Sometimes I just want to pinch myself when life is so momentarily sweet. Those times don't seem to happen that often and when they do. . . I just want to box myself up with them. . . so they'll last a little longer.
Like this morning, for instance. . . .
I had a super duper full day planned, but I wanted to spend some time taking in the gift of our amazing Missouri morning before the rain (which our lawns will more than appreciate) rolls in.
I positioned myself at the far end of our patio.....the part where there is no roof.....and just stared up at the blue sky. . . watching a buzzard circling south of our house. . . then hearing the drone of a small plane and eyeing the sky til it popped into view.
The noise from a nearby high way was gone, now that rush hour was over, and all I could hear was the wind picking up . . . bringing in some dark clouds and causing the plants on our patio to rustle and the big trees in the yard behind us to stir.
I wanted to use this quiet, alone time to jot down questions I have for a little "interview" I'm doing with a fellow "elder runner" and . . .
to read a few more pages in THE HELP. I've vowed I will not see the movie til I finish reading it.
Once in a while, I've been letting my kitty Twiggy out on the patio with me, too. I can't trust her to "stick around" like I can my older (and a bit brainier boy cat, Frankie), so I put THE STONE RABBIT in charge of watching her while I wrote my questions and read in my book.
It was such a rare and peaceful moment we were having and I have to say, I was totally absorbed in my writing and reading. . .when I was jolted back into reality by the sound of loud squawking Canada Geese.
I heard the sounds, then saw five air born, and ENORMOUS, geese bodies barely clearing the roof of the house across the street, then zooming between our house and that of our neighbor's . . .at a very, very low level.
Now, we have lots of geese sightings (and ducks) around here because of the pond on a nearby golf course, however, I've NEVER seen them flying over so close to the ground. . . and my head!!!
I wish I had been quicker thinking to grab my camera and snap a photo of them, but I was literally shocked at how fast they came out of no where. . . . so loudly and low flying, to their next stop.
This was little Twiggy's first experience with a goose....let a lone five of them. Once I saw that they were so close, I quickly looked for her, wondering if she was gonna head for the door or make a dash for it off the patio, but she didn't do either. Instead, she took the "how small can I make myself look approach" and flattened out on the patio floor. . .doing everything except putting her little paws over her eyes.
When the noise stopped, she rose up and hesitantly looked around. . .trying to determine the current safety level. :)
So, while my "quiet time" had been quickly turned upside down, I had to appreciate the moment. . . even when nearly dive-bombed by some noisy, low-flying geese. . . it was a pretty spectacular moment getting to see them up close as they made their way to the pond.
Another thing I appreciated this morning is how most of my plants have survived this crazy hotter than usual summer we've had. I've had to have most of the pots pulled under the roofed part of the patio or they would have fried for sure. This weekend, I was able to place them back in the spots they belong.
While I tend to be a "glass half empty" gal who does strive to be a "glass half full" person. . . I'm always better off when I sip my morning coffee from my beloved Mary Engelbreit Santa cup. I find that if I can keep focused on "BELIEVE" that my mind is in a happier, brighter place. . . at least until the geese take me by surprise again!
DANA
