Cotton

When we bought this lot to build our house, it already had twin cottonwood trees, standing sentry from each corner of the back of the lot.  At that time (nearly 18 years ago - wow, has it really been that long?) they were already fully mature trees.  So now, they're even taller!  It gets to this time of the year and I almost feel like I should apologize to the neighbors for all the cotton drifting down on the breeze.  It's covering the grass and building up in the gutters.  But then I realize that ours aren't the only cottonwood trees around and give a mental shrug and forget about it.

Pretty cottonwood tree

But it does prompt a discussion the last couple years about whether or not we should have them removed.  We love the shade (though we have to keep trimming branches off the north tree because the garden needs more sun not shade!) and once the messy cotton and seeds have finished they're quite pretty trees, almost majestic in their size. Fortunately :) the wind blows mostly north so lots of the leaves fall/blow into the neighbor's yard in the fall, lessening our raking burden somewhat.  (And I say that with an eye-twinkle - we don't wish our work on anyone.)  But it would take quite a bit of $$ to have them removed. So we say we'll think about it for a while and then don't do anything. Soon, though, I suspect we'll have to decide.  We do get fierce winds and I worry one or the other will get blown over and cause a bigger headache and expense.

This morning's walk yielded a muskrat sighting!  Walking along the creek there it was, eating some leaves and washing its face down at the water's edge.  I love seeing a bit of wildlife - even here in town.

Our peonies.

And I've been thinking about kindness.  And manners.  I often equate the two - reasoning that you can't really be kind without good manners.  And that good manners often are evident in kindness.  I happen to be the one that gets called to bring in mail and watch out for packages when the neighbors are out of town.  We've been called to check on houses inside (particularly when houses are for sale and there have been showings), turn off malfunctioning/leaking sprinkler systems, take out garbage cans.  And probably a few other things I'm not quite remembering.  It's always interesting to me to see how rarely some people use "please" and "thank you".  And while thank you is used more often than please (and it's a good phrase for people to use) a sincere please can make a world of difference.  It makes something feel more like a request than a command.  It is more genteel and civilized.  And I love hearing it used.  Hoping to hear it used more often when someone needs a hand. Though I'll help anyway, I always do.

Today I'm grateful for help with the grandson we tended yesterday.  Willing hearts that ofter their time and care are beyond measure. I'm grateful for being met on my walk this morning by The Husband.  I missed him so while he was away last week. I'm grateful for being able to text with friends while they're across the country getting medical attention. I'm grateful to see sprouts of corn and carrots and that the melons and pumpkin are doing ok so far. I'm thinking we're still struggling a bit with our tomatoes (this area is different for growing than our previous home) but we'll persevere and figure it out somehow. I'm grateful for our garden. And I'm grateful for my personal testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It sustains me.