Everything is as it should be

Everything is as it should be.
Grrrrr..Grrr...Stomp...Stomp...
Everything is as it should be..
Grrr....Grrr....Stomp...Stomp.

Walking along the street, while glorious sunshine washes over me. Breathing in clean, sweet fresh air.
Birds sing as they fly overhead, busy with their busy-ness.
People working in their gardens, stop and wave (I live in a small town and everybody waves to everybody else).


Ahhhhhh- summer. Real summer. I've been waiting all winter for this.
June 20 - Summer Solstice was rainy.
Saturday, June 21 - was beautiful and sunny and not too hot. The absolutely perfect day.

So, why was I grumpy? Because I wanted to drive to Ottawa and visit my son, his wife and their 6 month old son (littlest grandchild). I had planned this visit and was looking forward to it.

But - Hubby is not feeling well. He asked me to stay home. So I am. Grumbling as I walk.
Chanting "everything is as it should be".

Thinking to myself: why are you spoiling a perfectly good day? Just because you can't make that visit? Don't you think Hubby is suffering more? Of course he is - not only is he sick, but he is feeling his neediness in having to ask me to stay with him. Selfish pig - thinking only of your own fun. O.K. - stop that right now!

"Who are you talking to?" A neighbour looks up from her weeding.
"Oh, hi Anna!" I avoid her question.

We take some time to chitchat. She tells me her son was recently diagnosed with Crohn's. I tell her my niece was diagnosed last year with Crohn's. She tells me she thinks her husband is seeing someone else. Good heavens - she's never said anything so personal to me. She must be really upset. A few more minutes of chitchat and I'm on my way.

Hmmm - I guess everyone has stuff to deal with. At least I don't have a cheating husband.

Continue on my walk. Saw a pileated woodpecker! They like to hide out in the woods; rarely do they come to people's yards.

A little girl wearing a bicycle helmet comes out of her driveway and hands me a bunch of buttercups.
"Why thank you, Kelly - aren't these for your Mom?"
"She's in the bathroom."
Tried not to laugh. I guess Mom was in the bathroom at the wrong time. Kelly couldn't wait that long to give her buttercups away.

Put some steak on the BBQ for supper. Hubby could barely eat any, but I made myself enjoy mine. Even had a little glass of wine.

At dusk, I went for a bike ride - properly dressed this time - no flip-flops.
Rounded a curve, passed a small wooded area and heard..................
an owl!!!
Wow! Strained and strained to see it, but of course the foliage was too dense.
Never mind. I really had a wonderful day after all.
I guess my visit wasn't meant to be. I can go another time.

Everything is as it should be.

Summer Solstice

A picture says a thousand words - and this is no exception.
Sun rising over Stonehenge on the longest day of the year.

A celebration by the ancients.
Celebrating the Sun at its zenith.
From now on the days shorten, until we come to Winter Solstice.
When the Wheel of Life turns again, changing our seasons.

Mid-summer - the mid-point between planting and harvesting is celebrated over the next few days.

For us in this part of the world, we've only just finished our planting. Some still at it. Harvesting seems a long way away.

But today - summer is here! End of school for the children. Long summer days, reading peacefully in the shade, or swimming, hiking, biking.
Ice cream, watermelon, BBQ's. A time to be more social. People wave at each other from their gardens or as they walk along the street.
Families on holidays at the beach, parks, the zoo. Picnics, concerts in the park, tai chi on the grass, singing by the water.
Watching ducks and ducklings swim by.
Birds singing from the trees.
Smelling roses, honeysuckle, jasmine.
A time to cherish our days outdoors - and time for fun!