Friday, May 21, 2021

Let Us Go Down To The River


This morning I found Dottie keeping Darla company as she sits on her eggs. I opened up the hatch behind the nest to bring in more light to take the picture and there you are- the sun shining through Dottie's comb and wattle. Poor Darla. I know she is exhausted. Her babies should be appearing any day now. 

I got all my chores done early today, or at least early for me. Breakfast burritos made for my husband, sheets and clothes and towels washed and hung on the line. Then I cut up a cantaloupe and made a sandwich to take the Wacissa because Jessie and the boys and Lily and Maggie had planned an outing there today. Exciting! 

Jason is taking Owen and Gibson to Disney this weekend or to the Star Wars resort or something. That's where the water stuff is that Gibson needed a cast cover for. Here's a picture I stole off Jason's FB page. 


He got the boys out of school early to leave and so Lily got Maggie out early too and the Wacissa was her treat. I'm not sure she knows where the boys are going so don't tell her. Gibson told us that she didn't know but I'm not sure about the status of that plan. 

I got a ride with Jessie and there were very few people at the little  park when we got there. Some teenaged kids, but very well-behaved teenaged kids and some older folks. We set up our chairs and coolers with lunch and snacks and were soon joined by Lily and Maggie and also the woman who will be house-sitting for Jessie this summer whom I had not met. She turned out to be a really sweet and funny lady and I truly enjoyed meeting her. 
The kids played in the water and the sand and more children and their parents showed up and soon toys and floats and buckets and trucks and nets and shovels were being enjoyed by all. I love watching children's encounters with other children- the way they sort of just meet and become instant friends although frequently, they do not seem to know their new friends' names. It doesn't seem to matter in the least. All of these children got along sweetly and as they played in the water and in the sand, we mamas and friends all sat in the shade of a cypress tree and watched them. Jessie and Lily and Jessie's friend and I immediately got into topics that were, well, salty as the kids say these days. We talked about things that as Shelby said in "Steel Magnolias" made the fish blush.
It was great and I love being able to have this sort of relationship with my kids. So easy and so real. We did a lot of laughing. 
Pictures:


A Lily selfie.


Magnolia in the clear river water. 


Jessie took this one of her glamorous sister. 


August in Jacob's kayak. We did not know Jacob until today but he is a very fine young man and his mother is sweet. 
Jessie took this one.


Maggie on someone's float. By the time we left, there was an entire girl float gang. They seemed to be having a terrific time. Salty-ladies-to-be, most likely. 



Levon and August. Jessie took this one. I had to laugh. You know how much Levon loves to dig? Well today, for the first time, I saw him dig in the sand with just his hands and he reminded me of a dog. That sand was flying! His arms were a blur! 

I got in the water and even dove in to get my whole being wet. The water, as always, was cold and good and holy. The only problem with the entire outing was that I got bitten repeatedly by...FUCKING YELLOW FLIES and my right foot is now swollen up like a sausage on the grill and my left foot is red and itchy and to add injury to insult, while I was getting the clothes off the line when I got home, another one bit me on the calf. 
Gee Dee. I mean...really? Those evil insects love my evil blood. 
I had a Benadryl in my purse and I took it as soon as I first got bit and because of that or whatever reason, I did not have the absolutely maddening itching that I got the last time I got bit. I mean, itchy, yes. But I didn't feel like I was going to lose my mind over it. Lily gave me an ice bag to put on the afflicted areas and the cold Wacissa was right there to wade in so I was okay. And the swelling should be gone by tomorrow or maybe Sunday. 
Whatever. 
It was a lovely day. The river as beautiful as always, the people all peaceful and thoughtful. Laughing with my daughters, watching my grandchildren play and splash and dig. I put sunscreen on Levon, carefully painting it on to avoid his eyes, spreading it around his beautiful little face. He was so trusting and patient. 
Overall, another good baptism in the purified, rarified, glorified, sanctified holy waters of a Florida river. As I was leaving, an older man (by which I mean probably older than me) who was there with his wife shot me a peace sign. 
I loved it. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon

23 comments:

  1. what a glorious day. well, except for the yellow flies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. yes, an absolutely perfect day minus the yellow flies, as Ellen said. And don't you just love how children can bond.....it's so refreshing to see.
    Happy Martini friday!
    susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so cute, watching them just glom on to each other.

      Delete
  3. Not long ago a young-ish man shot me a peace sign. I loved it.
    Wonderful day, including the bendryl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we should bring the peace sign back, Joanne. Maybe it's already a movement.

      Delete
  4. Apparently here the same kind of fly is called a horse fly. They're evil but we rarely see them. You poor woman. Good thing you had some benadryl with you. Do the grandkids get bitten as well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What we call a horsefly is a different insect. But a rose by any other name...
      Others do get bitten but I just have a very strong reaction to the bites. My foot is still swollen today. I don't leave home without a few benadryl in my purse.

      Delete
  5. I wish more people shot peace signs instead of the bird...Unwell here, from what I do not know yet, no fever so far, congestion and sneezing and tired, hoping for a peaceful night and wish you the same.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! It would be a nicer world, wouldn't it?
      I don't like that you aren't feeling well. Could it possibly be allergies? I don't see how you could have been exposed to anything. Be careful and rest, dear e.

      Delete
  6. The river does make the day with children glorious(er), does it not?! For us here on the left coast as well, mercifully without the yellow flies. (I remember horse flies from my youth on the east coast and they are awful. You made me look forward to the end of June when I will have both my grand boys here for "nana camp." Sending love to All Y'all. x0x0 N2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nana Camp! Sounds terrific! I am sure that it will be wonderful.
      Oh, how I wish we did not have all the bugs we do but, well, we do.

      Delete
  7. I am confused about the references to salty talk. Confused and intrigued. Please provide examples of this saltiness below.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No way, Mr. P.! You would probably be shocked and offended. It was wench talk.

      Delete
  8. You're so lucky to already be able to swim in the rivers over your way. Our rivers are melted snow so now way would be able to do that. Still, I guess you pay for it with scorching summers too right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Wacissa feels to us like melted snow but we're such wimps. Yes- the scorching summers. And that is when the rivers are truly heaven.

      Delete
  9. If a yellow fly is, as someone mentioned above, the same as a horse fly, they are indeed evil. I react to mosquitoes the same way...one lousy bite on the middle of my thigh once caused a welt from the crease in my hip/leg all the to my knee. Miserable. At least the rest of your day was great, so that is good news.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is what we call a yellow fly:
      https://www.waltonoutdoors.com/yellow-flies-are-back/
      Does that look like your horseflies? We call a different insect a horsefly but they do bite. Sounds like you react the same way I do.

      Delete
  10. A peace sign! I love it. (Speaking of which, I was just looking at your labels in your right-hand sidebar and it says you have only three posts labeled "hippies." I feel like it should probably be more than that. LOL)

    Great photos as always. Glad you got to enjoy the Florida outdoors, but blast those darn bugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I quit labeling posts. And I guess you can call all of my posts hippie posts because a hippie is writing them.
      Ha!

      Delete
  11. It looks like a day to remember. Everyone so happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had a good time and I bet that those kids all slept well last night.

      Delete
  12. That looks like a really fun day! Took my grandson took a park near my home yesterday and a little girl came up to him and said, "Hi, I'm Audrey and I'm five!" and Stephen said, "I'm five too!" and they were so excited about that! "Let's play!" and they did! Fun to see those instant friendships!
    Hope your bites feel better!

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.