Walking Continues

In truth a family is what you make it.  It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table,  but by the rituals you help family members create,  by the memories you share,  by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another,  and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit. ~Marge Kennedy I've never seen (and heard) so many Killdeer in my life. They were quite active all along the banks at Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir. [I thought this would be a good photo to start with - so I'm reminded of the day and can look back later.] Here we were - the makers and keepers of memories (together for close to 70 years how can that be?)  My sister (BH) and brother (RF) had decided to tent camp and canoe this past weekend. I was included, but I kinda think I invited myself as I am not much of a camper or boater anymore. It's a wonder they put up with me, but that's for another story and another day. FYI - all my ...

Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry. William Shakespeare, from The Taming of the Shrew Sweet potato blooms This was the year to try sweet potatoes. Friends seem to have luck with them and I know they are ridiculously good for you. The extra "slip" a friend shared with me was duly planted in a large container and it quickly sent out vining branches.  The blooms were beautiful and disclosed that sweet potatoes are in the same family as morning glories, tievines, and bindweed.* I was careful not to let the vines overrun the garden as I waited the 100 to 140 days until harvest. Should I say that sweet potatoes have never been a "go to vegetable" for me? I know they are ridiculously good for you, though.  Today was the day.  This has been the year of the paper wasp. I've had them build 4 nests in the tomatoes, two in the okra, and this one on the edge of the sweet potato pot. I've also found them in other locations - delaying weeding. Only stung...

To live in this world  you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go. ~ Mary Oliver, from In Blackwater Woods . We visited a local park, with wildflowers and poetry in our hands and hearts. It was quiet - only bird songs and our recitations for the day broke the silent peace there.  We carried a couple of flat rocks - for memory. One the perfect skipping stone. One, from Ireland, fit perfectly in a palm.  A butterfly, a Grey Hairstreak, stopped briefly at the wildflowers.  We ate our breakfast tacos (and I drank my coffee) and then we headed home to get on with the day. Gaillardia Zelda ready for her "second" breakfast. At the rising sun and at its going down;  We remember them. At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter;  We remember them. At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring;  We reme...

Leave your limiting-self just like a snake shedding its skin  so that you can go beyond your own frontiers! ~ Mehmet Murat ilden This first cool fall morning saw us meeting at the foot of the dam spillway for a hike at Miller Springs. We were supposed to be a couple of hours south of here, but their weather is still above our "temperature limit." * It sometimes surprises me that we don't take greater advantage of our local wildlife areas and parks. A failure of imagination?  of planning? Whatever. Our continued warm fall temperatures have caused us to consider more local hikes until nature remembers the season. It was a lovely 2.5 to 3 mile hike along well marked and maintained trails. We talked and laughed and admired all the fall blossoms. A few birds sang their morning songs, but as neither of us can "bird by ear" we can only claim to have heard crows, a few cardinals, and maybe a woodpecker. We did spy a couple of  cardinals in the still green branches (conf...