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I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Checking In

It still sounds like summer.  In fact, the cicadas are so loud we're sometimes tempted to open the door and scream, "SHUT UP"!  but that would be rude...
All the plants are looking leggy, but are not quite spent.  I can't hear crickets, yet, but it's only a matter of days.  And the hundreds of butterflies that frequented the lythrum, phlox, and million bells have been reduced to only a few.  This time of year puts me in mind of a short story I used to love to teach:  "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst, that begins "It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born..."  A most powerful story, it.

We do have a groundhog living under our steps.  He's taken to climbing into our pots and eating the coleus and trailing verbena.  Linda, our neighbor, told me to soak rags in ammonia and place them in the pots and around the ingress/egress holes he's dug.  Evidently he didn't like this intervention because the rags are now scattered throughout the back yard.  :)  His way of 'flipping us off' I suppose.

I still attend PT two or three times a week.  I'm driving, taking short walks, and performing truncated workouts at the gym.  I'm careful not to overdue and am very thankful that I'm approaching normalcy.  I think Richard is, too, as he asked if we could host and 'Wine and Cheese' for a few neighbors on Sunday.  I agreed.  The menu has morphed a bit to include cannelini bean hummus and naan, beef brisket, baked beans, Key lime pie, and lemon bars.  Haven't decided on the vegetable, yet and the plates demand something green.  You're all invited, of course.  

7 comments:

Linda Reeder said...

I love that quote, so appropriate for that nether region between these seasons.
We don't have ground hogs, but our moles seem to have settled down a bit now that we've had rain. Thank goodness. they were "mining" the lawn, and undermining a lot of plants.
I'm glad you are making progress with your rehab. Being "normal" sounds so wonderful when you're not.

Kimberly said...

YUM would love to take you up on the invite, but alas, the private jet is loaned out. Glad you are feeling some amount of normalcy!

Forsythia said...

Glad you're coming along. BTW, at a family reunion recently, relatives urged "Himself" to see a doctor about his foot/ankle/knee. His response: "It's not bothering me that much." I give up. Women are SO much better at taking care of themselves than men.

A few weeks ago, swallowtails by the dozens were visiting our Joe Pye weed. Then, suddenly, they were gone. Fall is on the way.

Lena said...

It must feel so good to be getting better! I am limping along waiting for the right time for my knees to get done.

Your party sounds like fun. Wish I could be there!

Kay said...

Glad to hear things are improving for you. I do remember what it was like with those cicadas in summer. Phew! I especially remember the 17 year cicadas in Illinois. Wow!

Mage said...

That's not a wine and cheese but over doing. Oh dear. Is he putting it all together? And a groundhog. What do they eat, I wonder? I over did and am recovering. Doc on Monday. You just keep up the gentleness. Hugs.

Sally Wessely said...

The opening line for the "The Scarlet Ibis" that you quoted brought back to many memories. Ninth grade English...I do miss those days. I miss teaching that story. Isn't that a first line just amazing? Also, you are right, the story is a very powerful one. I think I will have to read it again. It seems the story mentions cicadas. Am I right?

Doesn't that groundhog know he is just supposed to disappear and only come to life in February. I've never had to deal with such creatures. It does not sound like fun to do so.

Wish I could make the party. Glad you are coming along so well with the healing.