Sunday, March 5, 2023

A Day Of Peace And Sweetness


This is what the sky looked like today with wisteria jewelry resting on its bosom. It did finally get a little cooler last night, down below 60 and that made all the difference in the world when it comes to my attitude. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do this summer. Now I see why so many Floridians flee to the mountains in summer. The heat has become intolerable for me, and Mr. Moon is finding it so as well. But today was not only slightly cooler but also drier and that's another thing- I always used to laugh about the overused trope of "It's not the heat, it's the humidity," thinking, "It's both of them, asshole," which it is but my god, the humidity makes a huge difference in the way it feels
But today, for this day, I was grateful for the sweetness of living without the constant heaviness of heat.

Shall we discuss the mosquitoes now? That hard freeze we had this winter seems to encouraged their growth and number, and honey- they are hungry. 
Oh, Florida.

Last night I really felt like I was getting sick. Maybe with whatever August has. I did see him on Thursday, too. When I woke up I was congested but not achy or tender and I feel grateful for that too. I worked a short while in the yard in the area of the old kitchen, pulling the demon Glory Bower, which yes, sounds like the most desired plant in the world but no. It is not. In fact, it's another GEE DEE invasive in this area and although the blossoms are lovely, the plant stinks and it will overtake an entire area before your cat can sneeze. It's fairly easy to pull but there's no way you can get to the entire root system which I am sure is like a hidden network covering my entire yard. I also pulled some oxalis which I do like in theory but again, it spreads. I left the native phlox which does also spread, but in a civil manner and it brings me great joy. 

And guess what? 


Yes! It is time to start kicking the bamboo. That eager sprout was at least a foot tall. For those of you who may be new here, we have huge amounts of bamboo and desperately try to keep them in one contained area which we call the bamboo forest because it is a bamboo forest. Talk about a plant that will spread. 
So what we have to do this time every year, is diligently search for the shooting sprouts and kick them over which guarantees that that particular sprout will not grow. I find them especially in the part of the yard between the bamboo forest and the railroad tracks but they grow up on the side yard, in the old kitchen garden, in the area that parallels the railroad tracks, and even in the chicken coop. Nothing deters them and if you don't kick those suckers over in a timely manner, you could find yourself suddenly walled in, surrounded by a bamboo prison. And of course they grow inches a day. Many inches. 
So I need to put that on the to-do list.  

Mr. Moon went back to the Wacissa to fish again this morning. He is loving that so very, very much. Today was an all catch-and-release day as we still have some bream in the freezer. Last night we ate a bass that he'd caught a few weeks ago that I'd thawed out and it was delicious. Fried bass, coleslaw, and cornbread with onions, peppers, jalapeƱos, and cheese. Just about the perfect meal. 

Tonight's supper will be another good one. Clam spaghetti with focaccia that we'll top with baby greens and basil salad. I picked the first bit of tiny tender lettuces and arugula with a little bit of the still-good older greens. This, my friends, is going to be good. Here's a picture of Maurice investigating the rising focaccia dough. 


Speaking of cats, yesterday there was a huge battle between the two ferals who seem to live in the yard- the black one and the spotted one. The green-eyed black cat got the better of the other one and fur was shed. Mr. Moon witnessed the fight and said that the black cat had the other cat's head in his jaws and seemed to be trying to crush it like a lion would. Or, I suppose, a panther. I have not seen either one today. I have, however, seen the crow that seems to want to get my attention. Every day he perches on a limb right outside the back porch and caws at me a few times. It seems like he is very deliberately speaking to me and I feel honored. Corvids fascinate me. I actually put a small piece of aluminum foil on a chair in the backyard as a gift because I know they do love shiny things, and also two roasted peanuts. After the crow caws his greeting, I have started answering in turn, shouting, "Hello! Hello!" trying to match his tone but in human-speak. I mourn the loss of my chickens every day and if a crow became my friend, I think it would ease my soul a little. 

Here's what the spirea blooms look like now. 


They, too, lift my soul. 

Love...Ms. Moon


29 comments:

  1. The heat is bad enough, but the added humidity just makes it intolerable! Which I why I go back home to northern Norway as long as I can during summer (even if it’s for a 50-60’s degree summer!) - I’m lucky to be able to do most of my work online! Maybe you should come up north during summer? We have both heat and humidity, but I imagine nothing compared to what you get in Florida?? Good luck with fighting the bamboo! I see it up here too, taking over..! Xo, Ricki/Rigmor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Ricki/Rigmor! Where do you live when you're not in Norway?
      Bamboo is a force of nature.

      Delete
    2. Mid-Hudson Valley, NY! Beautiful countryside, 2 hours north of NYC

      Delete
    3. Excellent! That is a long way from Norway!

      Delete
  2. To have a crow for your friend would be such an honor. I know your pitch tone is pretty decent, so you should be able to match Mr. Crow's pitch. This may be a figment of my memory, but I feel I recall someone teaching a crow to say Hello. Or perhaps you could call back to him in his words. It does appear he wants to be acquainted.
    It's not the heat, it's the humidity. The climate if changing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crows can and do speak human. If they want to and are taught or are just around humans a lot and decide to start mimicking them.
      The climate is most definitely changing but it has ALWAYS been hot and humid in Florida. Stupid hot and humid.

      Delete
  3. The spirea is beautiful ... such sweet little clusters of blossoms!
    Keep talking to the crow ... like ravens, they are so intelligent ... and, perhaps, one day it will say "hello" back!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I had to google Glory Bower and it is a lovely plant. What does it smell of? Bamboo is evil. It wants to take over the world. Like its country of origin!!
    Crows always sound like they are swearing or that just might be Australian crows. "Faaaarck"
    I do talk to our magpies. As much to stop them attacking me. They are very territorial birds with a glorious song and very good memories so I make a point of singing out "Morning Mrs Magpie".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot describe what Glory Bower smells like. Unpleasant. Quite unpleasant.
      Crows do have a very loud and raspy call, don't they? They can certainly attract your attention.
      I don't think we have magpies although we often call Maggie by that name.

      Delete
  5. I'm glad your getting a new friend. Birds can be very intuitive with humans, a real bond.
    I find I'm more sensitive to heat and cold now. I seem to be dressed much more warmly than younger neighbors at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're, dangit, autopushy!

      Delete
    2. My crow did not stop by today and it made me sad.
      Yes. I think that with age, we definitely become more sensitive to both heat and cold. Another fun part of aging!

      Delete
  6. I should wander across the yard to the next block of flats and see if our spirea is blooming. I've forgotten when, so if it isn't I'll keep track until it does, then I'll know. Dang that bamboo just never gives up! Your sky is beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. It never does give up. I know there are "clumping" varieties but I think they can get out of hand too. Maybe not as fast.

      Delete
  7. (Wo)man against nature - man never wins in the end does he!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Only temporarily. Living in Florida it is so easy to imagine what things would look like within five years of all humans disappearing from earth.

      Delete
  8. You should continue to befriend the crow. They're at least as smart as Marco and would make great garden companions!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Crows have a bad rap, I suppose because they're so loud and squawky. But they ARE smart birds and have a lot of personality. There's a kind of weird homey feeling that comes with the annual appearance of familiar tasks (like bamboo-kicking), isn't there? Like, "Oh, it's that time again."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! And like with the blooming of the hurricane lilies, I can go for months and months without thinking about the bamboo and then suddenly it will occur to me that I should go check to see if it's sprouting yet. I suppose my internal clock is triggered by light and smell and sound.

      Delete
  10. I've been using the weed eater to mow down cleaver which has completely taken over the very back of the yard between the farthest flowerbed and the field. I hate that stuff. it is so dry here and warm but low humidity. pretty much your weather. I've spent the last two days outside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are your mosquitoes out yet? Ours are so fierce already. And huge.

      Delete
  11. Sounds like working out in the garden, helped you feel better.
    Gosh, your meals always sound so fancy! You do a wonderful job of describing them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always feel better after working outside.
      My meals are not always fancy but they are generally pretty good.

      Delete
  12. You will need to go to the river a lot this summer and immerse yourself in its cool waters. Spring is trying to make itself felt here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I need to live on a houseboat this summer.

      Delete
  13. We have just employed someone to do the heavy garden work leaving us the fun planting and growing things to do. We are both entering our seventys and have decided to be sensible for maybe the first time in our fifty four years together and as we live in South West Scotland just on the Gulf Stream things grow with gay abandon. I enjoy your tales from your life so much and read them every morning with my first cup of tea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Moon has offered to hire some workers to help me in the yard but I'm not sure what I'd have them do! I know what I want pulled and what I want to be left. But I am going to consider it if things get too difficult for me.
      Thank you for your kind words. I am so glad to know that someone from Scotland reads here and enjoys it. That makes me so happy.

      Delete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.