This morning, after a long hiatus, Mr. Moon went to the gym and, because I felt ashamed of myself for my general slothiness, I took a walk. I can't even tell you the last time I did that. And I have to tell you that I was worried that I would not even be able to walk a mile but I walked for two and it wasn't so bad. I tried to stick to shady places which is not always possible around here but I didn't do any long stretches under the naked sun.
I started out by walking down to Lloyd Creek where it crosses not too far behind our house. I took one picture, looking east, from the bridge.
Then I crossed the highway and walked down the bank to the creek itself.
There's usually a large assortment of turtles lined up on that fallen tree trunk but today there was only one. Can you see it? Perhaps he was early for the meeting.
I will admit that when I was walking through the high grass down to the creek, I was a little concerned that I might come across an alligator but I did not and I probably should have been far more worried about ticks. And chiggers.
I will admit that when I was walking through the high grass down to the creek, I was a little concerned that I might come across an alligator but I did not and I probably should have been far more worried about ticks. And chiggers.
And then I walked north on the sidewalk and went down Notre Dame Street. I really would like to know how in the world a very short dirt road in Lloyd came by the name Notre Dame. I cannot figure out a connection. I passed the GDDG and went around the bend to Main Street where the fally-down house is and it is still slowly, slowly making its way to the dirt. I walked to the post office and talked to the post mistress about a card that Jessie had sent me before she left NC and which has not yet gotten here. She sighed and said that they're trying a new system wherein everything has to go to Jacksonville before it leaves Florida or comes to Lloyd. She did not sound enthused about this. I know that I sent a package to the West Coast and it took about nine days to get there. By the tracking data, it only took one day to get to Jacksonville but spent three days there before it took off again for parts west. I would say that this is ridiculous but what isn't these days?
And then I came home and I did not feel as if I was about to die but I did not walk very fast and like I said, I tried to stick to the shadier parts.
And of course, having done that, I felt as if I had done just about everything I needed to do for the day. Suffering accomplished!
However, two things happened within the space of less than an hour that hurt my feelers as my darling Sue used to say and I am not one to get that upset about hurt feelers but these two things (which I will not be discussing at this time or in this place) cut me, if not to the bone, then at least to the layer of fat atop the bone. So I took my precious little emotions to the ironing board and did some ironing which probably did not help but it was something to do, anyway, while I was feeling misused and under-appreciated. I'm pretty much over it by now but as with the yellow fly bites, the residual swelling and discomfort may persist for awhile.
And then I did a little embroidery on a patch I'd made on my old, old, favorite blue linen shirt and watched part of Episode Two of "Nine Perfect Strangers". I've listened to the book twice because it's an entertaining and well-written book and now I'm enjoying the series on Hulu. Nicole Kidman is in it and I do not know how she could get any thinner. She looks practically alien. I've always had very mixed emotions about Nicole. I sort of like her but her acting doesn't knock me out. Melissa McCarthy is also in the cast and I am very much enjoying her performance which is more subdued than in many of her other roles but she has a sharp vulnerability which serves her character well.
Here are some pictures I took when I went outside to empty the compost.
Steve, this one is for you. That's one of the volunteer avocados growing in the compost that I mentioned in a comment to you and as I also said- we obviously need to turn our compost. There are three more in there but they are not nearly as big as that one.
And here we have yet another gulf fritillary on a semi-matching zinnia.
Pretty little thing.
That top photo was taken in the small yard of the old kitchen. The phlox have just about had their day but the pinecone ginger lilies are in full glorious form.
We are in deep summer here. You could blindfold me and just by listening to the insects and birds I could tell you that it's August. Like Ellen, I am seeing many juvenile cardinals flitting about and visiting the feeder. The crepe myrtle is blooming everywhere, and the air is still and steamy. I have just about given up on the garden. We are going to eat some of this year's field peas tonight and I doubt we'll get many more.
Tomorrow August and Levon will be here early and I will probably make pancakes and then we shall see how the day unfolds. Lily suggested that we meet up at the Wacissa with all the kids as she has the day off and perhaps we will do that. School starts in a week and life will change again in its own predictable and sometimes unpredictable ways.
As I get older and older, I have learned to pay more attention and give more honor to each passing season, even as I feel that I suffer through some of them.
Ain't got that many left, even if I live far longer than I think I will.
This is the way of it.
Love...Ms. Moon
By enlarging the second picture I was able to see the turtle. I don't remember you showing us Lloyd Creek before. Well done on completing that two mile walk in Florida's August heat. And how lovely to have August and Levon back at Mer and Boppy's house in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI have shown you Lloyd Creek before but it's not that memorable of a creek. The water is very tannin stained from the leaves that fall in it constantly from the trees that overhang it. And it really was nice to have those boys back at our house.
DeleteOn looking at the picture of Lloyd Creek, my first thought was "there's only one turtle on the log!"
ReplyDeleteI have always disliked the change into winter and the slow recovery. The last four or five years I have been responsible for cleaning the snow from my car. This winter, no car. Hooray, though I will be easing myself into Uber.
Yes! One lonely little turtle.
DeleteWell, at least with Uber someone else will be clearing the ice off of it. And putting the gas in it. And all that other stuff. Too bad there's no Ubers in Lloyd.
i'm sorry for whatever transpired that hurt your feelers. may you find peace in the river tomorrow if you can go <3 xxalainaxx
ReplyDeleteWe did go and it was refreshing to the body and the soul. It's funny- before one of the hurt-my-feelers thing happened, I dreamed that something similar involving the same people happened. I guess I felt it coming.
Deletesorry to hear your feelers were hurt.....I hope the ironing and TV, embroidering and anticipation of the boys visit tomorrow will lessen it a bit.
ReplyDeleteBig hug
Susan M
PS Like Joanne, my first thought was *why only one turtle*? LOL........ and your mail..... I will never complain about the postal service....however...same deal here (and everywhere?). I can mail a B-Day card to a friend who lives in the next town....10 miles away......but it *has* to go to Santa Barbara (150 miles south) to be processed and back on it's way. WTH? THAT does not seem efficient to me. Just sayin', but they don't ask US!
DeleteSusan M
I think maybe it's too darn hot for most of the turtles to want to sun themselves right now. If I was a turtle, I'd be in the water in the shade. I guess. I don't really know.
DeleteI'm fine. I mean, I'm still feeling a bit sad but I'm not rolling in it.
And yeah- that's ridiculous about the mail. This card was going west and Jacksonville is way east of us.
That photo of the butterfly on the zinnia is a keeper. It's wonderfully composed and framed, colors balanced, everything. So even with hurt feelers you can take a great pic.
ReplyDeleteSchool starts next week?? Here there's more than a month to go yet. Unheard of to start before Labor Day. Different regions, different calendars.
Oh! Thank you for your words about the butterfly. Honestly, I was just snapping away almost blindly because of the sun. But that one came out nicely.
DeleteYep. School starts a week from today. We do start pretty early around here.
We loved "Nine Perfect Strangers." I like Nicole in some things, and I think she did pretty well in that show, but in other things she's not so great. Very hit or miss.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the avocado pic! I hope you'll let that tree grow! (Though I bet the first hard freeze will finish it off.)
I should put that avocado tree in a pot, shouldn't I? Funny how it can grow straight out of the compost. And it does not get much light there.
DeleteYou're right about Nicole being hit or miss.
I have the same reaction to Nicole Kidman too. I watched Nine Perfect Strangers and first thought "oh yuck, not for me", but in the end I enjoyed it. And your description of Notre Dame Road certainly doesn't make one think of that stunning building in Paris does it!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the book and I'm enjoying the series too.
DeleteI did not even mention that Notre Damn has three trailers, a very old wooden house, and one burned down meth house on it. Not exactly a seventh wonder of the world. It's got some nice trees though.
I'll take Melissa McCarthy over Nicole Kidman any day. I think Nicole gets parts because she is tall and very pale with red hair although it's currently blonde, maybe to hide the beginnings of grey? But her acting is definitely a bit "wooden". I love the creek and the tiny turtle.
ReplyDelete"Wooden" is a good description of her. She is one of those actors that you can see acting. Know what I mean? She never seems to get lost completely in her character. So how can we?
DeleteIt's funny how much pleasure I get from looking at that tannin-stained creek with the turtles.
hurt feelers seem to be going around. me too yesterday. the dog and I are NOT walking until the temps release us from hell.
ReplyDeleteOh, no, Ellen! I'm sorry. I sort of thought I was mostly past the getting my feelings hurt stage of life but it turns out I'm not. It doesn't completely overwhelm me though. I can roll with it.
DeleteI may try to take another little walk tomorrow. I just have to get out early enough and stay in the shade as much as possible.
I clicked on your photos to make them bigger and really enjoyed each one but the butterfly with the flower is so lovely! Great job!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a day at the river is just what you need, Mary!
Having just spent a day at the river, I agree with you!
Deletehurt feelers sends me right into my fuck off mode! I do not take it well..."Hurt my feelings, i will slam you with a brick and some swears!" that is more my style. I like yours better- more productive!
ReplyDeletePhotos of the creek are so refreshing, i imagine the creek to be cool and clear and void of critters/ insects and vermin. The creek of my childhood!
Yes. Having one's feelings hurt certainly can and generally does trigger some anger. Luckily, ironing while angry is an okay thing to do.
DeleteThat creek is not clear because of the tannin staining from all the leaves that fall into it. This is true of many rivers and creeks here. But it doesn't mean it's dirty. I think of it as swimming in unsweet tea which is refreshing to drink so why not to swim in? I haven't swum in Lloyd Creek in many years though. And I feel certain that there are alligators in it.
Excellent Photography, that Butterfly pix is Calendar worthy. Glad you got a good Walk in, far too Hot here for that, it's been almost 100 Degrees at Night and over 115 during the Day for over a Month now.
ReplyDeleteOh god. Those temperatures are too brutal. You poor thing.
Delete