JOY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

    I know, summer is different for everyone, some people traveling, but these few weeks we're doing nothing but opening the doors and windows to this fragrant midsummer in North Carolina.  I'm feeling 100% blessed.  The solstice is almost here, June 20, the longest day will be upon us and I'm trying to think what to do special.  Before retirement I never had time to care, but now . . . .  I love both winter and summer, every day and every time of year.  It is an exuberant feeling.

    Our neighbors have a farm and this weekend we had all homegrown veggies and fruits on their cabin porch sitting in rockers.  They promised us figs later in the season. Sometimes it's good to let the world pass us by long enough to savor all that is on our doorstep. 

    We've had so many nature adventures this week.  First the Canada geese. Handsome heads balanced on tall necks in our high-grass meadow, they have been blocking our path daily, using the cartilage along their beaks and even on their tongues to forage for seeds.  And they don't do it quietly.   My husband caught a pair waddling nonchalantly down our driveway after keeping watch from our roof all morning.

Next a lovely box turtle, all gold and brown, treading water in our small pool, neck outstretched, looking for help.  We gently grasped him with legs waving and took him carefully into the leaves. away from the tree roots that seem to tip him over as he struggles to climb over them.

tadpole haven

    Then, the most surprising of all, a knot of tadpoles (I had to look that up--knot) dashing about our small pool after several nights of a deafening chorus of tree frogs and bullfrogs.  Apparently we had let the chlorine run low and the frogs had left their eggs and with their strong legs, escaped the pool.  That was a job liberating all those tadpoles.  

    And of course, the dried flower arrangement I put by the back entry is now home to a mossy nest of the tiniest eggs we have seen ever, and the tiniest mom keeping them warm.  Doesn't that happen to you too, in your hanging plants and wreaths? We put up a sign to reroute friends and neighbors to the garage entry.   

Then yesterday our local No Kings Day march was a great success.  So heartening.  If the opposite of fear is hope, many of us felt less fear and more hope for our country yesterday, with over 10 million people participating in peaceful protest around the country and world.  If you want to see the pictures, just search on Substack or The Dworkin Report or the Guardian online.

    At the same time, our brave military was doing its best to celebrate their history of 250 years in Washington DC.  All-in-all it felt like a day and week of buoyancy.  I hope your week was good.  We all know not to take those weeks for granted. 

Posted in peace and love from Nina Naomi