Thursday, June 12, 2008

Summer Magic and Odd Bedfellows

Doesn't this look magic? As if the Sun is illuminating my hibiscus - making it glow with an ethereal quality.

It's actually, really bad photography. But I thought it was neat.



This is what I set out to capture and it turned out too white. All washed out. Ah well - I guess it takes practice - and probably a better camera.
But it looked so lovely and glowing in the early morning sun.
* * * * * * * * * *


Hubby and I were having a leisurely supper last night when - without warning the power went out! There was no storm outside, no high winds, nothing to cause this failure. We waited a few minutes (Hubby breathing with his portable 02 tank), hoping that it would just as suddenly come back on.
It didn't.

Down the basement I went to hook Hubby up to the huge, monster-like 02 cylinder that resides just under the stairs.

Fortunately, I was at home to do this.

The day before, I was babysitting my granddaughter (about 3/4 hour's drive away) when a sudden electrical storm blew up. A bright flash of lightening closely followed by a crash of thunder set off my daughter's house alarm. The dog went crazy. Lights flickered. But the baby, snug in my arms, didn't make a peep.

I managed to turn off the alarm, but was very worried that the power would go off before I could get home to Hubby.
I couldn't phone him, (to ask if everything was o.k.) because I knew he was taking his afternoon nap and wouldn't hear the phone.

Luckily, the storm blew itself out quickly, the wind and rain stopped and the sun shone once again.
Soon after, Daughter returned home.

I was still apprehensive driving back home. Would our power be on and everything o.k.? Or not.....

I sighed with relief when our automatic garage door opened. Everything would be o.k.
I peeked in at Hubby and found him sleeping peacefully - with 2 portable cylinders in the bed next to him.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He looked so frail and yet had the foresight to have extra cylinders close at hand in case of a power failure.

I wonder how many wives come home to find their husbands in bed with oxygen cylinders. Better that than another woman!

14 comments:

Abba's Girl said...

Glad your husband was ok!

I have found some of the best pictures I have taken of flowers in my yard are before the sun is very high or just at sunset. The darker background seems to keep them from being washed out.

Beverly said...

I like your first photo of the hibiscus. They are so pretty.

That must be so scary about the power going out. We take so many things for granted, don't we.

Yes, the oxygen tanks are better than another woman. My husband was a real workaholic, and when he came home late at night after work, I at least knew that as dirty as he was, he certainly was not with another woman.

beckie said...

Wendy, I do feel for you. And I know it's aways there in the back of your mind...is he okay, I shouldn't have left him, or what if. But you must have faith. I know it seems trite and I don't mean to make light but, 'what will be-will be'. All you can do is the best you can do.

I like the pictures. Especially the first one. It does look almost spiritual. And the flowers are so lovely.

mj said...

I'm so glad your husband is ok. It must be reassuring to you that he had the foresight to keep portable cannisters at the ready just in case.

We have had a week around here too. A major storm last weekend left most of this area without power. It's been a hectic few days. We are so dependent on power.

I think the pictures of your flowers are beautiful. Especially the first one. Like another blogger said, it looks spiritual.

Bear Naked said...

That first photo is beautiful.
It's wonderful when a photo turns out so nicely.
Especially when it is unplanned.

JeanMac said...

That first pic is really beautiful. Yes, better O2 cylinders!

30 years from Darling said...

Glad he is ok. It is kind of amazing what brings a lump to the throat ...both good and bad.

Thank goodness the faith, light and flowers are there to help calm the fear.

Rose said...

I, too, am glad your husband is ok. I think Beckie made a good comment--you do the best you can.

I like your first picture, which means it's not bad photography! Today I was taking pictures of flower blooms and noticed a ladybug crawling inside a daylily. I must have taken 6 pictures of it before the ladybug finally crawled away. I was feeling so proud of myself till I downloaded them and discovered they were all blurry! Photography is an art I haven't mastered either.

Cheryl said...

You have a wonderful sense of humour amongst all the anxiety that you cope with on a daily basis. That is what I like about you. Glad all was well and the hubby was fine.

Flowers and sunshine are a nightmare to photograph...I beieve people have a special thingy that they fit to their camera to take the shine out.....You can probably guess I am not really interest in technology....
Does it matter really....I can see you have beautiful blooms, the sun is shining and you are liking what you see....
Thanks for being human....

Wendy said...

Hi Annette - thanks for the advice. I welcome any and all advice.

Hey Bev - you make me laugh. But it's so true - you know your hubby and you know there's no hanky-panky.

Thanks Beckie for the reminder. I do from time to time shake myself and say "whatever will be will be". But then I forget all about it and go back to "if only....." or "I should have been there...."

Hi Mary, so you had to deal with a major powerfailure too? Guess it's all this hot humid weather.
Thanks for the compliments on my hibs.

Hi BearNaked - yeah, I agree, often the spontaneous not perfect things are special.

Hi JeanMac - thanks for stopping by with your kind comments.

Wendy said...

Hi 30-years-from-darling,
Yes, flowers and light always make me feel calm. Faith too - when I remember to take a deep breath and allow it in.

Oh Rose, I take so many blurry pics - it's a good thing for digital - you can just erase them!

Ah Cheryl, we are cut from the same cloth. I'm not much of a technical person either. I know there must be really good camera stuff out there - but I would much rather put my hands in the earth and take my chances with photos. However, that being said, I do admire other's pics - especially those clear, really good ones. And, I am so proud of myself once I do master some technical thing.

Lori B said...

Glad everything was OK. Your hibiscus is beautiful!

Wendy said...

Hi IK, thanks for stopping by. Hibiscus is one of my favourite flowers.

Beverly said...

Oh, how many people have the daily
"worries" like you do? To have to worry about storms etc, I do not know how you do it? Glad everything was fine.
I loved the plants with the pretty flowers.
Thank you for the kind comments on my blog. I think you also have insightful words for Jean....