I was desperate enough to take a walk today and I think it did help. I often wonder if the positive effects of that on my mental health are more about the body's reaction to exercise or the fact that I have an undeniable need to suffer in order to feel good about myself.
And that says a lot about me.
I am not proud of it.
I got added benefits out of the walk because it's getting hot and I was soaked through with sweat by the time I got home. I only walked up to the county line and back, all on the sidewalk, and it was overcast, as you can see in that picture so it wasn't nearly as bad as it's going to get.
I am seeing many, many blooming blackberries and I think it will be a good year for them. I love blackberries- who doesn't? But Lord, it is a pain (literally) to pick them with their thorns that rip skin and the heat that is always a factor by the time they fruit. And for some reason, snakes seem to love to hang out by the blackberries. I once saw the most beautiful indigo racer under a blackberry bush that I was just about to pick off of. They are harmless, magnificent snakes but for whatever reason (Adam and Eve, probably), my initial and immediate reaction to seeing a snake is to jump back, Jack and my body immediately goes into flight or flight until I can identify the snake and decide whether it is a threat or not (almost always, not) and even then I'm still a little shaky for awhile.
I am seeing a few blooms on the magnolia grandifloras but as always, the branches which get the most sun are the ones to blossom first and so they are still very high up in the trees. No pictures of those yet. Soon.
No comment.
Here's the church next door to my house.
The big oak tree you can see behind it is actually in our back yard. Our property is a weird T-shape and stretches behind our neighbors' house on the other side too. I think that the Holy Ghost Revival Center is a very good name for a church and from what I hear coming from their windows when they are gathered together, they have the best music.
Drums are involved.
A few more pictures.
Blueberries of which we will probably not get a one as the squirrels and birds always get there first.
The pink rose that grows with those deep, red, velvet ones.
I apologize for today's post. I am okay and I have gotten a few things done. Tomorrow is pottery. But I am feeling flat, mostly, and this post reflects that.
Mr. Moon just got home from town. He got a haircut and he looks very dapper. And handsome.
As if being the good man he is wasn't enough.
As if being the good man he is wasn't enough.
Sigh.
Love...Ms. Moon
No apology required or expected. I am glad you're feeling better. I just blew my gasket because Jack wouldn't get out of the bathtub, so I left him to do it himself. He knows how to and I'm not going to stand there until he decides he will get out. He was mad at me and got into my epsom salts which ended up in his hair and all over the floor. So I yelled. He also got into trouble today at school for punching classmates in the private parts and the bum. WTF! I worry about him becoming a teenager so much.
ReplyDeleteI have similar conversations with Lily and Jessie about their kids although some of them ARE teenagers now and that's a whole other kettle of fish which you already know.
DeleteIt's just hard.
Holy Ghost Revival center sounds totally like a made up name in a comedy skit. Holy Ghost!! hahaha, Love the shots of the flora there, beauty all around!
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to see your snake! I like them a lot. As long as they are not aggressive and do not carry knives.
I know. You are right about the Holy Ghost Revival Center. I've never understood the concept of the Holy Ghost at all despite the fact that I have asked religious people what and who that is.
DeleteNewsflash: They don't really either.
Linda Sue! Snakes can't carry knives! They don't have any pockets!
Seriously, indigo snakes are gorgeous.
I know the flat feeling. Been feeling it myself. Maybe it’s a form of self preservation. Hard to feel everything the world is throwing at us right now. We’ve gone psychologically underground. I’m glad you’ll get to spend time with your girls tomorrow. Love you woman.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably correct about the feeling of flatness and where it comes from. And I sort of feel as if I really let go of things, I would explode. So- keep it tight.
DeleteI love you too, woman. Here's my hand.
Music is always good when drums are involved. Put some netting over the blueberries to keep the squirrels and birds off.
ReplyDeleteOur two little bushes never make enough blueberries for a batch of muffins so it's not such a big deal.
DeleteI like to walk too, especially when things are getting to me. It gives me a chance to either listen to a good book or mull things over. Never a bad thing!
ReplyDeleteBooks and podcasts are my saviors for walking.
DeleteI love reading every post you write. Nothing to apologize for. So glad you had that walk. As you know, they (usually) help me. My fear of snakes has nothing to with Adam and Eve, I don’t think. Maybe it’s more about Cleopatra. I remember trudging through tall grass in South Dakota when my sister-in-law said, We probably shouldn’t be in here. We can’t see the rattlesnakes. Oddly, I’m doing ok so far today. I wish I could share it with you. No rattlesnakes.
ReplyDeleteCleopatra! At least we think she was a real person! Can you imagine? Death by asp? Hoo boy.
DeleteI dreamed the other night that someone told me to be careful where I was weeding because there were snakes there. Obviously, I must have snakes on the brain.
I am so glad you were feeling better. I hope you still are. It comes and goes so mysteriously, doesn't it?
These days, there’s not much reason to question the mood swings. May you be doing ok at this moment.
DeleteWalking and taking notice of all the new flora and fauna is so beneficial in many ways. I'm glad the walk felt good.
ReplyDeleteYou've got two churches almost next-door. Given your thoughts on church, it is kind of funny. You don't go to church, but it is coming to you.
Just the other day, I also saw a small snake. It quickly slid underneath my patio. They are good for the garden.
The walk itself didn't feel that good. I've never enjoyed exercising. It DOES feel good when I'm done though.
DeleteAnd there's another church just down the block across the street. That's the one the guy at the dump was trying to get me to go to.
Snakes are excellent for keeping the rodent population down.
Feeling flat. That's a good way to put it. I'm feeling flat too. And right now I'm regretting agreeing to have this birthday party. But your pictures are wonderful. It's cool here this morning.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've just agreed to have Easter here so...
DeleteBut we do it potluck so it'll be fine. (She says.)
It's been cool here in the mornings too. So lovely.
Glad you are feeling a bit better and that the walk helped. Pottery with your girls will help too.
ReplyDeleteI have a group of high school friends and we meet once a month for brunch. Yesterday, we heard that one of our group died suddenly. It just was a shock but also a reminder that we are here one minute and gone the next. Karen had the best stories and made us laugh. She was kind and loving and that's how I want to be.
I am so sorry to hear that, Ellen! Damn. Just...damn. I hope that besides being quick, her death was painless.
DeleteWalking always lifts me. It is both a physical and psychological medicine - as long as you don't fall over! Trepidation about summer heat is not something we tend to suffer from at this latitude - 53.3811° N. Whereas you are at latitude 30.4774° N and bravely endure sweltering summers.
ReplyDeleteWe really have no choice but to endure our summers. Unless we do as some do and have a second home up in the mountains somewhere. A little higher up in the latitudes.
DeleteWalking and noticing what’s around you is good medicine. We need some flat days to make the good ones even easier to appreciate. Have fun in pottery!
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
Oh, I never have any trouble recognizing AND appreciating the good days. Never.
DeleteIn primary school, we would get four or so words and the task was to make a story out of them. I think god, rabbits, chicken and eggs could be made into an amazing story, even sci-fi or a thriller. The holy ghost revival could be used in the sequel.
ReplyDeleteI think you might be right about using those four words as a writing prompt. And Holy Ghost Revival Center is definitely worthy of its own story.
DeleteIs it mean of me, when I see Holy Ghost Revival Center, to imagine the Holy Ghost stopping off there for a mid-morning coffee and snack? I remember a little church near my grandmother's in SW VA - The Premillenial Postdiluvial Church- and I'm forgetting something, it's been years. Sign was about as big as the building.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I love it. Well, the Holy Ghost has to have somewhere to revive.
DeleteI had to look that church up. What google says about it is: The phrase "Premillennial, Post Diluvian Church" refers to a specific interpretation of biblical eschatology, which involves a literal, 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth after the post-Duvian church.
And so now we know.
I have never seen blueberries just growing - they are already in plastic punnets whenever they enter my world (or indeed, bags in the freezer section)
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are a lovely fruit on bush.
Delete