Amazed

 Last  year I lost all my peony buds in that last freeze.  Land's- so disappointing.  This year it appeared they weathered those last frosts without a problem.  I just go out and stare at them because they amaze me. How in the world can this pretty pink marble burst in that fluff ball over night?

It is a miracle to me every time.

Today we celebrated Pap's birthday.  And again, a miracle.  I so remember that birthday two years ago, when only God knew if it would be his last.  His heart could hardly have been in much worse shape and we didn't know if they could fix it.

Butterscotch layered dessert, and root beer floats.  Yeah, I know this poor old kitchen has been worn completely out and is in some serious need of repair, but when it is full of my people, happy and healthy, it is a mansion to me. 

So very warm this past week, so of course we ended up in the creek.  A flutter of butterflies were busy enjoying some needed mineral.  They were quite camouflaged, but when they all lifted off, it was way cool!

Wild critter day at the Tumbledown Farm.  First a flattened, dehydrated snake, next the butterflies, then a big opossum walking down the creek.  To that, I would like to say ewwwww, but instead will nod in thanks to all the ticks he'll devour.

I wondered around the place, enjoying all the growth and blooms and something at my feet wiggled. Umm. At first I thought it was a bunny. No, a mole.  Typically, I only see the damage they do.  Weird little critters. 

Last year, I decided to move the garden in toward the house.  We've lost so much of our water maples that I now have sun where never I did before. I held to hope that not only would it make it easier for me to tend, it would also allow me to have some flowers safe from deer. Ahem.

One of these things is not like the other, though yesterday, they were about the same. 

I've added a few new beds, but now feel it might have been in vain. 

When it is the first thing in bloom, I love those huge fragrant daffodillies that cover this space.  Piles of long, stringy, following down plants, not so much. As soon as they've done their deed for the bulb, I start pulling out the greens, but it will be awhile before this bed looks good. 

The mulberries were also lost last year. The trees are so loaded this year, inviting visions of little purple mouthed gramerlings in a couple of weeks. 

Whoa, the shade garden out back is like a jungle.  There is finally enough shade again after the severe cut by the electric company and the ferns are back in full force. 

The blooming things have just been glorious. Thank you Jesus for all this beauty!  Only a few more days of school and I can spend early mornings watering and enjoying coffee and Bible study on my front porch!  

Hey, Hey, It is Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day!  

Oh my. These days, meant to be celebratory and joyful sure can pack a punch for some.  My heart isn't even on my own Mom today, but with a friend. Her precious boy of the past three years has returned to his birth Mom.  Can we say, "Bittersweet."  

And Ceece and Leesh, who find little to celebrate when the source of this celebration is no longer here.  

Our family had another fairly terrifying health event when my nephew's heart stopped and though resuscitated more than once, had to do that cold treatment while everyone sat on pins and needles. Praise God, it was successful. 

While truly, my heart's desire is to be a joyful person, the older I grow the sadness seems to get bigger and take up more and more of my living space. 

This past month has been overwhelmingly busy to me.

There was state testing which fills me with dread, then anger, compounded by frustration.  A big yard, that I love, but wow, so much needing done. All the end of year schedule changes, and my own grief.  Thoughts of Jimi are ever as near as my next breath.  

I remember with Mom- I prayed for her every night and my first thought in the morning was a sigh of relief that no one had to call through the night.  I don't know how long it was that I continued to sstart that whisper prayer at bedtime.  Now and again I still do, but those prayers changed to Jimi.  Still the prayers come and of course the realization that he no longer needs those prayers, so tears to go to sleep and tears to wake up, when I, out of habit, look at cell phone wondering what news of the day it holds- none. 

And it is again the birthday season for our family-

Whoa, I just don't get how they grow up so very fast!

The new addition of a bridge has been installed over the back creek area.

A trial run to be sure the cotton candy machine works. I had a mini carnival for my students to celebrate the end of testing. We had mini snow cones and mini cotton candy and a big time. 

This year I was able to attend Ol' Mother Hubbard's kids recital.  It is so neat to see them singing together.

Aunt Tish shared some berries.  I fixed one of Phil's mom's favorite desserts for her today.  She loves birds, and this strawberry looked like a cardinal head tilted up, or a chicken, depending on how you look at it. 

Our last Mother's Day with Mom.

This plant was so beautiful and held its bloom for so long.  I planted it, but it isn't too happy, so I plan to move it.  Jimi had Jake get it for me last year and I sure would like to keep it.

I am pretty joyful at the prospect of some KFC, just sayin'.