Muddy Waters

Relief.

Bored with wicked hot summers, bored with the monitor and keyboard all day and night, consumed with concern about family, work, and post ideas, I made a decision to walk around the house aimlessly in the evenings, bonding with my camera (I love its smells and sounds), tending to regular chores, my small wildlife habitat, and without caring to visit my laptop. No rushing. Before bedtime I checked e-mail, downloaded photos, played a few games of Free Cell, and then shut it down. Done. And I liked it. I still do. My blogging community is like family to me, so I was hoping I’d hear news via e-mail if I needed to know something.

I own this cursed but blessed addiction that made me fight off the urge to post and share three times a week but I didn’t let it beat me! So here I am again with old news. I’m ready for a shot of blog.

Tropical Storm Fay finally socked it to us. During two days, 11.5 inches of rain fell at my house (yes, eleven and a half inches). Some areas nearby only received an inch but other areas had flooding and power outages. While allowing Mother Nature to tend to my garden for a few days, I spent time in the bathroom purging old cosmetics, creams and lotions, trying new ones, and sorted through sock drawers. My shoe racks needed organizing after a few weeks of kicking off my work heels and flinging them with my toes into a pile in the corner of the closet. I also spent short periods of time sitting and doing nothing. Doing nothing and loved it.

Those who receive rain regularly might not understand what this recent deluge meant to those living in a rain starved region. I haven’t seen so much rain since May 2005 when I washed ten loads of laundry during a nor'easter in Delaware and sent the septic tank into spasms. Oh, that could be the subject of another post ;-)

I sang rainy day theme songs to Chloe and Bella while we watched it downpour for five or six hours straight. Outdoor play was suspended. “It’s a rainy day, it’s a rainy day, it’s raining outside so we can’t go out and play…” (an 80's Sesame Street jingle I remember, do you?) Hey guys, it’s a Lipton’s Home Style Chicken Noodle Soup and grilled cheese night!

Many of us at the office, students included, stood at the windows silently and watched the downpours, in awe. Tending to business, our voices raised over pounding rain on the metal roof.

Most of Fay’s fury flowed down the hills into the streets… Our soil is resisting moisture but the new wildflower patches I have soaked it up.

Then, the quiet calm.

Back to hot sun and dog days.

I’ve never seen the wetlands so high and brown. A quick stop, I was hoping to see a Red Headed Woodpecker here but I only saw three Bluebirds, a Goldfinch, and a Ruby-Throated hummingbird so I headed to the grocery store pond.

Can anyone offer an ID on the green worm with swimming skills?

The only Heron.

Noisy goose and duck convention.

Don’t you think they look beautiful against a light brown background?


I had intended to show this photo of a Great White Egret on my last post,

Loving my camera.

Hanna spat on Charlotte.

We'll be watching Hurricane Ike.

Yikes!