“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
~~ Ettiene De Grelle
I’ve been trying to get down with my Buddhist self.
I make mental note of the second arrow when my mind is moving too fast, and too long, on something that I can do nothing about.
I was at a meeting last week when someone talked a bit about Buddhism and how much it appealed to them.
She said, “Is there a god? Who cares!”
That’s a theory I can get behind.
In the past week I have died from heat exhaustion, then risen again. I’ve walked many miles, and seen many things.
I’ve learned that I have trouble spelling ‘exercise,’ but absolutely none spelling ‘Zach Galifianakis.’
I’ve learned that there is a certain kind of bee that pollinates squash. It’s called a squash bee. Fancy that!
There are female and male flowers on my squash. If they both bloom at the same time, the little phallic delights will turn into food. If not, they fall off in a bout of Hansen’s disease. The male flowers bloomed today.
Speaking of squash.. I sprayed my baby (whom the heat has turned into a monster) with insecticides. The hippies are going to be so mad. I’ll know if I have murdered those lone moth eggs within the next couple of weeks.
I went to a wedding ceremony this weekend that took place at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. It inspired another trip there to hike through the woods yesterday. I was not disappointed. I went with two adults, three babies, and a seven year old. It was a hit for all.
I liked these trails because they were somewhat short, and had little bits of distinction on each. Bridges, or ponds, or tepees. Definitely a must see.
There was a pond covered with algae. WHICH, by the way, is “a large group of simple nonflowering plants containing chlorophyll but lacking true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.”
Brad, my niece, thought it looked disgusting. She was coming at it from a functional point of view, however. Not so much for the aesthetic. No one would want to swim in this, much less take a sip.
We stood quietly at the edge waiting for frogs, or other animals to disturb it’s surface.. After about a minute, an extremely large frog leaped from the bank, and skipped four times across the green. It scared us all to death. We jumped and screamed then laughed forever.
Those are the times I wonder if Brad will remember when she grows up.
As I’ve mentioned before.. We are in a drought. There was a pond that was almost completely dry. I saw a tiny fish swimming in a teeny tiny splash of water.
AND I GOT TO SEE A SNAKE. FINALLY, NATURE.
There was a beautiful pond filled with lily pads.
Thus, bringing me to my favorite find so far.
Fingernail sized frog.
Even better news? I have saved my tomatoes.
I don’t mean to play favorites, but I have one.
The newest arrival to my garden.
A Black Prince tomato plant.
Something about him makes me infinitely happy. He seems stately. I like his attitude. He’s proud, and dark, and leafy. I don’t mean to dote, but I can’t help it. I try not to talk that way in front of the others, but sometimes, my guests need to know what a gentleman he is.
My purple guy has been infested with something. Some worm, or whatever ate holes in it’s lone green tomato, has burrowed into the base of it’s stalk. Most of the bottom leaves have died, and that green tomato stays green, and without friends. I sprayed him a bit with that insecticide, but I think he might be a lost cause.
That’s okay. I think I might have a few more tomatoes that I’ll know what to do with.
OH. Somehow, I missed my raspberries. Though the birds might be taking full advantage of their spoils. Something also ate my blueberries. That’s what I get for waiting to tie it’s stalks to a wooden pole. The bush drooped to the ground, and I think the bunnies may have gotten a treat.
Cute bunnies! *shakes fist*
During the wedding ceremony, we took a moment to listen to the birds and the wind. My Buddhist self is trying to do that at every moment these days. There is only now, and what we choose to do with it.
At this moment, I’m reflecting on summer days past, and what memories two little girls might have of their very own.
I wonder if it’ll be the one where Brad rips the hose out of Izzy’s hands so that Izzy loses her balance and falls over, leaving Brad to exclaim, “That’s what you get!”
Good grief.
