Road Reports And A Magnificent Magnolia

 It's been a big day here in Lloyd. When I got up this morning I went out to the little swing porch which my bathroom opens on to in order to toss out the hair from my brush for the birds to use in making nests (I know- some people say you shouldn't do this but whatever) and I discovered that the little ashe magnolia had finally bloomed. I've been checking on it every day, not wanting to miss it. That's what it looked like when I first got up. 

A few hours later, as I was getting ready to go to town, I checked on it again and it had opened, as I knew it would have.

Is that not beautiful? The blossom is as big around as a dinner plate and the petals, as you can see, are magnificently white. The stamens are impressive in size and arrangement and those little purple dots are like kisses by angels wearing lipstick. 
Sigh. 
But the best part is their fragrance which is almost as heavenly as the blossom of the magnolia grandiflora. Both are lemony and light and yet, still pervasive. 

Hello, ashe magnolia! And thank you for being here and sharing your glory. 

While I was outside, taking pictures, Maurice came over to say hello and see what my toes smelled like. 

Probably not as good as the magnolia. 

I got a text from my cleaner, Candie this morning. "Mom, I can't make it today." Turns out that she'd been hiking and walking on a local park's bike trails and FALLEN OFF A RAVINE and her whole left side is a very, very painful mess. She has been to the orthopedic clinic and they told her that she just had bad contusions but what she describes sounds like broken ribs to me. Add in the road rash-like scrubbing her skin got and she is miserable. 

I told her just to rest and please not to worry about us. We don't really make that much mess over here. 

I took another walk this morning and it went far easier for me. I walked up to the county line and back, passing Harvey's place both ways. I don't know what's going on with him but I have never seen his property in such disarray. He's always got something going on but it's just completely littered with scattered pieces of I don't even know what all. He's moved in another trailer, this one an ancient single-wide, instead of a RV, and perhaps he is renovating it. I do not know. But he gave me one of his big arm-reaching-out salutations and I yelled, "Good morning!" and he smiled which made me smile, of course. I crossed paths with another man whom I did not recognize. He was heading west and I asked him if he knew if the road was open yet. He said that it was although he had not gotten his truck out. I was not sure what he meant but when I drove home down that road later, I saw what I assume was his truck, stranded by the side of the road with the tires half sunk in mud and water. Bless his heart. It's a beautiful red truck. 

And so yes, I went to town to do some shopping. The worst part was that Mr. Moon wanted me to get some more zinnia seeds and how could I complain about that? I mean, he's planting flowers for me! He suggested that Walmart would probably have them which is right next to Costco where I was going anyway. 
I fucking hate that place. Walmart, not Costco. First off, I parked in front of the Garden Center because that's where I wanted to go. I walked up to the doors that say, "Welcome!" but they didn't open. So I walked down to the main entrance and of course I had to go look at the dresses and by golly, they had the same dress they've had for a few years now which is a practically perfect dress for me to wear at home. Soft T-shirt cotton, loose, generous pockets. So I had to grab one of those. And then I went to the Garden Center where I found the seeds and then walked around looking at the plants and had to buy one of those too. I had to! All right? 

I set it in the hollowed-out stump that Mr. Moon found me to put a plant in. Perfect! And look at those roses back there. 

We are rich in roses this year. 

But I wanted to add that I have no idea how Walmart is still making money with this self-check-out situation. It's so lame. No one was watching the people checking out and no one was checking receipts. I could have stolen a chain saw. Do they really think people are that honest? I mean, I'd never consciously cheat them but I almost felt stupid for not trying. 

I drove home the back way and indeed, the road was open although I saw this.

Terrible picture. Can you tell what it is? Two women on a float in the water right beside a four-way intersection on the road leading to the road I live on. 

Water, water everywhere...

You could probably drink it but I wouldn't recommend it. 

Love...Ms. Moon