Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Oh summer how I love thee!

What glorious glorious days we’re having… temperatures have mellowed down somewhat and sunny breezes frolic among leaves and thin grasses all day long...  under the luscious canopy of grapevines, I sit comfortably and meditate upon the beauties surrounding me… every sound is a God send chord every leaf, petal, flower a blessing from above.





 The garden is an aviary these days with birds flying everywhere from here to there, their tweeds gracing the airs and uplifting my heart, as wispy little white butterflies hover and float about the geraniums and garden Phlox enchanting the day away. 

Squirrels are in no hurry either, and they travel along the fence following one after the other, only stopping from time to time to take an ample look at the garden, and, I supposed, admire all the glories therein too, for who wouldn’t!










What a happy happy discovery I made the other day while at Home Depot.  They had brought in some Sedum!  And not just any kind of Sedum, but the fiery Autumn Joy Sedum—the same ones I used to plant in masses around the pond at our little white cottage… How I used to treasure these perennials for their sturdiness and fiery colors in the fall.  They were always one of the first plants to return each spring; always fulfilling my soul with joy and hope.  I bought two and planted them among the roses under the kitchen window.






Today, during my walk through our neighborhood I found two iron chairs left on the curb for garbage collection at one particular house.  I immediately saw so much potential in them!  They were so beautiful!  I carried one by hand all the way home and then got in my truck and went back to grab the other one before it was too late, for the garbage truck was already doing its rounds…  what beauties they are and how lovely they look in my garden after I gave them a new life with some spray paint.





You can do so much with old iron chairs that won’t rot to water or atmospheric conditions in the garden.  This one will be holding a flower pot on it and the other one will serve as a support to the tall yellow black eye Susan.  I like how they turned out so much, that I decided to paint my old wrought iron chair in a similar color


“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun--which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.”



Monday, August 19, 2019

A magical campsite

WHAT a beautiful and magical campground the Fisherman discovered for us this time! In the Peninsula Campground we parked our gypsy trailer and started to set up house…

Douglas fir, grand fir, lodgepole pine and western larch molded the diverse topography of the park, which ranged from arid sagebrush flats to forested lakeside trails; from even ground to steep cliffs; and from dense forest to spongy marsh. From the lofty canopies of the 150-foot-tall ponderosa pines parapenting our house on wheels to us came the high pitch and ruckus of some of the largest and boisterous crows I had ever seen… as if welcoming us to their habitat, or perhaps letting us know that to them and only them belonged this magical place?

Enchanted, I looked up and was again enthralled by the sight of the masses of wispy butterflies floating around the tall Ponderosa pines… strange and magical—mottled white and light tan wings hovering in lush canopies. Did they too live in the giant pines? Did they share beds with the crow?

After dinner we got in our bikes and went to explore around our camp.  The park has some amazing hiking and biking trails, guided walks with park naturalists and evening campfire programs.  We stopped at a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the lake and went down to it; to walk around and check for fishing possibilities.  So beautiful was the place that we got carried away and kept riding our bikes for almost three miles before realizing that we were lost and couldn’t tell how far or how close we were to our campground… 

 
And how wonderful it was finding our campsite again!  Evening was gently descending upon us already and how beautiful and magical it was the sight, the view and the discovery of dozens of deer roaming freely around the campground.  I could hardly believe what I was seeing!

The next day dawned on us with a beautiful morning—carried upon its wings were the songs of birds and the character of the park molded by its diverse topography.  After breakfast, we mounted our bikes again and went to visit the visitor center, with its North Beach Unit and beautiful beach and picnic area, fire rings, picnic tables, and cabins… 


The trails were rich in wildflowers, especially along the interpretive trail that winds around the Meadow Marsh. Nature trails and gravel roads have been developed so visitors can enjoy opportunities to view wildlife in these areas.  Canada geese, osprey, bald eagles, wood ducks, mallards, songbirds, deer, moose, beaver, muskrats and even bear abound in the area.  When we got back to our magical campground, a fox was peacefully resting right next to our site… as if waiting for us I suppose!


I took pictures, I stood very close to her and still she would not lose her serene demeaner… until it was time to leave.  We saw her got up, stretched and disappear in the brush as magical as she had appeared.


After that we droved to town... for a caramel latte and a lemon pound cake, for a walk by the lake shores and for a talk with strangers and store owners, to browse through clothing and all kinds of goodies in quaint little stores embellished with beautiful pots with all kind of flowers...


That afternoon we went to a neighboring camp and went to find the famous pond where fishes supposedly abounded but couldn’t find not one, we made pizza for dinner and rode our bikes some more, we read books and listened to music, and then late in the evening we went to the family showers and took a shower together.  Tired, refreshed, contented and thankful for all the good things in life and for our gypsy camper… for coziness inside and startdust outside...