While all of you are enjoying predictable rotations of the Seasons, those of us in Idaho, are getting what we deserve: SUN. That's right. If it didn't cool off at night you might think you were in one of those Southern states. The birds migrating that direction, are taking a vacation here, in Idaho.
(Unfortunately, there are at least two Falcons taking advantage of this small respite in their travels, but the majority of the birds are enjoying South-Eastern Idaho. And the Sun birds -those of the older gens that bail out of Idaho for AZ- left already missing this just in the next back yard:
photo by padre
and this:
same trip
oh, and this!
again, same trip.
Enduring the cold and wind is a hard earned price to pay for such pleasures.
So when my garden, flowers and the roses at grandma's got a chance to go brillaint with bloom...
I took advantage and soaked in every second I could.
Wild-life photographer, Padre, pulled the air-conditioners early, when we'd been faked out with some Idaho spring-like weather a few weeks ago, so I am finally able to see through the kitchen window and out onto my confused garden.
Despite this small mix up in feelings, the trees know what good 'ol mother nature is up to. (hot flashes)
(I love the color of spicing things up, especially in salsa- which I can't eat or dance the salsa.)
therefore signaling the first signs of change. Which here mean, break out the long under wear, mittens, and fight for the spot under drive way's eave if you know you have to be out of here early the next day for work and don't want to chip of the windshield.
My anemic sunflowers
droop over the tomatoes,
that are doing very well. Good thing they did not become Mammoth sized or else it would have been difficult to have grown a crop.
There are 6 stalks of corn. Yes, we planted late and it was cold and confusing for the small patch of corn and I didn't help them more than once, soooo....
But the raspberries have grown rampant! sigh.
Only those with these high maintenece plants know the pain. Window minus air conditioner meant I could see the little gnats bob up and down in the evening sun. It, and other circumstances, took me to Willa Cather's: MY ANTONIA.
(The same white rose from a few days ago.)
Cather's ability to put into words an otherwise yawner of a landscape, romanticized the rolling fields of Nebraska and the journey of a young man from losing to his parents to finding beauty in being re-located there along with a young Bohemian girl named Antonia.
This is a spoiler alert! so if you haven't read this book get it now and then finish my post. My thoughts don't go to the first part of the book but always to the sunset, the final pages. Where the grown boy comes back to Nebraska to visit. He is unhappily married but a success in the work force. He collaborates with a friend who also knew this magical girl. Who was able to make the connection with the blue sky and the main charachter's blue eyes as she learned Enlish in the tall grass.
The girl, who grew to be a beauty, is seen by the man from a far off carrying water in a bucket to the trees in her orchard. Married, surrounded by children this woman who previously was buxom, now resembles the landscape- flat- but unlike the drought that is happening at the time, she is surrounded by life. Lots of children many who have the features she once had.
Tears come to my eyes when he describes the changes in her. And they have symbolically gone with me since I read this book. So as the yard has changed with the weather and I have changed with some good weathering... that book and the scene around me comes into focus.
Her beautiful white teeth are colored and some are missing. Yet, the smile remains,and ANTONIA shines through
.
these outward changes as brillaintly as when he'd first met her. And in my mind she epitomizes a woman. Graceful with the droughts and changes in life. Tough as nails and nurturing, carving something from nothing.
So summer is past! the wind is whipping up outside and clouds are accumulating in the sky that was wide open blue just yesterday!
And I wonder: What does the next summit hold?
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