Friday Things

Think of all the little things you see every day. Like the dragon flies that soar over the garden fence and land on that rock behind you. One of the hundreds that had to be pulled from the ground and set somewhere out of the way so the cucumbers could grow. I love dragonflies. I wish I knew if they ate potato beetles because those suckers are making lace at a rapid rate on the new leaves of so many plants.

As I zipped around the house, cleaning, I had to shake some dirt out the front door. As I turned to go back into the house a snappy little blue car sped down the road. Top down, hair flying and something in the passenger seat. A big blow up Smurfette! Amazing. I looked a little harder and her face was purplish. Ewww. I wonder if Smurfy was purchased at a discount and just what was that young driver up to anyway. Huh.

I put some olive oil on the two huge Portobello mushrooms I wanted to have with my steak for supper. Hubby obligingly grilled them for me, but passed when I offered him one. Sorry, honey, you‘ve always known what a fungus lover I am. I did offer to share.

After supper we hopped into the car and took off for our first hike of the year at Lindenwald.  We had our cudgels – uh, walking sticks – and hiking shoes on and set our feet on the old familiar trail. Which was covered with cottonwood tree fluff. Some of it had gathered on the edges of the small puddles of water the recent rains have left and some of it bounced off our noses as we walked. Kinda fun. Then the wild phlox rose from the surrounding greenery all purple and white. Tall, reaching for the sun. Hard to find in this climax forest, but they do.

Under the towering trees, looking up at the fresh new leaves all lacy against the sky, I know why they call it spring green. So, so pretty. I know they'll darken, get dusty and turn orange and red as summer rolls into autumn, but I'm not going to think of that yet. I also spotted one hearty honeysuckle bush – the one in our yard has already dropped her fragrant buds, but this one still seemed at peak.

As we made our way up and down the soft rises and slippery declines my favorite little bird chirped away in the trees. Wish I could tell you what it is. Next we heard the gurgle of the meandering brook over which the Boy Scouts have built a short wooden bridge. Water doesn’t flow beneath it often and I stopped to listen right there on the boards. “Don’t you just love when you can hear it?” I asked Mr. Pathfinder. He just smiled.

Back home I finish sipping my root beer float and watch a fat robin enjoying her evening ritual in the birdbath. Splash - dash! Then a tiny bit of cottonwood fluff drifts by the window as the evening wears on and I wonder if tomorrow will be as hot and humid as today was.

Just some Friday things to share. Thanks for reading.