Friends and Freedom

Last week a couple of friends and I spent time together in a lake house overlooking very picturesque waters. Blue skies speckled by various species of birds provided relaxed entertainment as we looked out over the lake. The time away from families and home concerns allowed the three of us to retreat for 4 days of R & R. What a treat!

Our days usually started out between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. Since we are not able to sleep as late as in our younger years, we rose early. Each morning, one by one we poured our cup of coffee and moved to the porch where we sat in the gentle breeze as we observed the day waking up. Since we had no real obligations, we were in no hurry to cook breakfast. Gowns were the uniforms of the morning and no one seemed to care that make up had not touched our faces. The days were liberating from all of the daily tasks we would normally do in our real life back in the suburbs.

There is something to be said for the friendships we have. Many areas of our lives correspond making our conversations effortless. Altogether our family statistics are as follows: 3 first-time husbands (no divorces), 8 children (7 boys, 1 girl), 5 daughters in law, 1 son in law, SIX grandchildren (3 boys, 3 girls), and 5 family pets (3 dogs, 2 cats). Our careers all involved working in public education, 1 nurse, 1 principal, and 1 classroom teacher. We have similar religious backgrounds and currently attend the same church. Although we are all different, our respect for each other coupled with our similarities, made our week an effortless time together.

I loved that my friends treated me to a visit to a spa where we all got a most relaxing massage. I was so relaxed that I felt I was falling asleep. What a treat indeed!

We have now returned to our normal lives. Well, I say "normal", my husband is out of town on vacation. He first visited Charlotte, North Carolina where he participated in the American Association of Community Theater festival. He has kept in touch through emails and cell phones. In addition, Kim has set up a website to blog and photojournal a road trip he and his dad are beginning today. His dad drove up to NC to pick Kim up and they are setting out on a road trip together. I think that it is awesome that the two of them are getting to experience this journey together.

Well as much as I don't really like being separated from my husband, it is a good thing for us to do this. He gets to spend time with his dad doing a lot of the things that only the two of them enjoy and I get to spend time with friends and family that I don't normally get to be with.

Bring on the summer!

Yardwork

That is my back yard. Looks pretty nice, huh? That was last summer. Then, summer ended and we had to go back to work teaching school and that was probably the last time the yard was groomed as well. Kim continued to mow the lawn, but time just didn't allow us to edge the hedges, rake the leaves and weed the plants. So, now three seasons later, the plant beds are so overgrown they could almost pass for the rainforest floor.

This yard has been unkept long enough and today I attempted to right the wrong. Of course, summer down here means the days start out warm and grow hotter as the sun rises. I began my work in 93 degree humidity. Armed with bottle water, gloves, a cap and a slathering of sunscreen on my face, I attempted to trim the wild, out of control hedges along the walkway to the house. After, getting stabbed by the green "sticker bush" next to the garage numerous times and even extracting a thorn from my finger, I decided the devil bush had to go. However, I was not successful in getting it to release its roots from the ground. I opted for cutting it back severely and waiting for Kim to come home and finish the job.

The lull of summer stillness and the warmth of the sun made the work very laborious. My feet and legs felt like I was wearing sand bags. The electric edger workout made my biceps very sore. So, I declared it lunchtime and retreated inside for cooler temperatures. As I sat for a moment longer reading, I discovered my eyes had shut. It felt so good I thought about staying in the chair and napping for a while. Even though I was sleepy, there was still work to do outside. and the weeds were growing as I snoozed.

After wrestling with the weedwacker, I managed to get it started. I wacked the grass and weeds around the bushes and edged the sidewalks all around the house and beds. Kim cleaned up my mess and I stood under a soothing shower. The yardwork couldn't be completed in one day. Its hard work and I don't enjoy it, but if it will get us out of the jungle, its a job worth doing. Tomorrow is another day to sweat as I get my yard back into shape. Perhaps soon I can attach a more recent photo and you won't even know the difference.

Summer Slow Down

Summer....
warm, lazy, carefree, relaxing, happy, sunshine, nature, leisure, slow music, grateful!

With one long drink of summer, my world slows down. As I look out my kitchen window this morning, I see a lot of green. It is so luscious,beautiful, and a bit out of control. The beautiful black and yellow butterfly fluttering around my patio seems to approve of the green foliage. Although, I imagine that she wishes for a few more flowers from which to sip sweet juice.

The picture above was made at Crystal Beach on the northeast side of Galveston about two summers ago. That was an extremely relaxing summer vacation. The beach is such a peaceful place as the waves crest and crash on the sandy surface. The sound of the seagulls can be a tad irritating at times, but the graceful ease with which the birds glide through the sky is captivating to watch. Lines of brown pelicans float just above the salty waves searching for breakfast. Lovely to view and consider as one sits on the tall porches of a beach house observing nature. Now that, my friend, is summer at its best. Slow, easy and peaceful.

Many of my friends and family enjoy travel. True travelers will have those bags packed and vehicle aimed forward the first morning of summer vacation. They thrive on the hustle-bustle pace that an airport or car trip will put them through. With itinerary in hand, a shoulder bag and a brief cast in the other, they hurry through security gates or traverse through traffic intent on making the most out of their vacation. Not this summer, not me, and not this time. This is going to be a summer to drink in the slow down that only a warm season can bring.

Rather than you think that I'm going to be a lazy bum all summer long, in my defense, I do have a plan. This summer is the summer to clean out, organize, rearrange and pull this place where we live together. (That is if I can pry myself from the soft jazz music playing through my iPod and this chair.) Part of the revamp involves my body and mind as I get in better shape. All will be a tall enough order that I won't have time to travel much further than a trip around the block, hopefully, by foot or bicycle.

My track record for such things as I've outlined in the above paragraph is in the low numbers. A major character flaw holding me back is that I procrastinate, put off, give up, sidetrack and in general, lose focus. So, prayers are welcome that I will accomplish and succeed this summer as I slow down to improve. Target areas for improvement are my living conditions, my attitude, my health, and my mind.

Summer "...be prepared in season and out of season."