The Felling of a Tree

We had a tree cut down in the backyard. It wasn't the most healthy tree. Beforehand, our backyard was virtually completely in shade. I have had the hardest time growing flowers back there! Basically I felt constricted to hostas (fine for some--but I tire of them easily) and some other hardy shade perennials, plus some non-thriving impatiens.

The backyard had basically a canopy formed by the trees, which confined the feeling of space. Plus, it is an uphill backyard as well, so that made it feel even smaller.

Sometimes there are thick, unruly, overgrown things in our lives, that need to be pruned and cut away. Which brings freedom and "air" to us. To me, this could be an apology that I need to make, or expressing my honest feelings about something, instead of brooding and keeping to myself. That connection, whatever it may be, loosens the walls between us and frees us to move forward. It usually takes some effort, but it is definitely worthwhile in the end.

Now, with the tree gone, there is substantially more sun back there! I feel like I have a new backyard!! It is awesome.



Open space, afterward.

Birthdays!!

Super G. had a birthday on Sunday. 9! I can hardly believe it.

There were some surprises in store. We took her and 2 friends, in blindfolds, to the "secret surprise place." It was Claire's, to get her ears pierced. It was awesome. Mostly because it was truly a surprise.
And a new camera. So the Awarded Photographer can snap away, endlessly to her heart's content.

Birthdays are special!! And this one was no exception...

She's a Natural!

Just look what silliness I have to deal with on a daily basis!

She walked around with these on all day--

Some teenagers came over to hang out, and before I knew it, two of them had these on too!! Made, of course, by Super G.

What a laugh...

Daisies

Here are a few photos of "T's Daisy Patch" in the walk-up garden. They are so full now, I will need to thin them out this fall, and definitely I will be spreading the wealth to different areas of the garden!

They are so bright and cheerful. Much as I'd like to be. As we look forward to another Monday morning in the life of an advertising math geek. :)

Milestone or Millstone?

Today was quiet. Very, very quiet. We sent The Little Kid off to summer camp for 6 days. Middle Kid "Shorty" was up at summer camp, and returned this evening. Daughter #1 is away for the weekend.

OK, so life is weird. Funny. Ironic.

The thing about kids is, you dream of having them. Perhaps you are blessed with children. You love them fully. Even when they are sooo tiring, time-consuming, ride-requiring, hand-hold-outing, incessantly-texting, etc. etc.

But the point is, you raise them, essentially, to leave your care, and your home. To be independent, live a good life, find love and happiness.

Alright, alright, this is getting deep. But I think of other rites of passage. A friend of ours is experiencing one now. His house is empty now too -- no one but him and the cat. No beautiful wife of 40 years, humming to music, dancing, laughing. She lives in a new home now, with others that have memory issues. She is in her 50's. It seems so wrong. Too soon.

Both milestones. Going to camp. One spouse alone in a house without the other. Mixed feelings. Some fear involved.

May God help us with these feelings that we have. Face the fears. Grant us faith (the opposite of fear). And give us hope in the future, whatever it may be. I'm just sayin'.

Stunning in the Shade

Here are a couple pics of my helleborus. I like this perennial in the backyard, especially since it is almost ALL shade back there, and I can't get much going there.

Or else we have rabbits who selectively eat pretty flowers that I try to get established, like black eyed susans.

It has rich, dark green-colored leaves, kind of shiny like rhododendron leaves. The blooms are very unique -- greenish white. So they blend in with the color of the plant overall. These pics were taken in shade, so they'd be even prettier in a sunny setting!