Another Summer Surprise

 While I convalesce inside,
Bush flowers bloom pink

Reminding my heart to hope.

Girls Who Climb Trees, Holding Babies, and Yellow Watermelon

 (Not all at once! When I read the title of this post to my son he said, "Wow, you're good at multitasking!)

I climbed a lot of trees when I was a young girl.  Not everyone is able or wants to kick off her shoes, reach out her arms, curl her toes and thighs against rough bark, and pull herself high up the trunk and onto thinner branches.  It's easy to feel capable and powerful when you've made it and are standing or sitting above the earth, when you've overcome fear and exerted yourself where many can't or won't. Being in a tree gives a new perspective.

When did the tree climbing stop?  When did the feelings of inconvenience, the lack of effort, and the fear of the pain of falling become more powerful?  When did I allow myself to become so weak that even if I wanted to climb, I couldn't?

I was tempted to insist she descend at once.  Instead, I took pictures and felt relief when she finally climbed down.

Once the surgery is over, the arm is healed, and the strength returns, I think I'll climb a tree.

And I'll hold a cute, strong, squirmy baby like my little nephew with both arms as tight as can be.

 And I'll be able to hold a fat smile of watermelon or a large fancy sandwich with both hands and bring them to my mouth without smashing them into my face or losing half of what's inside.

Have you ever tasted yellow watermelon?  I didn't even know it exists until yesterday when we were in a grocery store in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Looks a little like pineapple when it's all cut up in the bowl.  No surprise, it tastes like watermelon.

Patience Flowers

"Do these look like weeds?"  

I asked several people that question. 

Most agreed we should wait and see.  

So we waited.

Finally, they are blooming. I'd been told to wait a full year before cutting down or pulling up plants.

 I'm glad we listened.

Fortunately, I recognized the cosmos baby plants that would become the pink and purple flowers and left them to grow.

When all the buds are in full bloom, this is going to be a mighty pretty corner of the backyard.

It was worth the wait.

Sunset

"Mom, can I borrow your camera?"

"Why?"

"So I can take pictures of the sunset."

The sun was setting already?  When was the last time I'd seen a sunset.  Too long ago.  I gave her the camera.

She came back a while later and showed me these among other shots.  The first picture is her favorite.  She likes the contrast of the dark leaves.  I'm glad she appreciates sunsets.

Gumballs

Purchased for fun and because they are as pretty as pansies.

 She thought they belonged in the middle of the cabbage.

I like them with pansies and nasturtium leaves.   

Pretties and Not So Pretty

Mrs. Johnson seems to have liked variety.   

 So do the snails.

I don't know what kind of flower the little purples are.  Orange daylilies remind me of healthier times, biking around the New York countryside.  Which of the lilies is your favorite? 

I Can Do Flowers

The flowers Michelle gave me wilted.  I couldn't just throw them out and become flowerless, especially with roses in the backyard.  So I snipped a few with scissors, stuck them in the vase, and then of course had to take a few pictures.

               toes                                                 water distortions                                          wood porch

A watery storm struck yesterday morning.  I realized I'm going to have to live like this for a while.  I can't put life on hold.  Hopefully I will get answers tomorrow.  I'm just afraid I'm not going to like them.

Wildflowers on the Way Back

On the way up a sloooww walk with my family toward Donut Falls this afternoon, I didn't see any wildflowers.  I was busy trying to hold up my arm and stay on the path.  But on the sloooowwer way down, I looked harder and found a few.

Wild strawberries.

 Tree or bush blossoms.

 Bluebells.

 Some unique, white, leaf-like flowers.

Gifts

A sweet lady gave me these.  They smell heavenly.  I'm thankful for kind, thoughtful people, gentle colors, and soft petals.

Might As Well Do Homework

     Background:  During camp, I planned to use my time well and do a little homework up there for my writing class. I was sure I'd feel inspired surrounded by the beauty I'd already seen when we went to set up.  It would be easy.  I could write the three required haiku and feel good about the progress toward my personal goal. 
     Then the accident happened and the goal was still there.  Plus I have unexpected time:  all my duties have been taken over by my sweetie who has taken off work for me; he's a lovely slave.  I can slowly do one-handed typing.  
     I couldn't bare to write haiku cooped up in the house, still wearing the hospital gown (why not? I don't feel able to get dressed anyway) and I am feeling a bit villainous.  So a villanelle fills the requirement and sounds like the formal poem for right now.
     Besides my personal challenge of one-handed typing, a villanelle has a few requirements:  It has to have 19 lines with five triplets and one quatrain; 2 refrains from the 1^st and 3^rd of the first stanza that alternate as the last line in each stanza; concluding together in the last stanza; all with a-b alternating rhyme for other end rhymes.


The resultant effort:

Why I Missed Girl’s Camp 2011

I chose to run instead of walk and fell, or almost flew.

Fell down the stairs on my left arm, slid, cut, a break, a bruise.

If I could turn back time I’d go much slower it is true.

But we were running late and there was so much left to do.

I stole the time to hug my son, to let him know the news.

I chose to run instead of walk and fell, or almost flew.

They waited for me in the car, I felt the pressure new

Wanting to please, to do my best, I quickly put on shoes.

If I could turn back time, I’d go much slower it is true.

But then I fell and saw the blood come shooting toward the blue

My face was cut, my arm looked pieced, my glasses I did lose

I chose to run instead of walk and fell, or almost flew.

I’d been preparing for this camp for three months, maybe two

But when I saw the ambulance, I could no longer choose

If I could turn back time, I’d go much slower it is true.

So now I’m swollen, feeling tired, sore, and slightly blue,

Writing stodgy villanelles not nature-inspired haikus.

I chose to run instead of walk and fell, or almost flew.

If I could turn back time I’d go much slower it is true.