A Late Spring Robin

 

“The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off - and they are nearly always doing it.” 

 

― Frances Hodgson Burnett,

 

  The Secret Garden

 

A few photos of a beautiful Robin, taken just as spring was leaving and summer was arriving. It was strange this year, as it seemed like nature simply shooed summer away and let spring have a full 6 months of the year, well almost. It has a been dreamy having autumn begin in spirit in early summer. It made me want to watch every horror movie ever made, as if Halloween were going to begin any minute! I refrained, however, and they will be waiting for me come October. As will my other fall movie favorites, St. Elmo's Fire, When Harry Met Sally, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Throw in a few Alfred Hitchcock movies and I am all set! 

 

Can you believe Halloween items are beginning to show up in stores? 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

Here is a little Robin folklore. On that day I saw that beautiful bird, I was grieving so deeply for my boy Hendrix that maybe he was sending me a message that he was okay and beauty and love was all around. Or maybe it was Dylan and Hendrix sending me that message, or maybe it was just the love of a beautiful robin, showing off it's song. I love all those scenarios, and I don't like to limit the possibilities, especially as I grow old. I have a curious mind, and I appreciate just how much magic life holds for us.

 

Crimson Leaves

“I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow.” 

― Wendy Delsol,

  Stork

 

My Favorite Tree, Cull Canyon Park

August 26th 2025 

  

Autumn is here. It has felt like autumn began sometime around august 1st. It was a milder than usual summer. We have only had a few days of hot weather, but in general, I could wear long sleeves and not be too uncomfortable. One night, in July, while on the Franklin blvd waiting for the bats to emerge, I was actually cold! Anyway, my autumn leaf guides all point to this being an early autumn, which means the color is already arriving! Ahhhhh... I am tickled to see my favorite tree in the world, showing off an autumn leaf grin. it makes me feel happier inside than I have in months! Just look at that gorgeous tree, putting on it's autumn sweater! There is more to come, so visit often, as this autumn emerges, Especially after September 23rd, when I officially begin my Autumn Leaf Of The day project!

 

 

Getting To Heaven

 

"I wanna try and get to heaven if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons."

 

~Donald John Trump

August 21st, 2025

Fox News 

 

Is it his physical health that he is referring to, when he says he's not doing well? He has had some problems lately.  He was recently diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which does not sound fun, but is not uncommon for a man of his age. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, I have trouble with my feet as well, but I can self correct by lowering my sodium intake, drinking more water, and elevating them occasionally.  Of course it could be he is considering getting to heaven by tweaking his attitude, but I have seen no evidence of that happening anytime soon, and it really doesn't seem to be that, because he continues to bash the Ukraine, and drool over Putin. That is quite a disconnect, but he still insists he hates the killing that's happening. Maybe it's everything, everywhere, all at once. Maybe he is concerned about his whole life. Revenge, Retribution, Selfishness, Greed, Bearing False witness, and then there is all that Epstein business. I am reluctant to share my personal opinion about that, but I believe that a lot of people were hurt by Maxwell, Epstein, and now by the Trump administration by not releasing the full files. And lets not forget his quest for the Nobel Peace prize! He has wanted that for years. it's all about President Obama winning one. Who knows? I know he hasn't looked physically well these past three months. Maybe life is catching up with him, time waits for no man... or woman. Or maybe he finally understands that there is life beyond this life. That there is a God who will be the ultimate judge to our deeds good and bad. I don't know, but something is ringing a bell inside. I hope he listens to it. I hope he changes his ways, I just won't be surprised if he doesn't. I wish I felt different. I believe truly accepting Christ, and I will be praying for that, as it's best for everyone.

 

 

Walmart, On A Saturday Afternoon

 

“Disagreement is one thing; disrespect is quite another.”

 
― Richard V. Reeves 

 

Sigh, Walmart on a Saturday afternoon. 

 

In my time, since getting to know my wheelchair, Phoebe, I have seen a lot of things, this takes them all. I actually started a file a while back of of folks who park in handicapped spots, with no placard and no specialized plates. Sometimes it's been commercial vehicles, sometimes crooked parking, TRULY crooked parking, but three, able bodied bikers, with music playing at 200, just taking what they wanted, is about as disrespectful as it gets. But we live in a time of take what you want, do what you want, and there is also a turn toward disabled persons, such as myself, being cast aside. We don't matter anymore. I knew this would happen one day, Trump's disrespect for this community finally wore off on a certain class of people. 

 

It's a no brainier, if you disrespect me, you are disrespecting yourself two fold. That act was not just disrespectful, it was illegal. So what else are they doing?

 

 

Franklin Boulevard At Desmond Road

 

"There's a sunrise and sunset in every single day. Don't miss so many of them."

 

~Jo Walton

 

I was happy with this photograph. It turned out just the way I imagined it would. Photos don't always do that. It was my intention to show off the gorgeous sunsets we get out here, and the slight eeriness of the scene in front of me. Standing at the corner of two dark roads, with the light nearly gone, and the bridge on Franklin blvd, caused by a storm from 3 years ago, is still closed, it made me realize how beautiful, and so wicked life can be.

 

 I wasn't able to photograph it, but there were 4 barn owls just down the road to the left. We had gone to see the Mexican Free-tailed bat, and after the show they put on, we drove down to Desmond road, to check for birds that tend to arrive in late Summer. While we didn't find any new ones, we were treated to the sound of Canadian geese flying over, a reminder that autumn isn't very far away, and the gorgeous owls, who I had thought might be an urban legend.

 

The bats have seemed less this year, as have the birds, but in batting and birding, these things are all about equal parts timing and luck. I suppose amazing summer sunsets kinda fall into that formula as well. Shrug. All I know is I will be exploring more sunsets this year, because, well, who has time left in life to take them for granted? Don't just love ones right after a rainstorm? The possibilities are endless!