A Wednesday wander

Rainy day on the ranch.

This strangely still pause between summer and autumn, greenery and gold, and the heat and rising wind that is once again readying itself to rush it all away in a climactic symphony of color and scent is — in my opinion, one of the best parts about living on earth.

~ Victoria Erikson

In the meadow.

We have been enjoying the remnants of tropical depression (storm?) Julia the past few days here on the Wabi-Sabi Ranch.  The rain was greatly needed and much appreciated.  The grass grew overnight and will need mowed as soon as it dries out.  I suspect it will be a little like mowing hay by the time it is dry enough to get to it.  That seems to have been the way of it this year.  We’ve had long stretches of dry weather followed by a good dose of rain, allowing the grass (and weeds) to rest and then suddenly grow to ridiculous lengths in a short period of time.

Visiting the pond at Breezy Acres (in the Bogs).

I thought about doing a Coffee Share post today, late or early depending on how you look at it.  But then I thought that maybe we should just take a couple of walks.  We can sit and sip on coffee or tea or another beverage some other time.

I’ve always thought that autumn around the pond looks a lot like a painting.

As you might have already guessed by the photos, I took a trip out to the Bogs (NE Ohio).  I went to visit with Little Wookie and his parents.  The little guy is now five months old and it is amazing how fast he is changing and learning.  I am sure I knew how fast children grow up, but I’d almost forgotten now that my own children are adults.  “Almost” because I have two granddaughters, one of whom is now a tween, and they are also growing like beautiful flowers who have been given just the right amount of nutrients, love, and water to speed them on their way.  Life really is short, isn’t it?

Snuggling with Ollie the Elephant.

I have to tell you, because I’m bursting with it, that I have fallen hopelessly and madly in love with Little Wookie.  I could, of course, say the same about my granddaughters and it would be true.  It may also be true that I’ve said such things many times already here on Ye Olde Blogge.

The goldenrod in the meadow at Breezy Acres is particularly beautiful this year.

If I had my druthers, I would live close to all of my grandchildren and children.  How I would accomplish that is anyone’s guess since my granddaughters and their parents live a few hours south of Little Wookie and his parents.  I suppose I would have to win the lottery (which I don’t play so I’m not sure how I’d win it!).

The Mystery Door is shrouded by the goldenrod this year.

All druthers and family aside, it is nice to be home again if only because it is a wonderful thing to sleep in my own bed and get back to a regular routine.  I keep wondering if a regular routine was as important to me when I was younger as it is now.  I don’t remember it that way.  In fact, I remember wanting to break out of what I thought of as the drudgery of daily life and go off on an adventure.  While I still love a good adventure, there is something to be said now for the “drudgery” of daily living.  It helps, I suppose, that I don’t have to go off to a job I’d rather not be working at.  What a fortunate thing that is!

The meadows were buzzing.

…there is no such thing as a charmed life, not for any of us, no matter where we live or how mindfully we attend to the tasks at hand. But there are charmed moments, all the time, in every life and in every day, if we are only awake enough to experience them when they come and wise enough to appreciate them.

~ Katrina Kenison, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother’s Memoir

Sometimes the ordinary looks so extraordinary to me.

My niece will be arriving tonight.  You might remember that I mentioned she was coming down here to help me out with my garden.  I am looking forward to spending time with her and getting to know her better.  She lived in Germany for part of her life and I only saw her on family holiday occasions.  I think it will be fun, too, to have someone to share the work with out in the scrounger’s garden.  Perhaps we’ll finally get it looking a little less shabby.  I plan to make time for artwork while she is here.  I saved things we found while cleaning up the ranch that I want to use as sculptures.  Some need to be cleaned up and painted.  Some just need to be seen in a creative light so I can figure out what to do with them.  I’m pretty sure K (my niece) has a big creative streak, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

The light around the pond at Breezy Acres is extraordinary.

I reckon I should get up and get moving.  I have a few things to do before K arrives, including making a hot and sour soup to help me with the cold virus I picked up while visiting with Little Wookie.  Thankfully it is a mild, baby cold, and I don’t think it’s going to get much worse than it is today.  My favorite thing to treat a cold with is a vegetarian version of hot and sour soup.  It does a good job of clearing up the sinuses.

Flare.

Thank you for visiting and wandering around with me.  I hope you are well, and that life has taken you on a good adventure or two since we last chatted.  We might want to check out the sunset this evening.  The clouds from Julia could make things interesting.  Last night’s sunset was amazing.  I can’t show it to you because I didn’t see it until I stepped out of the grocery store and by that time it was too late to run home, grab my camera, and go to the Point to see it.  Sunset is at 7:00 PM on the dot this evening.  Meet you down at the Point, and maybe we’ll take a little walk on the beach while we wait to see what Old Sol and Mother Nature have in store for us tonight.

Pond flowers.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Surprises await us at the end of this path.

A few of the 10,000 reasons for me to be happy:  6) A good, soaking rain.  7) A walk in the woods.  8) Monarchs visiting the scrounger’s garden.  9) Bluebirds sitting on the fence outside the window.  10) The anticipation and excitement of having a loved one come for a visit.