Summer Turns to Fall

  

          At my job, I have to write the date dozens of times each day. Every day of every week of every month I watch the days tick by; 1, 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 25... It's hard to not be aware of the passing of time. Summer has passed into fall, so says the calendar anyway. We were able to turn off the A/C about a week ago and now we mainly keep the windows open in varying degrees to cool or warm the house. It's much more pleasant this way. We go to work, we putter around the house, we talk about the future, cycle and repeat.
     Within these daily cycles area a multitude of minor cycles. The cycles of meals, friends, hobbies, trips, etc. Outside the daily cycles are the larger cycles of seasons, sicknesses, life. In my mind I see the varying cycles like wheels within wheels, all beautifully turning and swirling into a choreographed pattern that makes up our lives. Some days it feels like the wheels aren't turning at all. When Steve traveled this week and I was home alone, time felt like it stood still. I roamed around the house, unable to get inspired to do much of anything. I decided that trying to get reach a live person on the phone with Bank of America to sort out an extortionate fee that they charged would be a good hobby for the afternoon. I spent a total of four and a half hours on hold or waiting for a call-back. Finally, at 8:30 that evening, I spoke with a delightful young man who listened to my problem and ended up entertaining me for several minutes. His first name was Christian and he a wonderful, playful sense of humor. I think he broke a few rules to resolve my complaint. How oddly wonderful for two complete strangers to interact for a few minutes, never to meet again yet leave a lasting impression like that. I thanked him for his sense of humor and for entertaining me. I told him I was going to say a prayer for him that night and I did.
     

           Sometimes I wait for time to reach an opportune moment to perform a certain task. Sometimes it's waiting for the right time of day to phone someone or catching Steve in the right mood to discuss a project that I think he might reject : ). Other times, it's waiting for the weather to be just right to walk Henri or work in the garden. I was certainly waiting for that swoosh of cool weather we expect each fall and which still hasn't arrived. Last Saturday I decided to get outside regardless of the weather and do some transplanting and general garden clean-up. It was hot and humid and less than comfortable but, I got the job done. Once back inside, I showered and that turned out to be a refreshing reward for all the toil and made it all worthwhile.

The new border in fall.

Coaxing these beauties through a hot summer in hopes they'll bloom through Christmas.

I started a lot of yarrow from seed in pots this summer and transplanted them to the border.