent storms and drizzle have kept me close to home in the last few days.

Armed with my hiking sticks, heavy boots, and camera I set out at a moderate pace..or so I thought.  The sun heated things up quickly but I soldiered on.  When I get a task in mind I usually push through until the end unless something bends or breaks...usually my bad knee, or some other body part.

I made it home and cooled off.  Fixed lunch and checked my email.  Not wanting to brave the sultry afternoon I brought my chair out on the porch.  This is just the best part of my day.  I love to look out over the hills...checking out the traffic on AA and CR 314.  Not much happening right now, but it is interesting to wonder just where that pick-up is going...and is that really a trailer he has on behind?  What kind of car is that?  New or old?  Up and down the hill...emerging finally at the horse barn and then disappearing again.  Sometimes I can glimpse them as they near the far hill....and then they are gone.  On their way.

But I am here.  On my porch.  Just spending some time ruminating on life...in general.  Nothing very deep.  I'm not into deep right now.  Just a casual visit now and then with reality does the trick.  

We have phoebes nesting in the gable end of our roof.  They have tried the nesting above the door..but we have discouraged that.  So we enjoy the young ones when they begin to fly...sitting on the porch rail...moving their tails up and down...ready to take another turn at the quick trip out and back.  We have tree swallows nesting in the bluebird box.  They are so pretty...and graceful.  I think their brood is out and in the big oak tree to the west.  It always amazes me how the parents just know exactly where their young are...and when they need encouragement.  Perhaps we could take a lesson from them.  

The afternoon passes on.  Soon it will be time to go in and get supper started.  Evenings are magical around here.  The sun moving around to the west.  The bright light beaming down on the field.  And then that wonderful light of day's end coloring the hills and valleys with gold and red and shadowy purple.  Definitely time to go out again and sit and enjoy.

Thankful.  That is what I am.  Just plain thankful that I have a porch and a view and a life that just couldn't be better...at least right now.

Flowers and Me

Those of you who have been following my posts on Facebook know that I am in the throes of flower-mania.  Yes.  I am enjoying taking every picture I can of these emerging beauties that grace my hillside and valley.

But I must be truthful with you.  I know dandelions when I see them.  And I do recognize violets.  But anything else sends me to my handy-helper Ozark Wildflowers by Don Kurz.  This was not my first flower guide.  We had an older version put out by the Conservation Department.  It was great..lots of good pictures and great descriptions.  But we were begged out of it by a friend who really, really wanted it...and besides we had this new and improved one.  Sometimes, I wish I had the old one...but that is a story for another day.

No.  I am not a natural flower or plant person.  If you come to my house you will notice the complete lack of any flowers planted around my house.  Number one reason:  It is very windy up here and most plants get whipped to pieces.  Number two:  I kill plants just by looking at them.  Most people have a green thumb.  I have a brown...or even black one.  The one plant I had in my classroom lived for several years. I would bring it home in the summer to keep it alive.  Ignored, it hung from the ceiling in my living room where it got just a minimal amount of light.  I would water it...very occasionally.  And just when you could hear it say, "Ahhh...at last I am going to my reward in plant heaven.."  I would resuscitate it with a few drops of water.  Poor thing finally decided it had had enough and went to its reward, smiling I am sure.

However, my husband is a marvel with plants.  He picks flowers and brings them to me.  I love them.  I cherish them.  I let him work  them into an artful arrangement...and I take all the credit for the lovely bouquet.  I have learned something in our nearly 53 years together.  He has an eye for color and space.  I do not.  I am prone to grab whatever pot or bottle is convenient and ram the stems down in the water.  If they fall into a semi-attractive pose...I let them be.

Andy comes from a gardening family.  His mom earned a Masters Degree in Botany from Columbia and was truly a master at growing anything.  He was raised to be a plant person.  I was not.  My dad loved flowers and gardening, but I took after my mom who had no interest in growing things at all.

Lately, I have been helping Andy plant the garden and several hundred trees on our property.  I enjoy getting out and putting those tiny seeds in the ground.  I can hoe.  I can plant.  I just am not too skilled with what goes where and how you go about it.  But Andy is a patient teacher.  He knows my limits. 

I have come to the point in my life where I have accepted my status as a lover of flowers..and plants...but definitely not a nurturing soul.  The flowers and garden plants don't mind it.  As long as I keep my hands to myself and admire them from afar...they are content. A truce of sorts.  Just my kind of arrangement.