the blue muse

The other evening, after another hot, hot day, I went outside to sit in my garden for a bit, just to escape the air conditioning. Which sounds all backwards, I know, but I miss having the windows open, even as I appreciate the coolness.

As I sat there, this hot air balloon flew directly over my head. I didn’t even notice it was up there until I heard that flame-throwing sound, and I looked up to see it right above me. It scared my dog, which made me laugh, and my husband wondered if it was having problems, because it was flying pretty low.

I told him a ride in a hot air balloon is one of the things on my bucket list. Some day.

On this day, it’s just right for wishing you a Happy 4th of July, the day that, for me, marks the true beginning of summer.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, filled with all the things you love best, and a lovely surprise, or two.

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Because this gorgeous poppy only had one day.

I took this photo Monday evening,
and yesterday as I walked past to go
and check the mail, I noticed that all
the petals were gone, blown away on the breeze,
leaving only a pretty poppy seed head.

One day, to bloom and shine and soak up the sun,
to release all the beauty you are to the world.

Imagine that.

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And just like that, the heat arrived, and it became a weekend of far-too-hot hot, though I didn’t let it stop me from gardening.

Finally, yesterday, after my clothes were completely soaked through with sweat and my stomach started feeling off from the heat, I took refuge inside, working on jewelry for my daughter’s coming-very-quickly wedding, while watching Winter’s Tale, a movie made from one of my favorite books of all time. One of the themes in the movie is the fever of one of the main characters, she is forever looking for ways to cool her body down, and so, it seemed just right to be watching it on the first truly hot day of summer.

I have very few poppies this year, when last year they were everywhere. And Love in a Mist, a plant I usually pull out by the armloads, seems non-existent. Apparently they weren’t fond of the too-cold winter.

Too hot, too cold, and somewhere in the middle lies just right. Those are the days I call gypsy days, when I would live outside if I could, and do just that as much as I am able. Days when the sky stretches on forever and the temperature is the perfect mix of warm sun on my skin and cooling, gentle breezes. Those days are a gift, and we’ve already had quite a few this year. I am grateful.

Life has moved into longer evenings and earlier mornings, almost without me noticing. I come in from outside and it’s 8:00 o’clock already, time for folding laundry, catching up on the things left to be done after dark, and finally, reading.

In summer, the dark feels so much lighter, a gentle weight on my shoulders, just enough to hold me in place so I don’t float off into the world of whatever book I’m enjoying.

Just enough.

I’m looking forward to July.

Just now, beyond my garden, is a wall of trees, still hanging on
to fresh spring green, a swath called verdant.

It’s so humid I can literally see the air hanging between me
and those trees, I can feel it on the floor as I walk
to the kitchen in summer’s bare feet.

A heron flies high in the sky towards the swamp, and I wonder
if there are fish there again for him to eat,
after the drought a few years ago that killed them all.

Hummingbirds visit the feeder attached to my studio window,
always announcing their arrival with the
loud buzzing of impossible bee-wings.

Rain gathers in the sky again, a drum beat
pounding its way to a storm.

I sit here and I listen and I watch.

I feel my feet taking root in this emerald city that
surrounds me, and when I get up to go inside,

I tread lightly.

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Yesterday was my mom’s (and her twin sister) 72nd birthday.

It was an absolutely gorgeous summer day, the day after solstice,
filled with sunshine and food and family and laughter.

My garden is gorgeous, the weather is perfect, and I just want
to wrap my arms around life in a big embrace.

Even the parts that aren’t so easy are easier to take in summer,
when my soul is soothed by being outdoors,
inhaling the perfume of flowers,
cut grass, night fires.

Green is the song of my heart.

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Happy Birthday Nana and Aunt Pat!

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Yesterday, a-perfect-weather-filled-with-sunshine-kind-of-day, I took a few hours off to ride to our camp with my husband so he could mow the lawn there. It’s always a nice break because there are windmills on the way, and we always stop for a dip-top on the way home, and I can’t work, or even check my email, once we’re there.

It’s so easy to forget how to relax.

There is always something that needs doing, even when it isn’t work, there is something around the house or in the garden that needs my attention. So I have to force myself to sit down every so often. To stop and do nothing. At least nothing but smell the roses. Because oh my, just now, they smell incredible.

This is one of my favorite garden years in a long time. It’s funny, even though I plant basically the same things every year, Mother Nature has her own ideas about what grows where and which plants flourish and when they bloom. So, I let her have her own way a little, and together, we’ve made a feast for the eyes.

For now. By August it will be a mess and past its prime and I won’t care because it will be hot hot hot and the season will be winding down.

So for now, I’m trying to simply enjoy the pretty,  stealing time when I can to revel in these perfect gypsy days, working late after dark to make up for it.

Winter is long and summer is short and that big blue bowl of sky always has something to tell me.

As long as I’m willing to listen.

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it takes so little to make my heart sing

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for these are the magic months

fireflies and fallen moons

starlight on bare skin

toes soaking up night’s tears of dew

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the dance of summer

wears a dress made from fresh

and there are no corners

to turn

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swirl

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she wore a veil of clouds

to the dance

disguised as life

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Because some days, the only thing you can focus on
is what’s right in front of you.

It’s all beautiful.

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