Observant

I've received a bit of teasing lately at how unobservant I am.  Discouraging.  Particularly since I've thought I was generally fairly observant.  I guess I've missed a few things.

However, I have seen some things.

Like the toddler bouncing out of the library with her Mom and siblings.  Dressed in a red and white horizontally striped t-shirt, pants.  And a sparkly, sparkly net skirt over the top.  With brown and yellow patterned galoshes on her feet.  Too cute.

Only a small corner of the field of yellow.

And this partial view (phone cameras have limits) of a yard around the corner.  A large field of grass covered in yellow.  So pretty.  (Yes, they're dandelions.  Yes, a weed.  Still:  yellow is a happy color - enough for me to notice anyway.)

And the guy I saw yesterday walking down the street; playing his guitar while he walked.  (I think I especially noticed this since I have such a hard time walking and doing much of anything else while I walk - I'm totally challenged that way.)  Unfortunately he was across the busy street so I couldn't hear the beautiful music I'm sure he was playing.

Which reminds me of a quote I read that I really like:  "Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart. --Pablo Casals

Perenial or Annual

I'm one of those "get the job done once and for all and don't think about it again" kind of people.  Just generally speaking.  (Yes, I'm lazy.)  And when it comes to yardwork I've always been the,"I'll just stay inside and iron, or read" kind of person. Don't care for the dirt, spiders, worms, slugs, and other nasties that come with working outside.  (And yes, I'm still lazy.)

So I'm sort of pro-perennial plants for the yard.  I have learned through experience though, that that doesn't mean plant once and they'll look beautiful forever.  Perennial plants can get rangy or sparse or they just "age out".  Another downside is that you don't get that punch of color that comes with the annuals.

I just cringe every time we look at annuals.  It seems such a monetary investment in such a short-term project.  But I'm getting better at just going along with the crowd on this one and plunging into the spring planting.

So Saturday we stopped in at Home Depot.  I love the spring/summer flowers!  It's like eye candy that truly lifts my soul.  (I'll never forget taking a toddler grandson in a cart through the garden center and listening to him just ooh and aah over all the pretty colors.  What a fun memory that is.)

44 small plants will hopefully beautify our small corner.

This morning was the time.  The Husband so graciously offered to do all the planting, and after all, he likes that gardening thing.  (I just like the results.)  But he is so very busy and works so hard to provide for us.  This is my personal sacrifice to indicate in a small way how grateful I am for him.

It only took about an hour or so.  I planted, fed, pruned some roses, and gave the thirsty little things a drink.  You'd think I wouldn't dread such a small investment of time quite so much.

Last year's results pleased our eyes the entire summer.  I was astonished that something I planted actually worked out.  (I never professed to be a gardener, just bumble my way through - like I seem to bumble my way through life.)  I'm a teensy apprehensive about whether or not today's efforts will flourish.

And to The Husband's credit:  I only received praise for my work, not a speck of criticism.  How kind he is, and gracious even when I know that often I don't quite measure up.

(And that brings to mind words from church yesterday.  She spoke about how people can disappoint us and we should love them anyway.  The corollary - in my mind - is that we (all of us) disappoint others.  Hopefully they will love us anyway.  Often they don't: friendships dissolve, marriages disintegrate.  Love should remain constant.)

Now I'm off to curl my hair, get lunch for The Husband, run to see a friend in the hospital, stop at the grocery - I feel such a sense of accomplishment and it isn't even noon.

Today's gratitude:  for the beauties of this astonishing world we enjoy.

Attaboy!

The Husband deserves a couple Attaboys!! tonight.  Not only did I drag him off to look at purses (so not his type of activity) but he acted interested, supportive and anxious to go.  Seriously, just when I'm in one of those moods, He does his utmost to make me feel like a princess.  (And if one "aw shucks" wipes out a thousand Attaboys, I think these Attaboys ought to wipe out at least several hundred "aw shucks.")

Would This Dogwood really grow in Utah?

He treated me to dinner at a tepanyaki - one of my favorite (and rarely eaten) kinds of meals!  At our table was a young couple:  covered fairly completely with tattoos and the young man had those discs in his earlobes.  They were most anxious to treat us to sake bombs (which we declined but were happy to applaud when they downed theirs).  They were quite pleasant (even-to-these-people-old-enough-to-be-their-grandparents) - a reminder to not "judge a book by its cover."

Stopped at Home Depot for some annuals for the garden in front of the porch.  (I actually did the planting last year and everything not only survived, it seemed to thrive, so I think I'll be the one doing the planting on Monday.)  The Husband ushered me over to the corner where he'd spied this stunning dogwood tree.  If we'd had the funds and a spot, I think he'd have brought it home with us.  Truly a feast for the eyes - even amongst all the other showy plants.

Not only does the earth come alive in the spring, but there is a vibrancy and buoyancy alive in the air.  It is as if people have also been hibernating and the minute there is some sun and warmth everyone emerges from their cocoons and radiates joy.  Fun.

And tonight's gratitude:  for a purse on sale!  Thanks My Love, even though I don't need or deserve it.



 

Yay! Friday!

A couple good things about today:

Today's fastest speed 21mph (going downhill...)

• The first bike ride of the season!  My trusty bike took me for 10 1/4 miles without having to stop except for one drink of water.  Thanks, My Love, for filling my tires and cleaning the winter dust off.

• Being invited to lunch with my sweetie.  Even though it was quick it was delightful.

• Hearing that the Grandson is beginning to make small steps in his progress to recovery from his surgery.

• Finding some fabric for a baby blanket for one of the ladies I visit teach.  And it was on sale!

• Shopping at several stores (looking for a specific something & not finding it) and being ok not spending any money.  (I really, really, really, dislike spending money.)

• Learning anew each day that it's ok for me to be who I am.  We are each equally important. (I hope Heavenly Father can see into my heart, past my shortcomings and find the good that's buried deep inside.)

• Sharing a small (leftover) bag of M&M's and being delighted with just the right amount of chocolate.

• Anticipating some sparkly toenail polish.

• Knowing what I'm fixing for dinner without agonizing over it, and also knowing that I have everything I need to fix dinner here without having to make a mad dash to the grocery.

• Loving being here at home.